I'm about to buy my first trailer, for occasional moving of rubbish and bits of furniture.
I just got a tow bar fitted, 110 quid for my Ford Focus with single electrics.
I'm looking in the local adtrader, some trailers are braked and some not.
What kind of brakes are we talking about ?
How do they work, and do they require maintenance ?
Are they only required for heavy work ?
Does single electrics support braked trailers ?
Thanks
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Don't know much about the brakes, I run a standard wooden boxed 5 foot trailer and this is unbraked, and I haven't encountered any problems.
Use it for the same as you are talking, going to the dump, shifting small furniture etc.
I know on a caravan, the braking operates from a sensor on the towbar but unsure with trailers.
If it is adding money, I would suggest don't pay extra for the brakes.
Incidentally, if you asked a 5 year old to design a trailer, mines is what they would come up with! A rectangular wooden box with an axle with 2 wheels underneath it, set on a steel chassis!!
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The braked trailer I had reacted to pressure on the tow hitch - i.e. when the trailer tried to gain on the car because the car was slowing, the trailer wheels braked.
I don't think this level of trailer is likely to have a braking system triggered by the braking system on your car and is more likely to be as above.
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Hi
Never had a trailer with brakes - I reckon you're OK if trailer is up to about 5' by 4' - not too heavily built and not too heavily loaded.
I've had two trailers. My first was a'home made' jobbie about 4 ft by 5. It was 'box style' with a removable back section to allow for easy loading / unloading. It was very strong because it was built on a steel chassis with full size car wheels, but very heavy and difficult to store.
I reckoned a small light trailer would be a much better bet, so I sold off the big one and bought a little one about 4 ft by 3 with a 'fixed' box design and small 'trailer' wheels.
Which is best? Well the big heavy one was a beast to maneouvre off the car, but because of its size, I could see it from the driving seat, so reversing was a cinch. I could also remove the back flap and tip out (eg) a load of sand.
This new small one is invisible from the driver's seat and to be honest, I simply can't reverse with it on - I get out, unhook, turn it by hand and re-hitch. Also, because it has fixed sides, everything has to be lifted over the high sides to load and unload - shifting loose stuff like sand is disaster because it all has to be shovelled in and out!
So my main advice would be to get one with a drop flap at the back and high enough to be seen from the driver's seat.
Graeme
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Check www.towsafe.co.uk
Mostly directed at caravan people, but quite a bit of info, before you need part with £13.50
VB
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Braked trailers or caravans, in my experience anyway, work on the over-run. ie when the car brakes, the trailer catches up, which pushes a sliding shaft which activates the brakes, mechanically by rods or cables. The harder the braking, the harder the action on the trailer brakes too.
An unbraked trailer is fine for light loads, but you really need extreme care if pulling something heavy. Remember if you have to stop suddenly the trailer will want to carry on and push you forwards, and if it is not in a straight line it will try to swing round and overtake.
There is a lower towing weight limit for an unbraked trailer, which I can't remember, and I think the speed is limited too - 50 instead of 60 ?
Modern caravans and trailers have a device which lets you go straight into reverse - older ones you have to get out and de-activate the over-run by flicking a catch or lever.
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Braking requirements are prescribed in Regulations 15 and 16 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 as amended and essentially require a trailer with a maximum design laden weight of more 750 kg to be braked and allow an inertia (overrun) type braking system to be used up to a maximum permissible laden weight of 3500kg. In use it is not permitted to use an unbraked trailer the laden weight of which exceeds 50% of the kerbside weight of the towing vehicle.
And in my opinion they are allowing rather too much weight before brakes are needed!
D
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You won't need a braked trailer for this kind of work. I regularly use one for exactly the same jobs. And your single electrics are correct, only caravans etc need the double outlet. Go for a galvanised metal trailer with drop-down tailgate, something like 5ft x 3 ft. You can keep this outside then with less maintenance. There is a big difference in build quality between various ones on the market. Look for thickness gauge of the metal sheeting, payload (should be stamped on the side unless home-made), wheel diameter(best to go for 10 inch wheels or bigger). There are some French ones on the market in the UK now which are very good, about £300 upwards new.
BAz
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A firm called Ifor Williams make a comprehensive range for heavy and lighter duty. They sell more trailers than any other company in the UK - very popular with farmers and builders.
www.ifor-williams-trailers.co.uk
Also see GT Towing - an excellent comprehensive website with prices and much detail..........
www.gttowing.co.uk/towing/trailers/index.htm
KB.
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Thanks for all the advise, much appreciated.
I got myself a second hand unbraked 7ft x 4.5ft for 150 quid.
I'm well pleased, it works fine, and easy to drive with as long as i don't have to reverse.
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