Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 738 Threads: 13
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My trailer is hanging from the garage joists on its side against the wall.
Its a two wheel un-braked tipping trailer, At 200 kg its fine for the Type 65, no ramps needed !!
I unlock the hinge pin and winch the car up onto the trailer, it just needs one hand under the front of the trailer to balance it till the rear wheels come onto it. ( I had to shorten the tail to be allowed into the local tip )
The trailer is of the open frame type with real Mini 10"alloy wheels. ( its good for working under the car as well )
The Type 65 was collected behind a Mk1 Escort Mexico in 1982 on a two wheel unbraked trailer.
Back then the Type 65 cost £2000 and the Mexico £800 ( I think we kept the wrong car )
As long as the car is not full of tools its under 750 Kg.
I always take the jockey wheel off and put it in the tow car it saves a bit of weight and stops it from winding itself down onto the road !!
A well balanced two wheel trailer is a delight to tow.
As long as you drive in a sensible manner as you would in a Seven you will have no problems.
I have used four wheel braked trailers in the past and like my current set up better.
You can buy a Trailer Vin plate and put the relevant information on it. ( Just like building a special )
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,337 Threads: 34
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Location: Cheshire
Car type: Race Ulster, 1926 Special, 1927 Chummy, 1930 Box
You need to be careful. The unbraked limit on my car is 680kg not 750. It’s ok for the Ulster and the Chummy (just) but not the Box, but I’ve never towed that anyway so it didn’t matter.
Alan Fairless
Joined: Jan 2018 Posts: 107 Threads: 12
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Mine is 750kg unbraked, 1500 braked. My trailer has brakes but not sure how effective as the handbrake only just holds it and that on the flat. I went right through it when I got it but in a rush, obviously needs more and better attention.
Ebay seatch for "trailer vin" gave a lot of results. One had the facility to laser engrave your information. Have put that on my list. Mine was built in 1967, I bought it from the builder and it came with drawings and receipts for materials from the month I was born. It came from John Sutton when he moved to the USA and has carried a lot of exotic 7s.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 741 Threads: 8
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Location: N W Kent
08-06-2019, 09:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-06-2019, 09:07 AM by Stuart Giles.)
My understanding of the law is that you don't have to have a VIN plate on your trailer (assuming it's not of the modern IVA etc. era) but if you don't, the authorities will take the maximum weight of your trailer as being the sum total of your trailer's tyres load index -the load index is the number that precedes the speed index on a tyre e.g. for a typical mini tyre 145/80 R10 69 S the load index is 69 which means the maximum load is 325KG. If you have a pair of these on your 2 wheel trailer its maximum load is 650 kg whatever the VIN plate might say. On the other hand, if you have some heavy trailer type tyres in the same size, the load index would give you 500KG per tyre, with no data plate, the authorities are going to say that your 750kg unbraked trailer is actually a 1 ton trailer, and you might be in a bit of trouble for having no brakes.
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 1,230 Threads: 33
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Location: Salop
Car type: '28 GE Cup. '28 AD Chummy '30 RL Saloon. '34 RP Saloon. Too Many toys!
08-06-2019, 10:04 AM
(This post was last modified: 08-06-2019, 10:04 AM by Hedd_Jones.)
VOSA were well known for doing silly things like that at one point. After a number of court cases they are now much more enlightened. The coppers however really havnt a clue. I tow two trailers with a 'locomotive' and took some advice from a specialist lawyer with regards what was and what was not legal. I carry the relevent sections of various pieces of legislation with me in a folder in case I get stopped by an over officious officer.
Joined: Jan 2018 Posts: 107 Threads: 12
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Will look at the tyres, but its academic as the trailer is minimalist (John raced a plywood gullwing marcos so he wasn't the over engineering type) and my car is well under 300kg so even no VIN and pretending the brakes aren't there it sounds like I'd be ok...but with a VIN plate it sounds like it would be a much shorter chat with the special constable!
Joined: Aug 2017 Posts: 422 Threads: 89
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Location: CALGARY AB CANADA
Ruairidh Dunford Wrote: 960 or 940 Steve?
Ruairidh, my Volvo is an ancient 1989 740 GL with 200 K on it! Still very reliable and a good all round car for everyday use. My wife's car is a 1987 740 GLE estate with nearly half a million K on the clock. Great cars but quirky as far as electrical things go.
These make excellent tow cars as they are rated at 3400 pounds towing capacity.
Stephen
Joined: Mar 2015 Posts: 5,442 Threads: 231
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Location: Scotchland
09-06-2019, 11:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-06-2019, 11:14 PM by Ruairidh Dunford.)
As a family we have had a succession of very good and varied Volvos Steve - including a green 740.
My latest is the newest and most expensive car I have ever owned - my third V70, it is an absolute beast but still manages to return 58mpg when towing. They are a very comfortable shed on wheels, huge storage capacity - I love them!
My favourite was the 1999 V70 GLT - something about it was nice - great turning circle!
