There are many types of businesses where a vehicle is required to tow another vehicle, each of which has different requirements when it comes to the features, functionality and payload capacity required from a car transporter trailer.
A self-employed engineer or vehicle recovery specialist, for example, will have different requirements than someone who needs to transport a car which is not road legal to a track day, which itself has different needs than a small privateer team travelling to a motorsport event.
Choosing the right trailer is as important as choosing the right car, and we are here to help. Not only do we supply trailers from the industry-leading Ifor Williams, but we can also provide tailored advice, assistance in setting up the trailer the way you want it, as well as servicing and repairs when needed.
With that in mind, here are some of the biggest questions to ask yourself before looking into transport trailers.
What Are You Allowed To Tow?
In general, if you acquired your driving licence after 1997, you will generally be qualified to tow a trailer that weighs up to 3,500kg MAM (maximum authorised mass).
People with older licenses will be able to drive a vehicle and trailer with a combined weight of up to 8,250kg, but if you have a relatively heavy towing vehicle, it is important to check that your trailer with both car and equipment is not too heavy.
All of the trailers we offer, from the Beavertail to the Transporta, have MAM gross weights of 3,500kg or below, which gives you a lot of scope to transport a wide variety of vehicles under 1500kg.
What Does Your Trailer Have To Include?
You need to make sure you can drive your trailer safely, which means that there are certain features you need to have on it that you do not need with a lighter, smaller trailer.
These include:
- Brakes on the trailer itself, which must be serviced, in good working order, feature a secondary coupling or breakaway cable and be fit for purpose.
- Independent lights and indicators on the trailer, which must work and be connected to the towing vehicle.
- Type-approved tow bars for your towing vehicle.
- Extended towing mirrors.
- Number plates on the back of the trailer.
How Much Protection Does Your Car Need?
Some car transporters treat a car as another load that is secured in place, whilst others are more akin to horseboxes and provide a similar level of amenities and protections.
If the car you are towing is robust or has already broken down and simply needs to be towed to a garage, a Beavertail or Tiltbed may be a better option, with the latter having the added benefit of versatility; it can not only be used to tow vehicles but also more general loads.
However, if you are a small motorsport team with equipment to carry alongside your car, or if you regularly attend track days in a classic or exotic car that needs to be protected from the elements, you will need a Transporta or similar enclosed transport trailer.
This means that the wind, direct sunlight, the rain, salty wash on coastal roads or grit kicked up during frosty nights will not damage your previous car.
How Do You Safely Load Your Vehicle?
Choosing the right trailer is also a matter of ensuring that its optimal method of loading or unloading vehicles matches your workflow or working style.
Anything that can make your job or your hobby easier is essential, and with that in mind, here are some top tips for safely loading and unloading your vehicle:
Choose The Most Appropriate Loading Method
Typically, there are two main ways to load a car onto a trailer without physically having to push it on:
- Driving it on directly: This is fine if your trailer is wide enough, but try to use a spotter if you can and take it slowly to ensure you follow the ramp and avoid collisions.
- Using a winch: This method is safer for loading into tight spaces and is required for vehicles that are not running. It is important to winch slowly and keep the car straight where possible.
Centre The Weight And Chock The Car
Make sure the car is positioned to maximise a balanced, even weight distribution, as this will make it far easier to drive and give you, your vehicle and your trailer far less of a strain.
Once this is done, use chocks to keep the car in place before strapping it down properly to stop the weight from shifting.
Triple check everything and do a test tow if possible before setting off on your journey.