Defender 90 trailer advice.

Anyone got any advice on an ideal trailer to tow behind a 90?

I've presently got a 5' x 4' box trailer I've had for years. It's getting tatty and although it was fine behind my discoveries, I can't see it at all out of the back of my 90 until it is jackknifed which is not useful. I can't extend it without a lot of faffing, and it's easier to start again.

I have an adjustable hitch and also tow a car trailer so want to stick with a standard hitch, therefore much as I would like one, a Sankey is probably not ideal.

I read up that the width should ideally be the same as the defender, so I can reverse easier, I was looking at 6' ish to get my kayaks on top and mountain bikes inside

Don't really want it too high, as I don't carry big bags of garden waste any more since we moved to a lower maintenance garden.

Any thoughts?

I sort of stand up/lean back over the seat so I can see out of the back window. Keep meaning to make a flag I can temporarily stick on the back when reversing. Something a bit longer and you can see it out of the window and its no problem.

I have an Ifor Williams which sits very nicely behind my 90:



Crap photo, but you get the idea. Tows well even when heavily loaded, easy to reverse.

You could fit extended height poles in the rear corners so you can see where the trailer is.
I tow an Ifor GD84TA behind my Defender with no issues.
It is virtually the same width as the Defender so no worries re: width restrictions.#
Tows lovely either fully loaded or empty.
Very stable and a doddle to reverse.

Cheers guys will have a look, I had use of an ifor twin wheel digger trailer for a while, and it was excellent to tow with and to reverse, but dad sold it a few years ago. Too heavy for what I want but could have used the wheelbase and measurements.

kes86 said:

Anyone got any advice on an ideal trailer to tow behind a 90?

I've presently got a 5' x 4' box trailer I've had for years. It's getting tatty and although it was fine behind my discoveries, I can't see it at all out of the back of my 90 until it is jackknifed which is not useful. I can't extend it without a lot of faffing, and it's easier to start again.

I have an adjustable hitch and also tow a car trailer so want to stick with a standard hitch, therefore much as I would like one, a Sankey is probably not ideal.

I read up that the width should ideally be the same as the defender, so I can reverse easier, I was looking at 6' ish to get my kayaks on top and mountain bikes inside

Don't really want it too high, as I don't carry big bags of garden waste any more since we moved to a lower maintenance garden.

Any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Any box trailer you want to get is fine, I have often towed Ifor 16 x 6ft6, with bales on that might go up to 8foot wide.Gives you a bit more to see when reversing, the worst to reverse are titchy trailers that disappear in the blind spots. Cattle float is lovely to reverse, big boxy body in the mirror.

Something like a 2700kg capacity Ifor chassis with a box body would suit you, have a search on Ifors website, gives you an idea of what the other companies ranges will be like.

Are you thinking new or s/h?

I'm planning to build it!
So far I have a hitch, suspension units and wheels, lights and wiring. Just need steel for the frame. oh and a new bottle of gas for my mig.

My mate has built a good few trailers, so is helping if necessary.

cheaper to buy a battered one and mod it if you want the auto reverse gubbins and braking for the new regs

What a dumbass question. Surely the trailer is dictated by what you need to carry on it? Or is it just a fashion accessory like so much stuff you see on LandRovers these days.

[emoji163]

I tow alsorts behind my 90 hardtop, I used to have a Sanky it towed nice, but I was in your position and needed a proper tow bar, and also wanted a rear winch, I have fitted a receiver hitch so I can change things very quickly, although I don't have a sankey anymore I remove my drop plate for off roading and but a recovery hoop in.

I currently tow a twin wheel indespention 2.5t digger trailer and a 14' x 6'6" ifor

My sankey was a narrow track and I could just see the end of it as it had been altered and lights stuck on plates on the side to make a tailgate. I'd make it the same with as a wide track sankey which should be the same as a 90

Just spotted this, any good to you?

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f63/trailer-sale-282901.html

warrior said:

Just spotted this, any good to you?

http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f63/trailer-sale-282901.html

Click to expand...

Yes that would be ideal really, but it'll cost me £400 return on the boat to go get it. But,that has given me some ideas for size and use, cheers.

Thanks for all the pointers, 90 width, long enough to fit the kayaks on or in, and long enough to fit the Mountain bikes in.

I don't really need to make it silly heavy, as it will need to be manoeuvre able by hand. So steel frame and plywood. I do have a braked tow hitch, so could set it up for that. But the hubs and suspension units are unbraked.

I have an old car trailer which I could shorten down as the basis, but it is too wide and a bit ropey from lying in the grass at my mates farm for 10 years, so abandoned that one.

The trailer I have at the moment is used regularly, last week I picked up a spare 300tdi engine in it. But there was nothing substantial to lash it to, and the trailer took an age to turn round in the yard of the scrap place.

Hence the decision to build something better........

kes86 said:

I don't really need to make it silly heavy, as it will need to be manoeuvre able by hand. So steel frame and plywood. I do have a braked tow hitch, so could set it up for that. But the hubs and suspension units are unbraked.

Click to expand...

I don't know what the situ is in IOM, but in UK mainland unbraked trailers are only allowed an all up weight of 750 kg, I think.

This is always worth a try if your not in a rush, worked for my sankey

LandyZone Courier Service - Land Rover Zone

Turboman said:

I don't know what the situ is in IOM, but in UK mainland unbraked trailers are only allowed an all up weight of 750 kg, I think.

Click to expand...

Yes I think that is the case here. Most rules are the same as England, apart from the 30mph speed limit for trailers, which has been put up to 40mph last year......woohoo

I'm over to England twice in August, so can see what I need by then.

Just been to my pals, to look at starting the build. He has a 90 width trailer, the same length as mine, and it's too wide to fit behind his quad. So I swapped him just got to put my mudguards and wheels on as his is running 8" wheels... Quickest build ever. Only problem is I only popped up for an hour at 10am and just got back, so I'm in lots of trouble with the wife!! Ah well

Turboman said:

I don't know what the situ is in IOM, but in UK mainland unbraked trailers are only allowed an all up weight of 750 kg, I think.

Click to expand...

Correct, Unbraked are limited to max 750kgs and 50mph.
Braked are limited to max 60mph.
Unbraked must have a safety chain fitted and used.
Braked must use a breakaway cable.
If plod stop you its 3 points and a fine for not having/using them.
I also seem to recall that all trailers must now be plated (to stop some of the dangerous home builds) but don't quote me on that.
Where I live they are very hot on trailers due to theft and overloading.

Shifty1962 said:

Correct, Unbraked are limited to max 750kgs and 50mph.
Braked are limited to max 60mph.
Unbraked must have a safety chain fitted and used.
Braked must use a breakaway cable.
If plod stop you its 3 points and a fine for not having/using them.
I also seem to recall that all trailers must now be plated (to stop some of the dangerous home builds) but don't quote me on that.
Where I live they are very hot on trailers due to theft and overloading.

Click to expand...

Op lives in the IOM, may be different over there, they have some different motoring laws, IIRC.

Fair number of trailers getting pulled over by VOSA on the main A30 anorl.

Turboman said:

Op lives in the IOM, may be different over there, they have some different motoring laws, IIRC.

Fair number of trailers getting pulled over by VOSA on the main A30 anorl.

Click to expand...

I dont mind them checking but it takes for ever and its the same blokes everytime. You would think they would remember my ugly mug. Been pulled 4 times in the last 3 weeks.