Would love your advice on trailers, thinking about getting one but have no idea where to start looking, what else would i need for a trailer? What is the best trailer maker?
Here's the process I went through before buying a Brenderup 1150s trailer with extension sides and ABS lid.
* Worked out the combined capacity of my car boot and roof box, as it shows the minimal volume required for the trailer
* Decide on the minimum % increase in volume (I believe I opted for 50%, don't have the exact numbers to hand as the spreadsheet is on the home lappy)
* Look at the offerings by different manufacturer, and I looked at Ifor Williams, Lider and Brenderup, as they were without my reach, all had 13in wheels, and reported to have better build quality than the likes of Erde
* Decided on the model (A frame for stability, and wheel base as it needs to fit into my garage) and options for each brand (extension sides, ABS lid, jockey wheel, spare wheel)
* Started to contact suppliers of these trailers and requests for quotes
The Brenderup 1150s suited me most, and Lichfield Trailer Centre also known as All Fit Towbars and Trailers Limited up in Staffordshire was the best in terms of communications, price and services.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
This is how it was last year...
Top box on car - needed more space
Next erde 102 or 122 with flat cover
Next erde 122 with the raised abs top
Now Brenderup 1150 with the bigger wheels.
All in all we progressed to what we need and have space to store. All these were brought second hand - via an auction site although we also checked cards in newsagents, preloved, the free adverts here, and for sale site (they have the picture of the tree)
Ooo, I forgot to mention, check the height and width of your access, as I forgot to check the height of the opening of my garage, and I only had about 5cm to spare!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
For a decent sized trailer with abs lid and load bars (eg Lider Seville, Brenderup 1150), you're looking at £900.
Second hand probably about £400-£600. So check ebay/gumtree for camping trailers that haven't seen much use. Set up a search that alerts you to newly listed used Erde, Daxara, Lider or Brenderup trailers. Set it to search description as well as title. Sometimes people just put camping trailer in the title. Having a search set up will enable you to snap up any decent buy-it-now bargains. Got my Daxara 158, 13 inch wheels, ABS lid, load bars and spare wheel for £400 that way.
Stick this in the search box and tick the Used option and save the search. (erde, daxara, franc, lider, brenderup, anssems) +trailer
Majority of trailers are 7 pin but don't worry if you have 13pin electrics on your car as adaptors are under £10.
If you do want a trailer with an ABS lid, look for it as a package (2nd hand or new) as its cheaper this way than trying to buy one separately.
Quote: Originally posted by Penlou on 26/6/2014
Good Morning everyone!
Would love your advice on trailers, thinking about getting one but have no idea where to start looking, what else would i need for a trailer? What is the best trailer maker?
hi penlou, well all I can say is not matter wot you go for you will still need extra, I speak from experience.
We started with the boot, then went with boot to topbox, then boot, topbox and trailer, then boot/topbox & trailer with extension and have now gone for boot/topbox/trailer with extension to bigger topbox will it ever end. ps always go for the biggest trailer your car can tow and that you can afford because you will always fill it
------------- canvas for the wind,
a roof for the rain
and tea beside the fire.
Laughter to cheer you,
those you love near you
and all that your heart might desire.
My trailer was one we had already bought to do house renovations with, so over the years we've adapted it to suit us to take camping as well.
I have an Ifor Williams P6e (6.4" x 4.4") mine can carry a quad bike. I'm told the newer ones are slightly smaller though. Hubby bought ours with a ramp so its easy to load heavy things (handy on house renovations as well as camping).
They do come up on ebay but tend to have had a hard life as they are not show pony trailers but you could be lucky and find a looked after one. It's all a matter of what your budget is.
The first year we went camping we took it as it was just bought a cover to go over everything to keep it watertight ....
Last year I got mesh side inserts (three sides) had an Ifor Williams dealer to cut them to fit (as they were originally for a slightly bigger trailer) also got them to cut off the ladder horns on the front. The mesh sides are level with the tailgate ramp (or near enough).
They then measured everything and got made for me a heavy pvc cover that fits over everything keeping my gear watertight.
Here we are at Eurotunnel last year ...
The Ifor Williams isn't a cheap option and it doesn't suit everyone but that's what I had to work with and we plan on continuing camping for as many years as we can comfortably manage, even when my teens don't want to come with us.
BTW, I have been asked by at least two people that if I ever want to sell my trailer they'd be interested as its so well looked after (hubby's job to do that). So while I've invested quite a bit I should get it back if I ever did want to get rid.
Don't forget to get your tow bar fitted now and order a number plate now, so that if one does crop up second hand you can pick it up sooner rather than later.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Trailers
and we plan on continuing camping for as many years as we can comfortably manage, even when my teens don't want to come with us.
