Would you tow up to your vehicle limit

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suew

Well-Known Member
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Leeds
Just been commenting on a thread on another forum about a trailer snaking and turning over.

It could have been anything, towbar height, tyre pressures, horse moving etc etc.

Reason I'm asking is do you all tow up to the limit of your vehicle. Mine could tow 3.5 tonnes but I wouldn't dream of doing it. I like at least a tonne in reserve. My trailer could go up to 2.7 tonnes but very unlikely it ever does.

I keep reading posts on the other forum where people are taking vehicles right up to the limit. Then they put their precious horses in them and set off doing 60 down the motorway.

What do you think, am I over cautious.
 
If you load the trailer sensibly and maintain it properly and then drive sensibly then why shouldn't you drive to your vehicle's capabilities?
 
Several things

proper trailer with working breaks
proper tyres rated for trailer, not car tyres of same size

most important properly loaded(distributed) weight and secured.

and yes have hauled overloaded before.

Most trailer accidents is from lack of experience/driving skills, and mechanical malfunction of the trailer
 
If you load the trailer sensibly and maintain it properly and then drive sensibly then why shouldn't you drive to your vehicle's capabilities?


Sorry, I wasn't specific, I meant carrying animals or unstable loads.

I wouldn't mind if it was a static load, although I would probably still drive slower. I meant something which can move around.

I've just always believed the vehicle should have something in reserve.
 
Several things

proper trailer with working breaks
proper tyres rated for trailer, not car tyres of same size

most important properly loaded(distributed) weight and secured.

and yes have hauled overloaded before.

Most trailer accidents is from lack of experience/driving skills, and mechanical malfunction of the trailer


Agreed. The thread in question was a brand new trailer. Could have been caused by anything. The OP was blaming the manufacturer. I just cant understand those arguing around whether something is just legal or not with an unstable load. Horses can be very unstable if they decide to go nuts inside a moving trailer.
 
I would be wary of what size trailer I tow with my landy but I often tow vehicles up to 18 tons and have also towed a fully laden articulated tanker in the snow with it.

At work I regularly tow up to the max train weight of my vehicle. The towed weight is pretty much equal to the unladen weight of my own vehicle and is completely unbraked.
 
this is precisely why i tow under weight if and when possible aswell as service my brakes hitches wheels and all other working parts on my trailers as i cant trust anyone with my life or other peoples lives when im towing

one thing i have learned about snaking trailers is never ever hit the brakes when it starts instead power out of it then gradualy slow down especialy with braked trailers just incase theyre out of balance or one side is not working at all as this can drag the trailer violently towards the working side and throw the whole thing over

older caravans box trailers tow a vans and livestock trailers are fekkin murder for this

to the OP your not being overcautios as you never can be where trailers are concerned
 
this is precisely why i tow under weight if and when possible aswell as service my brakes hitches wheels and all other working parts on my trailers as i cant trust anyone with my life or other peoples lives when im towing

one thing i have learned about snaking trailers is never ever hit the brakes when it starts instead power out of it then gradualy slow down especialy with braked trailers just incase theyre out of balance or one side is not working at all as this can drag the trailer violently towards the working side and throw the whole thing over

older caravans box trailers tow a vans and livestock trailers are fekkin murder for this

to the OP your not being overcautios as you never can be where trailers are concerned


:D :D Thank you

The next time I see an 18 year old trying to downrate a two horse trailer, to tow with an estate car so they dont have to take the trailer test, I will be justified to have a rant :D :D

And thanks for the tip on braking, I knew you shouldn't brake, I never knew why :D
 
Oh god, I think they have really lost the plot now.

Someone has started another thread and people are discussing towing large Ifors with two horses with Mondeos and Astras :D :D

I was sitting on my hands but I've come over here instead
 
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