Trailer Advice needed

[BillN]

I would like to buy a small trailer to tow behind my SAAB Estate.

What I need is one that I can put an Airhead on, plus double up as something that I can use for taking stuff back and forwards to France etc., plus sand and all that crap

I would like to be able to tow at 70 mph plus on the French Autoroutes

I know very little about trailers etc.,

Can anyone offer advice of which type and all this funny info about "noise weight" etc., etc.

I want to buy the trailer in the UK............a good secondhand one off Ebay would be my first port of call.

As most of us Airhead owner are having our afternoon nap...........I can wait until this evening for advice


Cheers

 

[doyle]

Check out 'Ifor Williams trailers' I would suggest if you are going to be doing a lot of towing to the continent and at speed i would buy a new one. Ifor williams are as good as you get i know folk that tow daily and have trailers 15 years old,i use one myself and can't fault it. pricey though. lots of different models too.

 

[MickDB1]

Just sold my Loadlugger to a guy on the site
I loved it but was not using it as much as I thought I would
Or more like I used it 5 times to 10 for me mates/family
I would get a 4 wheeler with either a body top on or fit a top to it
when I had two airheads in and luggage the nose weight was 70lbs
weight on the ball of vehicle
I was to use it at doo's using the trailer to sleepin as well -
Another use I supose
definately get a 4 wheeler
I called it my Mickybago

 

[(RIP) Proff]

I would like to buy a small trailer to tow behind my SAAB Estate.

What I need is one that I can put an Airhead on, plus double up as something that I can use for taking stuff back and forwards to France etc., plus sand and all that crap

I would like to be able to tow at 70 mph plus on the French Autoroutes

I know very little about trailers etc.,

Can anyone offer advice of which type and all this funny info about "noise weight" etc., etc.

I want to buy the trailer in the UK............a good secondhand one off Ebay would be my first port of call.

As most of us Airhead owner are having our afternoon nap...........I can wait until this evening for advice


Cheers

Bill I ,might have something to interest you at the Weekend do ....
BUT regarding towing at 70 plus

Be Careful as limit is 60 mph or 110 kph on continent but only on certain roads otherwise 100kph..
You are not under any circumstances allowed in outside lane of 3 or 4 lane road
Doing so = Points and big fine...so welcome to the 9 mile overtake club when 2 dickhead lorry drivers try to pass with 1/4 kph difference in speed
You can tow any trailer up to 750 kgs gross unbraked, over that weight they MUST be braked with suitable breakaway cables to operate ratchet brake if trailer becomes unhitched

You must also have the same cable on an unbraked trailer but in that case it's called a "Safety Cable"

The French Police are red hot on that, like the bloody hi viz tabards

Nose weight , my own way is use set of old bathroom scales and make sure the trailer has around 8 stone, 112lbs, 50 kgs resting down on hitch.
NEVER EVER have it "Balanced" as that will lead to tail wagging dog syndrome


FYI I have towed my own ERDE pm310 at over 110 mph once or twice, but I HAD replaced stupid ERDE metal sided bearings with SKF rubber sealed ones

 

[BillN]

Bill I ,might have something to interest you at the Weekend do ....
BUT regarding towing at 70 plus

Be Careful as limit is 60 mph or 110 kph on continent..

Is that 110kph on the Autoroutes

You are not under any circumstances allowed in outside lane of 3 or 4 lane road
Doing so = Points and big fine...

You can tow any trailer up to 750 kgs gross unbraked, over that weight they MUST be braked with suitable breakaway cables to operate ratchet brake if trailer becomes unhitched

You must also have the same cable on an unbraked trailer but in that case it's called a "Safety Cable"

I do not understand all this crap

The French Police are red hot on that, like the bloody hi viz tabards

The frogs fly by me on the Autoroute at speeds of 80mph pulling a little ERDE trailers


FYI I have towed my own ERDE pm310 at over 110 mph once or twice, but I HAD replaced stupid ERDE metal sided bearings with SKF rubber sealed ones

I normally drive non-stop down to near Bordeaux - it takes me about 12 hours via the Tunnel - about 1100kms - I cannot see me ever stopping en route, so maybe I should forget the idea and buy a Van

 

[(RIP) Proff]

Just sold my Loadlugger to a guy on the site
I loved it but was not using it as much as I thought I would
Or more like I used it 5 times to 10 for me mates/family
I would get a 4 wheeler with either a body top on or fit a top to it
when I had two airheads in and luggage the nose weight was 70lbs
weight on the ball of vehicle
I was to use it at doo's using the trailer to sleepin as well -
Another use I supose
definately get a 4 wheeler
I called it my Mickybago

Ya Bugger, Never saw that for sale
I'd have had it like a shot

 

[Redboots]

FYI I have towed my own ERDE pm310 at over 110 mph once or twice, but I HAD replaced stupid ERDE metal sided bearings with SKF rubber sealed ones

That's why we add an M to the front of the name... Merde

John

 

[ianboydsnr]

I have a fully enclosed bike trailer, fits a 1150gs neatly inside or a 1100rt aparently the last owner had a triumph rocket 3 in it, tows well, uses 13 inch wheels, not new but in fairly good condition, used to tow bike to events, then unload bike, blow up bed and use it to camp in, you'll have to wait for pictures as its stored elsewhere.

want £600 for it

sorry proff, its not braked and it has 2 wheels

 

[(RIP) Proff]

I have a fully enclosed bike trailer, fits a 1150gs neatly inside or a 1100rt aparently the last owner had a triumph rocket 3 in it, tows well, uses 13 inch wheels, not new but in fairly good condition, used to tow bike to events, then unload bike, blow up bed and use it to camp in, you'll have to wait for pictures as its stored elsewhere.

want £600 for it

Braked or Unbraked ??

 

[Voyager]

Bill, Its best to familiarise yourself with the legal and safety aspects (often the same) of towing before you start.

Indespension used to produce a very handy booklet / catalogue that gave lots of helpful hints and safety tips.

I have three trailers - from a large Ifor Williams HB510 Horse Trailer that I tow with a Toyota Landcruiser Colorado down to an 8' 6" x 4' 3" - bodied twin-axle unbraked job that I made. I tow this behind a Ford Focus TDDi Estate (can't see it if its behind the Colorado ). Add to that 30+ years of towing boats, car transporters etc up to 2.5 tons.

I am often apalled by the state of some trailers I see on the road, people seem to put them in the same category as old wheelbarrows ! yet the consequences of them going pear-shaped can be disasterous.

Good luck in your search, its very handy to be able to hitch up a trailer and move some heavy stuff - but it brings with it responsibilities and a need for maintenance, preparation and care.

(At least you're not transporting livestock . . That is a particularly stressful occupation ).

Bob.

 

[pjt]

Hi,
Not towed a bike but tow a caravan or a camping trailer.
With the small trailer never had a problem as long as it was nose heavy, if you can't lift it then it's too heavy if it feels like a bag of shopping too light. If you want to be correct check your car handbook, I think Saab recommend 75Kg which is higher than most manufacturers.

I had the trailer made to my own specification, using 10inch wheels. Have towed at speeds of upto 80mph without problems, just make sure tyres and suspension can cope with the loaded weight. Useful to get a hitch that will lock to the tow ball. Suggest you find a local trailer manufacturer and talk to then about the flexibility of your needs and you should be able to get what you want for very little extra cost. If you want to buy off the shelf I think the company to look at is Lider who are actually a french company. Good Luck.