The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Equipment => Topic started by: fleeced on May 26, 2011, 09:14:16 am
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Ive been looking (well dreaming!) at small livestock trailers, i.e. Ifor p6 size, and lots of websites say it can be towed by a large family car, if anyone has a trailer that sized, what car do you tow it with? Thanks!
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We have a small sheep trailer - think it's called Trojan - single axle, max load 750kgs, unbraked, pretty similar to the Ivor Williams type. We tow it with the old Land Rovers and now a Subaru, previously a Mondeo estate - it tows beautifully, so you hardly know it's there. There are rules and regs - inevitably - about just what weight you can tow braked and unbraked. Worth checking out, but there are some people on here who know the exact regs (I store all that stuff in my OHs head ;D) I have taken my little trailer all over the country full and empty. It only takes about 10 of our sheep at a squeeze, but that is enough for us. It also carts manure, firewood, neeps, motorbikes, timber, furniture, hay, straw, piglets, rubbish and so on 8)
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One of the simpler rules of thumb for towing is to make sure the car is always heavier than the trailer.
Modern cars are quite powerful so there is a tendency to assume that a small powerful car will happily tow a large trailer.
The problem is that side winds and road camber will pull the trailer off course and the heavy trailer will take the car with it.
Therefore, choosing a 4X4 makes a good choice since their additional machinery makes them heavier than a similar size/seating capacity saloon. This is in addition to the 4X4's abilities on bad surfaces, steep slopes etc.
I have an automatic 4X4 which pulls my horse box very nicely. Pulling away up a slope is no problem and changing gear is just one less task to worry about. Modern (well maintained!) brakes mean that engine braking is less of an issue. So controlling the car's speed by changing down and using the engine to slow the car isn't so necessary.
You can get a driving course on trailer towing at some driving schools now. If you haven't tried towing a trailer, this is worthwhile to give you some experience before setting off on your own. My wife and I did this and it was very useful. If you have got your driving licence recently, you may need to pass another driving test for towing as well. But even if you have had your licence a long time, I would recommend some instruction.
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If you past your driving test after 1997 then you must pass a trailer test
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Hiya, We have the P7e, in the following spec, which suits our needs absolutely perfectly:
- Livestock kit (self explanatory, but the canopy is also good for keeping loads dry in nasty weather). Also seriously debating using the top as the roof for a pig ark next year!! ;D
- High mesh sides (Really useful for carting things other than livestock!)
- Wide "Floatation" tyres (possibly a little more drag and trailer width, but worth it on muddy ground)
- Jockey Wheel (standard trailer only came with a prop stand at the front, which was utterly useless!)
- Single prop stand at rear (ok, the original front one moved back - Enables you to stand in to load furniture etc without it tipping up)
Also, we bought the P7e rather than the P6e, and have been very glad of the extra length, although I know it costs a bit more. The P7e also weighs more than the P6e though, so this may swing you in favour of the smaller model if towing behind a car. Have you tried phoning Ifor Williams? They were incredibly helpful when I tried them. Also, your local caravan dealer will probably be able to tell you what your car can legally tow braked and un-braked.
Anyhow, for light loads such as a dismantled 6x4 shed last night, or a few sheep, I would have no hesitation towing it behind my 1.6 diesel Focus. For heavy loads such as logs or rocks (this is one hard working wee trailer!!), I always tow using the 4x4, as I really don't think the car would have enough power. I did try to find out how much the Focus would tow legally, but my local dealer tried to put me onto the Ford helpline at £1.50 a minute :o, so needless to say, I didn't bother trying, and just make sure I use the Landy for anything heavy.
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All vehicles have a maximum towing capacity which is set by the manufacturer. While the plod will probably be unaware of what can tow what if anything bad happens you can be sure the insurance company wiluse everything at their disposal to avoid a pay out.
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I have a Panda 4x4 which is capable of towing up to 3 sheep in a small trailor ... very easy to park! ::)
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Thanks everyone, lots of really helpful and useful things to think about. Ive seen the Bateson 12 LT trailer too which I like the look of, I think I need to go look at a few trailers to help make a decision about what I want etc!
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Most family cars will tow 1500 to 1800 kg and that goes for the little 4*4s too, but braked loads are often double unbraked. That still means that all the single deck Ifor Williams sheep trailers can be safely towed cos the heavier ones are braked.
The problem comes with the horse trailers: my IW 510 weighs 1100kg empty and a pair of hunters is a bit more. Add some water and fodder and you've got 2.5 tonnes for which a serious 4wd is needed. My Nissan is rated at 3 tonnes, the Range Rover will haul 3.5tonnes braked. The IW trailers are wonderful to tow with, utterly stable.
Should also mention that a horse trailer makes a great feed store.
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Most family cars will tow 1500 to 1800 kg and that goes for the little 4*4s too, but braked loads are often double unbraked. That still means that all the single deck Ifor Williams sheep trailers can be safely towed cos the heavier ones are braked.
The problem comes with the horse trailers: my IW 510 weighs 1100kg empty and a pair of hunters is a bit more. Add some water and fodder and you've got 2.5 tonnes for which a serious 4wd is needed. My Nissan is rated at 3 tonnes, the Range Rover will haul 3.5tonnes braked. The IW trailers are wonderful to tow with, utterly stable.
Should also mention that a horse trailer makes a great feed store.
Yes horses soon add a fair bit of weight too anything! We had a horsebox when I used to take mine out and about as my mare refuses point blank to get in trailers!
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Ah, a posh mare!
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Posh isnt the word Id use... Pain in the.... might be more like it :) :horse:
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Try finding your car on here http://www.gocaravanning.com/cars/towcars.html (http://www.gocaravanning.com/cars/towcars.html)
Will tell you what weight you can safely tow.
We used to tow a small Sinclair horse trailer with one horse in it with a Citroën C5, coped well enough.
The posh mare would only ever load on the lorry, until we upgraded the trailer to an equitrek which she loves to ride in. The old Sinclair is now used to store a couple of big hay bales.
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If you past your driving test after 1997 then you must pass a trailer test
No, you don't.
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i was under the impresion you had to sit a seperate test for towing a trailor you will need to pass on your info
heard recently of a 16 year old that past his tractor test and was carting silage with the high capacity trailors is that legal or not (on the highway) :farmer:
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There's a lot of confusion about the need to pass an extra test for towing if you passed your driving test after 1997.
As far as I understand, there is no need for an extra test if you are towing a trailer lighter than the car manufactures recommends, and the total weight of car and trailer is under 3500kg.
I lot of people think that you can't tow anything until you have passed a test which is not true. However it may well be a good idea to get some qualified instruction before towing for the first time regardless.
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Drivers Licence
Holders of driving licences issued before July 1996 and providing that they have Group A or if after 1990, category B, are entitled to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to a maximum train weight of 8.25 tons.
However holders of car licences issued after July 1996 will only be able to drive a vehicle and trailer combination of up to 3500kg assuming that the trailer and its load are lighter than the towing vehicle. ie. a 2000kg vehicle with a 1500kg trailer. To tow a larger trailer weighing up to 3500kg a B + E licence must be obtained.Size
Unless you are towing with a vehicle equipped with an air brakes system that is capable of being connected to the trailer, the heaviest trailer allowed on UK roads is 3500kg gross wt.
Maximum length (excluding coupling and drawbar) 7 metres
Maximum width 2.55 metres
Check the manufacturer's recommended towing weight limit for your vehicle. This should be in the handbook and on the VIN plate on the chasis.
Unbraked trailers
No unbraked trailer is allowed to have a plated gross vehicle weight* of more than 750 kg. No unbraked trailer is allowed to have a plated gross vehicle weight that is more than half the kerb weight of the vehicle that is towing it.
*The combined weight of the trailer and the maximum amount of cargo it is designed to carry.
Braked Trailers
Although trailers with overrun brakes can weigh up to 3500kg gross, actual maximum weights are set by the specifications of the vehicle that is doing the towing. The law says you must not exceed the Gross Train Weight that the manufacturer has set for the towing vehicle. Look in the vehilce handbook or on a plate riveted to the vehicle to find this figure. You then have to subtract the weight of the towing vehicle (including fuel, driver, passengers, luggage or cargo) from the Gross Train Weight. The amount you are left with is the maximum theoretically-possible weight of trailer that can be towed legally. REMEMBER, the law does not care whether the trailer is empty or packed to the roof with bricks, what counts is the plated gross vehicle weight of the trailer.
Loading
Your load must be securely tied down.
Check your load doesn’t exceed the trailer's specification.
Loads should be evenly distributed and recommended nose weight limit should not be exceeded.
Load projections should be avoided to minimise risk to others.
Lighting for Trailers
Trailers must have two red sidelights, two red stop lights, a number plate light, two triangular red reflectors and amber indicators (which flash between 60 and 120 times per minute) at the rear. Trailers over 1.3m wide must also have one fog lamp, mounted either in the centre of the vehilce or to the right of centre. Front reflectors are required for trailers less than 1.6m wide and front position lights for trailers wider than 1.6m.
Number Plates
Trailers are required to have legal number plates manufactured by a licensed number plate manufacturer.
Couplings
Trailers should be fitted with 50mm ball coupling to ISO and BSI standards.
Unbraked trailers must have a stout secondary coupling, such as a chain, which is connected securely to the towing vehicle when it is being towed. The secondary coupling must be tight enough to prevent the trailer's tow hitch from hitting the ground if the vehicle becomes uncoupled.
Braked trailers must be fitted with hydraulically damped coupling and auto reverse brakes to give braking efficiencies required by EEC Directive 71/320. All wheels must be braked. Braked trailers must be fitted with a breakaway cable. This must be attached to the towing vehicle in such a manner so that, should the trailer become detached, the breakaway cable will operate the trailer's brakes. It is not advisable to connect the breakaway cable to the towball itself, unless it cannot be avoided. Most tow bars have either a drilled hole, or pigtail attachment, specifically intended to accept the breakaway cable's spring clip.
Braked trailers must be fitted with a parking brake that operates on at least two road wheels on the same axle.
Speed
The maximum speed limit for trailers is 60mph on motorways and dual carriageways. The limit on other roads is 50mph unless a lower road speed limit is in operation. Trailers are not permitted in the outside lane of motorways.
Towing vehicle
Having ensured that the towing vehicle is suitable size for the trailer, ensure that the towing bracket is of an approved type and is properly secured. A 50mm diameter towing ball is mormally required to British Standard BS AU113L 1979 or ISO Standard 1103, this will have a flat top which is stamped ISO 50.
If the towing jaw is used it must comply with the requirements of BS AU 24 1964
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Rules and regulations are so depressingly LONG. But useful info TheCaptain, thanks. I always forget that- I keep thinking I will have to make the OH take the test, but in actual fact he doesn't need to.
To go back to the orginal question, we used to have the little 6x4 Ifor Williams trailer- should have kept it really when we got the bigger one because it is so useful. I have always found it's best to use a car with a 1.6 engine to tow it, and preferabley a diesel engine copes better with it. Did once use a 1.4 engine when the trailer was empty, but I don't think the engine on that would be enough to put anything much into the trailer!
It towed beautifully behind my 1.8 diesel Citroen (Berlingo style) van for years. But also could be taken, as long it wasn't loaded too heavily, by my old 1.6 diesel Astra.
Beth