To Trailer Or Not To Trailer

[LuckyTune]

Somewhat due to my new job and busy schedule the Skyline has just ticked over 3 months out of rego, and into the dreaded blue slip territory... deciding what i should do now..

Is it more common to be buying a trailer or to hire as needed?

Also what are people generally paying for a lower end trailer?

[warps]

If you're only towing a few times a year, hire trailers will most likely work out cheaper, and you don't have to worry about storing it somewhere.

HOWEVER, hire trailers are like hire cars - nobody loves them, and they get severely punished. Also they are designed for muppets who decide to load a landcruiser onto them, so are built like the proverbial brick sh*thouse. This means they weigh heaps too (900kg is not unusual for a hire trailer).

You can buy reasonable brand new trailers for $3k and up, though IMHO a good quality one will probably cost you $5k or more, unless you know someone with good welding skills. There are some good second hand trailers around, and if you know what to look for, you should be able to get a useable one for $2k (bargains come up every now and then). I wouldn't buy one for any less than $2k, as it will most likely be shagged.

You can occasionally get fairly cheap good trailers for small / light cars, but for something like a Skyline you want to make sure the trailer is well built and it needs to be more robust, which in turn means heavier.

Just as important is what you're going to tow with. There's a very long thread about tow vehicles - it contains lots of good info about trailers, tow vehicles, and regulations surrounding towing.

Finally, once you get a nice trailer, NEVER loan it out. They have a habit of coming back damaged.

[LuckyTune]

Ah good info, maybe I will try hiring one and see how it goes before I commit either way.

The weight is going to be an issue though, tow car will be a Passat alltrack 1800kg max)

[Dylan454]

[wildeagle44]

Bought my trailer 2nd hand, 6 months old and never used. Keep an eye out on gumtree for somthing as they pop up but sell quick.

I used to rent but it's dead money.

And that pic above is 100% correct. Gotta swat away the people wanting to borrow your trailer.

[LuckyTune]

thread revival - will be looking to buy a trailer in the next month or so - has anyone bought new recently in the sydney area? if so where from and would you recommend?

will be looking for something that is fairly light and easy enough to load/unload alone

[GTR-N1]

PM 34GeeTeeTee about Mat's tilt version. Good value.