Trailer for a Caterham

[Nampahc Niloc]

Hello everyone, first time poster here.

I am thinking very seriously of entering he 2019 Caterham Academy Season and I'm trying to work out whether it is worth getting a B+E licence, so I have a few questions:

Is anyone on here trailering a Caterham on just a B licence (post 1997) and if so what combination of tow car and trailer are you using?

Same question to those with B+E licences?

What are the pros and cons of single/twin axel trailers?

I want to store the caterham on the trailer in the garage (aka without the trailer attached to the tow car) so as to save space. Are there any problems with that?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[CharlesElliott]

I am fortunate enough (and therefore old enough) not to have had this issue but I would have thought that B is enough. I'm sure that if you speak to Brian James or PRG or Woodford they will advise you exactly.

There is no problem at all with storing the car on the trailer in the garage, that's what I've done since 2004 when I did the Academy (and still do).

[HustleRussell]

Towed Caterhams legally on a 'b' license for years. The rules have actually been eased recently, there used to be a requirement for the towing vehicle curb weight to exceed the trailer gross weight but that is gone. Now you just have to keep the combination below 3.5t which is easy if you're not using a massive car. You'll want to buy an appropriate trailer not a big heavy one, but even a heavier trailer can be 'down-plated' to a reduced gross weight provided you don't then exceed that.
In summary, check the gross weight. And check the tyres aren't ancient / rotten.
Also I have a Brian James Clubman twin axle, 1,350kg gross, with low level tyre rack surplus to requirements...

[foggy]

HustleRussell said:

Also I have a Brian James Clubman twin axle, 1,350kg gross, with low level tyre rack surplus to requirements...

Haha as do I, also with a jerry can box. See a certain bay of e or a gummy tree...

[andy97]

Caterhams are very light so shouldn't need a twin axle trailer and single axles are far easier to manoeuvre around.

[Helluvaname]

If you get a puncture or blowout on a twin axle trailer it will be a LOT more stable during the buttock clenching phase!
Twin axle trailers are no more difficult to manoeuvre (when off the car simply raise the jockey wheel to lift the front wheels of the trailer off the ground).

[DCL]

Helluvaname said:

If you get a puncture or blowout on a twin axle trailer it will be a LOT more stable during the buttock clenching phase!
Twin axle trailers are no more difficult to manoeuvre (when off the car simply raise the jockey wheel to lift the front wheels of the trailer off the ground).

I'm afraid that's just an old wives tale. All that happens is any puncture goes unnoticed until the second one blows out due to being overloaded. Been there, done that. A single axle is every bit as good as a twin axle in terms of safety - you notice problems and punctures immediately and can respond accordingly. The main reason for twin axles is that they give better load capacity for the same width and height.

I've run both twin and single axle, and for a light car like the Caterham, it is a single axle every time, just pointless carrying all the extra weight and drag of a second axle when it is not needed to carry the load.

[Nampahc Niloc]

Thanks for the (slightly conflicting) advice. Always good to spark a debate.

I suppose my next questions must be:

Does anyone have the dimensions of an Academy Caterham?

What’s the smallest size trailer I could get away with?

Does it matter if the car is longer than the bed length as long the wheel base is short enough?

Thanks in advance.

[CharlesElliott]

A trailer with a bed dimension of 3.4m long, 1.7m wide is about the smallest you can get away with.

[caterham_lad]

I know a guy who has just the trailer for you. Pm me your number and email and I will get the details over to you

[Nampahc Niloc]

Thanks but I’m not quite in the market for a couple of months (moving house and nowhere to put it until we move into the new place)

[Nampahc Niloc]

Good afternoon all.

1 year after starting this thread I’m actually looking to commit and buy the trailer, though my caterham Academy kit doesn’t arrive until Nov/Dec.

I’m thinking of using these guys that do bespoke sizes:

https://www.phoenixtrailer.co.uk

Has anyone used any of their trailers before or have any other comments?

Does everyone agree that the minimum bed size I can get away with is 1.7m x 3.4m?

I know the sensible decision might be to wait until I’ve finished the build, but I want to use it to deliver the shell to a local paint shop before I start.

Thanks again for any advice.

[jimmy7]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Good afternoon all.

1 year after starting this thread I’m actually looking to commit and buy the trailer, though my caterham Academy kit doesn’t arrive until Nov/Dec.

I’m thinking of using these guys that do bespoke sizes:

https://www.phoenixtrailer.co.uk

Has anyone used any of their trailers before or have any other comments?

Does everyone agree that the minimum bed size I can get away with is 1.7m x 3.4m?

I know the sensible decision might be to wait until I’ve finished the build, but I want to use it to deliver the shell to a local paint shop before I start.

Thanks again for any advice.

I have borrowed a larger Pheonix car transport trailer from a friend a few times. Seems like good value to me, certainly does the job and tows well enough.

[300bhp/ton]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Good afternoon all.

1 year after starting this thread I’m actually looking to commit and buy the trailer, though my caterham Academy kit doesn’t arrive until Nov/Dec.

I’m thinking of using these guys that do bespoke sizes:

https://www.phoenixtrailer.co.uk

Has anyone used any of their trailers before or have any other comments?

Does everyone agree that the minimum bed size I can get away with is 1.7m x 3.4m?

I know the sensible decision might be to wait until I’ve finished the build, but I want to use it to deliver the shell to a local paint shop before I start.

Thanks again for any advice.

Hi,

I can't comment on that trailer, but might be able to offer some insight if you are still on a B category only.


The rules for towing are pretty simple.

-The combined MAM (maximum authorised mass) of the trailer and tow vehicle can't exceed 3500kg
-The trailer MAM cannot exceed the vehicles tow limit
-The trailer MAM cannot exceed the unladen (or Kerb weight) of the tow car


Sadly this regulation means "good" tow cars cannot legally be used by people with only a B category on their license.

However with a little thought some cars can have a usefully good legal towing capability. The best I've found so far is a 5 door diesel Freelander. On a B category only licence you can legally tow 1450kg with one of these.

A Series III 88 Land Rover is also very good allowing 1350-1380kg legal towing depending on body config.

I haven't checked, but suspect a Shogun Pinin LWB or Gen 2 Grand Viatara LWB might also offer good legal towing capability for B category license holders.


Ifor Williams offer the 'CT136 Single Axle' trailer that weighs 400kg with a 1000kg payload (MAM of 1400kg) which would be ideal to be legally towed by a Freelander. And has a pretty usable payload for a Caterham or even many other sports cars.

https://www.iwt.co.uk/products/car-transporter/ct1...

The also offer the trailer in twin axle form, it only weighs 95kg more but has a payload of 1505kg. It is plated to 2000kg MAM which is over what you can tow, but you could replate it be within your legal towing limit and have a trailer that you could restore the factory plate if you ever take your 'E' category trailer test. And with a Freelander could still put a 900kg vehicle on it legally with only a B category license.



But it all comes down to your chosen tow vehicle. If you have a late model Shogun or Range Rover you can only tow 750kg MAM total.

[Nampahc Niloc]

Thanks for that really detailed reply. I actually went at got my B+E license so as to open up more options.

[300bhp/ton]

Nampahc Niloc said:

Thanks for that really detailed reply. I actually went at got my B+E license so as to open up more options.

In that case I’d say go for either a tipping/tilting trailer or one that has a tailgate that folds down to make the ramps. So much quicker and easier than faffing about pulling the ramps in and out.

Also with ramps check the breakover angle. Some low sling cars won’t clear the angle very well.

It’s also worth looking at a trailer with the tyre rack/carrier on. Very handy to easily carry a spare set of wheels.

[HustleRussell]

Don’t mean to piss all over your chips 300bhp/ton, welcome back and all that... but a lot of what you are saying is irrelevant- you don’t need a ‘good’ tow car to tow a 7, anything will do provides you fit within the rules. I know you have a thing for 4x4s but it’s completely unnecessary.

I mean christ, if I thought I was going to have to drive a Series III or a Shogun or a Freelander and that’s it, I don’t think I would ever have bought a Caterham and a trailer!

[300bhp/ton]

HustleRussell said:

Don’t mean to piss all over your chips 300bhp/ton, welcome back and all that... but a lot of what you are saying is irrelevant- you don’t need a ‘good’ tow car to tow a 7, anything will do provides you fit within the rules. I know you have a thing for 4x4s but it’s completely unnecessary.

I mean christ, if I thought I was going to have to drive a Series III or a Shogun or a Freelander and that’s it, I don’t think I would ever have bought a Caterham and a trailer!

If you only have Category B and want/need to tow however, you are somewhat limited. You can't "legally" just use anything. And while Caterhams are light, a trailer will still have a plated weight. And you need all of the figures to fit in and meet the regulations.

Op has Category B+E now, so it's not a concern here. Maybe there are some good saloon/estate or even hatchbacks that can legally tow, no idea. But think you are maybe being a tad harsh in your reply.

[HustleRussell]

300bhp/ton said:

Op has Category B+E now, so it's not a concern here.

True

300bhp/ton said:

But think you are maybe being a tad harsh in your reply.

A lot of what you’re saying is bks though

300bhp/ton said:

-The trailer MAM cannot exceed the vehicles tow limit
-The trailer MAM cannot exceed the unladen (or Kerb weight) of the tow car


Sadly this regulation means "good" tow cars cannot legally be used by people with only a B category on their license.

This is all wrong, the vehicle’s tow limit vs. MAM is not a thing, and the trailer MAM vs. the vehicle MAM is an old defunct rule.

R0G will school you on current correct regulations

Also a Caterham on a basic trailer is ~900kg, anything will tow it without breaking a sweat, I have seen Peugeot 306, Renault Megane, mk1 Focus etc etc used. If the MAM of the trailer puts you over 3.5T when added to the GVW, just down plate the trailer.

Your assertion that you need some stodgy, rolly-polly 4x4 (what you call a “good” tow vehicle) is just nonsense. I use a 5-series, it makes light work of it.

Edited by HustleRussell on Friday 5th October 11:59

[DCL]

I must confess, the https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car is fairly simple and clear to understand on the driving licence rules, although I suspect you risk some other offences if you ignore the manufactures recommended figures.

My experience is that it is always best to keep things as light as possible. I've had big heavy twin axle trailers on big heavy 4x4's and vans, but the best, for may reasons, was a Brian James Micro max (single axle) towed by a Peugeot 306.

Edited by DCL on Friday 5th October 13:21