Race transporters - PRG vs Brian James vs Eco vs ?

Race transporters - PRG vs Brian James vs Eco vs ?

Author
Discussion

LooneyTunes

Original Poster:

6,781 posts

157 months

Monday 16th June 2014
quotequote all
Looking to buy a new trailer this year and intend to push the boat out a bit and go with a covered.

Just wondered if anyone else has had been through the process of buying one recently and, if so, what you thought of the different manufacturers' offerings when you got up close to them?

Would also be interested in owners' experiences after buying/living with one for a while (especially with respect to options - thinking tilt bed + winch + wheel rack + floor storage + large side door on offside are must haves, less clear on whether internal lighting is actually any good).

Primarily looking at one to take standard open kit 7 to Radical size but with one eye on it perhaps being useful if it could take a Cerb/Chim.

iguana

7,025 posts

259 months

Monday 16th June 2014
quotequote all
I wouldn't have an eco if you gave it to me for free.

I run a couple of bj ones, pal runs a prg, its not as well built as mine, but it was quite a bit cheaper & the bj version wasnt quite long enough for his reqs.

Dont discount Woodford, they have a good range.

roddo

569 posts

194 months

Monday 16th June 2014
quotequote all
Bj race shuttle here, one of the best things I have ever bought.

Tilt bed, tyre rack, jerry can storage, winch etc. tows like a dream and still worth good money after 4 years........

Paul

agent006

12,029 posts

263 months

Monday 16th June 2014
quotequote all
Waiting for the day Ifor Williams make a covered trailer. That will be a good day.

cwin

953 posts

218 months

Monday 16th June 2014
quotequote all
I borrowed an Eco one to pick a car up and it was falling to bits after 12 months old, the doors and hinges are crap, I have a BJ race shuttle and its very well made, you get what you pay for,,,,

Classichim

12,424 posts

148 months

Tuesday 17th June 2014
quotequote all
I have extensive experience with BJ's trailers as I used deliver them!
I've stacked 3 trailers on top of a base Trailer and driven to the north of Scotland,
I've taken them to Europe etc,
They do the job,
Not cheap but what is!

You have to look after them to enjoy them, lube, etc. keep your lights working blar blar.

The axles are a known but old style quantity, again they do the job.
I've known people drive them at high speeds but their insane!

I'd be sure the trailer I was buying was the right size and more importantly weight for your needs.

Goodluck and enjoy.

m30dus

550 posts

184 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
I also have an Eco Velocity RS - OK the doors, hinges and catches are not as refined as the Brian James, etc but they are also nearly half the price... The trailer chassis appears to be very sound (BWP manufactured from memory) and tows really well.

LooneyTunes

Original Poster:

6,781 posts

157 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
Thanks chaps.

Agree with the comments about Ifors. Always surprises me that they don't offer a covered car trailer (after all, they do some cracking horse/livestock trailers).

Sounds like I need to have a look at BJ and PRG.

I realise there's an element of subjectivity, but how long do people reckon these survive, if stored outdoors, before looking tatty (more from the perspective of the shell rather than the mechanicals)? Guessing should still look passable after 10 years of relatively light use?

ilikestellaartoi

566 posts

141 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
agent006 said:
Waiting for the day Ifor Williams make a covered trailer. That will be a good day.
Might be able to swing that for you, the manager is an old school friend of mine.

magooagain

9,909 posts

169 months

Wednesday 18th June 2014
quotequote all
ilikestellaartoi said:
agent006 said:
Waiting for the day Ifor Williams make a covered trailer. That will be a good day.
Might be able to swing that for you, the manager is an old school friend of mine.
While you are at it,please tell him to stop ripping people off for a certificate of conformity

Porkie

2,378 posts

240 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
I bought a Brian James RS2 brand new about 4 years ago now. Tilt bed, extra long ramps, electric winch. Quality of the trailer is great. Nothings gone wrong at all and it still looks as new as I've only used it a few times in all those years!

Doesn't tow very well though I find. wobbles around overtaking artic lorries. Thinking its nose weight issues combined with high sided aero issues. Will look more closely at nose weight and hitch height. Towed it with a new Ranger truck, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Bmw 5 series tourer, 3 series and a Merc ML which towed it the best.

Off to Ring and Spa with it in few weeks time. I'd get a bigger one if I was to do it again. Storage Space isn't an issue for me though.



had it polished up last month as I am a saddo

Porkie

2,378 posts

240 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Forgot to add, on my Trailer and the bigger RS3, the entire back easily lifts up. Makes life easier than just a door.

custardkid

2,514 posts

223 months

Monday 23rd June 2014
quotequote all
Porkie said:
Doesn't tow very well though I find. wobbles around overtaking artic lorries. Thinking its nose weight issues combined with high sided aero issues. Will look more closely at nose weight and hitch height. Towed it with a new Ranger truck, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Bmw 5 series tourer, 3 series and a Merc ML which towed it the best.
after turning up for various new car (used) test drives with the trailer & track car....

i found that the best tow vehicles were, full size 4x4 with air suspension and sport setting tend to work best. (air is also useful for hitching)

trailers are also very sensitive to load, the M3, which is nose heavy was a pain behind the vectra, however picked up a Leon with the vectra, it towed true at a 15mph cruising higher speed.

lizard - do you find the same?

custard

iguana

7,025 posts

259 months

Wednesday 25th June 2014
quotequote all
Well mines the much larger motorshuttle & yeh it can be a bit frisky, is a lot more deck tho to have the car further back in that & thus minimise too much nose weight, but then on tbe other hand too mych tail weight like a 911 in forwards for example is worse!

exracer

3 posts

116 months

Saturday 12th July 2014
quotequote all
Hi,
I must say I am very pleased with my Eco-Trailer. This is just my experience, but I have referred a few friends to them also.

It has been super reliable and is built using BPW axles, etc. I have had it a little over a year and have had very few problems except a lock which I broke myself!

The finish on the doors isn't quite as neat as the BJ but my trailer cost me £6,200! I wouldn't dream of paying £11k+ for the equivalent spec BJ.
My mate has the PRG and I would have to say mine is much better with more space. It has all the toys in the price, electric winch with remote, tilt bed, etc.

I was in touch with Eco-Trailer just last week because I punctured a tyre on a nail, they were telling me that they have a new design arriving in August 2014 which will have the updated doors, fittings, LED lights, etc that you expect on the new James trailers. I asked them to quote me for this (expecting it to be much more expensive!) and they will be selling it for round £6,250 - £6,500!

I will update mine when I can, censored

ETA

Not allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Saturday 12th July 17:39

Buinach Boy

1 posts

116 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
I bought an eco trailer earlier this year with tilt bed and winch etc ( all included in the price ). I have used it for a number of race meetings this year and am perfectly happy with it. It is tall enough to stand up in and has a side door as standard. It is not as well finished as a Brian James with regard to the fibre glass but the running gear is first class. The after service is good too. Just look at the price difference !

agent006

12,029 posts

263 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
Maybe if Eco spent less time registering and posting in forum threads their quality might improve.

1441

1,304 posts

232 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
Does look a bit suss

1441

1,304 posts

232 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
Does look a bit suss

m30dus

550 posts

184 months

Wednesday 16th July 2014
quotequote all
Yes - indeed. As posted above I've not been overly impressed with mine in terms of the body, but Simon has been helpful and the basic BPW trailer is excellent. Is it good value for money, absolutely, is it a Brian James body, no.