Novice needs advice re: towbar and trailer

[yeoman]

Hi guys,

I want to get a towbar and trailer( possibly an ERDE 122) from halfords, I have never had a towbar or trailer before and I am not sure how to get started or indeed what I need to buy. Are halfords any good? Has anyone had a towbar fitted by them? I understand they do sell and fit them.

Please help?

Cheers

[scottishvolvo]

Very first thing you need to check is does your licence cover you for towing, hard to tell how old you are on a forum.

[yeoman]

Originally Posted by scottishvolvo

Very first thing you need to check is does your licence cover you for towing, hard to tell how old you are on a forum.

Hi,
full license. 40.yr old


Cheers

[scottishvolvo]

If you've had it for a while that should cover towing then.
I had my bar fitted by a specialist in Glasgow. Not sure how Halfords rates compare but try looking in the yellow pages or google towbar fitters for your area, I reckon you might find they are cheaper and will probably do a better job seeing as they do more. I see loads of Erde tralers stoating about and they seem able to do most sizes. I have my own traler which was custom made to fit an electric mobility chair and has seen loads of use.
No matter what trailer you get, please look after it well. Check wheel bearings regularly and keep an eye on the wheel nuts. Make sure the lights cable does not start to sag as this can lead to snagging and leaving you with no lights. Budget a new rear plate in to the purchase as well, when I got mine I put the new one on the car and used the old one for the trailer.
Reversing...if you can, keep it to a minimum, sometimes it is far easier to un-hitch and turn it by hand. Although practice is a fantastic thing.
Get the wiring done by the towbar fitters and make sure the bar you get is labelled with the necessary information.

[yeoman]

Originally Posted by scottishvolvo

If you've had it for a while that should cover towing then.
I had my bar fitted by a specialist in Glasgow. Not sure how Halfords rates compare but try looking in the yellow pages or google towbar fitters for your area, I reckon you might find they are cheaper and will probably do a better job seeing as they do more. I see loads of Erde tralers stoating about and they seem able to do most sizes. I have my own traler which was custom made to fit an electric mobility chair and has seen loads of use.
No matter what trailer you get, please look after it well. Check wheel bearings regularly and keep an eye on the wheel nuts. Make sure the lights cable does not start to sag as this can lead to snagging and leaving you with no lights. Budget a new rear plate in to the purchase as well, when I got mine I put the new one on the car and used the old one for the trailer.
Reversing...if you can, keep it to a minimum, sometimes it is far easier to un-hitch and turn it by hand. Although practice is a fantastic thing.
Get the wiring done by the towbar fitters and make sure the bar you get is labelled with the necessary information.

Hi, Scottish volvo,

Thanks for all the tips,