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Topic: Nervous Trailer Owner....

allun13

11/3/2012 at 12:54am
Location: Dartford Kent
Outfit: Pilote Motorhome

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Hi All,

I'm nervous because i've just obtained a very old, very rotten 5X3 wooden Trailer. I've refurbed it and It looks fantastic..

I've always wanted one and now I have one.

So what am I nervous about?

Worried about towing
Worried about loading/packing it correctly
Worried about the nose weight
Worried about reversing
worried about being worried bout trailers...

Seriously, not REALLY over worried bout All of them but do feel a bit anxious bout all of 'em.
Someone put my mind at rest and tell me it's all going to be ok and It'll be just how I imagined towing/owning a trailer to be......Please

Allun

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Its ALWAYS Sunny - the next day......

Camping nutcase

11/3/2012 at 7:13am
Location: Bootle
Outfit: various tents & A steam train

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Things to remember when towing.
You speed is reduced - max 60mph. on motorways etc.
So long as the trailer is narrower than the car, if the car fits through so will the trailer.
You will need wider gaps when pulling out into traffic, at roundabout etc.
Also you braking distance will be increased as the trailer will push you forward.
My trailer is a sod to reverse, so I just unhook, and man handle it.   Lots of people do this with small trailers.   Even Richard who used to back artic over a pit says it is a sod to reverse, because you can not see it and it reacts very quickly.
When we first got a trailer Richard made me tow.   Shove something in the thing and run it around locally so that you get the feel of the thing.
You will get used to it - I know think nothing of taking a load of stuff to the tip in ours.
I have also found that a cargo net is far easier than bungee cords.
When putting waterproof sheets over your camping stuff, sheet from back to front so that the wind can not get under them as easily.

89angela

11/3/2012 at 7:13am
Location: Cheshire
Outfit: Pennine Pullman & Cabanon Tent

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the only way to over come your doubts is to hitch up and tow it try it empty at first it will bounce about a bit but take it steady,the first time i did was collecting our pennine fiesta and bringing it home and that was as wide as the car and weighed 750 kg.you probably wont notice its there just make sure its hitched on correctly[including breakaway cable] tyre pressures are correct.reversing is going to be tough as such a small trailer will turn v quickly probably easier to unhitch and push it.

have fun ange

LewLincs3

11/3/2012 at 8:01am
Location: Grimsby Lincs
Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700

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We've got a smallish one (Erde 122 with ABS lid) and although I can't drive so I can't comment personally, hubby says it's like it's not there...so the thing to remember is that it IS there and drive accordingly!

It makes it so much easier when you're going camping - we just hitch the trailer, pack the stuff that doesn't fit in the trailer in the boot (a couple of tables, the toilet, kitchen box) and the things that live inside the house - Sleeping bags, blankets, clothes etc and off we go.

It's the same arriving home too, just unhitch the trailer, put it in the garage, and unpack the few bits in the car - it makes last minute trips much more enjoyable

Good luck with it!

Post last edited on 11/03/2012 08:54:26

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billy106

11/3/2012 at 8:16am
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Exactly how I felt when first bought our erde 142

The other posts say it all so dont worry too much my only problem is reversing so I just un hitch it then put it back on

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Opensauce

11/3/2012 at 8:22am
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You are not going to exceed your car's noseweight with a small trailer, just ensure you distribute the weight evenly with a slight bias to front. If tyres are many yrs old I suggest you replace them even if tread is ok.

jelboy53

11/3/2012 at 9:13am
Location: Cumbernauld Scotland
Outfit: Monty 6Icarus 500 Halo 300

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I've towed trailers several times over the years..and always been nervous for about the 1st hour of any journey.."Have I connected it up right, are the lights working ok etc etc"...Even though I had double checked all these things before we set off...

I have never ever reversed a trailer except once. TT, Small country side road enclosed by hedges...Tootling along when a big horse trailer came the opposite way...Never even thought about it..reversed straight through a field entrance and let him pass..Other than that I would unhitch and turn it by hand..

At M/way services I would try and find two empty spaces (one in front of the other)Allowing me to drive straight in...and straight out again..or if services busy I would use the lorry park side,as caravans do, and use one of the smaller marked off areas...

One tip I would give if the trailer is lower than the back window of your car, and not easily seen from your driving position..Is to attach some sort of marker to the front or back of the trailer that can be seen from your mirror I used an old whip areaiel (sp) from a car with a small Scotland flag attached so I could check the trailer was still there from time to time...

Daughter, little minx that she was, got her dad good and proper on one trip..Pulled away from the parking at services. Daughter shouts "Dad you've left the trailer behind!!!!" I looked couldn't see the marker..and had brown stuff running down me shorts...she had turned the thing the other way up so I could not see it..After a good laugh..and a stern lecture from me on road safety we continued on our way...

Jelboy.

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gilb29

11/3/2012 at 1:40pm
Location: Northants
Outfit: Sterling Eccles Sport 585

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i have just got a trailer with the abs top and took it out to get used to it.

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dk168

11/3/2012 at 2:01pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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Good advice for future reference when I eventually get my trailer.

Thank you all!

DK

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allun13

11/3/2012 at 6:20pm
Location: Dartford Kent
Outfit: Pilote Motorhome

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Thank you All for the good advice.

Will enjoy being a Trailer owner I'm Sure

Allun

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Its ALWAYS Sunny - the next day......

Jam_Man

11/3/2012 at 10:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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After 10 minutes you really dont notice its there.

Dont try reversing a small trailer, just unhitch and do it by hand.

Acceleration is massively affected so make allowances on motorways etc

Just take it easy and keep speed to 60mph and its a peace of cake!

moppetsdad

12/3/2012 at 5:58am
Location: The foot hills of no
Outfit: A full biohazard su

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Also don't be tempted to take corners wider then you do without a trailer no need unless it is a very very tight one and or your trailer is wider than your car as it will follow you quiet happily most of time you won't even know it is there.

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I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!

mc4martyc

12/3/2012 at 8:11am
Location: South Wales
Outfit: Coleman Coastline Deluxe 8

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Thanks to the advice from me too. Just bought my trailer and am going away with it in 2 weeks so was looking for some tips myself. Its a little streetwise camel the smaller one but will be packed higher with my sun lounger chairs and table tops used for sides, a couple of ratchet straps to tie it down with a tarp and a cargo net over the top of it all. As every other trailer owner, by the sounds of it, i'm not looking forward to reversing but as its kind of the norm to unhook its not gonna be too embaressing lol. I have heard wagon drivers also say they can reverse a full size hgv but can't reverse a small trtailer.

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