Trailer

This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
gstuart

gstuart

D3 Grandad
Full Member
Posts
30,790
Location
Kent
My dad mentioned to me the other day that as ive now got the FL if i would like a trailer, so that if both of us wants to take rubbish down the dump wont dirty or smell the FL out.



Regarding the tow bar, do they do one where the ball goes low enough to hook onto the trailer so it sits nice and level, i dont know how hard it will be to install all the electrics etc.



Been looking to see if there's a complete kit which would include the wiring etc.



mainly my concern is, im fully comp do i have to insure it seperatly plus ive heard about you need a certain group on your driving licence to hook a trailer up.





thanks as always



gary
 
Last edited:
Apparently if you say

White rabbits
White rabbits
White rabbits

at the start of the month you will have good luck for the rest of the month

might be something to do with that, with that, with that
 
gstuart said:
My dad mentioned to me the other day that as ive now got the FL if i would like a trailer, so that if both of us wants to take rubbish down the dump wont dirty or smell the FL out.



Regarding the tow bar, do they do one where the ball goes low enough to hook onto the trailer so it sits nice and level, i dont know how hard it will be to install all the electrics etc.



Been looking to see if there's a complete kit which would include the wiring etc.



mainly my concern is, im fully comp do i have to insure it seperatly plus ive heard about you need a certain group on your driving licence to hook a trailer up.





thanks as always



gary
Click to expand...

You can get brackets to lower the towball, these are just bolted on. However, this is a bad idea on the Freelander because the Freelander can easily suffer already as a result of having low ground clearance. A low towbar can act as a scoop, especially those with brackets for height adjustment. The Freelander is already quite low, so it shouldn't be an issue unless you're towing a really gay looking trailer with wheels the size of a dinner plate.

I have a normal towbar fitted to mine and it does affect the departure angle quite significantly. A few times, it has taken the weight off the back wheels, making it more difficult for the car to get sufficient traction. If I were you, just get a standard towbar.

Towing regulations depend on multiple factors. If you passed your test after 1st Jan 1997, you can tow:

- A trailer that does not have a fully laden weight which exceeds the weight of your car. (roughly 1550kg)
- Outfit must not exceed 3500kg (Although something about a 750kg trailer also comes into play here, but I forgot the exact details)
- Unbraked trailers must not exceed 750kg

It is a little more complex/detailed than that, but that's the main gist of it.
 
Last edited:
There should be no specific implications with towing a trailer as far as insurance is concerned as long as it complies with the manual. It is very easy to exceed the 750Kg limit when filling with rubble/dirt etc. or building materials so be careful.

My small trailer sat very low at the back when hitched to the extent that it would drag when coming off kerbs. As the axle unit is a single piece I fitted 2" blocks between it an the floor of the trailer and it now sits exactly right. If I had dropped the hitch then the caravan would be nose down.

PF Jones have a good site for towbars. If you get the dedicated 12N electric kit rather than a universal it is bit more expensive but just plugs into the loom with no fuss. The socket is behind the right trim panel in the boot tucked behind the metal frame. I taped the blanking plug to the frame.
 
I've got the part of the tow bar that bolts to the chassis for the Freelander 1
(2003) I used the part with the ball on it for my boat. The electrics are also there.

Removed these from my wifes FL when she traded it in.

If anyone wants these bits let me know and you're welcome to them.
 
thanks guys, really appreciate your help

hi goon army im 44, past my test 1987, havnt towed a trailer for many years, so i think i better get some practice in.

ive now been looking at size's of trailer, dont want to get a huge one but maybe an 8' x 4' may be suffice.

Would a trailer this small bounce, but i imagine its trial and error i suppose adjusting the weight and speed

Seen some 2nd hand box trailers which may suit my needs better, ie for camping gear etc. but the cheapest ive seen are over £1,000

does anyone know where the best place to look please.

thanks so much guys, i really do appreciate your help

all the best

gary
 
Everyone else looks on eBay for trailers. £1000 seems a lot for an 8'x 4' trailer, I assume you're looking for new ones at that price? Can't see the point of a new one unless you're going to use it a lot.
 
gstuart said:
thanks guys, really appreciate your help

hi goon army im 44, past my test 1987, havnt towed a trailer for many years, so i think i better get some practice in.

ive now been looking at size's of trailer, dont want to get a huge one but maybe an 8' x 4' may be suffice.

Would a trailer this small bounce, but i imagine its trial and error i suppose adjusting the weight and speed

Seen some 2nd hand box trailers which may suit my needs better, ie for camping gear etc. but the cheapest ive seen are over £1,000

does anyone know where the best place to look please.

thanks so much guys, i really do appreciate your help

all the best

gary
Click to expand...
youll have a B+E liscence (grandad rights.)Dont worry about the size of the trailer, the weight is key.Your handbook will tell you your weight limits then find a trailer within that.Trailers that are good will be dear, cheaper for the ****ty ones.Try ebay or rent one off hewden/speedy/etc
 
Forgot to add, trailers do tend to bounce when unladen, due to the big weight difference unloaded/loaded. The bigger the trailer, the easier it is, except when maneouvring in confined spaces (or taking it off and pushing it around yourself etc).

Towball height - there is a standard, I think its 360mm-420mm.
 
am i right in thinking that the smaller the trailer and wheels are, the lower i will have to drop the tow bar.

Im going to get a 2nd hand one, i think as long as the chassis and axle are ok can fix the rest, plus as my dad has kindly offered to treat me , i dont want him spending alot of money.would show him all the different models and allow him to decide as its his money.

would use it to clear rubbish, not rubble, camping equipment, picking up or collecting a large item etc.

checked my licence saw the B and E catagory.

will have a look in my hand book for the weights.

sorry to be so dim in asking so many questions but i know i get sound information here.

all the best

gary
 
gstuart said:
am i right in thinking that the smaller the trailer and wheels are, the lower i will have to drop the tow bar.
Click to expand...


No, trailers (well car trailers...) hitches should always be within the standardised height of 360-420mm (measured to the centre of the ball), it doesn't matter how big or small the trailer is. Its not that important on single axle trailers so long as they don't slope so much that some part drags along the ground, or has too low ground clearance to avoid contact on road undulations etc. It becmes more important on twin and triple axle trailers, where a too high or too low nose messes up the relative weight distribution between the axles, meaning that an axle could end up overloaded.
 
a level trailer is a happy tralier-as much as is possible.This includes level loading also, put the main weight over the axle/s
 
thanks that makes alot easier knowing there is a standard height.

another thing i was thinking about was a stabaliser bar, my dad always fitted one on the caravan, dont know if it would be an overkill on the trailer.

fully understand where your coming from regarding twin axles,

buying the land rover tow bars i assume that once fitted puts it between the 360-420mm mark

gary
 
Stabilers bars arent very fashionable now days, alko stabilers are-dry tow balls. Cant remeber seing them on trailers though, just caravans
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

xDParis64
Freelander 1 Converting from wasted spark to distributor (or Visa Versa)
Replies
0
Views
454
xDParis64
xDParis64
Flat 6
Poor running when warmed up
2
Replies
32
Views
2K
Turboman
Turboman
L
More Power - How far can you go?
Replies
17
Views
3K
LetsHopeItFits
L
Gunter Shingleditch
Freelander 1 TD4 puff of smoke on start-up, stinky exhaust and shudders at 1000 RPM - SOLVED
Replies
16
Views
3K
Arctic2
Arctic2
S
Disco 1 Disco 1 Rust repair prep
2
Replies
20
Views
2K
sv_dOnut
S
Back
Top