Towing limits: quick question

[KBPhoto]

Please bear with me as I've read loads of websites and articles on this but want to make sure I have this right.

I'm looking to buy a trailer to help shift our possessions to Scotland and have seen one locally at a decent price.

The only information I have on its specification (apart from physical dimensions - nearly 3m long) at present is that it is unbraked and '750 kg'.

The V5C for my Yeti 4x4 CR 170 says "Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer: unbraked: 700 kg.

Does this mean that the weight of the trailer and its payload combined must not exceed 700kg?

When I know the mass of the trailer (awaiting a response from seller) is it simply a question of doing 700 kg minus trailer weight to calculate the payload capacity?

Is there anything else I need to be concerned about with the towing capacity of this unbraked trailer?

Thanks for bearing with me and hopefully giving me a straigh forward answer.

[g6zru]

If in any doubt about the weight after you've loaded drive to a local authority weighbridge. These are usually free and available 24 hours as they are automatic.

 

I would read your question as the loaded weight should not exceed 700kg.

 

Fred

[Rustynuts]

I'd avoid unbraked straight away. 700Kg is nothing really when you start loading things on (especially when the trailer will weigh about half of that). Your limit on any trailer is the total weight, not the payload.

[Frenchtone]

are the regs 700 or 750kgs? here a la frog 750kgs - would have thought that limit was europe wide!

Edited 13 May, 2016 by Frenchtone

[Llanigraham]

Please bear with me as I've read loads of websites and articles on this but want to make sure I have this right.

I'm looking to buy a trailer to help shift our possessions to Scotland and have seen one locally at a decent price.

The only information I have on its specification (apart from physical dimensions - nearly 3m long) at present is that it is unbraked and '750 kg'.

The V5C for my Yeti 4x4 CR 170 says "Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer: unbraked: 700 kg.

Does this mean that the weight of the trailer and its payload combined must not exceed 700kg?

When I know the mass of the trailer (awaiting a response from seller) is it simply a question of doing 700 kg minus trailer weight to calculate the payload capacity?

Is there anything else I need to be concerned about with the towing capacity of this unbraked trailer?

Thanks for bearing with me and hopefully giving me a straigh forward answer.

 

Yes, that is the limit for an UNBRAKED trailer. 

 

Biggest problems I have found with these small trailers is the crap 10" tyres and they are very difficult to reverse. 

[Llanigraham]

are the regs 700 or 750kgs? here a la frog 750kgs - would have thought that limit was europe wide!

 

Max permitted weight for an unbraked trailer in the EU is 750kg, but the car manufacturer can set a lower limit for specific vehicles, as Skoda does for the Yeti.

Some cars have a Nil limit so cannot tow unbraked trailers.

[Llanigraham]

I'd avoid unbraked straight away. 700Kg is nothing really when you start loading things on (especially when the trailer will weigh about half of that). Your limit on any trailer is the total weight, not the payload.

 

Agreed. 

It is very easy to overload these little trailers, and the consequences of getting stopped can be very severe and expensive.

[Frenchtone]

doooohhhhh you're just a trouble maker! : - D) - suppose I'd better rfm then - seems stupid when the braked limit is almost 2 tonnes!

[Frenchtone]

IWT's have big balloon jobs, cf my P6E

[Llanigraham]

doooohhhhh you're just a trouble maker! : - D) - suppose I'd better rfm then - seems stupid when the braked limit is almost 2 tonnes!

 

I suppose they are looking at the extra strain put on the brakes but not having any brakes on the trailer.

Don't need the Handbook; it's all on the plate at the bottom of the B pillar.

[Frenchtone]

who looks down then? - i don't might miss some cracking bit of 'stuff' passing!

[KBPhoto]

Thanks all. Especially Llanigrahm for giving a simple answer for me.

I hear what you are saying about the load being quite small. Once I've got a weight of the trailer from the seller (it is quite a big trailer) I'll have a better idea as to what I can get in there.

Ideally, in the near future, if need a braked trailer of some size for my business; but I simply don't have time to get one made up to my requirements. Maybe I'll leave this if the capacity is going to be so low.

Edited 13 May, 2016 by KBPhoto

[eribaMotters]

I would wait for a braked trailer if you can. I pulled a 500kg unbraked trailer tent after a 1300kg caravan with a VW Touran. Braking with the caravan was far easier.

 

Colin

[VAGCF]

Thanks all. Especially Llanigrahm for giving a simple answer for me.

I hear what you are saying about the load being quite small. Once I've got a weight of the trailer from the seller (it is quite a big trailer) I'll have a better idea as to what I can get in there.

Ideally, in the near future, if need a braked trailer of some size for my business; but I simply don't have time to get one made up to my requirements. Maybe I'll leave this if the capacity is going to be so low.

With the gross weight of the trailer you are considering it sounds like a proper trailer rather than a DIY/Halfords/camping type trailer that some are alluding to?

 

If so and it's an Ifor Williams or similar and even though they are substantially made they weigh e.g. 193kg., so nowhere near half of the gross allowable weight which still leaves a good amount for the load. Also this type of trailer usually has decent 13" tyres which are necessary for the heavier permissible loads. They are easy enough to reverse but one tip is to have a ladder rack fitted to the front so that you can see what the trailer is doing!

 

So unless you intend to carry e.g. heavy washing machines then that type of trailer should serve you well for the move and will be useful to have afterwards for moving larger items even if they are not that heavy.

 

I bought an Ifor Williams P7e which I've used for collecting DIY materials; plasterboard, doors, son's 3 piece suite etc. and my trail bike and for those purposes it has been great and it's a proper mans trailer!

[KBPhoto]

It's quite a bit bigger than your typical camping trailer. The load area is over 6 X 3.5 feet with an 'A' type draw bar. The wheels look to be 13"; definitely not 10".

It comes supplied with a frame and cover taking the height up to about 3.5' (guesstimation) and making it look like a box trailer.

It's made by Wychavon Trailers - so quite local to me.

[VAGCF]

Mine has an internal size of 7' x 4' which is a bit bigger but as you can see is not a massive trailer but still a useful size.

 

From the web-site the Wychavon trailers look to be of a similar standard to Ifor Williams so if it is big enough for your needs looks like a good substantial trailer and a good choice.

[Llanigraham]

They do look like a nice trailer.

Be interested to know what the unladen weight is.

[KBPhoto]

Had confirmation today that the unloaded trailer weight is 110kg plus around 20-30 kg for the cover and frame.

So, 700 kg - 140 kg = 560 kg of potential load that can be carried.

Am I missing anything?

[Llanigraham]

No, your figures look correct. Personally I would allow a small contingency figure in your load, so only fill to 550kg.

 

I have a feeling that as this is a new trailer there should be weight plate on it, similar to the car one. 

[speedsport]

Bear in mind that the biggest issue with towing a trailer isn't making it go, it's making it stop when laden.

Which is why Skoda recommend a max gross trailer weight of less than 750Kg on some models of Yeti. Basically the ability of the brakes to stop the car plus unbraked trailer is being pushed to the limit.

I'm speaking from experience..... as someone who tows a 750kg unbraked trailer with my motor club kit on board, you certainly have to adopt a different driving style when fully laden. It's amazing how heavy 60 big foot cones plus ancillary kit is!

Edited 14 May, 2016 by speedsport

[countryboy]

I agree that the 700 kg is the dross limit and restricts you quite a bit. There are plenty of trailer hire companies out there whom I'm sure you could hire one off for the time you want it for.

 

Ian

[KBPhoto]

Problem with hiring is that I won't be coming back for several weeks! Possibly not until October...

 

Could get more expensive than buying for that long a rental.

[KBPhoto]

Bear in mind that the biggest issue with towing a trailer isn't making it go, it's making it stop when laden.

Which is why Skoda recommend a max gross trailer weight of less than 750Kg on some models of Yeti. Basically the ability of the brakes to stop the car plus unbraked trailer is being pushed to the limit.

I'm speaking from experience..... as someone who tows a 750kg unbraked trailer with my motor club kit on board, you certainly have to adopt a different driving style when fully laden. It's amazing how heavy 60 big foot cones plus ancillary kit is!

 

I'm used to driving large trailers with quite a load on: braked and unbaked; admittedly with a larger vehicle than the Yeti though (usually a LR Defender).

 

The V5C shows a maximum laden weight of 700 kg for my Yeti (the one with the biggest brakes!).

[gumdrop]

I don't have it any more but if my memory serves the big wheeled trailer I used was a Brenderup

I used it for two years and sold it for the same as I paid for it.

[KBPhoto]

Brenderup are good trailers and well known. Doesn't surprise me you lost little on selling it later.

Wychavon are as well known, but I'd expect to get 75% back after a year or so.