Towbar fitting and Trailer Recommendations

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Arabella77

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Sorry I know this has probably been done to death but I’m looking for some advice on getting my first trailer....

I was luckily enough to just about pass test just in time, all those years ago, so have my B&E licence!

*Car is a 2015 BMW X3 2.0
*Horse is a 14.3hh 4yo Connie (about 475kg)

Would like a double (ideally with tack room/change area but know this will make it heavier) but would consider a mare/foal one, though it would be handy to bring my friends pony along at times (her pony is a 13.1 chunky mini cob)

is my car up to the job? Really hoping it is with a light enough trailer? Also looking for towbar fitter recommendations in Leicestershire area!

thank you ?
 
holeymoley

holeymoley

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It can definitely tow a single trailer(i tow with a 2.0 X1) , I’m certain it could tow a double ifor with probably two ponies but you’d have to be more specific about the model of the car and check the towing weights.
 
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Arabella77

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holeymoley said:
It can definitely tow a single trailer(i tow with a 2.0 X1) , I’m certain it could tow a double ifor with probably two ponies but you’d have to be more specific and check the towing weights.
Click to expand...

Thank you ...oh at least it can tow a single that’s reassuring....really would prefer a double but will see if anyone else can offer any guidance on this?
 
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Arabella77

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ROG said:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_...kw=anker+BMW+X3+Towbar+2015+Tow+bar+&_sacat=0
Any of those fit your model?

Towbar fitter near me in LE4 fitted one to a van for £100 including the electrics - electrics took the most time!
Click to expand...

Wow that’s great I’ve been quoted £470 from one so far ??‍♀️I’m confused about the towing capacity of my car. I can’t get my dumb head around it...
To confirm it’s a BMW X3 X-drive 20D SE Auto 2015 if that makes any difference?! Any idea?! Thank you ?
 
holeymoley

holeymoley

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Arabella77 said:
Wow that’s great I’ve been quoted £470 from one so far ??‍♀️I’m confused about the towing capacity of my car. I can’t get my dumb head around it...
To confirm it’s a BMW X3 X-drive 20D SE Auto 2015 if that makes any difference?! Any idea?! Thank you ?
Click to expand...

It should be stamped on the frame of your drivers side door. I think you either have 2000kg or 2400kg towing capacity.

I can’t remember what I was for ky towbar, I think it was £350 or thereabouts.
 
ROG

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Find the weight plate usually hidden in a door frame or under the bonnet
I need the top 2 of the 4 numbers on it
 
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Arabella77

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ROG said:
Find the weight plate usually hidden in a door frame or under the bonnet
I need the top 2 of the 4 numbers on it
Click to expand...

is this it? It was inside drivers door..many thanks ?
 

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ROG

ROG

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Neither pics are helpful as I cannot see any weights which will have KG
Max towing capacity should be listed on V5 doc
Plate will be something like this
2200kg
4200kg
1200kg
1200kg
 
ROG

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Arabella77 said:
Sorry...on vehicle details it says technical permissible maximum towable mass of trailer:
Braked (kg) 2000
Unbraked (kg) 750
Click to expand...
In that case you can tow a max of 2000kg behind your car
Lets say you got a trailer weighing 1000 empty then that will leave you with a 1000kg that you can put inside the trailer (if trailer is plated at least 2000kg)
If got 2 x 475kg horses then that is 950 kg in the trailer so if not wanting to put it near the limit with tack then put tack in the car
 
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gemisastar

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I should think that with the size of your Connie you'd be OK with a bateson Derby trailer which weighs 675kgs unladen - rear unload only but I only load and unload my horse backwards and she copes fine
 
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Arabella77

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thanks all....so I need to look for lightest doubled trailer possible I think and doesn't look like I will be bale to get one with a tack room/change area unfortunately but ill survive!!.....dare I ask the best ones??!!
 
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Annagain

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Arabella77 said:
thanks all....so I need to look for lightest doubled trailer possible I think and doesn't look like I will be bale to get one with a tack room/change area unfortunately but ill survive!!.....dare I ask the best ones??!!
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. An IW505 / 506 is 900kg unladen (and plenty big enough for a 14.3) so with just your horse on it would be around 1400kg. Even the 510/511 is 100kg so would only be 1500kg loaded. That's well within your car's capacity. There are lighter trailers out there but you don't NEED a particularly light trailer. IW are so popular that they're easy to come by second hand and parts are readily available which is always worth considering. I'd avoid the early 506/511s as they had a load of teething issues. A later 505/510 would actually be better than an early 506/511. If you only ever take the one horse, you can use the other side as storage / change area with some lateral thinking. A friend has attached a plastic garden storage chest to the trailer to stop it moving and uses that to store all her stuff.
 
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