Lightweight trailer options for BEC; 750kg total?

[_g_]

Ideally I'd like a circa 250kg trailer to carry a <500kg bike engined kit car.
More reasonably, maybe a 300kg trailer to carry a 450kg car (for a track car, that weight should be achievable). (Reduce weight on trailer by taking ramps, spare wheel off and storing in towing vehicle, etc maybe.)

I've now done my Cat C and do want to do C+E which will be ok for me when I've done it (really busy at the mo), but it'd be nice to have a solution where other people could tow it, regardless of the vehicle (ie, including 3.5t MAM vans).

I suspect there's plenty of home made ones that do come under this if I get my scales out and weigh them, but does anyone know of any commercial trailers this light?

[Red16]

I need to know the exact same thing, very interested to hear peoples responses.

[CPDMotorsport]

And me.....

I was going to make one though using the back end of my 406 though (which is ready for the scrappy).

But if anyone can suggest a retail option that would be good.

[_g_]

Would have though the back of a car might get a bit heavy?
I just sold a carvan chassis on ebay (to someone making it in to a general use trailer) and now wondering if I should have.
It felt pretty light (think two of us lifted entirely of the ground or just about) and as a caravan was plated for around 750kg, so should be just right. It was braked too.

[CPDMotorsport]

_g_ said:

Would have though the back of a car might get a bit heavy?

Only use the trailing arms and shocks/springs mounted to a lightweight frame.

[anonymous-user]

My experience of track days is you'll want to add more on the trailer, not less, mine carrys the tyre rack, jack etc, and the car gets full of petrol cans chairs etc all sorts, its better on the trailer than in the 4x4. Don't be too optimistic on the weight.

[Racing8]

Berw said:

My experience of track days is you'll want to add more on the trailer, not less, mine carrys the tyre rack, jack etc, and the car gets full of petrol cans chairs etc all sorts, its better on the trailer than in the 4x4. Don't be too optimistic on the weight.

Thats fine until the trailer reaches 85% of the kerbside weight of your car, which is then not reccommneded to go above and if you over 100% of the cars kerbside weight, you might find your un-insured, depending upon your policy provider. be careful.

If in doubt have look at towsafe

[_g_]

My trailer would be being towed (if by myself) either by a beavertail or a a 7.5t motorbike race home - either way for me at least, plenty of space elsewhere for other stuff.

I had a nasty accident with a motorbike trailer some years ago. When towing with a car, I'd definitely try and keep as much weight as possible in the car.

Anyway - I've realised that in these situations using a towing dolly IS legal.
Normally it wouldn't be legal to a tow car with one of these for non-recovery reasons, but that's due to the total weight being over 750kg - this means the trailer has to be braked and as the whole thing is considered a trailer, the rear wheels wouldn't be correctly braked.
However, in these cases the total weight would be under 750kg - so it would not need to be braked - so would be legal to tow as the whole thing is considered a single trailer.

[pilotea]

_g_ said:

Ideally I'd like a circa 250kg trailer to carry a <500kg bike engined kit car.
More reasonably, maybe a 300kg trailer to carry a 450kg car (for a track car, that weight should be achievable). (Reduce weight on trailer by taking ramps, spare wheel off and storing in towing vehicle, etc maybe.)

I've now done my Cat C and do want to do C+E which will be ok for me when I've done it (really busy at the mo), but it'd be nice to have a solution where other people could tow it, regardless of the vehicle (ie, including 3.5t MAM vans).

I suspect there's plenty of home made ones that do come under this if I get my scales out and weigh them, but does anyone know of any commercial trailers this light?

adding the E is a piece of cake...you wont find a trailer/car combo that goes below 750, i tried and gave up, and therefore did my C+E, no more worries, ever :-)

remember that its the plated weight on the trailer that counts, if it says 1000 Kg its 1000 kg, not 450 kg because you put a 450 Kg car on it.

[pilotea]

_g_ said:

My trailer would be being towed (if by myself) either by a beavertail or a a 7.5t motorbike race home - either way for me at least, plenty of space elsewhere for other stuff.

I had a nasty accident with a motorbike trailer some years ago. When towing with a car, I'd definitely try and keep as much weight as possible in the car.

Anyway - I've realised that in these situations using a towing dolly IS legal.
Normally it wouldn't be legal to a tow car with one of these for non-recovery reasons, but that's due to the total weight being over 750kg - this means the trailer has to be braked and as the whole thing is considered a trailer, the rear wheels wouldn't be correctly braked.
However, in these cases the total weight would be under 750kg - so it would not need to be braked - so would be legal to tow as the whole thing is considered a single trailer.

if you're thinking about an a-frame they're actually enforcing the law now on the use on these. They're only, and I mean only, allowed to tow a broken down vehicle to a repair shop or to your home, not much fun if you get pulled over on your way to silverstone there might be some insurance issues as well.

[_g_]

Missed these posts.

Got anything to show it's the plated weight?
My belief was that it's the actual weight of the trailer.

And I was thinking of a dolly, not an A frame. From what I've read, it would be considered as a single trailer when attached.

[pilotea]

_g_ said:

Missed these posts.

Got anything to show it's the plated weight?
My belief was that it's the actual weight of the trailer.

And I was thinking of a dolly, not an A frame. From what I've read, it would be considered as a single trailer when attached.

that might be the case, keeping total tow weight might be possible with a dolly and a low weight car