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Subject Topic: Need help with trailer towing weight Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTeekayk
10/1/2013 at 12:29pm
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Hello everyone,

I'm very new to camping and this is my first post !,

Can anyone clarify for me...... We have a Toyota corolla verso with a mass in service from my V5 of 1495kg. I understand I can tow half that weight, just under 750 kg which would be fine as we have just ordered a new trailer with that gross capacity.
However, further down on the V5 document it says technical permissible maximum towable mass for an unbraked trailer is 450kg.
So, can I only tow a gross capacity of 450kg ? That seems a little low as we don't tend to travel light !

Any help would be most greatly appreciated.


PersonAngus1215
10/1/2013 at 1:05pm
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If your V5 says you can only tow 450kgs un braked, then that's what your limit is. End of.

You will therefore need a braked trailer to exceed 450kgs with this car.


PersonTeekayk
10/1/2013 at 1:13pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Thanks Angus 1215, I was hoping you weren't going to say that .


Persontango55
10/1/2013 at 2:26pm
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The mass in service is the kerbweight of the car plus the total allowance of an unbraked trailer which will be calculated accordingly giving the results on the V5 document which is indicated as 450 kgs. therefore the answer that 'Angus1215' has provided would be correct and agree that to exceed this limit you would either need to upgrade to a braked trailer or downgrade to a lighter unbraked trailer in order to be safe and in compliance with the law. 


PersonGreendemon315
10/1/2013 at 3:13pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
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Are you still in time to cancel the trailer?
You need a braked trailer or a different car.

Jim


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PersonTeekayk
10/1/2013 at 3:24pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Thank you for your replies. Luckily, I can change the trailer to a braked one if necessary. Just hadn't planned to spend the price of a braked one. May just have to limit my luggage for the time being !


PersonGreendemon315
10/1/2013 at 4:12pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
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It will cost more changing it later. Bite the bullet and get it over with.
It would be too easy to end up overweight, and that would cost more than the alternative.

Jim


PersonOpensauce
10/1/2013 at 6:31pm
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It depends what you are carrying in the trailer. If it is just camping gear, ie tent, furniture & cooker etc, just the usual stuff then I'm guessing you won't get anywhere near 450kg gross weight, ie total on road weight of trailer & load.

Erde website for example shows me a 750kg gvw trailer at 160kg empty weight giving you a payload of 290kg to tow with your car, A full load of normal camping gear would weigh nowhere near this. I suggest you weigh all your gear & go from there.


PersonTeekayk
10/1/2013 at 6:55pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Thank you Tentz !

To be honest, as we're just starting out we don't know how much all our stuff will weigh as we haven't bought it all yet. I know the tent weighs 70-80 kg and we have 3 heavy fishing bedchairs weighing a total of 40 kg. We were hoping to take bikes on top of the trailer too, but think it may all be too much with table etc ?
Need to try to weigh my bikes and consider my options. Thanks for your input - always glad to hear an experienced campers advice.


PersonOpensauce
10/1/2013 at 7:20pm
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Even with say, 3-4 mountain bikes at 15-20kg each, gas bottles, tent, chairs etc I can't see it being much more that 200kg so still a good margin. I can't really see a problem & you can of course carry some items in boot of car.


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PersonFrancais
13/1/2013 at 9:40am
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Hi Teekayk.
           We have a similiar sitution the VW Golf (1.6 TDi) firms car that I drive is rated to 1400kg for a braked trailer but it's unbraked rating is 650kg and I was seriously considering getting one of the Anssems braked trailers but at £2.5k I decided to stick with what we have got, as it only cost £800 new with all the extras back in 2008.

Having said that our current trailer is now tipping the scales at 570kg when loaded with all the camping kit, the lowest it has ever been was 460kg back in 2008, and there is only the two of us, thankfully though we are at a stage now were there is no more camping kit to be added, we just replace existing crap/worn items for better stuff.

In fact we have just replaced our 2 Aldi 20 LED lanterns for a couple of Outwell 400LX-R lanterns which are much much brighter than the Aldi ones.

If the trailer you are getting is lightweight say 100kg you should be OK as that will allow for 350kg of camping kit even now our kit is 350kg and we have a heavy cotton tent, the trailer empty comes in at 220kg c/w ABS Lid RoofRack, Tongue Box, RoofBox and Spare wheel.

Post last edited on 13/01/2013 09:53:14


PersonTeekayk
13/1/2013 at 10:25am
 Location: Lancashire
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Hi Francais,

Thanks for the info regarding weight of all your kit etc. It's so difficult to know how much everything weighs when you first start out.
The trailer we had ordered was a brenderup 1205 with side extensions and lid, so not a lightweight one unfortunately.
I am beginning to think I am going way over the top with all our stuff, but hey, I've started now along the "luxury" route and don't like to compromise on comfort !
Going to get a price for an equivalent braked trailer tomorrow and then make our decision.
Looking forward to the camping season !


PersonFrancais
13/1/2013 at 11:02am
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Yep.
    Our Trailer is a little on the heavy side unloaded for it's size, but it's built like a brick S*# House, even the floor is steel.

I would imagine the Brenderup is a little lighter but not by much as it is larger than the Lider Alicante.

The Anssems have Ali sides, which does reduce the weight overall, they make some very nice trailers and prices are OK for the un-braked models, but the braked models do come at a hefty price in comparison.

When I looked into it, a Anssems costing £2.5k here could be had in Holland for around £1.8k helped by the strengthening £ and cheaper prices than the UK to start with, I actually considered making a weekend of it to go and get one from Holland and still would have been quids in.

To put this all in perspective though, a friend of mine just bought a Caravan for £500 and even though it's a unknown age it's in tip top condition.


PersonTeekayk
21/1/2013 at 5:02pm
 Location: Lancashire
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Well we have finally decided to get a brenderup braked 2205 trailer with flat hard top so we have the capacity to take whatever we fancy ! May well save lots of arguments in future, or so I'm hoping.

Thanks for the advice everyone !


PersonGreendemon315
21/1/2013 at 5:33pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
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On the basis that whatever you have is never big enough, that's a good decision.

Jim


Personnavver
21/1/2013 at 8:04pm
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Excellent decision. Don't forget the unbraked trailer limit is there because you must rely on the car brakes to stop the lot. On a long steep descent, brakes get hot and when they reach a certain temperature they fade This means they don't work any more and give off a horrible burning smell.

The unbraked trailer limit will depend upon the car not being too heavily loaded as well. Is that a typical car on holiday, I don't think so.



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