trailer storage
Discussion
Hi All,
I am in a bit of dilemma and hope people can give me an idea of what I could do .
I basically do some track days on my car and as it stands, I have to pay £70 for trailer hire everytime and have the stress of ensuring the trailer is not damaged.
This is because they claim any damage against my insurance which as you know once claimed the premium will go sky high. so normally sleep in the car which is not great.
so my best options are :
1. buy a trailer to tow my 328i bmw
2.get a car transporter.
the option 1 is the best as it costs around 1-1.5 k for a decent one but my issue is storage, does anyone has any idea on where it can be stored or kept safe ? I have today just found out I could store it in caravan sites and quite pleased but I am in north london and charges are a bit high. found one place with 24 access, camera etc for £480 per year
2nd option is to get a beavertail or flat bed but the cost of getting the car is 3-5k plus mot and insurance and ... which the cost will go into 1000s per year for the car to stand there and do nothing.
what would you have done if you were me ? continue to rent or buy a trailer?
how much should a expect to pay for a trailer that can tow my 1.5 ton bmw and what are the brands out there?
I am in a bit of dilemma and hope people can give me an idea of what I could do .
I basically do some track days on my car and as it stands, I have to pay £70 for trailer hire everytime and have the stress of ensuring the trailer is not damaged.
This is because they claim any damage against my insurance which as you know once claimed the premium will go sky high. so normally sleep in the car which is not great.
so my best options are :
1. buy a trailer to tow my 328i bmw
2.get a car transporter.
the option 1 is the best as it costs around 1-1.5 k for a decent one but my issue is storage, does anyone has any idea on where it can be stored or kept safe ? I have today just found out I could store it in caravan sites and quite pleased but I am in north london and charges are a bit high. found one place with 24 access, camera etc for £480 per year
2nd option is to get a beavertail or flat bed but the cost of getting the car is 3-5k plus mot and insurance and ... which the cost will go into 1000s per year for the car to stand there and do nothing.
what would you have done if you were me ? continue to rent or buy a trailer?
how much should a expect to pay for a trailer that can tow my 1.5 ton bmw and what are the brands out there?
stranger12 said:
I basically do some track days on my car and as it stands, I have to pay £70 for trailer hire everytime and have the stress of ensuring the trailer is not damaged.
the option 1 is the best as it costs around 1-1.5 k for a decent one but my issue is storage
I am in north london and charges are a bit high. found one place with 24 access, camera etc for £480 per year
How many track days do you do a year? Because JUST the storage for that would pay for seven rentals a year, even before you look at the purchase cost and maintenance.the option 1 is the best as it costs around 1-1.5 k for a decent one but my issue is storage
I am in north london and charges are a bit high. found one place with 24 access, camera etc for £480 per year
stranger12 said:
how much should a expect to pay for a trailer that can tow my 1.5 ton bmw and what are the brands out there?
A grand is starting money for anything not particularly foetid.Brian James is the biggest name in car transporter trailers.
Oh, and I presume you've got a fairly large towcar to be dragging two ton (with trailer) about, yep?
I have a trailer and although I do just about have room to keep it it takes up a large footprint which is space I could happily use. I have been weighing up options like this too. I also thought about getting an engine hoist/crane and modding it so the trailer could be stored on it's side, but not sure whether it would work.
Where do you do your trackdays? We are storing clients cars on-site at Donington Park for a grand a year, no cost if you want to use the car at Donington and £125+VAT if you want to use it anywhere else in the UK (any BaT event, or any third party event where the BaT truck is headed with the Caterhams).
Just something to consider if you only do a few track days a year and don't want the hassle of needing a trailer and decent tow car.
Jonny
BaT
Just something to consider if you only do a few track days a year and don't want the hassle of needing a trailer and decent tow car.
Jonny
BaT
i may do 5-10 depending on budget if the car is ok and ...
but the thing with rental is , most drift days are on wednesday and that means I have to pick it up during working hours(9-6 or 8-5 depending on whom I am renting it from) then obviously I won't be back the same day by the time they close thus what can be a one day job turns into a 3 day job .
for instance if I am going for car track or drift track day on wednesday, I have to travel 30 miles on Tuesday evening to pick it up and then return it on thursday morning . this is a nightmare as I have to take time off and also sleep in the car.
with my own trailer and places which offer a 24 hours access , i could wake up at 5-6 am , go there pick it up and return it at 7-8pm. you see now why I am willing to buy one ?
in addition if I need to take the car to mechanic etc , it doesn't mean I have to pay for 1 day of using the trailer, I will just pick mine up. that it.
based on above I have justified the cost even if it means I may do 2-3 track days a year ( very tight on budget)
in terms of brand etc, I have seen some trailers out there costing 1300 or less and are 5 meter long which is what I need. would I be safe going with any trailer which looks strong ? or should I look for known brands which are obviously more expensive .
in terms of maintenance, I can do all of the works on the trailer which I guess will be brake and hitch servicing, is that it ?
what is a typical maintenance cost for owning a trailer?
but the thing with rental is , most drift days are on wednesday and that means I have to pick it up during working hours(9-6 or 8-5 depending on whom I am renting it from) then obviously I won't be back the same day by the time they close thus what can be a one day job turns into a 3 day job .
for instance if I am going for car track or drift track day on wednesday, I have to travel 30 miles on Tuesday evening to pick it up and then return it on thursday morning . this is a nightmare as I have to take time off and also sleep in the car.
with my own trailer and places which offer a 24 hours access , i could wake up at 5-6 am , go there pick it up and return it at 7-8pm. you see now why I am willing to buy one ?
in addition if I need to take the car to mechanic etc , it doesn't mean I have to pay for 1 day of using the trailer, I will just pick mine up. that it.
based on above I have justified the cost even if it means I may do 2-3 track days a year ( very tight on budget)
in terms of brand etc, I have seen some trailers out there costing 1300 or less and are 5 meter long which is what I need. would I be safe going with any trailer which looks strong ? or should I look for known brands which are obviously more expensive .
in terms of maintenance, I can do all of the works on the trailer which I guess will be brake and hitch servicing, is that it ?
what is a typical maintenance cost for owning a trailer?
stranger12 said:
forgot to say , my tow car is 530d 05 model and can tow 2 ton braked according to the specs so should be fine .
Legal, yes. (Presuming pre-97 licence).Fine? Rather you than me...
Since the kerb weight is ~1650kg, that's going to be VERY tail-waggy at the slightest provocation. The rule-of-thumb 85% is about 1400kg.
I have a twin axle Iffor Williams car trailor. It's maximum load is 2.1 tons plus wieght of trailor 500kilos. My track car is about 1,200 kilos. So no problem with overloading. But i would never want to put my car on a single axle trailor that is at its wieght carrying limit.
I tow alot and can vouch for Iffor Williams for quality. Brian James is also a good make.
Go onto thier websites and take a look at the various types.
But dont buy to small a trailor. Remember the rule of thumb that the tow vehicle must be heavier than the total wieght of trailor and its load.
I tow alot and can vouch for Iffor Williams for quality. Brian James is also a good make.
Go onto thier websites and take a look at the various types.
But dont buy to small a trailor. Remember the rule of thumb that the tow vehicle must be heavier than the total wieght of trailor and its load.
stranger12 said:
what trailer would you go for? any specific brand?
Not much difference between brian james, Woodford, prg, ivor williams as the largest uk players, brenderup big name in eu.But are also really good trailers from names you've never heard of, ive run an rm car trailer commercially for couple of yrs & it was ace & on the fleet at the mo ive got a Polish huge double trailer that I don't even know who made it & its been ace.
Don't underestimate the costs to bring a tatty trailer up to a good level, ive just sorted the most used & in need of tlc one of mine on the work fleet & with all brake cables, a wheel bearing all brake shoes, pair of lights, some electric cables & some little odds plus 2 tyres the bill was a grand.
As said prev, biggest issue with car trailers is theft, secure storage & all the locks you can get are a must & even then I've heard of really fort knox type security measures being bypassed, barns broken into cars& even tractors being moved out the way chains cut locks bashed in just to steak a single trailer worth £1500 odd
ajondyh said:
I have a trailer and although I do just about have room to keep it it takes up a large footprint.
My B. James trailer has a folding tow pole instead of the conventional 'A' frame.Having said that, my trailer gets almost no use; I drive my track car to 99.99% of track days and as space is the least of my problems, the folding tow pole is of no benefit to me either .
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