Converting a big trailer

[Nauti Buoy]

I am looking for a trailer to take my Rib, how easy would it be to convert the breaks on this trailer to normal breaks, also anyone know the approximate cost. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

I am looking for a trailer to take my Rib, how easy would it be to convert the breaks on this trailer to normal breaks, also anyone know the approximate cost. Any advice would be appreciated.

Legally, probably not. It'll have way too high a Max Authorised Mass to use surge brakes. You might get away with vaccuum operated brakes but I wouldn't be surprised if that trailer has to be MOT'd yearly.

You COULD change the axles though-as long as you can get the weights right.

Is it drum or disk brakes?

How much does the boat weigh?

[Nos4r2]

A bit of sideways thinking for you-why not spend a couple of grand on an old 7.5 tonner to tow that trailer with the airbrakes attached? It'll probably do more to the gallon than towing with a 4x4 or van and it'll be a load easier to tow with.

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

How much does the boat weigh?

The rib weighs 2700kg. Will give SBS a call tomorrow, see what weight the trailer comes in at.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

The rib weighs 2700kg.

Is that the dry weight?

Rich, do you realise that with a 2.7 tonne boat, you will need a trailer weighing under 800kg to tow legally without assisted brakes like that trailer has?
I would estimate that the trialer in the picture weighs in excess of 1000kg (Our trailer for Blue Ice weighs nearly 700kg).

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by Richard B

Is that the dry weight?

Rich, do you realise that with a 2.7 tonne boat, you will need a trailer weighing under 800kg to tow legally without assisted brakes like that trailer has?
I would estimate that the trialer in the picture weighs in excess of 1000kg (Our trailer for Blue Ice weighs nearly 700kg).

Yes that is the dry weight, small amount of kit on board.

[Richard B]

'kinnell!

Buy a lorry like Nos suggests!

[Nos4r2]

An 800kg trailer for a boat that size isn't a realistic prospect.

It's actually a realistic idea to use a 7.5 tonner as long as you're only using it for private use-and it's even easier if it's a motorhome

Don't bother if you're going to use it for commercial use (any use for a company will be covered by this) as you'll have to take a Certificate of Professional Competence then apply for an operator's licence which is horribly involved. Then you have to have it inspected every few weeks too...

You don't have to mess around doing any of that as long as it's private use only.

[bedajim]

How often/far are you going to tow it and what with ?

James

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by bedajim

How often/far are you going to tow it and what with ?

James

Towing would only be occasionally, possibly once/twice per month. Also I would be towing it with a Landrover Discovery TD5.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

Towing would only be occasionally, possibly once/twice per month. Also I would be towing it with a Landrover Discovery TD5.

We move our sail boat by hiab lorry saves loads of hassle etc but we only do it couple of times a year so may not be much good to you

They collected my rib from the tube people in Layland and delivered it to Northants for about £250.00 for an idea on price.

How much can the Disco tow?

James

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by bedajim

How much can the Disco tow?

3500kg, Braked Trailer

[Mark Halliday]

Richard
Nos and James have a point.
A mate of mine used Graham Lashley from Southbourne to move his 25' saily bote around at a reasonable rate.

The have a selection of trucks up to a 4 x 8 with a 25t Hiab.
You will need a simple cradle made up to sit it on the bed.
It could work out better than a trailer when you take storage etc. in to consideration.

Otherwise you could get a PTO pump fitted to your disco for the air brakes. I am sure there is still a PTO take off on TD5s. No doubt BogMonster or Coders will confirm or not.

[Bigmuz7]

If you were towing anything greater than 750 kgs with a non HGV 7.5 tonner, you would require a class one HGV license, regardless of whether it was private use or not. You would be excluded from requiring a tacograpgh its fair to say, but IMHO, I still think it needs to be run under an operators licence, which would mean it needs plated, as well as the trailer. You might find a 7.5 tonner is limited to overrun brakes at 3.5 tonne, whereafter they need to be close coupled air brakes

[mdt]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

If you were towing anything greater than 750 kgs with a non HGV 7.5 tonner, you would require a class one HGV license, regardless of whether it was private use or not.

so dose that mean that every time you see a car being trailered by say a Discovery that they are needing a Class 1.

my understanding was so long as the "train weight" is under 7.5t you are fine on the "old style" normal car license? yep over 750kg the trailer needs to have brakes fitted (and working).????

[Carl]

anyway more to the point,has anyone been in a car when lazy buoy is driving, the locals refer to him as the bloke who used to drive for miss daisy cant think of anything worse than him in a truck/let alone towing hahahahahaah

[BogMonster]

"Some" Land Rovers can tow a trailer up to 4000kg if it has coupled brakes but I have never seen such a system nor do I know what it involves. I'd have to check the book to see what a Discovery Td5 can tow.

The limit on Defender/Discovery vehicles using trailers with over-run brakes is 3500kg, unbraked trailers (or off road) 750kg.

Any vehicle with an LT230 transfer box can in theory have a PTO fitted subject to clearance underneath for the required item, so a Discovery Td5 would be OK with that. It probably wouldn't have the toothed PTO input gear in the transfer box but I expect it could be changed for a type that does, though I doubt whether the brake assistance works off the PTO anyway, I have a vague notion it is electrically operated?

The 7.5 tonner route might be worth looking at, somebody I vaguely know in the UK has just got a small truck to cart around his winch challenge vehicle (rather than using a big trailer) because it was the most sensible solution,

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

If you were towing anything greater than 750 kgs with a non HGV 7.5 tonner, you would require a class one HGV license,....

Says who?

<edit> see here for rules.....http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ons/DG_4022547

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

If you were towing anything greater than 750 kgs with a non HGV 7.5 tonner, you would require a class one HGV license, regardless of whether it was private use or not. You would be excluded from requiring a tacograpgh its fair to say, but IMHO, I still think it needs to be run under an operators licence, which would mean it needs plated, as well as the trailer. You might find a 7.5 tonner is limited to overrun brakes at 3.5 tonne, whereafter they need to be close coupled air brakes

Wrong.There's no such thing as an HGV 7.5 tonner
You need a C1E licence (up to 7.5 tonne with trailer, MAM 12000kg but usually restricted to 8250kg unless you hold an HGV C+E)

You don't need an operators licence for private use. Take a look at all the horseboxes. I can hire a tractor unit and it's perfectly legal-as long as it's not for hire/reward-at which point I need an operator's licence.

If used as a motorhome it WILL need to be plated but it's not quite as severe as the commercial test-though anything that's serviced regularly and all faults addressed will pass anyway.

[Nos4r2]

I wouldn't want to try driving with a PTO engaged. There won't be much of a gearbox left and the chance of making it past 2nd gear is slim. Driving with a PTO engaged causes so much drag you can't change gear.

Is it a realistic prospect to install a belt-driven 2nd vaccuum pump to power vac-assist brakes?