France in Focus

Any recommended marques to buy in France - or avoid - for a 3M x 1.5M or thereabouts trailer - payload 2t plus.

Thanks

We bought a Lider 4 wheel trailer, at least 6 or so years ago. Similar dimensions. It has served us well, and available widespread in France. Seems quite popular.

I bought a S/H Lider, single axle, slightly smaller than the one described above. Worked it hard for about 12 years and it has to live outside. It is only recently starting to rot the edges of the floor due to the weather. All the metal work is hot dip galvanised and looking like new.

Ooh, our's must be languishing in luxury, as it's usually under the hangar. Sometimes it gets left out if other, more important things need to use all the hangar space! It is literally a work horse, and has been used to transport the mower ride-ons over the years, with no grumbling. Well, actually, there was one time we tried to load a client's Kubota micro-tractor, the ramps were strong enough, but the whole chassis started to bend, so I shouted "Back off, back off, we're bending like Beckham!" We managed (can't remember how now) to rectify the bending and didn't try that trick again. The little tractor had it's anti-roll bar taken off and it (just) about fitted in the van, but the doors didn't quite close. Then the trailer would still be attached to take a smaller ride-on. So, I guess that's it's limit!

It's been abused, and still looking top notch. Cost about 1 200€ from Mr Bricolage about 6 or so years ago. A brilliant investment all round. It does tip, manually, and you can get a rail to put on the front. Lots of places to put ties or attach a cover too.

Our's is a tipper also but I can't actually see the point of it. If you try to tip it to slide something off the back the number plate bracket touches the ground before it tips high enough to do any good. The optional high rail at the front is very useful for transporting ladders and long boards. One feature I like about the Liders is the top rail all the way around is a strong tie point for strange shaped loads. I normally use a cargo net over the whole thing to stop any light or loose loads wanting to make a bid for freedom toward the inevitable tail gater's windscreen.

"What he said"! I concur with all of that! Plus, try tipping when it's fully loaded - ouf!

Mr Bayleaf thinks our's is 2.5m x 1.5m, max load 1750. If you go much bigger, you may need a trailer licence - and it's own CG. Unfortunately, Mr B, like many others, forgot to tick the "pulling trailer" box when changing to a French DL.

I think CG is over 499Kg. And up to 750Kg is the limit without brakes (depending on the towing car) - which I guess yours may be if it was unhappy loading a 'bota?

Even though initially it will be towed by UK registered vehicle that may change - so having a CoC / CG is very useful - given the hassles others have had with UK-sourced trailers.

While a twin axle will carry more weight, they are a lot harder to move about by hand, especially when loaded, on some you can pull a little trick by winding the jockey wheel down as far as it will go, that takes some weight off the front axle, but if you catch the jockey wheel you could bend it.

I am looking at a braked, 2000Kg gross weight (limited to 1800Kg on Volvo). One option is Franc RIS340F200 - Franc seems to be the same company as Lider.

Twin axle is more stable I think at these weights.

I had 2 Ifor Williams trailers, I managed to sell both of them, used them for a mini digger, had to go when I changed to French reg on the truck. One of the guys I soold to got it registered here, eventually, had a a lot of return visits for reflectors, bike bars etc at the "DRIRE"?. Trouble is that sort of carrying capacity doesn't come cheaply.