Thursday 27th May 2010

PH Fleet Update: Land Rover Defender

Meet Riggers's new rig: PH gets a trailer

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It's been with us for almost two months now, and we've covered 3500 rugged, manly miles in it, but the PH fleet Land Rover is only now about to serve its primary purpose - as a tractor unit for that other bastion of Britishness in the PH fleet, my Caterham Academy racer.

The little Seven will no longer have to get me and it to Academy events under its own steam, courtesy of a light and compact Mini SuperSport trailer from Cheshire-based firm PRG trailers. On top of the basic twin-axle MiniSport, the SuperSport gets a spare wheel, a hitch lock and a manual winch - something we hopefully won't have to use...

So far the only journey the little Mini SuperSport has made has been an unloaded run from PRG's Cheshire HQ to PH Towers in Teddington. During the 180-mile journey, aside from the occasional clonk as the light trailer rattled over a bump, the only way to know there was a trailer hitched to the Defender's chunky tow bar was to look in the rear-view mirror.

Of course, it may not be the same when pressed into full Caterham-towing service, but I have a feeling that the Defender will barely notice its payload.

Other than the arrival of the trailer, the PH Defender is settling into a regular routine of short urban commutes interspersed with longer-haul journeys; in short the sort of leg work a 'normal' car is expected to deal with.

It's hardly natural fare for the Defender - the low-geared steering, frankly terrible turning circle, bouncy suspension, and what might be politely described as a rugged gearchange make the Landie an unusual urban companion. But that doesn't mean everyday running around isn't an enjoyable experience - the sense of occasion remains undimmed and you forgive it its flaws because, well, because it's a Land Rover.

It's also a great car for chucking, well, anything into - as practical urban transport you can't go wrong with the Defender. Who needs a Toyota IQ or a Fiesta?

[konrad565]

I'll have both, I'll pick them up over the weekend... Thank you please, goodbye

[GFWilliams]

You guys will be amazed how much easier a trailer makes getting to and from a track.
It's especially useful if you prang it/break down at the track

[GaryDVO]

Thats been put to use over the past weeks. A certain Jenson Interceptor has been pulled around as well.

[The Wookie]

Handling wise the Landy's brilliant for towing. Even my 90 tracks perfectly straight while the Range Rover displays the tiniest bit of weave on the motorway

Noise wise... Well put it this way, my girlfriend is considering buying a megaphone for when I've got the TV on.

[Riggers]

GaryDVO said:

Thats been put to use over the past weeks. A certain Jenson Interceptor has been pulled around as well.

Cor - PH has spies everywhere, doesn't it? It's also done a spot of caravan towing. I'll see if I can dig out the pictures...

[muckyman]

ahhh, the joys of trailering.
I did my first trailer job a few months ago when my MX-5 blew its diff.
Schoolboy error #1 - winch the car onto trailer without attaching trailer to towing car. Result - comedy moment of the trailer front lifting right up in the air as the car was winched on.
Schoolboy error #2 - not doing the wheel straps up tight enough as they are wet and its very cold. Also forget to put car handbrake on. - Result - almost losing the MX-5 on the way to the garage as it rocked back and forward by a foot on the trailer.
Schoolboy error #3 - complaining at how heavy a damn trailer is when unloaded and how hard it must be on the towing cars transmission etc - then discovering you left the trailer handbrake - Result - lots of people pointing and laughing and a half mile skid mark.

I will never trailer again.

[HellDiver]

Schoolboy error #4 - forgetting to plug the lights in, getting to your destination to discover the plug has worn off along with most of the cable.

Schoolboy error #5 - forgetting to raise jocky wheel, with similar results to #4.

[sidaorb]

Schoolboy Error #6 - Braking mid bend with an unbraked trailer with a car on the back.......jack-knife city!

Edited by sidaorb on Thursday 27th May 10:44

[The Wookie]

Schoolboy Error #7- Disappearing ramps

Edited by The Wookie on Thursday 27th May 11:00

[Premlal]

That's a neat (read awesome) looking convoy!
Did the same last year with my "hardtop-less" 1986 One Ten towing a trailer with a V8 Seven (replica) on it.
There was literally no difference with or without the car! (a steady 60mph)
And being in France you can imagine that other driver weren't used to this king of convoy

[Egbert Nobacon]

Schoolboy error #8. Unloading trailer using only one ramp.

Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Thursday 27th May 11:20

[GaryDVO]

Riggers said:

GaryDVO said:

Thats been put to use over the past weeks. A certain Jenson Interceptor has been pulled around as well.

Cor - PH has spies everywhere, doesn't it? It's also done a spot of caravan towing. I'll see if I can dig out the pictures...

MP enjoying a drive.

Shame about the 912 though

[pSyCoSiS]

There's something really cool about those Defenders. Also, it just feels as if it will get you out of any situation.

I remember the first time I towed a trailer, kept cocking up everytime I reversed, and ended up having a scrape on my rear bumper due to it!! It's not as easy as it looks to park and manoevure them.

[Mr Will]

HellDiver said:

Schoolboy error #5 - forgetting to raise jocky wheel, with similar results to #4.

Done this one before (or at least didn't tighten it enough so it lowered itself mid-journey)

Schoolboy error #9 - Un-hitch trailer, forget to disconnect emergency brake cable, drive off.

Schoolboy error #10 - Disappearing hitch-lock.

Towing is fun...

[ewenm]

Part of my fantasy fleet. Sadly, at the moment, I really can't justify a Defender.

I used to tow the Caterham on a Minno using an A3 as tow car - even that handled it perfectly well so the Landy will barely notice.

[The Wookie]

pSyCoSiS said:

I remember the first time I towed a trailer, kept cocking up everytime I reversed, and ended up having a scrape on my rear bumper due to it!! It's not as easy as it looks to park and manoevure them.

It's alright once you get used to it. Worst part of towing with a Landy is when you're trying to straighten the trailer up, backing up on the rubbish full lock watching the trailer comes closer and closer in the mirror as it slowly jackknifes while you think 'nnoooooo I've already done 5 turns lock to lock 4 times, not again'

Edited by The Wookie on Thursday 27th May 12:01

[HellDiver]

Schoolboy error #11 - discovering your trailer has come off the hitch, is now dangling by the emergency strap, hit the brakes hard in the borrowed van you're using to tow, only to discover the rear door of the van ends up in the cargo space along with the trailer a-frame, and half the load off the trailer.

Not my doing this time, I was following the van that it happened to. One written off Renault Extra.

[Trusty Steed]

Cracking landy grommit!

[Indiana.]

muckyman said:

ahhh, the joys of trailering.
I did my first trailer job a few months ago when my MX-5 blew its diff.
Schoolboy error #1 - winch the car onto trailer without attaching trailer to towing car. Result - comedy moment of the trailer front lifting right up in the air as the car was winched on.
Schoolboy error #2 - not doing the wheel straps up tight enough as they are wet and its very cold. Also forget to put car handbrake on. - Result - almost losing the MX-5 on the way to the garage as it rocked back and forward by a foot on the trailer.
Schoolboy error #3 - complaining at how heavy a damn trailer is when unloaded and how hard it must be on the towing cars transmission etc - then discovering you left the trailer handbrake - Result - lots of people pointing and laughing and a half mile skid mark.

I will never trailer again.

I hope this certain 'Schoolboy' has the correct licence for towing??

Cheers.

[Indiana.]

pSyCoSiS said:

I remember the first time I towed a trailer, kept cocking up everytime I reversed, and ended up having a scrape on my rear bumper due to it!! It's not as easy as it looks to park and manoevure them.

There is a simple rule about reversing with a trailer on. If reveresing in a straight line, use your mirrors ONLY, and if the trailer starts to be more visable in one mirror, turn the steering wheel in that direction, and if it starts to turn in the other direction, then steer towards that mirror, but remember, take it slowly, and don't over do it with the steering.

Hope this helps.

I love trailering, have towed car trailers in the past, but regulary tow a box trailer and caravan.

Cheers.