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When adverse weather suddenly hits, the towing conditions that you took for granted just moments ago can rapidly change, which in some cases can cause a trailer to start swaying or even snaking around.

Sometimes this is a consequence of the conditions, sometimes it is due to poorly secured trailer loads, but other times it is a consequence of worn-out parts which need to be replaced.

As a trusted local distributor of Ifor Williams trailers, service and components, we are in the perfect position to provide advice on what may be causing your trailer sway, whether it requires a simple adjustment to your work or extensive repairs, and how to minimise it in the winter.

As cold weather approaches and the weather gets ever more unpredictable, here is what causes trailer snaking, what you can do about it as it happens, safe towing habits and how to avoid any problems in the future.

 

What Is Trailer Snaking?

Swaying or snaking is when a trailer or caravan weaves about pendulously whilst being towed in a straight line, typically long after a turn, lane change or other manoeuvre has been executed.

It can be somewhat unnerving when it happens whilst driving, particularly as it can intensify, making it more difficult to control the trailer and even potentially leading to jackknifing, where the trailer swings around the towing vehicle, and an increased risk of accidents.

 

What Causes Trailer Sway?

• Towing Too Quickly – Beyond making sure that you follow the lower national speed limits, travelling too quickly or putting your foot down can cause or intensify snaking.
• Incorrect Coupling – If the coupling or connection between the trailer and towing vehicle is inappropriate, it can make the latter harder to control.
• Bad Weather Or Road Conditions – If a road is bumpy, has a loose surface such as gravel, is uneven, has standing water, ice or snow on top, it is far more difficult to maintain traction and balance whilst towing a trailer.
• Poor Distribution Of Loads – The weight distribution of a trailer is essential, as poorly secured or incorrectly balanced loads can cause snaking and increase the risk of jackknifing.

 

What Can You Do If Your Trailer Starts Snaking?

If your caravan starts to snake, remain calm and start acting immediately to regain control of your trailer and towing vehicle.

Hold onto your steering wheel tightly and avoid sudden movements. Ideally, you should keep moving straight ahead as long as it is safe to do so, whilst gradually reducing your speed by lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal.

Shift down if you are using a car with a manual gearbox, but only gently apply the brakes if you feel like you are in danger of a collision. Slamming on the brakes often causes a jackknife.

If you are still struggling to stop the snake after this, get off the road as quickly as possible, either by pulling over at the side of the road or taking the nearest exit on the motorway. 

Examine the trailer once you have come to a complete stop and check your couplings and hitches to ensure there is a firm connection, as well as your existing load to see if it has moved or is causing an unbalanced ride.

In many cases, snaking is fixable, but it requires swift, decisive but also gentle action to bring everything to a gradual, safe stop.

 

How Do You Avoid Trailer Sway In The First Place?

The best possible way to avoid trailer snaking is to stop it happening to begin with. This ensures that you stay safe, your trailer is easier to control, and you feel more comfortable at the wheel of your trailer, regardless of the weather or the driving conditions.

With that in mind, here are some top tips to minimise the risk of sway in your trailer.

 

Make Sure Any Loads Are Properly Balanced And Secured

A common cause of snaking is uneven weight distribution, where, due to incorrect securing or having the weight of loads biased on one side or the other, the trailer has a tendency to lean in one direction, affecting balance and causing snaking.

 

Use The Right Coupling

Make sure your trailer is connected properly to your towing vehicle, with the appropriate anti-sway bars and a connector that is right for the size and weight of the trailer you are towing.

 

Plan Your Route Carefully

Try to avoid difficult roads where possible, avoid unnecessary journeys in bad weather and aim to complete as much of the journey on main roads as possible, as they will be kept in the best possible condition for your trailer.

 

Make Sure Your Trailer Is Serviced

Inspect your trailer before you start to make sure there are no egregious problems, but get in touch with the experts if you are at all worried about broken or damaged parts.

By the time winter arrives, it brings with it a new set of challenges for your trailers, and it is typically a good idea to book a service with your local Ifor Williams trailer experts before the weather to ensure that its tyres can handle the variable conditions.

Whilst every part of a trailer needs maintenance over the winter to ensure it can quickly be rolled out in the spring, trailer tyres can be affected by inactivity in the same ways that any other tyres can.

However, as these tyres are designed differently, they have some fundamental changes to take into account the fact that they often need to carry heavy loads whilst avoiding snaking.

A lot of people will be working on their tyres over the autumn as part of their winterising routine, and with that in mind, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we get about trailer tyres.

 

Are Trailer Tyres The Same As Car Tyres?

Outside of being made of the same material and having the same basic shape, trailer tyres are quite differently made and are typically given a special marking to denote them as trailer tyres.

The reason for this is that trailer tyres are built to be significantly stiffer in order to carry heavier loads and maintain stability whilst being towed.

You cannot swap trailer tyres for regular tyres, even in the rare cases where both types of tyre fit on the same wheel.

The different handling characteristics will cause your trailer to be significantly more difficult to control, and the wear on the tyres will be far more intensive.

All of this, in combination, leads to a greater risk of accidents, which makes having a spare trailer tyre a better option than trying to use your car’s spare tyre.

 

What Do You Need To Do To Ensure Your Trailer Tyres Are Legally Compliant?

Trailer tyres are bound by broadly the same laws as conventional car tyres, and if your tyres fail to comply with the current registered standards, you can receive up to 3 penalty points and a fine of up to £2500.

Specifically, trailer tyres must:

• Have a minimum tread depth of at least 1.6mm around the whole circumference and across the centre three-quarters of the tyre most likely to contact the road. In reality, anything lower than 3mm will be next-to-useless in the rain.
• Be protected by mudguards.
• Not have any bulges.
• Not have any deep cuts.
• Be the same type of tyre. In other words, you cannot have radial and cross-ply tyres on the same axle. 
• Be correctly rated for your trailer.

Ultimately, your trailer tyres need to be treated the same way as your towing vehicle’s tyres, and particularly in winter or following a break period where there is a chance of degradation and flat spotting.

 

What Can Cause Trailer Tyres To Degrade?

More than any other component on your car, trailer tyres are vulnerable to degradation of the rubber. 

This can become particularly noticeable once your trailer has been put away for the winter, as the pressure of staying in one place in combination with the colder conditions can cause flat spots in the tyres if they are not rotated or the trailer is not stored on a jack.

The rubber itself can rub away, but it can also harden and become easier to crack, which increases the risk of a blowout or flat tyre if not managed properly.

 

When Should You Change Your Trailer Tyres?

We can give advice on how well your trailer tyres are holding up and replace any that are no longer fit for purpose, but there are a few rules of thumb you can follow whilst waiting for your service:

• There is damage to the tyre, such as bulging in the sidewalls, punctures or cracks. As trailer tyres run on higher pressures, any weakness is potentially dangerous.
• There are visible tears and scuffs on the tread area and sidewalls, as this can affect traction or indicate accelerated wear.
• The tread depth is under 1.6mm, which would make them illegal to use. However, you should consider replacing them at 3mm if you use your trailer in winter weather or expect to drive in the rain a lot.
• The tyres are six years old or older. The tyres will have a date of manufacture to help with this.
• The tyres are regularly underinflated, and it is difficult to maintain adequate tyre pressures.

As with everything else trailer-related, we can help ensure that your trailer stays safely on the road, and regular services help to enhance a working trailer’s lifespan.

By the middle of autumn, many seasonal businesses are considering their next steps for winding down and preparing all of their equipment for the rigours of the cold winter months.

If you are putting your Ifor Williams trailers in storage, make sure that they are serviced and properly winterised before putting them away in order to ensure that there is as little downtime as possible in the first flush of spring.

We can help you with this by providing advice and support geared towards your particular trailer, and the best place to start is to answer some frequently asked questions.

 

Why Do You Need To Winterise Your Trailers?

Much like how cars need to be winterised, trailers need to be prepared for storage or winter use in order to ensure they continue to function at their best and are not pushed beyond their limits by particularly harsh winter conditions.

Leaving your trailer out in the winter exposes all of its weaknesses, which can lead to:

• Damage to the wiring
• Broken seals
• Corroded bodywork
• Mould and mildew buildup
• Loss of tyre pressure
• Cracking in tyre sidewalls
• Damage to parts which need regular lubrication

By winterising your trailer, you minimise the damage that will affect it, ensure that it lasts longer, works better and avoids downtime, whether your trailer will work through the winter or be in storage, whether you are sticking to the roads or driving through fields, or how your trailer is designed.                                                                                                                          

 

When Do You Need To Winterise Your Trailer? 

Generally, winterising begins once the temperatures start to drop close to freezing, the weather takes a turn for the worse, or you no longer need your trailer for seasonal work.

Once you start to see rain, snow and sleet frequently, it is typically time to begin winterising and planning for winter use and winter storage. Typically, you should be thinking about winterising by November at the latest.

 

Step by Step Guide To Winterising Your Trailer

Step 1: Clean Your Trailer Thoroughly

Once your trailer is completely done and is ready to be put away, thoroughly clean it from top to bottom.

In particular, focus on the underside, the wheel arches and the mudguards, as these are places where dirt, mud and moisture can easily build up without noticing.

As well as this, take care of any dirt that has built up around the electrical cables, brakes and axles, as this can affect the functionality of your trailer in winter.

 

Step 2: Fully Inspect Your Trailer

Once you have cleaned your trailer, inspect it fully, paying particular attention to:

• Electrics – Test the lights, ensure that any plugs are clean and look for exposed, frayed or damaged wiring
• Tyres – Look for any obvious damage, check the tread depth for signs of wear, examine any uneven wear patterns and check the sidewalls for cracks.
• Brakes – Specifically, check to ensure that the brake cables are working properly, and ensure the brake shoes are not sticking in place.
• Lubrication Points – Check all moving parts and joints for wear, friction and damage.

If you notice anything particularly concerning, book a servicing to get it fixed and ready for winter.

 

Step 3: Grease Moving Parts

Without lubrication, the freezing temperatures can cause components to seize up, dry out or even crack entirely.

Use a multipurpose outdoor lubricant and wipe away old grease before applying any fresh lubrication. 

Whilst the precise parts that need lubrication vary by model, here are some of the main areas that require greasing:

• Coupling Head – A vital part of the trailer that needs to be lubricated to ensure smooth, secure hitching.
• Jockey Wheel – Lubricating the pivot points helps to keep it moving properly.
• Hinges And Latches – Sticking doors are not only frustrating but potentially dangerous.
• Ramps, Tilt Mechanisms And Winches – Any other moving parts need to be properly lubricated.

 

Step 4: Disconnect And Take Care Of The Battery

If your trailer has a battery, such as a business-in-a-box, horsebox, workshop or caravan-style accommodation, make sure to fully charge it, disconnect it and use a trickle charger to keep it charged without it damaging itself through discharging.

 

Step 5a: Move It Into Storage

If you are not using your trailer anymore, put it into storage. Ideally, this should be a garage, workshop or shed, but a breathable waterproof cover or carport will work as long as it is breathable enough.

Make sure to retract the jockey wheel and move the trailer slightly to avoid flat spotting on the tyres.

 

Step 5b: Keep Safe During Every Winter Journey

Towing during the winter is more demanding than at any other time of the year, so make sure that you inspect the trailer and check to ensure that everything is working properly.

Even a small bout of cold weather can have an effect.

Towing a trailer on muddy ground safely and efficiently is about choosing the right trailer and preparing it for the more difficult conditions, using the right tyres and ensuring they have as large a contact area as possible to ensure that they properly adapt, and choosing an optimum route.

Autumn weather is defined by extremely changeable conditions, with agricultural businesses braving a mixture of late summer sun interspersed with sudden showers.

Whilst in some agricultural sectors the rain can be a relief after five persistent heatwaves throughout the spring and summer, it does lead to some rather unstable conditions when using a towing vehicle.

Thankfully, we are well-positioned to help. As an official distributor of Ifor Williams trailers, we are in the best position to provide not only high-quality trailers, but also service and maintenance for them before winter and advice on how to brave the conditions before winterising becomes the priority.

With that in mind, here are some of our top tips for towing your trailer on muddy ground, how to prepare for the difficult conditions, and what to do if you get stuck.

 

Familiarise Yourself With Your Towing Vehicle

The first step to safely towing on muddy ground is to get yourself used to driving on the terrain without it. 

Most of the best towing vehicles are designed to be driven off-road, such as 4x4s and SUVs, so learning some of the basics of off-road driving will help you when it is time to attach a trailer.

Understand how your vehicle reacts to various off-road conditions, take it out to a driving trail or around your land and feel how it responds to various dirt and muddy conditions, and understand how to use your low-range or traction control settings to ensure you can drive effectively without getting stuck.

 

Check Your Trailer Carefully

Follow the same inspection advice as you would when towing your trailer on any other type of ground, but specialist preparation for conditions you know to be muddy or potentially muddy will save you time and energy once you start driving.

Make sure that your towing vehicle and trailer are prepared for off-road driving, which may involve checking their ground clearance, protecting the underside as much as possible and fitting off-road tyres.

If possible, fit an extended range towing hitch that will provide a greater range of motion than the traditional hooks designed with road driving in mind.

If you are uncertain about the overall condition of your trailer, it is worth your while to get it serviced as soon as possible, and ask us about its suitability for muddy conditions.

We can provide adjustments to the ground clearance and tyres to ensure that your trailer is perfectly suited for the conditions, as well as offer suggestions for heavier-duty trailers if yours would not ultimately survive harsher terrain.

 

Drive As Slow As Possible But As Fast As Necessary

The golden rule of off-road driving is to avoid travelling too quickly. Only travel as quickly as you need to, whilst giving yourself time to react to obstacles.

This helps to reduce the impact of any given bump. A rock embedded in the trail will do almost nothing to your car or your trailer if you are travelling at a reasonable pace, but can potentially pitch you out of control or even tip your trailer over if you travel too quickly.

Some obstacles, such as muddy inclines, need more speed, but you should only use as much as is necessary to reach the top and not so much that you lose control. 

After all, you never know what hazardous obstacles await you as soon as you reach the top.

Ultimately, the best approach is to err on the side of caution; too little speed will typically not cause too much harm, but too much speed could potentially break your trailer, your vehicle, and potentially yourself.

 

Lower Your Tyre Pressure

When you are driving off-road, consider letting some of the air out of your tyres, particularly given that off-road tyres are designed to be used at lower pressures.

Slightly underinflated tyres absorb more impact and provide a wider, larger contact point, which is vital to ensure you avoid getting stuck when driving on mud. They also provide a more comfortable ride and absorb more of the inevitable bumps you will feel whilst off-road.

Exactly how much you should lower the pressure of your tyres will depend on your vehicle, your trailer and your load, but a rule of thumb is to start by running your tyres at 75 per cent of the PSI they would have on the street, and lower it further if you get really stuck.

Yes, there are a lot of electric vehicles on the market which can tow a trailer, but keep in mind that not only may the towing capacity be different, but the handling characteristics whilst towing may also feel unusual if you are used to a diesel-powered SUV.

Over the past few years, as prices have reduced, government grants have gotten more generous, and EVs have gotten more capable, many business owners have considered making the switch to a powerful electric SUV to take advantage of lower running costs.

However, whilst beneficial for car fleets, transportation and commutes, one question that we are increasingly asked whilst servicing and repairing trailers is whether an EV is a good towing vehicle.

As long as you choose the right one, understand the advantages and disadvantages, and know the tips and tricks to make the most of your new electric towing vehicle, you will not have too many issues towing with an EV.

 

Can All Electric Cars Tow Trailers?

Unlike petrol and diesel cars, where the vast majority can tow at least a small trailer, the complicated drivetrains many modern EVs have are not necessarily suitable for towing heavy additional loads.

As with any other car, you can only use it to tow trailers if the latter is lower than the former’s rated towing capacity. 

This will be found in your vehicle’s log book (V5C), but model information is also available online if you need it. Some EVs have a towing capacity of zero.

 

Why Are Some EVs Unsuitable For Towing Trailers?

• Their operating range is too low with a trailer attached.
• The weight of the battery pack is compounded by an additional heavy load.
• The regenerative braking system is difficult to manage whilst using a trailer.
• Some EV models are not designed to tow at all and lack anywhere to fit a towbar.

 

Why Use An EV To Tow A Trailer?

Much of the above may look like a major red flag, but there are some significant advantages to using an EV as your towing car rather than a typical diesel estate or 4×4. If you make the right choice, an EV can even be a better choice whilst driving.

Here are some of the biggest benefits of using an EV to tow a trailer.

 

Instant Power Delivery

EVs have astonishing levels of torque, which allows them to accelerate quickly, but also gives them additional power and force to move heavy trailers.

Unlike a petrol or diesel car, EVs can almost immediately deliver their full power, making them ideal for managing heavier trailers, climbing steep hills and safely navigating motorways without losing control.

 

Quieter Towing

One of the bigger frustrations of towing is the noise an engine makes when it manages the strain of a heavy trailer.

Whilst EVs will still make noise whilst towing vehicles, it is much quieter and provides a little more peace during a drive that is inherently rather stressful.

 

Regenerative Braking

EVs have incredible braking power because a lot of the heat and forces from braking are captured by heat and kinetic energy recovery systems that provide your car with extra energy and range.

Whilst this can take some getting used to, it also means you do not have to worry about brake fade with your towing vehicle in the same way you might with a petrol or diesel car.

 

Zero Emissions

If you are running a greener business, the easiest place to start is with your fleet. EVs generate no exhaust emissions regardless of how heavy the trailer is.

 

Low Centre Of Gravity

EVs are heavier than diesel cars, but where that goes from a drawback to a strength is where this weight is located. EV battery packs are on the floor of the car, providing a low centre of gravity which significantly improves traction and avoids the effects of buffeting.

 

Will Towing A Trailer Affect Your EV’s Range?

Yes, it will, and the range reduction can at times be significant. In total, a realistic range reduction is between 30 per cent and 50 per cent of your typical range, and this can radically affect how you organise your journeys with a trailer.

The reason for this is twofold: not only do you have additional weight, but EVs rely on minimising aerodynamic drag to increase range, something that is far less possible with a trailer.

 

Top Tips For Making The Most Of An Electric Trailer

• Choose a bigger EV than you think you will need; a larger EV with a bigger motor and battery will handle a trailer with less strain.
• Know where your local charging stations are and err on the side of caution when charging.
• Check your battery temperature, as the extra load puts additional strain on your battery, lowering capacity and increasing charging times.
• Make sure your EV of choice has the towing package fitted, as not every model in the range may have towing capability.
• Ensure that your insurance covers EV towing.

As autumn approaches, so do the seasonal livestock markets. Grass-fed store animals are ready for sale. And, unless the farm is next door to the market, it means transport is needed to get the cattle there. 

Moving livestock, particularly cattle, is subject to government guidance on transport, including licensing, records, and how and when they can be transported to and from holdings. 

The British Cattle Movement Service holds a register of every animal and its location, which needs to be updated after each movement. 

Apart from keeping a record of the animals, it is vital that animals can be transported safely and efficiently to their destination, whether it is a farm or holding, a slaughterhouse or a market for selling.

 

What are the laws for transporting livestock?

There are three main areas of responsibility for those moving livestock:

• The animals must be well enough to travel before they can be moved. For example, animals with lameness, disease or other physical conditions that would be worsened by moving them.
• Transport must be suitable for travel and the condition of the vehicle, whether it is a livestock trailer or a lorry, needs to be fit for purpose 
• Weather and road conditions must not cause undue delays or suffering to the animals. For example, recent guidance recommends not moving animals when external temperatures are over 30 degrees C.

 

What does the law say about livestock trailers?

Livestock trailers are classified as work equipment and are therefore subject to the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. That means it has to fulfil several legal requirements to be compliant. 

To be compliant, the trailer must be:

• Suitable for purpose
• Kept in a safe working order
• Inspected and checked regularly
• Only used by trained staff with appropriate licenses for towing
• Safety components such as failsafes and emergency releases must be fitted

How can you ensure your livestock trailer is ready for use?

In a similar way to domestic vehicles, farm vehicles must also be regularly serviced, especially when transporting live animals and being used for agricultural purposes.

 

Pre-trip Inspections

Before every cattle or other livestock movement, it is best to check the condition of some of the basics:

• Tyre treads and pressure – these should be suitable for the load and terrain
• Lights – check they work when connected and don’t dim or flicker
• Brakes 
• Secondary coupling and functionality of the tow hitch
• Check for rust and rot in the frame, floor and side panels
• Hinges, hitches and bolts that may need lubrication
• Ensure gates and ramps are in working order and properly greased

 

Annual servicing and maintenance

Annual servicing for a trailer will cover several moving parts and components. A trained mechanic can inspect and repair any issues that arise. 

When hooked up to your vehicle, your brake lights, rear lights and indicators should all function as intended. Electrical systems will be inspected and any faulty wiring or blown bulbs replaced. 

The wiring that links the trailer to your vehicle will also be inspected, as will the head and hitch, and jockey wheel. 

Brakes will be inspected, adjusted and potentially stripped down, cleaned and replaced if needed. Wheel bearings will also be greased properly, and the suspension system checked for flaws.

Tyres will be checked for legal tread depth and replacements recommended and fitted if they do not comply. 

For the chassis and frame of the trailer, a visual inspection for cracks, rust and damage will be done and recommendations on repairs given. 

 

Cleaning and sanitisation

Making sure your trailer is clean is important for the wellbeing of the animals and for the longevity of the vehicle. 

If the trailer has mats, remove these first and hose them down. Remove any remaining feed, and brush out the larger clumps of manure. 

Then get to work on sluicing out any manure or urine left by the animals. This is important as leaving it can damage the structural integrity of the trailer. 

Once the trailer is visibly clean, let it dry before applying an agricultural sanitiser. This is to prevent any potential spread of bacteria and viruses, helping your cattle and sheep stay healthy. Rinse the sanitiser off, if needed, and allow it to dry before loading animals.

Using a step ladder or telescopic brush system, clean the outside of the trailer. Lights, windows and mirrors should not be ignored as these will help you travel safer if driving in low light. 

 

When to replace your livestock trailer

If inspections and maintenance throw up issues that cannot be repaired, then your trailer may be condemned. This would make it non-compliant with regulations and unfit for transporting cattle or other livestock. 

When your livestock trailer has reached the point where it is beyond repair, it may be time to replace it with a new Ifor Williams livestock trailer.

For many in the agricultural sector, late summer and early autumn is beyond the peak of the growing and cultivating season, which means some types of trailers will start to wind down their operations and owners will be mindful of future maintenance and storage needs.

In most ideal circumstances, this means taking your Ifor Williams trailer to an official distributor, who can provide a comprehensive service, make any repairs or tweaks that you need, and can make tailored recommendations based on what you use the trailer for.

They can also offer advice on when to replace your trailer and what with, in order to avoid any surprise breakdowns that cannot be easily or safely fixed to make them road legal.

If you are worried about your trailer’s longevity, here are some of the biggest telltale signs that your trailer is on the cusp of being beyond repair, what to look out for and what to do next.

 

Are Trailer Repairs Getting Too Expensive?

If you arrange your repairs through an official distributor, you will get the highest quality repairs for the best prices, but there is a tipping point where the number of repairs or breakdowns you experience costs more than the cost of a suitable replacement trailer.

As Benjamin Franklin once advised the young tradesman in 1748, time is money, and if you are losing time with your trailer constantly being repaired, then a replacement can become the only financially viable option.

In particular, if your trailer is dealing with structural issues that affect its maximum load and are not easily fixed through reinforcement, it is time to consider upgrading your trailer to one of our many high-quality alternatives.

 

Does Your Trailer Have A Lot Of Rust?

Most cars and trailers will have a small amount of rust, as a combination of wet or humid conditions and damage to galvanised coatings can cause oxidation and corrosion to develop. At an early stage, it can be cleaned off and protective coatings can be applied.

However, rust can also spread, which is a far greater concern as it means that the weight and forces that your trailer can typically manage on a daily basis can cause structural weaknesses and potential collapse.

Whilst they can occur anywhere made of iron or steel, you should be particularly mindful of:

• Rust holes, especially those on the floor or sidewalls
• Corrosion which affects the welds and metal joins
• Oxidation on the frame, which could affect structural integrity the most.

If any of these are the case, it is best to get in touch with experts in trailer servicing, particularly if they can offer a much better replacement.

 

Is Your Trailer Still Suitable For Your Business?

Your equipment needs to grow in lockstep with your business, which means that you may need a larger trailer, one that is more feature-filled or one that can better withstand the rigours of constant travel.

Our huge range of Ifor Williams trailers is designed around a broad spectrum of businesses. Whether you need a single all-purpose flatbed trailer for moving heavy goods around your worksite or a complete business in a box, we have you covered.

The most important question to ask is simple: would your job be a lot easier if you had a better trailer?

 

Is Using Your Trailer Costing You More?

A remarkable telltale sign that your trailer needs replacing could actually be found in your running costs beyond maintenance and repairs.

Much like how an older car can cost you more money due to additional fuel consumption, an older trailer is often less efficient at hauling goods around due to drag, weight distribution issues or suboptimal design of the storage bed.

Sometimes they are not designed for modern business needs, whilst in other cases it is a matter of simple wear and tear taking its toll.

It can be a silent frustration, but if you notice your towing vehicle suffering from low fuel economy or the trailer feels less comfortable at cruising speeds, it might be the case that the trailer itself is to blame.

Even worse, if you do not feel you can trust your trailer to steer and brake the way you expect, it may be time for a replacement.

 

Are You Constantly Having Trouble With Your Trailer’s Lights?

It is always essential to connect and test the lights, brake lights and indicators before setting off, to ensure that everything is connected properly.

However, if the lights are unreliable despite knowing they are fully connected, it could be a sign of worn-out electrical systems, and whilst in many cases this can be repaired, replacement can be necessary in other cases.

Whilst a heatwave can be extremely troublesome for your trailer if you have not bought the right model and prepared yourself as much as you can for the elements, the weather following a period of extreme heat can be particularly troublesome.

Some of these issues can be fixed by choosing the right model from a local, trusted, official distributor of Ifor Williams trailers, as they can point you in the right direction, answer any questions you may have and even provide essential summer servicing and advice.

If you have the time to plan, then you can typically weatherproof your trailer, regardless of whether it is a HBX horsebox, a Beavertail trailer or anything in between. But what happens if you do not have any advance warning?

Extreme weather phenomena can often lead to other types of extreme weather, and the end of a heatwave is often followed by sudden thunderstorms and flash flooding, as well as strong winds and sudden drops in temperature that can affect the ride of your trailer.

Proaction is better than reaction, but if your only choice is to react, here are some top tips to keep yourself safe when the conditions suddenly turn harsh but are unavoidable.

 

Should You Stop To Inspect Your Trailer?

Bad weather exploits the weaknesses of your towing setup, from a trailer’s brakes to its connection to your towing vehicle, so if the weather suddenly gets out of control whilst you are on the road, look for somewhere where you can safely stop and have a look at it.

Specifically, make sure that the hitch is secure, all of the electrical links between trailer and towing vehicle are securely in place and that your tyres, brakes and lights are all functioning properly.

In extreme weather, be it extreme heat, thunderstorms or a series of adverse environments, the tolerances for your trailer setup will be reduced, and small problems can become huge if you do not prepare.

Stopping also gives you a chance to check the weather forecast. If it appears like the storm is only temporary, it may save you time, money and stress waiting for the bad weather to be more manageable before continuing your journey, especially with live cargo.

 

Should You Slow Down In Extreme Weather?

The most important tip when driving in extreme weather conditions is to reduce your speed considerably, whether you are dealing with a heatwave or the rain that often arrives in its aftermath.

The faster you go, the longer it takes to slow down, and both your thinking and braking distances are significantly increased when driving in adverse weather or at night.

Ultimately, slowing down to save driving speeds is by far the fastest way to travel in adverse weather. It is far better to take your time and ensure your load gets to your destination in the best possible condition than risk not making it at all.

 

Should You Avoid Sharp Turns In Extreme Weather?

When you are towing a trailer, you should adopt an anticipatory, defensive driving style regardless of the conditions, but it is especially important during very hot, very cold, very wet and very windy weather to avoid any reflexive actions or sharp turns as much as possible.

Avoid emergency braking situations unless they are unavoidable, do not put your foot down to accelerate from a standstill and avoid sudden swerves to change lanes or make harder turns.

All of these manoeuvres risk jackknifing the trailer at the best of times, but with less traction due to ice, snow, wet tarmac or issues caused by extreme heat, they can potentially lead to accidents.

 

Do You Need To Use Your Lights And Indicators More In Extreme Weather?

Whether due to heat haze, fog, snow or rain showers, your visibility is naturally significantly worse in poor weather, which means that you need to be as clear as possible when it comes to your position relative to other road users.

Make sure your lights and indicators work on the back of your trailer and turn on your fog lights to ensure other drivers can see you as clearly as possible.

Indicate a lane change or turn as soon as you can, as this will give other motorists a chance to see you and react accordingly.

Keep in mind that even if you have a relatively visible trailer, drivers will work on where your lights are to determine your road position and whether it is safe to change lanes or overtake, so make yourself as easy to see as possible.

If you are in the market for a new trailer for your construction business, you will need to think carefully about what kind of trailer you buy. 

In fact, our top tip is to think about all the potential use cases for your trailer before you begin browsing the options available to you. 

This is because there are several kinds of trailers available for those working in construction and you don’t want to invest in a trailer that doesn’t meet your needs.

The main options are:

• General duty trailers
• Plant trailers
• Tipper trailers

Each of these types of trailer has merit in a construction environment, which is why you need to be clear about what you need a trailer for. Let’s look at each in turn. 

 

General duty trailers

General duty trailers are designed to be versatile. They have sturdy, stainless steel sides to protect whatever you’re transporting and will normally come with a tailboard or rear ramp to assist with loading and unloading.

This type of trailer is available in both single axle and double axle models, providing options to suit many types of loads and making it a good all-round construction trailer. 

 

Plant trailers

As their name suggests, plant trailers are designed specifically to transport compact plant machinery, such as excavators, skid steer loaders and telehandlers. 

For a construction business, being able to easily and securely transport equipment from one site to the next is essential. Easy loading of equipment is obviously vital, which is why all plant trailers are equipped with a ramp. 

When you’re choosing a plant trailer, make sure you consider what load it needs to be able to carry so that you can purchase a plant trailer that works for your stock of equipment. 

 

Tipper trailers

Tipper trailers are a staple piece of equipment in the construction industry, allowing you to transport materials to your site and offload them by tipping the trailer up at one end. Such trailers are available in single axle and double axle configurations.

Think carefully about how large a stock of materials you often need to transport to or from your building sites when making your selection.

A twin axle tipper trailer will typically be able to carry heavier loads safely than a single axle model. 

 

What to look at when evaluating construction trailers

There are several specifications to pay attention to when you are choosing a construction trailer, regardless of what type of trailer you decide to buy.

The most important are:

• Ease of use
• Load capacity
• Materials it’s made from
• Safety features

Ease of use

None of us want to invest in equipment that is hard to use. Trailers are supposed to facilitate the delivery of your work, so make sure you look for features like ramps and removable tailboards to make loading and unloading simple.

How quick and easy it is to hook your trailer up to a towing vehicle is also worth considering. 

 

Load capacity 

Arguably the most important factor to consider. Make sure that any trailer you buy is able to carry more than the heaviest load you anticipate needing to transport. This will ensure you are always able to use it safely.

As well as the gross weight rating of the trailer, look at its shape and size. Is it long enough to fit the materials or machinery you need to transport? 

 

Materials it’s made from

Trailers that operate in construction environments can take a beating. They will be driven over uneven terrain and the loads they carry are often heavy and potentially sharp or awkward shapes.

You want to invest in a trailer that stands the test of time. This is why Ifor Williams trailers stand out, because they are renowned for their quality and durability. 

The materials you want to look for are galvanised steel or aluminium, because these metals can withstand heavy loads and are suitable for use whatever the weather. But don’t stop at the material the trailer is made from. Also look at the quality of its construction. 

Does it look sturdy? Is there extra support for the sections that will be carrying the load? What coating does the platform have to ensure it will last? 

 

Safety features

Safety is a key consideration, so make sure you look for not only basic safety features like lights and reflectors, but also brakes (if applicable) and breakaway cables. 

Although designed for checks once you’ve bought a trailer, the government’s advice about how to tow safely are a useful starting point to make sure you cover all the safety basics. 

The summer months are often the peak period for trailer use, particularly in the agricultural sector, but this also coincides with some of the most punishing and brutal conditions your trailer is likely to face all year.

This means that ensuring that your trailer has undergone a service and had any small issues repaired is key, as these weaknesses will be stressed further by the summer heat.

Most businesses do not stop during heatwaves, and many journeys with trailers still need to take place even on the hottest days. This makes it essential that you know how to safely tow your trailer.

Here are some of our top tips and most critical pieces of advice to ensure you tow safely, your trailer avoids damage, and you do not experience any extra hidden costs.

 

How Are Your Trailer’s Tyres Affected By The Heat?

Heat causes air to expand, and this, in combination with a heavy load, can cause tyres to end up under such intense pressure that they can start wearing or cracking very quickly. A trailer tyre blowout on a motorway is a highly dangerous situation.

Make sure to check that both the trailer and towing vehicle are at the right pressure before you start driving, and check the condition of your tyres in case there are signs of degradation. 

A trip to a trailer specialist is far cheaper than a trip to an emergency garage.

 

Is Your Towing Vehicle’s Cooling System Sufficient For Towing?

Your car naturally runs hotter when towing a vehicle due to the additional weight, but this effect is magnified when under the blazing hot sun.

Make sure your trailer is being towed in such a way that it is not blocking airflow in and out of the towing vehicle, check the coolant has been topped up, the radiator is working fine and that there are no obvious issues with the cooling system.

Towing on a motorway, particularly uphill and in a traffic jam, can potentially cause your car to overheat.

 

Are Your Brakes Suitable For Towing In Hot Weather?

Brakes generate significant heat by design, but in hot conditions brakes have to work exponentially harder than other parts of your trailer.

This can lead to brake fade, which causes brakes to be significantly less effective and have a longer stopping distance than expected.

Of all the components of your trailer that you must ensure are properly serviced and adjusted for the heat, your brakes must be properly aligned, adjusted and fit for purpose.

If that is not possible or you are travelling specifically to your nearest trailer servicing experts, get a feel for how your trailer slows down and take into account the fact you have a much longer stopping distance to think about.

 

Can Your Towing Load Be Affected By The Heat?

Ropes, ratchet straps, tarpaulins, zip-ties, and all of the materials used to secure loads in the back of your trailer can be affected by the heat and create enough slack to cause loads to move around in the back of your trailer.

Slow down and find somewhere safe to stop to check your trailer load if you feel anything unusual or strange. If everything seems normal, stop after a few miles and check all of your straps regardless to ensure your load is secure.

Thankfully, once you are in the hot conditions, any further expansions or changes will be more subtle and less impactful.

 

Should You Avoid Travelling In The Middle Of The Day?

Whilst for some businesses this is unavoidable, you should try to make every effort possible not to drive during peak sunlight hours, which is typically between 11am and 3pm depending on the day.

Instead, opt to drive in the morning or evening, and give yourself time to allow yourself and your trailer to cool down effectively at a service station or a shaded car park.

Similarly, avoid rush hour traffic where at all possible. Heat can cause components to wear out much faster, and this is made worse by standing still and having to constantly start and stop.

 

Are You Keeping Yourself Cool As Well?

The most important part of your trailer and towing vehicle setup is the driver. You need to ensure that you keep hydrated, are as comfortable as possible and are able to focus on the driving at hand.

This usually means ensuring that your air conditioning is working effectively, you feel cool and comfortable, and you have adjusted the mirrors to avoid the potential for glare as much as possible.

Construction projects can take many forms and happen on various scales, but various tools, materials and plant equipment will always be needed. The key is to acquire the right type of trailer for each of these elements to help your project go smoothly.

The UK construction industry is a big business. According to the most recent government statistics, in 2024, the value of construction work in Britain was £140,684, while there were 370,770 registered companies operating in the sector and 1.4 million employees.

Anyone planning a construction project will know that it will take a lot of labour, materials, tools and equipment to complete the task. This means there is a lot of logistical work needed to ensure that the whole project goes smoothly, especially as you aim to deliver it on time.

At the same time, projects can vary widely in scope, with different scales, varied materials and, on occasions, some major technical challenges.

Examples of such differences include:

•       Projects based on revamping existing buildings, which have become increasingly popular as architects have focused on reducing embedded carbon
•       Some are based on Greenfield sites, whereas others are on brownfield, where significant site clearance work may be needed beforehand
•       Some involve extensive excavation of foundations, especially tall buildings
•       Some involve tunnelling.

 

What Are The Different Trailers You Can Use For Construction Projects?

This means there will be differences in the trailer requirements for each project, but Williams trailers can provide what you need in each and every circumstance.

For example, the trailer range includes:

•     Tiltbed trailers, which have low ground clearance and are therefore easy for onboarding and off-ramping heavy plant vehicles
•     Plant trailers, which are custom-designed for transporting plant equipment safely
•     Single axle tippers, which are smaller vehicles that are useful for transporting materials to a site
•       Double axle tippers are larger vehicles that are useful for filling up with waste material so that it can be taken away and deposited in an appropriate place

The use of tiltbed trailers and plant trailers is likely to be useful in most projects, as they can get plant material where it needs to be and easily unloaded to the ground where it will work.

Others may be used more in some cases than others, but also in different ways and quantities.

 

How Can You Deal With Large-Scale Remediation Tasks?

For instance, when remediation work takes place that could involve demolishing existing structures, cleaning up rubble or removing soil with toxic material, the size of the project will determine how many double axle trailers you need.

An example of this might include the upcoming project to construct a new stadium for Manchester United, with the club recently revealing it had concluded a deal to buy land close to its existing Old Trafford venue.

The land west of the stadium is all on the vast Trafford Park estate and has been used for industrial purposes since the 19th century, albeit with the exact uses of any particular plot of land changing over time. This means the land may require a lot of remediation work.

In addition, because the new stadium is set to be very large, it will require deep foundations, with parts of the structure likely to be built underground.

If this project will generate a lot of rubble and earth to be moved, the volume that needs to be taken away from sites is even greater when tunnels are involved.

Several current projects require large amounts of tunnelling, including the surviving section of the HS2 project between London and Birmingham, where 20 per cent of tunnelling work remains to be done, plus upcoming projects like the Lower Thames Crossing.

 

How Can You Deal With Soil Excavated In Construction Projects?

Some may ask where all the earth excavated from major tunnels goes. In some cases, it can be reused on site, for example, by building up embankments in the case of a railway.

However, when very large amounts are involved, some creative solutions can be found. A prime example of this happened during the construction of the Elizabeth line, when three million tonnes of earth were excavated from the tunnelled section under London.

This was taken to Wallasea Island on the Essex coast, where it was used to create a wetland habitat for birds on land owned by the RSPB. It is fair to say a lot of trailers would have been used in such a large undertaking.

Whether something similar will happen in the Lower Thames Crossing project is not stated in its nature plan, although it does pledge to create new landscaped areas and wetland habitats, which may suggest that the soil may be redistributed for these purposes.

Whatever you plan to do with excavated soil or remediated waste, double axel tippers will give you exactly what you need to take it away from the site, while different kinds of trailers can meet your other requirements.

Summer is here, and alongside the great farming and horse racing seasons, it is also the time to bring out beautiful luxury sports cars and take them out for a spin along the beautiful winding country roads of Yorkshire.

Whatever your chosen model, we can choose the perfect luxury car trailer for your needs. With Ifor Williams providing the gold standard in trailers, we have the right option for you whether you are travelling to a country road, a track day or a concours event.

Whilst most luxury cars tend to take the form of classic British sports cars such as the almighty Triumph Stag, a lot of luxury car collectors have started to add powerful electric cars to their collection as well.

With a greater interest in EVs more broadly, plus the announcement of electric supercars such as the Ferrari Luce, car trailers will need to accommodate for the needs of EVs as well as traditional petrol-powered sports cars.

How much do these needs differ? What additional equipment do you need? And what should you keep in mind if you want to use an EV to tow your EV? 

 

Why Do You Need A Car Trailer For Your Luxury Electric Car?

The first question to ask when it comes to EVs is whether you even need a trailer to tow them from location to location in the first place, and whilst in many cases it is not strictly necessary, there are some justifications for treating your luxury EVs carefully in a suitably sized Transporta.

One of them is the “horsebox theory”, rather succinctly described by motoring journalist Richard Hammond as a way to protect your favourite horses, bikes and cars that you would not want to or cannot legally drive on the road.

You load them into a trailer, and they are protected from the elements and are not having any additional mileage placed on them.

Another factor to bear in mind (and the real reason Mr Hammond used a trailer for his Rimac Concept One electric hypercar) is that the range of a lot of high-performance EVs is lower than their petrol-powered equivalents or requires lengthy periods of recharging.

A trailer gets around this issue, and ensures that your luxury car is in the best possible condition once you reach your destination.

 

What Do You Need To Include With Your Luxury EV Trailer?

If you are using a trailer, particularly if you have a covered trailer, it is worth bringing with you everything you need to make the most of your luxury car.

Choosing the right trailer is especially important; luxury cars with low ground clearances and advanced technology should ideally not make any contact with the road at all, which makes a flatbed such as the Beavertail perfect for transportation.

As well as this, you need to ensure that the straps and padding you use are optimal to avoid inadvertently scratching or damaging the bodywork. Whilst not ideal with any car, luxury cars can be particularly expensive to fix.

Padded straps and hooks, as well as car blankets, help to protect your luxury car from the bumps and unusual handling characteristics that come from driving on uneven terrain and roads of varying quality.

As well as this, making sure you have a backup for every situation can be beneficial. Much like you should bring fluids and fuel in case your car has a fault, taking a portable power station with you can be very useful to provide a top-up in emergencies.

Finally, make sure you have all the cables you need to charge your EV, particularly if it has an unusual proprietary connector.

 

Can You Tow A Trailer With An Electric Car?

You absolutely can tow a trailer with an EV, and some models are particularly effective at handling a trailer thanks to their more predictable acceleration and huge amounts of torque.

Not every EV is approved for towing, so you need to check its towing limits as you would any other car, and bear in mind that some EVs can only tow a vehicle using certain dedicated settings.

Range is another factor to bear in mind; due to the additional weight, a car’s range is typically halved. Whilst a petrol or diesel towing vehicle will also use more fuel, the additional recharge time can lead to greater range anxiety.

On the other hand, this is often offset by extra traction and more advanced four-wheel-drive systems, which can help improve handling and traction whilst carrying a heavy load such as another EV.