Towing trailer

E

EllF

Joined
Sep 13, 2017
Posts
131
Likes collected
80
Location
Staffordshire Moorlands
Funster No
50,493
MH
Rapido Fiat MWB
We have recently purchased a trailer to carry a scooter. We intend to tow the trailer abroad.
we have obtained insurance and got the green card ready to go.
What I’ve just discovered is that if the motorhome breaks down our breakdown cover will collect the vehicle and trailer but if the trailer were to have a problem the trailer will not be covered by the breakdown company.
We are with comfort insurance. They say they have never had to deal with this problem.
It’s a brand new trailer correct weight rated for what we are carrying. I was wondering if anyone’s trailer as ever had Problem and how it was dealt with?
 
Yes.

We had a trailer wheel bearing problem about four years ago. Our breakdown company with C&CC insurance stated that they would recover our scooter but not the trailer.

We were in the process of trying to arrange for local repairs when the breakdown company arrived. They simply collected both the scooter and the trailer and delivered them to our home the following day.

Perhaps we were just lucky.
 
I’ve had the lights pack up on ours, I sorted it out myself in the end?
 
So what is the difference between a caravan & trailer? They will recover the caravan.Or is a caravan not covered if the fault is with it ?
 
I have towed a trailer with a bike in Europe and never had a problem, if the trailer has a fault such as a wheel bearing I always thought a local repair would be done
 
I suppose it depends where you break down just imagine being on a motorway ? You wouldn’t just be able to abandon your loaded trailer!

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
There’s really not much on a trailer to break that would stop you towing off to the nearest exit, a tyre maybe? Change the wheel. Wheel bearing? Perhaps, but unless the wheel was hanging off I’d chance it to the next exit, if not I’d change the bearings (yes I carry spare bearings) it’s not really a long job to bang some on then get off the motorway and adjust them properly. Maybe the only other thing is chassis failure or hitch problem, THEN, you might just have a problem, but what are the chances of that?
 
Many moons ago i had a puncture in a trailer tent whilst turning a corner unknowingly the trailer hit the kerb and bent the axle. Putting the spare on i was on my way untill we smelt burning rubber, the wheel was now rubbing on a bracket. The RAC was only interested in the fact i had a spare. The subcontractor taking us home said without a spare they would only sort a puncture. Then bought a spare wheel for caravan and went on hols in that instead. This may still be in the small print. Always carry a spare, trailer tyres have a hard life like motorhome tyres low miles, no wear, lots of sun, just stood in one place.
 
I think Jaws had a problem with a trailer abroad.

I can't remember all the details but I don't think he got it recovered to home in the end.
 
I would think as many vehicles now come with a can of whipped cream and compressed gas or cheapo compressor instead of a spare wheel the old 'must have a SERVICABLE spare wheel' clause has been rescinded by now.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I had a tyre shred on the trailer once, so pulled onto the hard shoulder to put on the spare only to discover that the wheel brace l had did not fit the nuts on the trailer. The free AA cover on the new car did not cover the trailer, so having to upgrade the cover to extend to the trailer was a few hundred pounds. Took the recovery vehicle maybe all of ten minutes to change the wheel........ very expensive lesson in not checking the nut sizes.
 
MikeD said:
I think Jaws had a problem with a trailer abroad.

I can't remember all the details but I don't think he got it recovered to home in the end.
Click to expand...
Your dead right.. and as the garage charged me 100€ a day storage ( they stored it as they said they were waiting for a bearing !) I asked Richard ( Scotties ) to give me a lift back to the garage and thanks to yodeli intervening they waved the storage fee for the trailer ( which as soon as they agreed they miraculously found a bearing for :rollingeyes: ) and I just collected the Smart car off it
The whole exercise cost me near as dammit 1500€
 
pappajohn said:
I would think as many vehicles now come with a can of whipped cream and compressed gas or cheapo compressor instead of a spare wheel the old 'must have a SERVICABLE spare wheel' clause has been rescinded by now.
Click to expand...
A possibility but since we are talking about a trailer and an opportunity to avoid responsibility best to confirm paperwork.
 
I explained the above post badly..
The garage waved the fee IN EXCHANGE FOR THE TRAILER..
So I ended up with no trailer
 
EllF said:
It’s covered on my comfort motorhome insurance
Click to expand...
The reason that I ask is that when I was doing my initial research into all this trailer malarkey I ran into a rather unique problem.

I'm also with Comfort. They informed me that the trailer is covered on the van insurance whilst hitched up to the tune of (IIRC) about £3500. However, they don't cover the contents! Bit odd thinks I.

I then spoke to my bike insurance company and they told me that the bikes would not be insured when I loaded them on a trailer! How queer thinks I, a sort of insurance limbo with my bikes floating around in the bubble.

So, having conducted a long scenario based risk assessment (SBRA), I came to the conclusion That the possibility of my two bikes being nicked off the trailer on the half dozen times I use it for that purpose annually is negligible. All I would be doing on arrival at site is taking them off the trailer anyway to ride/park up. Then they revert to their own insurance coverage; simples.

I suppose there is the small chance that the entire trailer might be nicked with the bikes on it on the rare occasions I might leave it unattended, but then they might also be nicked when they are parked at the side of the road; one has to weigh the risk.

I don't want to get sucked down the rabbit hole so I'm just going to do it. What's the worse that can happen?

As far as problems are concerned with the trailer as discussed above, they are simple things, what can go wrong? A puncture? I've got a spare, and a compressor, and goo and a full tool box. Bearings? It's fairly new so they should last a wee while, and they don't tend to just let go, you've really got to neglect your servicing and preventative maintenance over an extended period to have one let go catastrophically.

Both scenarios are not out with the bounds of possibility but unlikely. We just have to relax and go for it and deal with these things when they pop up.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Although in this country I drove 60 miles with trailer handbrake on. I arrived at Newark on Trent with no brakes, no linings, overheated wheelbearings, scoured drums, tyres & rims were OK. I found a local trailer specialist, ordered the parts, they gave me a price & offered free delivery (it was on their way home). When their man arrived he took one look at the trailer with nothing left on but the stub axles & said I'll fit them if you want. He did so FOC. So he replaced hubs/drums/bearings, shoes, springs, hold-down springs, and wheelbolts. Total cost £300 and no interruption to our trip. Bargain!

The company is:

Home - PIK Trailers

Home - P.I.K Trailers offers you quality replacement trailer parts for servicing and repairs for most trailer brands and types up to 3,500kgs.
www.piktrailers.co.uk www.piktrailers.co.uk

They're in new premises a little further from Newark since I was there. Two brothers run it - excellent and friendly service if anyone needs them.
 
Last edited:
tonyidle said:
Although in this country I drove 60 miles with trailer handbrake on. I arrived at Newark on Trent with no brakes, no linings, overheated wheelbearings, scoured drums, tyres & rims were OK. I found a local trailer specialist, ordered the parts, they gave me a price & offered free delivery (it was on their way home). When their man arrived he took one look at the trailer with nothing left on but the stub axles & said I'll fit them if you want. He did so FOC. So he replaced hubs/drums/bearings, shoes, springs, hold-down springs, and wheelbolts. Total cost £300 and no interruption to our trip. Bargain!

The company is:

Home - PIK Trailers

Home - P.I.K Trailers offers you quality replacement trailer parts for servicing and repairs for most trailer brands and types up to 3,500kgs.
www.piktrailers.co.uk www.piktrailers.co.uk

They're in new premises a little further from Newark since I was there. Two brothers run it - excellent and friendly service if anyone needs them.
Click to expand...


Have you written a review for them - they deserve permanent recognition for service like that

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Reviews

Reviews index
www.motorhomefun.co.uk www.motorhomefun.co.uk

:xgrin::xgrin:
 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top