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Glen

  • Posts: 243
Trailer system details
« on: August 26, 2013, 11:01:33 pm »
Apologies in advance if this has been asked before.

Is anyone using a trailer system which will accommodate a hot WFP system & gutter vac and a ladder on the trailer roof?

If so, could you provide some details please?

Also, what type of vehicle are you using to tow it?

Thanks in advance.


dan hughes

  • Posts: 397
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2013, 11:15:49 pm »
Bump.

I'd love to know the exact same details!

Thinking of swaping to trailer and 4x4 !!??

Spruce

  • Posts: 8642
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2013, 08:11:26 am »
Apologies in advance if this has been asked before.

Is anyone using a trailer system which will accommodate a hot WFP system & gutter vac and a ladder on the trailer roof?

If so, could you provide some details please?

Also, what type of vehicle are you using to tow it?

Thanks in advance.



How many wfp trailers have you seen around? Not many?

The problem with trailers is maneuverability. If they are small then you could man handle them in some conditions and parking is also much more difficult.

I had a small trailer with 'wheel barrow' wheels carrying 375 litres. It was a nightmare to reverse as its so short and I daren't uncouple it on a hill as I would never have been able to hold it. Maybe if it was a braked trailer it would have helped.

I know of a cleaner who used to clean bus shelters with a 650 litre tank on a twin wheeled braked trailer towed by a 4 x 4. It was fine for that as they only towed it on the same roads the busses went. He later sold it and went to a van as it was more practical.

At a guess you would need at least 400 litres of water and with everything else (boxed or van trailer) you would need at minimum a single axle (so you can turn it by hand by yourself) braked trailer between 750 - 1000kgs. Second hand trailers fetch high prices as they are always in demand by market traders.

Trailers are also more vunerable to theft.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Michael Peterson

  • Posts: 1741
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2013, 05:59:04 pm »
if you want a 4x4 why dont you get a tank for a l200 hilux ranger or something like that, pork that trailer idea right off it will be a right pain for you, you will earn less money because of how long everything would take, id rather a trolley system/ backpack system with barrels than a trailer

Spruce

  • Posts: 8642
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2013, 07:57:28 am »
I think it was Gold who added a trailer to his van when he employed "Dan the Man" as he needed more water. That didn't last long before he bought a bigger van they could both work of.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Glen

  • Posts: 243
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2013, 04:07:53 pm »
Thanks for the replies. My situation is this:

I bought a van a couple of years ago with the intention of getting it fitted out with a HOT WFP system & gutter vacuum.

The plan was to have the van just for this purpose and buy a car for personal use but I've only got a few days WC work a month now and I just couldn't justify (or afford) to have both.

Hence thinking about a trailer system and a car / small 4x4 to tow it.

I realise it would be awkward & time consuming to manoeuvre but the alternative seems to be having two vehicles..

With a trailer system, what type of vehicle are you using to tow it? I'd prefer a car for the fuel economy but would consider a small 4x4

I'm more than open to other ideas!

Thanks in advance.

Spruce

  • Posts: 8642
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2013, 04:53:46 pm »
Thanks for the replies. My situation is this:

I bought a van a couple of years ago with the intention of getting it fitted out with a HOT WFP system & gutter vacuum.

The plan was to have the van just for this purpose and buy a car for personal use but I've only got a few days WC work a month now and I just couldn't justify (or afford) to have both.

Hence thinking about a trailer system and a car / small 4x4 to tow it.

I realise it would be awkward & time consuming to manoeuvre but the alternative seems to be having two vehicles..

With a trailer system, what type of vehicle are you using to tow it? I'd prefer a car for the fuel economy but would consider a small 4x4

I'm more than open to other ideas!

Thanks in advance.

If you want all those things in a trailer, then you will need a biggish van trailer that will carry some weight. It will also preferably be a single axel to maneuver it around easier. If you want to carry 350litres for a day's work, hose reel, tank, tank frame, poles, ladder, gas heater and gas bottle with gas and gutter vacuum (with a generator?) then these are going to be heavy, and including the van trailer, would need to be over 1000kg IMO. This is braked trailer territory and probably twin axle, so it will need a bit of muscle to pull it and keep it in control behind you.

There are rules with regard to what weight a car can tow, and depends on the weight ratio of the car to trailer - especially with unbraked trailers up to 750kgs.

In fact, even van wise, this puts you out of the small van category as well.

Its hardly worth investing in equipment for a couple of days w/c work. I would probably find a good, honest window cleaner and rent the work out to him to do with a small retainer coming your way. A contract would also help so he knows that the work doesn't become his by default.

There is a local guy who had 4 kids and converted to wfp. He bought a long wheel base Transit van, left the first row of seats in the back and has fitted a tank behind that. The Transit is an older equivalent of the T350 model. So this is a combination work and pleasure van.

In the 'old days' we could do window cleaning part time off ladders. A bucket in the back of the car, roof racks, a good pair of ladders and we were set up. Nowadays the costs are high and this is now a full time occupation.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

Glen

  • Posts: 243
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2013, 08:54:52 pm »
Thanks for the reply. It's not for the extra seating capacity - I want a car for a few reasons.

I'm working much the way described in the last paragraph of your post, except with a van! I'm in rural Ireland with an almost exclusively residential round.

No plans for major expansion just to maintain what I have and perhaps a bit more work. Planning on returning to study in the foreseeable future so will always be part-time. 

I know a van is the most practical option but, as mentioned, not enough work for it.

Would be grateful for more details on options, type of car & weight ratios if you happen to know them.

robertphil

  • Posts: 1511
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2013, 09:21:13 pm »
i knew a fellah who cut down a horsebox to make a low but strong trailer .took him a weekend and it looked good too

 id think in ireland thered be plenty of horseboxes,just a thought

CLEANCARE WC

  • Posts: 4454
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #9 on: September 10, 2013, 10:16:38 pm »
i knew a fellah who cut down a horsebox to make a low but strong trailer .took him a weekend and it looked good too

 id think in ireland thered be plenty of horseboxes,just a thought

There will be now tesco have just put in a big order  ;D
WE CLEAN BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT WITH WATER FED POLE WHEN WORKING AT HEIGHT.

Spruce

  • Posts: 8642
Re: Trailer system details New
« Reply #10 on: September 11, 2013, 07:47:08 am »
Unbraked Trailers.

In the UK your unbraked trailer isn't allowed to exceed 750kgs. That's total weight of the trailer and what you are carrying. The total weight of your trailer isn't allowed to be more than 50% of the towing vehicle kerb weight.

Braked Trailers.

The caravan club recommend that your caravan or trailer doesn't exceed 85% of your tow vehicle's kerb weight for safety. The law allows you up to 100% and a total of 3500kgs.

Driver's licences in the Uk changed in 1997 which added restrictions on towing trailers from that time. Further restrictions came in on 13th January 2013 where the maximum you are allowed to tow is 3500kgs which includes the tow vehicle's weight as well.

I don't know what applies in Ireland.

The vehicle manufacturers usually decide what weight their vehicle can tow. For example. A 2006 Citroen C5 came out with 2 diesel engines, a 1.6 hdi (110hp) and a 2.0 hdi (136hp). The vehicles weigh more or less the same but the 1.6 lacks the torque to pull the same caravan as the 2.0 will. The early model C5 2.0 110hp (2000 - 2004) was renowed at the best caravan tower.
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26536
Re: Trailer system details
« Reply #11 on: September 11, 2013, 12:24:38 pm »
I think it was Gold who added a trailer to his van when he employed "Dan the Man" as he needed more water. That didn't last long before he bought a bigger van they could both work of.

Quite right - I had a 200L trailer and a small van with a 400L tank anyway and it worked fine while I built up the round to cover two men's wages - but not as well as a bigger van. I ran it from September to March 2011/12.

But I kept the Doblo and put the trailer tank in that. It's a pool vehicle with a 200L and a guttervac in it. (which Dan gets general use of).

Still got the trailer too.
It's a game of three halves!