Trailer question

Just looking for information with regards to towing a trailer.

I have just bought a Autowbars single bike trailer. When i collected it and coupled it to my Peugeot 406TD i noticed the trailer sat slightly nose up. Now i know the trailer was unladen so no weight to push it down. My question is, is it safe to pull a trailer with slight nose up?

I have been reading up this morning and although you can buy drop plates, it is not always legal to fit to any towbar.

Anyone had any experience with trailers?

none, sorry

I towed a few bikes and nearly always ballanced the bike on the trailer with a view to getting a nose weight of at least 25 kg. Getting a nose weight of between 25 and 50kg is what my dad told me. A lot of tow bars have the nose weight stamped on them and most are capable of carrying nose weights of 75kg or over. The car itself will also have a tow bar recommended nose weight which can sometimes be less than the tow bar. The higher the nose weight , the more stable the car will be during towing. Obviously towing an empty trailer means having almost no nose weight which can make things very lively with the trailer: it will want to bounce. The trailer always seemed to line up with the tow bar and seemed to sit ok with all the cars I had. I guess that it must vary with the car or the size of trailer wheels that you have.
Whatever you do, make sure that the trailer tyres are in good nick. My dad had two tyres disintegrate at different times and neither occasion was particularly pleasant. Any cracks in the tyres mean replace the tyres. Store the trailer with the tyres off...as this keeps the tyres in better condition AND makes it harder for the toerags to nick your trailer.

Had a look on the trailer, lots of numbers stamped but nothing that would point towards a weight. Total weight for the trailer is 375kg, that's all i know. As for the trailer bouncing, it did do it once on the way home. When the trailer is coupled to the car i would say the nose needs to come down around 3 inch to level it up. I have written to Witter as that is the make of my towbar to enquire if a drop plate can be fitted.

The trailer is quite light so we managed to carry it on it side, through my out building and into the back garden, that way no one can nick it as there is no way round.

The tow bar would normally show the nose weight rather than the trailer.

Just looked on the towbar and it shows 80kg as max nose. I also got a reply from an email i sent....

Hi
As long as you have a fixed towbar fitted and not a detachable towbar then yes you can have a drop plate fitted
You can get either a 2”, 3”, or 4” drop plate
We stock all 3 so you could call in and see what one best suits your requirements

Regards
Clive

Atleast i know it is possible to have a drop plate fitted and i assume having the nose of the trailer straight or slight down will make it easier and less lively?

Went to the Witter towbar dealers today and bought a drop plate that gives the option of 4 or 6 inch drop and two set of of nuts and bolts. Atleast i know the parts are compatible. Will fit tomorrow.

Remember that the drop plate is there mate. they can sometimes catch you out when backing into peoples drives.