angel7
Well-Known Member
SO I recently purchased a secondhand ifor williams 401R.
Was very lucky to find one local to me and bought it for a fair price, 2002 model for 1.9K. It appeared in excellent condition and had paperwork for regular servicing.
I duly checked the TER register and the serial number and and all seems fine so snapped it up.
I did check the towhitch and it was tight and hard to move as it should be, hand brake works great and aluminium floor and rubber all like new just dirty.
First time towing it after purchase and often when I slow down there's a thunking noise and it shunts into the car. I persevered thinking it was my driving as been a while since I towed and sometimes it was smooth but other times the thunking is there. 3 bulbs stopped working after a couple weeks so replaced them.
First time it rains (its been a very dry summer here) and the trailer leaks like a sieve. Very hard to trace where its coming in as it spots on the floor and runs, and the walls drip and splash. Spent hours washing trailer joints and sealing them with silicon. Everytime it seemed it was fixed, another drip would appear after a run. Finally now appears ok but I wanted to get the thunking checked asap.
No one local could even look at it for weeks...
Finally found a good recommended handy man and he's checked over the trailer. He's called to say the whole front coupling is knackered and he cant seem to get any replacement for it.
Heres the odd bit. He says the particular coupling/damper unit on this trailer was last used in 1988 and is nolonger available from ifor williams. The closest one to it which might work will take at least 8 weeks to come and might not work/fit.
To fix it sooner he has now stripped down the unit and replaced the drawtube and damper.
I havent picked up the trailer yet so cant check the part numbers myself but when I look at ifor williams parts online none of them seem to match the shape of the coupling unit on mine. Mine looks original, same colour and patina with the frame, and not altered so not sure what it to make of it...
I know the 401 is becoming rarer now but this one has a white plastic roof, ally floor and locking towhitch so I do think its a 2002 model. Any ideas? Should I be worried? How long do ifor williams still make parts for their old trailers?
Anyway an expensive lesson as I'm now £400 in repairs and the car I bought to pull it has required a new clutch, flywheel and wheel bearing in just a few journeys towing it!
Fun times!
Was very lucky to find one local to me and bought it for a fair price, 2002 model for 1.9K. It appeared in excellent condition and had paperwork for regular servicing.
I duly checked the TER register and the serial number and and all seems fine so snapped it up.
I did check the towhitch and it was tight and hard to move as it should be, hand brake works great and aluminium floor and rubber all like new just dirty.
First time towing it after purchase and often when I slow down there's a thunking noise and it shunts into the car. I persevered thinking it was my driving as been a while since I towed and sometimes it was smooth but other times the thunking is there. 3 bulbs stopped working after a couple weeks so replaced them.
First time it rains (its been a very dry summer here) and the trailer leaks like a sieve. Very hard to trace where its coming in as it spots on the floor and runs, and the walls drip and splash. Spent hours washing trailer joints and sealing them with silicon. Everytime it seemed it was fixed, another drip would appear after a run. Finally now appears ok but I wanted to get the thunking checked asap.
No one local could even look at it for weeks...
Finally found a good recommended handy man and he's checked over the trailer. He's called to say the whole front coupling is knackered and he cant seem to get any replacement for it.
Heres the odd bit. He says the particular coupling/damper unit on this trailer was last used in 1988 and is nolonger available from ifor williams. The closest one to it which might work will take at least 8 weeks to come and might not work/fit.
To fix it sooner he has now stripped down the unit and replaced the drawtube and damper.
I havent picked up the trailer yet so cant check the part numbers myself but when I look at ifor williams parts online none of them seem to match the shape of the coupling unit on mine. Mine looks original, same colour and patina with the frame, and not altered so not sure what it to make of it...
I know the 401 is becoming rarer now but this one has a white plastic roof, ally floor and locking towhitch so I do think its a 2002 model. Any ideas? Should I be worried? How long do ifor williams still make parts for their old trailers?
Anyway an expensive lesson as I'm now £400 in repairs and the car I bought to pull it has required a new clutch, flywheel and wheel bearing in just a few journeys towing it!
Fun times!
