Old Ifor suitable for car?

[Red Fred]

Hi all, we were just wondering whether we could legally tow our smaller, ancient Ifor stock trailer with our cars, if anyone knows about such things. We have his and hers Skoda 1.9tdi's. Octavia and Fabia, and the trailer is a 4'X8'/ Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Lincs Lass]

More depend what you are putting in it and how heavy ,the trailer wont weight much

 

[neilo]

I used to take a 12’ IW cattle trailer with ten or a dozen shearling rams down to Builth with a 2.5TD Audi A6.
It fair flew along and I was never stopped, so presumably legal....?

As above, likely depends what weight is in it.

 

[Kidds]

As long as the brakes work and tyres are ok etc you should be fine. Octavia can tow 1.5-1.8 tons depending on model (according to Google)

 

[startinghandle]

The ball hitch needs fixing before it is
Used again

 

[startinghandle]

I used to take a 12’ IW cattle trailer with ten or a dozen shearling rams down to Builth with a 2.5TD Audi A6.
It fair flew along and I was never stopped, so presumably legal....?

As above, likely depends what weight is in it.

You were lucky!

 

[Highland Mule]

Check your licence, check the trailer plated weight, check the car towing capacity.
Get the trailer road worthy, if it isn't.
Remember that the speed limit is often lower when you're towing something, and you can't use all the same road lanes either (e.g lane 3 of motorway).

 

[JP1]

Hi all, we were just wondering whether we could legally tow our smaller, ancient Ifor stock trailer with our cars, if anyone knows about such things. We have his and hers Skoda 1.9tdi's. Octavia and Fabia, and the trailer is a 4'X8'/ Any advice gratefully received.

It will depend on the plate on the trailer but that looks like an 8ft x 4ft6in Ifo usually rated at 2000kg all up

You will need to check what both your Skodas can legally tow but I'm expecting that older engine Octavia would be 1500kg or 1700kg and the Fabia may only be 1000kg or 1200kg

You can load it to a maximum weight load plus trailer of the vehicle capacity (ignore the caravan clubbers idea of 85% that is guidance only)

I can see a hand brake lever but does it have over-run brakes? If not you'll be at max 750kg and according to the law as I understand it if the trailer ever was with a braking system , it must work

Hope this helps





















I would have no problem in practice towing that with 6-8 sheep or two bullocks in it

 

[Moors Lad]

I can see a hand brake lever but does it have over-run brakes? If not you'll be at max 750kg

Yes, that`s the bit that may be a problem - if the trailer doesn`t have "self actuating" brakes ( I E that work when the trailer is "pushing" on the towing vehicle) then you`re stuck with a maximum combined weight of trailer and load of 750kg which will be a problem.

 

[Red Fred]

Thanks for the comments, the trailer came up on the local horsey classifieds for not much money, and I thought it would be handy for taking a load of 4 hoggets or half a dozen pigs to be done for the freezer. It has new tyres and it looks very tidy for its age, but I will get it looked over as we have an Ifor dealer next door and get our cattle trailer and horse trailer serviced with them.
Getting the pigs butchered nowadays involves a journey of 40 miles to the other side of Dorset, and I think it would be a more pleasant trip with the car, as driving the Disco outside a 20 mile radius fills me with apprehension over which warning lights will come on next.

 

[startinghandle]

I would be wary of using Octavia with
part loaded trailer as load could move which will affect handling of car

 

[Lincs Lass]

which model is the octavia

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[JP1]

I would be wary of using Octavia with
part loaded trailer as load could move which will affect handling of car

? I have a single axle trailer that size and tow with an Octavia estate no problem

 

[Lincsman]

You will find the load on the hitch will be max 100kg, not easy to keep it to that with stock moving around... car tow bars are not that tough.

 

[startinghandle]

? I have a single axle trailer that size and tow with an Octavia estate no problem

Rather you than me
If I was taking a few animals to abattoir I would get or make 6x4 single deck tandem axle braked trailer
With removable top

 

[JP1]

Rather you than me
If I was taking a few animals to abattoir I would get or make 6x4 single deck tandem axle braked trailer
With removable top

Never had an issue

Neville Porter made mine based on the old Armor design

1800kg single axle on Transit wheels

Parting gate for sheep or keeping cattle slightly forward

Tows safer than my big 12ft Graham Edwards tandem axle on 16" wheels - honestly

Car plus trailer plus load < 3500kgs so no issues with tacho whatever the distance covered

 

[TripleSix]

Never had an issue

Neville Porter made mine based on the old Armor design

1800kg single axle on Transit wheels

Parting gate for sheep or keeping cattle slightly forward

Tows safer than my big 12ft Graham Edwards tandem axle on 16" wheels - honestly

Car plus trailer plus load < 3500kgs so no issues with tacho whatever the distance covered

What are you towing it with to keep under 3500kgs mam?

 

[JP1]

What are you towing it with to keep under 3500kgs mam?

The trailer and load is 1800kg. Two cows 1100kg, trailer 580kg

Car 1300kg

 

[TripleSix]

Car plus trailer plus load < 3500kgs so no issues with tacho whatever the distance covered

Yeah but what are you towing it with to keep under 3500kgs train weight?

 

[JP1]

Yeah but what are you towing it with to keep under 3500kgs train weight?

A 1300kg Skoda Octavia Estate , rated towing capacity 1800kg