Getting a trailer delivered from one part of the UK to another?

MyDogIsAnIdiot

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Is this even possible?

Basically, there's a trailer I want to buy but it's in Sheffield. I'm just west of Swansea. It's a good 10-hour round trip and our tow car is off the road for some (more!) welding to be done. We've got another car that could tow it but wouldn't feel happy towing with it for such a long time.

Are there any companies that would collect the trailer from the seller and deliver it to me? Any ideas about cost? I'm a bit wary of using some random off Facebook and would prefer a proper company so that the trailer doesn't magically disappear.
 
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Have you tried asking the seller if they will deliver, you could also try contacting a breakdown recovery company to see if they will move it as a return trip from taking a breakdown vehicle homee
 

iconique

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If you are 100% its right for you and can find a way of paying, try Shiply.com people will quote for delivery. Many are proper companies and there is a rating system in place.
 
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The problem is that a lot of higher companies will not let you tow a trailer with there higher vehicle, and a horse box would need the E element on there driving licence as you do on a car licence
 

MyDogIsAnIdiot

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Have you tried asking the seller if they will deliver, you could also try contacting a breakdown recovery company to see if they will move it as a return trip from taking a breakdown vehicle homee

Seller wouldn't deliver, and I'm getting a discount/good price on it as it is so don't want them to turn around and tell me to sod off. Breakdown idea is a good one, thanks :).

would seller meet u halfway? even if you paid diesel? but an empty trailer is light to tow, ud have no problems towing with a car.

Don't think seller would meet me halfway as it'd be a 4 or 5 hour round trip for her. If it was closer I'd ask but would feel a bit cheeky, especially as I'm already getting a v good price on it.
It's not so much the weight I have issue with, it's the stability. Towing an empty trailer with an estate car for 5 hours across various roads just seems like asking for trouble to me, but I might be being over-cautious. The estate car has a 1.6ton towing capacity and the trailer is 960kg unladen so it's well within the limit but it's going to be very long.

If you are 100% its right for you and can find a way of paying, try Shiply.com people will quote for delivery. Many are proper companies and there is a rating system in place.

Brilliant, thank you so much!


Cheers ROG, might be worth looking into. Ideally I'm looking for someone else to drive it to me as I'm lazy and don't think my hips would take 10 hours in a car :p. Will keep them in mind a backup, so cheap too!

I have known horse transporters who will tow an empty trailer behind their lorries
Will they all do this or just some? I'll get looking, another avenue to investigate :). Thank you.

The problem is that a lot of higher companies will not let you tow a trailer with there higher vehicle, and a horse box would need the E element on there driving licence as you do on a car licence
The driver (my OH) has his B+E as the grandfather (?) rights. If I'd passed my trailer test we could split the driving and this wouldn't be a problem, but I keep failing it :(. I'm seemingly incapable of reversing with a trailer. I suppose I could drive it under his supervision with L plates, but then what's the situation if he falls asleep?
 

WelshD

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I would be tempted to go and get it but break up the journey, depends whether that's cheaper than a transporter though

We recently had a transporter move a van (on a lorry) 150 miles at a cost of £400 if that helps?
 

turnbuckle

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Try looking at classic car magazines, there are lots of small transport companies who would be only too happy. But I doubt you would pay less than £1.50 a mile......


If you do want to try DIY (perhaps not in this wind!) you can always weight it up to improve stability with bags of sand or gravel. If you do, make sure they are braced or tied down so they can't suddenly shift.
 

popsdosh

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The driver (my OH) has his B+E as the grandfather (?) rights. If I'd passed my trailer test we could split the driving and this wouldn't be a problem, but I keep failing it :(. I'm seemingly incapable of reversing with a trailer. I suppose I could drive it under his supervision with L plates, but then what's the situation if he falls asleep?

Would not be legal either as the supervising driver needs to have passed the test a driver who has grandfather rights cannot.
 

ROG

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Would not be legal either as the supervising driver needs to have passed the test a driver who has grandfather rights cannot.
Incorrect - please be certain when stating a legal 'fact'

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.

All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.

The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner
The supervising driver does not need to be insured unless they are driving
 

popsdosh

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Incorrect - please be certain when stating a legal 'fact'

SUPERVISING A B+E LEARNER
In April 2010 new rules were introduced for those supervising certain learner drivers but they only affected those supervising VOCATIONAL categories such as C1 C1+E D1 & D1+E where the supervising driver had those categories given to them for free when they passed a pre 1997 car test.
They do not affect those with a pre 1997 B+E licence who wish to supervise a B+E learner.

All B licence holders have B+E provisional on the paper part of their licence and can tow an empty or loaded trailer on all roads including motorways.

The usual rules apply when a learner is driving -
The supervising driver must be aged over 21
The supervising driver must have held a B+E licence for at least 3 years
L plates must be fitted to the front of the vehicle and the rear of the trailer
Correct insurance for a B+E learner
The supervising driver does not need to be insured unless they are driving

Sorry my mistake I thought it covered all learners as always VOSA muddy the waters
 

acorn92x

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My parents did a 7 and a half hour journey (1 way!) from Essex to Carlisle with an empty trailer to pick up a new pony for a family friend with no troubles at all. This might not sound like anything special but there were 60mph gale force winds, sleet and rain half of the way there and back, and the trailer was being towed by my Dads Volvo estate! My father didn't run into any problems whatsoever, although he did put about 10-15 sand bags (Secured!) in the trailer for stability. I think you'd be fine, but good luck however you choose to get it home!
 

Annagain

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You'll be fine in the car, it's only just over half its capacity. If it was any other trailer rather than a horsebox, I bet you wouldn't even question it, and an empty horsebox is just that, a trailer :)
 
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