Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by campamum on 16/8/2011

---

We have a Nissan Note and this which carries 4 bikes but as you say it goes on the ball bit.
I have been looking at a trailer on Ebay but the cheapest was £120 BIN up north all the rest are over £300!!! or made of plywood!
That other alternative to put the rack on top of the trailer is excellent, Im going to the shop who fitted the tow bar and supplied the Thule and ask for advice!

DIANE, so you use that bike carrier and the trailer at the same time? Do you know if the bike carrier would be able to carry 4 and the trailer at the same time? As I understand it cant ???

Many thanks again for all the helpful replies and suggestions :)

Post last edited on 16/08/2011 12:48:53

---

we've tried to get 3 bikes on with the trailer but the last bike gets in the way of the trailer when turning, so our option this year is to have 1 bike on the  towbar carrier and the other 3 on the roof of car or on the trailer load bars

we're planning to have  a play tomorrow to decide before we set off for France next so will update with pics

Quote: Originally posted by campamum on 16/8/2011

---

UPDATE
I went to a Trailer 'specialist' and they didnt know anything about Thule 'U' brackets (even though they are Thule dealers) they recommended a trailer with loadbars as suggested here.
They also emphasized on the trailer wheelsize, for any long distances to stay away from small wheels as they would turn almost at twice the speed and cause blow out. They recommended a trailer with 13" wheels.
As you would expect they are a bit more expensive but safety must come first! Would you all agree on the tyre size issue??

---

Campamum re trailer whats your budget and which part of UK you in ?

Item number: 170681826808  on Flea Bay has it all and is at a silly price, you would need to get it though.  Reemember the load bars for Erde are £120 , the ABS lid to make it huge new is around £300 and the trailer new is around £400 .

So the all new version would cost over £800 !  Have you checked because the Nissan Note is a very light vehicle, do you have a tow bar fitted yet ? What is the maximum towable weight for that car. Deduct the weight of the trailer from this , and what you have left is the load you can carry without breaking the rules.

Sad to say the weight you will have to watch is the unbraked towing weight !

So if your limit is 510 KG then the Erde 142 is around 100kgs

The bikes would be around .........................................60kgs

The lid ( ABS one on the item I mentioned)....say......... 10kgs

The bars on the trailer....................................................5kgs

Would mean you have  510kgs - 175kgs =  335 kgs of load.

AS an idea your tent bag will weigh about 27kgs, so you could carry 10 of those ! But you might find that your gear changes will have to be watched on downhills, if you have the ability to manual select gears make sure you start steep downhills in your early gears or you break pads might not last to the bottom !  You sure wont be dragging the lads at the lights either.

I too was told the larger wheels are far better ( and safer ) for long distances,,,,, the outer path of an 8" wheel is around 50".... the same for a 13" wheel is 133" so the larger turns less by heading on for 1/3.. could say the little fellas travel a much longer way = more bearing and tyre fatigue.

Quote: Originally posted by campamum on 18/8/2011

---

UPDATE

I got this reply from Thule about the U Brackets you mention, so out of interest can you let us know this Thule product of which you have unique foundamental knowledge ??

Hi,     I am afraid you have been mis-informed – we do not cover this type of conversion and have never advocated this type of conversion. We recommend you use the products as designed.     Best Regards     Mat           Mat Nicholls Technical Department 01275 340404 mat.nicholls at thule.com

That would be the parts Mat sent me in 2007 when I asked about fitting the easy base to my trailer. Which are the 591 u bolts for standard roof bars. Just mounted upside down to secure the easy base to my trailerAlso, Mat sent me fasteners for fitting a Thule Atlantis roof box to a non standard distance roof bar set up in the same parcel.

Please note that Thule no longer send out spare parts directly as they used to prior to their reorganisation in 2010 (accountants took over). Good Thule dealers will supply parts.

Like I said to start, you need to be handy. If you want to look at options available once you have your trailer, let me know.

I walk out of traders premises when they try to sell on the fear of safety.

You have loads of time to get a trailer off ebay, just set your price and stick to it. After the summer the prices drop.

---

The towing weight is a factor of the weight of the vehicle I understand, so because you have an auto the car weighs more and you can tow a little more !  This could be read to say that the heavier the car gets the more you can pull..... however you will fast arrive at the physical limit of the cars ability to pull. Dont forget she is a "town" car and is designed at a strong price point. When you put your six kids,makeup bag, 137 bottles of wine etc into the car it will feel sluggish, hang half of a camping shop on the back and you might need a sail on the roof and good wind!

If you play it gently you should be OK, I hear some people tow small caravans with those.