The Camping Forum

[Rob-merlin1973]

As planned the first bike is fixed and seems secure

[Admin]

I can see a new business opening for trade in the new season "Merlin's Auto Trailer Conversions"

[Rob-merlin1973]

No this was enough
We will see if it lasts a season without falling apart first

[Admin]

No this was enough
We will see if it lasts a season without falling apart first

Mate looking at the pics you'v added I can see this vision in 200,000 years from now advanced humans scratching their robotic nano bot fusion enhanced heads trying to work out what it is their ancestors had built thousands of years ago.

Its been built to last






(robotic nano bot fusion enhanced heads) dont ask me what this is or what advantage it would provide? i dont have a clue but it sounds cool

[Rob-merlin1973]

Cheers
Fingers crossed

[Rob-merlin1973]

I have finaly taken the trailer home now.
Towed ok and bikes were secure but i think i may have to drop it on a weigh bridge as it is unbraked at the moment and if the fully laden weight is too much i may have to put some brakes on it.
Here is the finished product.

[Admin]

Is their a law that dictates at which weight a trailer/towed device has to be fitted with breaks??

[Rob-merlin1973]

Yes the trailer can only be either 750kg or 50% of the cars Kerb weight.

[Rob-merlin1973]

Put it on the weigh bridge .......

Put all the usuall stuff in it and the bikes on top ...........

and ............

727 kg

Allowing for a little more weight with a wet tent this is a good result and means that i wont have to remove all the axel and spend another 2-300 pounds on fitting a breaking system ...WOOO HOOOO

[Admin]

Put it on the weigh bridge .......

Put all the usuall stuff in it and the bikes on top ...........

and ............

727 kg

Allowing for a little more weight with a wet tent this is a good result and means that i wont have to remove all the axel and spend another 2-300 pounds on fitting a breaking system ...WOOO HOOOO

Excellent result

[Rob-merlin1973]

Have to admit it was bloody lucky.
with all my planning i never considered the weight issue until it was to late

[in-a-tent]

Have to admit I have no idea what our trailer weighs fully loaded.

[Rob-merlin1973]

Usually it is not a problem but with the size increases i had done i was a little worried

[Rob-merlin1973]

Just a little add on to this as the season approaches...

Make sure before you go away that you check your trailers over.

Many of us after the winter will just hitch up and go but be aware.. When your trailer has been standing the tyres will have flatspots which will make them horrible to tow. I always store my trailer with the tyres off the floor or i roll it about every couple of weeks.
I also make sure i grease all the hubs and shafts and check that all bolts are tight and that the tyres are at the correct pressure and check that all the lights are working.
One last thing is to get a little grease and grease your tow ball or your hitch socket to stop friction when towing.

You dont need to have a service on a trailer but think about the miles it does and the weight it carries, check it out, Happy camping

[Wayne]

I have only just found this thread and enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

Well played with the weight issue, It crossed my mind how heavy it might be for an un-braked unit

I agree with your remarks on checking your trailer over after winter, and before each outing (regarding tyre pressure and lamps)

Also, if you are buying a new trailer and it comes flat packed, consider smearing Vaseline n every thread and nut (and I mean everything), it makes life so much easier if yo have to undo any and protects them from the element. Also check everything is tight after the first outing and keep a small tool kit with the trailer that covers most of the required spanners. Does the wheel brace for your car actually fit the trailer and did you invest in a spare wheel for your trailer

Question:
Something that has puzzled me slightly is the issue concerning the break away cable on the trailers (forget about braked models, I know there slightly different). Mine has a chain that is fixed to a bolt on the trailer arm and forms a loop that I just drop over the ball on the car towbar, does that sound right or should it be physically fixed to the car