Trailer or van.

[jc light and sound]

Hi all, hope 2010 going well for all of you so far,i have a decision to make and thought i would consult your expert advice.
For years now i have lugged my kit in various vans all shapes and sizes around the country but my current van is coming of age a 1998 ford Transit and i was thinking of buying a new box trailer to replace it.
I know a lot of you use trailers how do you find them i have a unit where i store/repair my equipment so it can be wheeled in after every gig no problem but any advice otherwise would be good.
I would be towing with a nissan terrano 4x4 and guess weight wise it would need brakes.
Thanks Jon,

[nisfo]

A trailer would be the viable option, if something goes wrong you can always cart your kit around in the car.
As you say it would need a braking system to be on the safe side.
Just make sure you have good security like a wheel clamp and hitch lock.

Also waterproofing is everything, you really don't want your investment to rot.

Also if your not to hot on reversing....Practise makes it all worth while. There is nothing worse than a mishap when you turn up to a gig and have to reverse the last 50 yards. I clearly remember a gig a few years back, I had to reverse around 2 tight corners which added 10 minutes to my setup time. Thats poor for me as I'm a veteran wagon & drag driver.....lol

So the advice I offer is if you do go down the trailer route, make sure you plan the access to your venues well in advance.

As for livery, it's up to you. A fellow DJ friend of mine had his trailer nicked while packing away and lost nearly £2,000 of kit. And in my opinion having his advertisement down the side didn't help (maybe opportunists). He now has a plain trailer saying he has learnt his lesson.

[jc light and sound]

A trailer would be the viable option, if something goes wrong you can always cart your kit around in the car.
As you say it would need a braking system to be on the safe side.
Just make sure you have good security like a wheel clamp and hitch lock.

Also waterproofing is everything, you really don't want your investment to rot.

Also if your not to hot on reversing....Practise makes it all worth while. There is nothing worse than a mishap when you turn up to a gig and have to reverse the last 50 yards. I clearly remember a gig a few years back, I had to reverse around 2 tight corners which added 10 minutes to my setup time. Thats poor for me as I'm a veteran wagon & drag driver.....lol

So the advice I offer is if you do go down the trailer route, make sure you plan the access to your venues well in advance.

As for livery, it's up to you. A fellow DJ friend of mine had his trailer nicked while packing away and lost nearly £2,000 of kit. And in my opinion having his advertisement down the side didn't help (maybe opportunists). He now has a plain trailer saying he has learnt his lesson.

Thanks for advice, i thinking of going this way for a number of reasons,trailers cheaper than van to buy new so less outlay etc, but just wonder if its worth it or to stick with the van and get a new one.

[nisfo]

Well to be honest if I had a decent sized van, I'd be doing foriegners...lol

A trailer can have 2 wheels, thats a saving on rubber at least. It doesn't need an oil change, and a reasonably cheap on the maintenance. If your van fails an MOT....... who knows >>>>££££££'s

[Chris1984]

You need to make sure that the plated weight of the trailer dosnt exceed a certain weight if you do not have +E on your licence.
AS long as the plated weight of the trailer and the weight of the tow car dosnt exceed 3.5t you are fine.

[yourdj]

A trailer can have 2 wheels, thats a saving on rubber at least.

Get the two wheel ones as the four wheel ones are more difficult to maneuver.

Good security a must too :) You will also find that most insurance will be very hot on trailers. My dj guard says its not insured in the trailer but if i take everything out it is (in the garage that is)??

[NKR]

Get the two wheel ones as the four wheel ones are more difficult to maneuver.

Good security a must too :) You will also find that most insurance will be very hot on trailers. My dj guard says its not insured in the trailer but if i take everything out it is (in the garage that is)??

I would disagree on the two wheel option. I am looking to upgrade my little Conway 6x4 to a much larger 4 wheel braked Ifor Williams BV85G.
4 wheels tows more stable and if you lose a tyre then its not going to go over on the motorway.

Good Ifor Williams trailer with split barn door and ramp is the way forward if you ask me. New about £3,200 inc Vat, but you can sell them at four or five years old for £2,000, so its about £250 a year plus £70 a year servicing. Now thats what I call sensible economics. Good alternative is the Indespension Tow A Vans (If you like silver ones), but I would go for an Ifor everyday of the week.

If you want a braked trailer you need a 4 wheel one really.

DJ guard says it is insured in your trailer as long as your trailer is secured to your vehicle. If someone nicks your trailer from a venue your stuff is not insured. If your trailer was in a garage and entry was forced then its insured.

Don't advertise whats in it for gods sake. Oh and if you buy second hand remember more trailers are stolen every year than cars, so check it out with TER (trailer and equipment register), but that still doesn't guarantee provenance.

[jc light and sound]

Thanks guys some really good points consider.

[Javlingames]

Just to add that if you have a 4 wheel trailer and find it difficult manouvering you can always wind the jockey wheel up a bit higher so it sits on the back 2 wheels. Thats what i used to do.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Having had a trailer for 20 odd years and a van for 18 months....van every time for me.

[deltic]

Having had a trailer for 20 odd years and a van for 18 months....van every time for me.

same here spent 20 years pulling various trailers around,after a while just becomes normal reversing into various places,and i used to think the bonus was coming home and backing the trailer into the garage job done.

since using a van i wouldn't go back to a trailer,the kit travels so much better in the van.

[Digitalsounds]

JC,

We used to have a box trailor until, in the winter months a few years ago i was driving aroudn the Island in wednesbury at quite a slow speed and the trailor must have hit some ice and swung out and to be honest that put me right off the trailor,

On the up side
your trailor would not cost you £200 a year in tax, insurance, fuel, but it would put wear and tear on your vechile that was towing it , i found that the rear bush's on my mondeo wore very quick after we started towing.

One thing i also used to hate was the fact i could not put the trailor in the garage with the car as it has to be reversed onto the drive so it had to be hand pulled which was a pain up thekerbab at 2am in the morning.

Next time i've been told to buy a caravan winch. lol

[NKR]

On the up side
your trailor would not cost you £200 a year in tax, insurance, fuel, but it would put wear and tear on your vechile that was towing it , i found that the rear bush's on my mondeo wore very quick after we started towing.




Depends what you are towing with. He is towing with a 4x4 as I do so you don't even know its there half the time.

[pagan_flame]

While out in the snow in my van, I was just thinking of how difficult it would be to manage a trailer in such conditions... I have a 1992 VW Transporter SWB, which was ridiculously surefooted in the snow.

And I'm interested, for you trailer users - how do you stop someone nicking it while you're inside? I have wired a switch into the fuel pump wire for my van - unless someone knows where and what the switch is, they'll never get my van started.

[charlie]

I have just opted for a van. Just brought a mercedes vito, i think that a smart van gives a much more professional image to the client than a trailer.

But thats just my personal opinion.

Van every time for me.

[yourdj]

If your trailer was in a garage and entry was forced then its insured.

I spoke to them and its not as its classed as a loaded vehicle. They have said that to me several times. even if connected to a solid object (ie chain and padlock).

They expect you to unload everything and put it in the garage and then put the trailer in unloaded!!

[rob1963]

i think that a smart van gives a much more professional image to the client than a trailer.

But thats just my personal opinion.

Van every time for me.

:agree:

I also think it's safer having the gear in the van rather than having it in a box on wheels which is being towed behind the van.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

:agree:

I also think it's safer having the gear in the van rather than having it in a box on wheels which is being towed behind the van.

In what respect?

If you are involved in an accident, it wouldn't make any difference.


i think that a smart van gives a much more professional image to the client than a trailer.



Would you like to justify that statement?

How is having a van more professional exactly?

[rob1963]

In what respect?


Well, for starters I've heard stories about trailers becoming unhooked or detached from vehicles.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Well, for starters I've heard stories about trailers becoming unhooked or detached from vehicles.

Not if they are locked on they shouldn't.

[NKR]

And I'm interested, for you trailer users - how do you stop someone nicking it while you're inside? I have wired a switch into the fuel pump wire for my van - unless someone knows where and what the switch is, they'll never get my van started.

I hitch it to 2 tonne of Mitsubishi Shogun and it has a hitch lock. I keep a wheel clamp to hand when away from main hotels and in slightly less nice areas.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

van all day long for me.

[jc light and sound]

Hi guys some really useful info i suppose its a suck it and see situation pros and cons with both i have to agree a new van would be a ideal option but being cautious and watching the pennies i am drawn to a new trailer no made rush to change the transit keeps going and i had it repainted last year it must be the best 1999 trany around so will maybe try a trial run hiring in a trailer before i decide.

[Excalibur]

I would disagree on the two wheel option. I am looking to upgrade my little Conway 6x4 to a much larger 4 wheel braked Ifor Williams BV85G.
4 wheels tows more stable and if you lose a tyre then its not going to go over on the motorway.

Good Ifor Williams trailer with split barn door and ramp is the way forward if you ask me. New about £3,200 inc Vat, but you can sell them at four or five years old for £2,000, so its about £250 a year plus £70 a year servicing. Now thats what I call sensible economics. Good alternative is the Indespension Tow A Vans (If you like silver ones), but I would go for an Ifor everyday of the week.

If you want a braked trailer you need a 4 wheel one really.

DJ guard says it is insured in your trailer as long as your trailer is secured to your vehicle. If someone nicks your trailer from a venue your stuff is not insured. If your trailer was in a garage and entry was forced then its insured.

Don't advertise whats in it for gods sake. Oh and if you buy second hand remember more trailers are stolen every year than cars, so check it out with TER (trailer and equipment register), but that still doesn't guarantee provenance.
Amen to all of that. :approve:


Just to add that if you have a 4 wheel trailer and find it difficult manouvering you can always wind the jockey wheel up a bit higher so it sits on the back 2 wheels. Thats what i used to do.
Or you can do it the easy way, and leave it on the van. It pushes trailers a lot easier than I do. ;)


same here spent 20 years pulling various trailers around,after a while just becomes normal reversing into various places,and i used to think the bonus was coming home and backing the trailer into the garage job done.

since using a van i wouldn't go back to a trailer,the kit travels so much better in the van.
Six and two threes.

Not if they are locked on they shouldn't.

Especially if it's got the safety wires on in case of uncouplings. ( And tempting fate, I've not had one unhitch in twenty years. Only happens if the hitch and vall are badly worn. Or if you put a 2" hitch onto a 50mm ball. Used to happen aeons ago. )