Swivel wheel Trailer

[pappajohn]

And yet if you can’t see the back of it you can’t reverse it.

That's the point, if you can see it in a straight line it can be reversed indefinately.
If it can only be seen once it's turning it can't be safely reversed.

But seeing as I'm not qualified to educated those who won't listen I'm out.

 

[Vic]

Surely, reversing a Hydratrail is the same as if you have a four cycle tow bar mounted rack. It follows the vehicle.
I carry a 300cc scooter. I can just see the rearmost bit in the door mirror, but I do rely on the reversing camera.

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

I am not claiming I can tow a short trailer, I am telling you I can.
It does require a reversing camera, cautious approach and a delicate use of corrections as I stated above. I am not looking to break some sort of reverse speed record, just manoeuvring into position.

 

[LARRY99]

Here is my little set up, I won't bore you with how to reverse it as I'm not qualified (class1)
I've only towed it all over Europe to date ( over 4000 miles)

But I do use the reverse camera

 

[Ridgeway]

I have a HydraTrail and think it's brilliant. It uses the motor home tow bar, but the normal towball is removed and a bracket with a square home running it's depth is bolted on, using the original towball bolts in it's place.
The bit of the HydraTrail that attaches to the bracket is also square and slides downwards into the bracket. The HydraTrail does not articulate. The two rear wheels are on swivels. When reversing, the wheels rotate after a short distance and you can reverse as if it is not there. If you can reverse a motor home, then you can reverse a motor home with a HydraTrail. That is the main advantage of them.

Perfect, thanks for clarifying. Seems a perfect solution to me.

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[Ridgeway]

That's the point, if you can see it in a straight line it can be reversed indefinately.
If it can only be seen once it's turning it can't be safely reversed.

But seeing as I'm not qualified to educated those who won't listen I'm out.

I'm listening and i can only agree.

 

[Ridgeway]

View attachment 284650

Here is my little set up, I won't bore you with how to reverse it as I'm not qualified (class1)
I've only towed it all over Europe to date ( over 4000 miles)

View attachment 284652
But I do use the reverse camera

Can you elaborate on the billiette (securing arm) can you leave that in place for normal driving and do you use it at all, just seems a lot of hassle to remove/install for each manoeuvre but maybe i'm not understanding it correctly ?

 

[LARRY99]

The billete is not left secured when traviling forward , ( the wheels do not swivel when going forward, two pins lock it in the forward position) that way the trailer behaves like a normal trailer , it takes less than 30 seconds to fit to the motorhome as they have now permanently fixed the one end to the trailer ( the billete has a track rod end fitting on the trailer side)
Simply remove a R clip on the motorhome chassis ,fit the billete over the pin replace the R pin , then reverse wherever you like
But with a little practice you will soon learn to reverse short distances without connecting (with the camera)

 

[Ridgeway]

Thanks for that info.

I'm terrible at reversing with trailers, already bad enough with my small car and my Ifor Williams P7 so with the van i'd be much worse.

I can't imagine doing any serious turns without the billiette and it seems strange that i'd have to stop in the middle of a busy road and put this on before i could reverse. This is the only thing stopping me going with a YO Remorque.

The Hydra Lift is also out as i'd never get it approved over here.

 

[tonyidle]

The Hydra Trail has a form of suspension.

The pantograph, connecting the trailer to the vehicle, moves in the vertical allowing the trailer to ride over bumps. This smooths out the ride much more than rubber suspension does.

Last year we did over 2500 miles towing ours.

It is expensive compared to standard A frame trailers but It makes reversing as simple as if no trailer was present.

The parallel linkage has to exist because of the rigid connection between the trailer and towing vehicle. Without it the connection would fail as the trailer tried to rise or fall relative to the vehicle. It is not a form of suspension - that requires the trailer wheels to be sprung.

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[busby]

The Hydra Trail has a form of suspension.

The pantograph, connecting the trailer to the vehicle, moves in the vertical allowing the trailer to ride over bumps. This smooths out the ride much more than rubber suspension does.

Last year we did over 2500 miles towing ours.

It is expensive compared to standard A frame trailers but It makes reversing as simple as if no trailer was present.

Can you unhook easy lifter easily or do you have to dismantle it to do so..Thinking of buying one to carry my two e.bikes, BUSBY.

 

[maison]

If

Can you unhook easy lifter easily or do you have to dismantle it to do so..Thinking of buying one to carry my two e.bikes, BUSBY.

If you mean unhook from the tow bar then yes, it is fairly straightforward, but not as easy as a “standard” trailer.

 

[busby]

If

If you mean unhook from the tow bar then yes, it is fairly straightforward, but not as easy as a “standard” trailer.

Thanks,,,Should imagine looking at it that there is a locking clamp,,BUSBY.

 

[maison]

Thanks,,,Should imagine looking at it that there is a locking clamp,,BUSBY.

One important point is that it is almost impossible to “wheel” it about when disconnected, unlike a conventional trailer.

Being able to reverse without it jacknifing is a major bonus but, if you are in a position where you need to disconnect the trailer and wheel it around it is not really possible. The balance of the weight is wrong as it is not designed for that.

There are advantages and disadvantages to the design of the trailer. If you are comfortable with reversing, or you are happy to disconnect the trailer if you get into difficulties and have to make a “three point turn”, I would stick with a conventional trailer.

The price difference alone will give you a heck of a lot of diesel.

I have used both and, if I had to start again, I would go conventional but that is only my opinion. I liked both.