So as you know we had a 24 night camp this summer. It was great, would do it again anytime. But and it is a big one, hubby hates and detests the tetris that goes with camping. He is OK from arriving on site until we have to pack up but the bit right at the start and end he hates. This year we had more stuff as we went electirc, I have no idea how we fitted it in but there was far more on the back seat than we like. He hates it enough that I worry what he will say when I broach our holiday for nex summer. So the obvious solution is a trailer.
Would like advice on the type of towbar to get fitted.
The type of trailer to buy (yes I know it needs to be huge)
Also is there any where in the Yorkshire area we can look at trailers?
Tow bar and electrics was purchased online from P F Jones and delivered to a local garage close to work that has been looking after my car since 2010 for fitting.
However, All-Fit sells and fits tow bars too.
Look out for pre-owned Brenderups on eBay, as they do turn up from time to time (in case you do not mind buying second-hand).
As for which tow bar to fit, I did not have a choice as there was only one available for my 2002 MINI!
Does that mean the trailer is going to be a priority over the Karsten? Hopefully, you are getting both next year!
DK
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You would probably benefit from a 5' x 3' trailer (or dimensions thereabouts). Not sure if there is an 'Indespension' in Yorkshire but if there is I would recommend going there. They sell the Daxara/Erde trailers which are excellent, look stylish and are very durable/reliable. You would probably be after a version like the Daxara 163. Whichever type of trailer you go for, aim for something that has an 'A' frame drawbar - much more stable and better for towing. As for a towbar, get it done professionally at a reputable towbar fitter. The biggest decision is fixed or removable towbar (removable much more expensive, looks a lot better for most of the year when it has been removed and will not compromise safety at all). After that, if you are just towing a trailer, opt for single electric; if you plan to tow a caravan within the lifespan of keeping the car go for a double electric.
However, be aware that trailer purchase and towbar fitting will set you back quite a lot of money (you need to view it as a purchase for the long term).
We got our Trailer back in 2009 when the VAT was still at 15% so that helped a little as my budget was £800, it did seem a big spend at the time, but we have never looked back since.
Although 5ft x 3'7" x 17" we have since added a 520lt RoofBox (Fiamma UltraBox 3) which fits onto the Trailers RoofRack, and a 120lt Trailer Tongue Box, which sits neatly on the "A" Frame of the Trailer.
Again personal choice but I would always opt for 13" Wheels and "A" Frame with ABS Lid.
Check out the Lider Saville with optional High Sides, not too expensive, and if you are getting the towbar at the same time the lads at Redcap garage Blackburn will do you a good deal, not sure if that's to far for you but they are the UK main dealer for Lider.
And this year we added a Kamei Delpin 380lt RoofBox to the car.
The cargo capacity we now have is awesome, with room to spare.
Towbar needs to be thought through, if the car is quite new then go for the dedicated electrics, not the old style lash up and relay solution.
In modern cars, the towbar electrics communicate that the Trailer is attached, and will disable rear parking sensors and introduce management and Alarm so will disable Stop-Start if the car is of that type.
Twin Electric 7pin sockets are out, in favour of Single 13pin which is a more secure bayonet connection in any case. And can be configured for Trailer and or Caravan use.
Personally I think a Swan Neck towbar is neater than the Flange type, we chose the Swan Neck type as we also have a Thule towbar mounted bike rack, which is better suited to a Swan Neck towbar.
Good luck and let us know what you end up with.
Edit = Photo (there is even a bicycle in there somewhere!)
We got our Erde 143 from Here, it comes flatpacked (took about 90 minutes to assemble) and cost us just over £1000 (including delivery), as we added the lockable abs hard top cover and all the extra security, jockey wheel, spare wheel and spare wheel holder offered in the package, our tow bar was purchased and fitted by a professional local company for £200.
My car came with a detachable towbar and 13 pin socket. Fortunately the Brenderup trailer i bought also came with a 13 pin socket. So that is something to check or you will be having one or the other altered or buying an adapter which can be a pain (as i found from experince when i had a caravan and ended up with double velcro taking up the slack in the wires so they didn't trail along the road) As Francais has recommended i too would choose the 13" wheels (hardly any bounce from the trailer when towing, in fact i have to check my rear view mirror occassionally because i forget it is there!) and an 'A' frame keeps things much more stable.
I am so glad i bought my trailer, really does make life a lot easier as i too hated the car tetris game (especially as i was used to putting everything in the caravan). Of course you can leave lots of your gear in the trailer ready for the next holiday if it is kept in a garage or somewhere dry and secure, so packing is not nearly so much of a chore. And don't forget to purchase a wheel clamp and hitchlock to keep it as secure as you can on site.
Do update us with what decision you make, i'm sure you wont regret purchasing one.
Not sure that a removable towbar is safer; it's definitely not any less safe than a fixed one though. When you detach it, you would have to get down to wheel level to detect any attachments at all underneath the car, so visually it is far more aesthetic throughout the majority of the year when you may not use the trailer. My detachable towbar fitting (on a Ford Galaxy) hasn't disabled the rear sensors nor the car's stop -start facility so the effect is negligible.
The biggest decision is fixed or removable towbar (removable much more expensive, looks a lot better for most of the year when it has been removed and will not compromise safety at all).
but in reading this post the poster is saying that it is safer to have a removable bar than a fixed bar just wondering why ?
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I read it to mean that even though the towball is detachable it does not compromise on safety I.e. just because it detaches it won't while you are towing :-)
Here is what we have...
.Tow bar - removable - came with the car (it is NOT a swan neck)
. Trailer we started with a second hand Erde 102 and flat cover
. Trailer - next Erde ABS hard top (the raised one)
. Trailer - Brenderup the one with the A frame and bigger wheels. Has the ABS hard top too but a bit longer. Think 1150 or something similar.
All were purchased second hand.
If Mr Frazzle is reading this, then NO not a bigger one and not a better one thanks.
Sorry to hijack the thread but I am new here and have recently won a erde 102 on eBay with a bespoke lockable check plate lid have I basically wasted my time? Off to collect it on the weejend, my intention was to permanently have a roof box attached to the lid say a 520 litre box. And was hoping that I had been on my finalist bursting at the seams trip.
Also like to add I would still carry a box on the roof.
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Topic: Trailer and towbar advice please
