Anyone got a car transporter?

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:47 pm

Hi Guys,

exactly as per the title. Anyone got a car transporter or car trailer?

I'm trying to organise collection for the 4 door in the freebie section and trying to sort it as cheap as possible! Anyone out there able to lend a hand?

Not to rain on the parade of anyone who has offered, but none near enough to be viable...

Post by **alainmoran** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 2:57 pm

My brother in law has one, but it's in the midlands

Post by **ani** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 3:10 pm

Well that's a lot of good isn't it

Dan, remember he pick-up for £20 - that was being sold only about 5 miles from here - so also very near to Charlie I know he has a trailer but may be a long shot. Dare I say it but I believe these people are the "pikey people" of Normandy and it's quite possible you could do a deal with them. The old boy I spoke to was pretty ok. Here's the link - I don't have a number but you could always send a message through Ebay. Best I can come up with.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0351671636

Post by **alainmoran** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:13 pm

Have you thought about renting a trailer for the day?
http://www.yell.com/ucs/UcsSearchAction ... 490162&M=0

Post by **ani** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:36 pm

Or if it's got wheels on can't you tow it?

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:39 pm

Behind the Metro? In order to tow a vehicle it is nessecary for it to be taxed, MOT'd etc. (and have brakes!) Therefore not an option, if it was only 5 mins down the road then maybe as its a reasonable distance then no chance.

Trailer rental is flippin expensive if you need it over the weekend, and when you factor in the fuel for the (borrowed) tow car it becomes less practical!

I've got a quote for £88 ish which doesn't seem too bad but still trying to get cheaper!

Post by **ASL642** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:41 pm

Only if you've got a large enough engine in your modern with the correct braking capacity , let alone a tow bar! I think Alain's suggestion of renting a trailer/transporter sounds about the best bet - just depends on cost. Perhaps they do half day hire?

Post by **Judge** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:59 pm

http://www.shiply.com/

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:01 pm

Already on it Bill!

Thanks for prompting me though, its down to £67 quid now

Post by **rayofleamington** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:16 pm

If you can borrow a decent tow car, the A-frame is still on offer.

Post by **d_harris** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:24 pm

Ray, I can borrow a decent tow car, but factoring the time (and diesel) to get to yours makes it quite expensive! I do appreciate it though!

(you were one of the ones that the comment in the original post was aimed at BTW

)

Post by **Mogwai** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:31 pm

may be a bit out of your way but have you tried Southern Self Drive or Hayling Trailers

Post by **8009STEVE** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:37 pm

As the car is in Aldershot, maybe Ani could help, twice. Put the front on the pickup and reverse the trav to take the back. A type of push me/pull you.

Post by **alainmoran** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:51 pm

You could take a leaf out of the great escape ... take the car to bits, fill your pockets and then get on the bus

Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:17 pm

reminds me of a johnny cash song about someone nicking a car from work over a few years...

Post by **heathy12** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:20 pm

Have an A frame for use.

Brand new. used once.

I towed my traveller 5 miles to the new storage place SORNed no MOT but insured. Nawty I know but when needs must and you do it safely and responsibly I cant see a problem looking at some of the clowns out there!

Im looking at buying a twin axle car transporter so Dan...if you find one for £5-600 let me know - a decent one that is - if its in your area i'd have no problems with you picking it up, using it and dropping it off to me in Bristol or me collecting it in August.

Lemmie know!

Post by **autolycus** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:26 pm

One or two things to think about when considering shifting undriveable cars:

A-frames are recovering broken-down cars. I expect traffic police have heard all the smart-rse ideas on how to get round this, and, human nature being what it is, the natural temptation when faced with a smart-rse is to show you're either smarter or just in a stronger position. I've heard of A-frames with clever ways of applying car brakes, but never actually seen one, and I believe you then invite arguments over type approval, and the roadworthiness of your "trailer".

To tow anything over 750kg MAM (max gross weight, as it used to be called), you need either to have passed your car test before Jan 1997 (which must rule out over a third of contributors to this forum), or to have passed a trailer test. A typical car transporter trailer weighs 500-800kg empty, and has a MAM from 1500 to 3500kg.

There is no law that says that you must only tow something within your tow car's recommended towing limit, but you'd have a job convincing a court or your insurer that it had been safe to do so, particularly if you'd just had an accident. Large car + small trailer + moggy might just be OK, but generally a 4x4 (but not an early Series Land Rover) will be a better bet.

Typically, you'll pay between £30 and £60 for a day's trailer hire. I used to charge £25, but I've stopped hiring it out now because it was so badly treated. The burden of insurance and tachograph regulations is also so great that I've stopped advertising collection and deliveries, though I still do it sometimes for friends (fsvo "friends").

Be wary of the condition of hired (or indeed bought) car trailers. You see many with unsuitable or damaged tyres, and very few owners bother to maintain brakes or bearings.

There's an art to correct loading, and certainly to correct securing, of cars on trailers, but if I went on any more I'd be accused of discouraging young turks who don't look quite so hard for problems.

Kevin

Post by **d_harris** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:05 pm

I've organised a pro to do it on a flatbed truck. £66 - not too bad!

Post by **autolycus** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:16 pm

Sounds a good price for anything over 30 miles, or an excellent one for 60 miles.

Really not worth hiring a trailer at that - but I would say that, wouldn't I?

Hope it's not a flatbed with a Hiab!

Kevin

Post by **d_harris** » Fri Jul 17, 2009 2:46 pm

Nope, specialist vehicle transporter