Box trailers anyone?

[MrDuke]

Slightly O/T thread, apologies

 

At some point in the near future I'll be needing a decent-size box trailer for work (i.e. around 9'x6'x6') and as I know the square root of sod-all about anything towable, was wondering if anyone with better knowledge could give me some pointers?

 

As I'll be buying 2nd-hand, is there anything in particular to avoid/look out for? Do older ones vary much from newer ones? Are double-axles any better than singles? Etc, etc, etc....

 

Also, is it a totally idiotic idea to buy a 'normal' trailer and convert it myself, or would the effort of welding/carpentry/fibregalss bodging outweigh any saving?

 

 

Ta muchly

[ruffgeezer]

Surely a shite van would be less hassle?

[outlaw118]

Summat like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TWIN-WHEELED- ... 5af044ce80

 

Prices seem to vary pretty wildly, so it appears that Ifor Williams and erde type stuff get big £££s.

As Mr Ruffgeezer said, a shite van, or even better a shite van, like a Scudo/Dispatch/Boxer with the front cut off, and used as a trailer perhaps?

[Cavcraft]

Stripped out caravan.

[MrDuke]

Yep, like the pic ^^^^^ - basically, I don't want to use a van as my only drive, and I can only afford to run one vehicle at the moment. If things go to plan (very big IF) then I'll get a van in due course, but that won't be for a good while yet. The caravan idea sounds practical, but as I'd be using it for occasional delivery to customers it might pose a slight 'image' problem (yes, I know towing with a 17-year-old Citroen won't exactly look slick & professional, but hey...)

 

It was the wildly varying 2nd-hand prices that confused me tbh, there doesn't seem to be any logic behind them - condition, previous use etc don't appear to factor.

[Richard]

It was the wildly varying 2nd-hand prices that confused me tbh, there doesn't seem to be any logic behind them - condition, previous use etc don't appear to factor.

 

That's probably because nobody else knows what they are worth either.

 

I'm pretty sure trailers made after a certain date have to be plated, so you can't really make your own. The things to watch out for are much the same as on a car I think- everything moves that should, nothing moves that shouldn't, tyres, brakes, general condition etc. Double axles can carry more weight than single axles, I think that's the main difference there. Other than that I think it's just a case of looking for something that will do what you want to do.

 

It's worth mentioning that post-1997 licences don't come with trailer entitlement. I can't remember if that restricts you to 750kg gross but it's something to check out if you don't have a load of "+E" classes on your licence.

[MrDuke]

It was the wildly varying 2nd-hand prices that confused me tbh, there doesn't seem to be any logic behind them - condition, previous use etc don't appear to factor.

 

That's probably because nobody else knows what they are worth either.

 

I'm pretty sure trailers made after a certain date have to be plated, so you can't really make your own. The things to watch out for are much the same as on a car I think- everything moves that should, nothing moves that shouldn't, tyres, brakes, general condition etc. Double axles can carry more weight than single axles, I think that's the main difference there. Other than that I think it's just a case of looking for something that will do what you want to do.

 

It's worth mentioning that post-1997 licences don't come with trailer entitlement. I can't remember if that restricts you to 750kg gross but it's something to check out if you don't have a load of "+E" classes on your licence.

 

 

Fair enough and I've got a pre-97 licence so that's one less thing to worry about.

[vulgalour]

My Dad was looking for a box trailer recently and we found that small pony trailers are ideal for the purpose and second hand can be very, very cheap. Of course, they can also be in need of welding, all the rotten wood being replaced and having to be hosed down to get rid of all the animal poo, but that's par for the course with some of the cars people on here buy so it's probably neither here nor there.

[MrDuke]

Well, it seems I shall be denied the opportunity of mucking out a pony-box (that sounds like a euphemism in search of a truly awful meaning) as Mrs_Duke has grabbed a random box trailer off eBay this very night. Apparently it's had 2 newish axles & new tyres, it's waterproof, and only has 3 or 4 big dents. And needs painting. And may not have moved for a year or so. Excellent.

We're supposed to be collecting it in a couple of days, so I suppose now would be a good time to start wondering if the towing electrics on the car even work. Oh, and did I mention I've never even towed a skateboard before?

[keef]

Mine are. Bit smaller than you are looking for, but towing is towing.

 

[keef]

Mine are a bit smaller than you are looking for, but towing is towing.

 

 

 

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