Saturday 11 October

Hampshire Trailer Hire are a member of National Trailer and Towing AssociationHire a tipper trailer in Hampshire and pay buy credit card

HIRING A TRAILER FROM ATLAS

Before you come to collect your trailer from Atlas Trailer Hire there are several things to consider and remember:

What to Bring

Towing Vehicle

Every vehicle manufacturer has to give a maximum towing limit. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and also on the chassis plate, usually found under the bonnet. The information can be presented in a variety of ways. The clearest is when the plate gives the towing limits for both braked and unbraked trailers. Sometimes the car’s Gross Train Weight (GTW) is given. This is the combination of the car’s Maximum Permitted weight (MPW) sometimes called Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and the trailers Gross Trailer Weight (GTW). To get the towing limit simply deduct the MPW from the GTW. It is an offence to exceed the car’s towing limit.

The usual definition of kerb weight is a vehicle in its ready to use condition with all tools, spare wheel etc. and a full tank of fuel. Many vehicle manufacturers are, however, now following European Directive 95/48/EC which specifies the kerb weight as a car in ready to drive condition with the fuel tank 90% full, a driver on board weighing 68 kg and luggage of 7 kg. Any extras or accessories fitted after purchase will increase the weight and reduce both payload capacity and hence the towing limit. When looking at a car’s specification in a brochure please check the method of determining the kerb weight. If it is to the EC Directive you must allow for the weight of any other passengers and luggage and deduct that weight from the towing limit accordingly. This could easily reduce the towing limit by 250-300 kg. If in doubt please check with the car makers technical department directly. Do not rely on a car dealer’s salesman, as they are often uncertain on towing information.

The notes above are for guidance only and it is the responsibility of the person hiring the trailer to satisfy themselves that the trailer they are hiring is both suitable for the job they require and within the Law to use with their towing vehicle.

Useful Web Links
If you've never towed a trailer before (or even if you have!) we recommend that you take a look at the web sites below which provide some useful advice and points of law relating to towing trailers.

See also the Atlas Trailer Hire Terms and Conditions

web site by SiteWeave of Portsmouth, Hampshire