towing a trailer (by car)

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 4 Feb 2008, 12:53pm

Hoorah. We've managed to reduce our total car needs down to one small hatchback. The downside is for camping with bikes and kids we need a trailer. One aspect googling can't come up with is where we get our number plate/ trailer light board from. Do they usually come with a trailer or do Halfords sell them or what?
New to this game.

tjm · Post by **tjm** » 4 Feb 2008, 1:21pm

most trailers will come with lights fitted so you don't need a light board. If you do, Halfords or the local motor factors should sell them.

As for number plates, you could go to halfords or a motor factor armed with log books, proof a address etc etc and jump through hoops just to get a plate. Or you could go to http://www.fancyplates.com/index.html and get one without the hassle. :wink:

Post by **Mick F** » 4 Feb 2008, 1:27pm

Hi Glueman.

We made the change to small car and trailer donkey's ago. We had a Hillman Imp, two small children two dogs, and a trailer. All the benefits of a small car, but with massive luggage carrying ability. After the Imp, we had a Mini, then we tried a bigger car and sold the trailer. Not a good move. Later we bought a 205 and a new trailer, then a Mini again, and now a Clio.

My advice to you is don't buy a trailer from B+Q/Halfords/Homebase et al. All you will get is a weak frame and base suspended on poor wheels.

Go to a proper trailer centre where they sell good stuff. You pay more, but it will be strong and last for years.

We bought our present one from Barlow Trailers up in Lancs when we were up there http://barlowtrailers.co.uk/ Their website is Ifor Williams orientated, I was tempted by one but they are too big for what we wanted. Barlows do others. We bought a "Caddy". Other firms must be about near you.

Also, when you buy a proper trailer, they come with lights and number plate as part of the deal.

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 4 Feb 2008, 1:38pm

Thanks for the info gents. I take your point about a better trailer Mick but it'll only be used a handful of times a year and towed by a 1.2 Fabia. Which incidentally does 55mpg on a run! It will hold a tent, a portaloo and a stove, the 4 wheel braked varnished timber jobs would be wasted on me and prove to be the tail wagging the dog, all too literally.

The next job is to get a fancy numberplate, not because I'm up myself - I couldn't care what it is so long as its six digits - but because I had the last two cars 5 years and 10 years and couldn't tell you what either reg was, a little embarrasing if you're asked for it. :oops:

tjm · Post by **tjm** » 4 Feb 2008, 3:09pm

Don't go too small on the trailer. Not only is it a pain when you find the trailer isn't big enough (eg to take an old freezer down the tip) but also small trailers are a pain to tow - on most modern cars you can't see the damn things in the mirrors and they react very fast so reversing is almost impossible.

I can reverse my car trailer very easily, I can't reverse a 3x5 Erde for more than 10 feet before it jacknifes.....

you also need trailer big enough to put bike carriers on .... :lol:

Toby

sham22 · Post by **sham22** » 4 Feb 2008, 3:14pm

get your spare sorted , for the trailer !

pigman · Post by **pigman** » 4 Feb 2008, 3:44pm

Glueman
actually the trailers that halfords sell are quite good. Its just that (a) they'll be overpriced and (b) the staff wont be experts. From what you've written in other posts, I'm guessing you're a yorkshireman. Good shops are
(a) mitchells near to the mining museum (part of the CCC group)
(b) CCC next to the sheffield united (boo) ground
(c) the travel centre, manvers road rotherhsm
(d) towsure (probably the best and specialise in this), holme lane, hillsboro sheffield

but, if you know your trailers, no frills DIY in sheffield is shutting down and selling off everything. They have Erde trailers, but I dont know models/specs/prices. The staff will know nothing and dont supply towbars, electrics or numberplates. So youll need the knowledge and someone to get it on the road.

good luck.

Edwards · Post by **Edwards** » 4 Feb 2008, 3:47pm

You could try these two below
Towsure for the Caddy. I do not think they do bars to accept bikes on top
http://www.towsure.com/category/11-_Cad ... g_Trailers
The other is Indespension who sell Daxara trailers, for which they do show bike carry bars on top.
http://www.indespension.co.uk/b2c/app/I ... 110&slnk=1
They Daxara does have a good reputation with a hard cover available.

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 4 Feb 2008, 3:59pm

I was thinking of this. Mitchells I'm familiar with but much less clean on the place since it became Go Outdoors. They used to stock a range of trailer tents, bikes and other stuff that's gone by the wayside. I'll follow all the links folks.

Pigman I'm Yorkshire by adoption and a decade isn't long in tyke years. The kids know pratty flowers so they're the real thing.

Edwards · Post by **Edwards** » 4 Feb 2008, 4:15pm

That is a good price, I have not used or repaired these so can not comment on them. The one in the link might be short for putting bikes on top (if that is what you want) I tried on an old trailer that length and found it not the best for rear overhang.

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 4 Feb 2008, 5:15pm

glueman wrote: It will hold a tent, a portaloo and a stove

or you could get a small trailer that also folds out better than a tent.

we got ours off ebay for £300, and bought off someone with a felicia, and he said it was fine behind a small car. ours is delightful

http://www.originalrapido.co.uk/Confort.htm

glueman · Post by **glueman** » 4 Feb 2008, 5:30pm

hubgearfreak wrote:or you could get a small trailer that also folds out better than a tent.

I never knew such a thing existed. Looking at the folded state I've seen them and always thought they were large trailer tents. The 60s and 70s ones are dinky.
We have a large Khyam that gets used for 4 night + stop-overs - it takes a while to put up (12 man :shock:

) - and a North Face dome for weekends.

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 4 Feb 2008, 5:50pm

glueman wrote:We have a large Khyam that gets used for 4 night + stop-overs - it takes a while to put up (12 man ) - and a North Face dome for weekends.

the rapido i can do on my own in 5 mins

and at the £300 ebay price included all matresses, table/sofas/beds, a two ring gas cooker with grill pan & kettle a sink and a gas bottle.

here's one on now, for a better set of pictures

http://preview.tinyurl.com/2jzvkh

exceptional value