Andrew McKay wrote:

Hello Andrew

Kanga and my trailer (once I've finished it) is what I
think I'm going to use.

AM| Ding! Ding! Ding!

I'll have a 99 please!

AM| You mentioned a magic word. I'm seriously looking at a
AM| trailer option presently, but haven't got further than
AM| noticing trailers for sale in the entrance to the local B&Q
AM| shed (and no, I'm not considering buying one but it got me
AM| thinking....).

They little galvanised things? They look ok for light work, but a few
careless stones will mean they will soon get dented, bashed and start
to rust. Not sure about their weight abilities, but that shouldn't be
an issue for you.

AM| Can you offer any useful snippets about what trailer or
AM| trailer bits are worth looking at?
AM| My needs are simple - I want something relatively small, say
AM| 4ft square, which I can toss rubbish into for taking down
AM| the dump.

Then the cheapie B&Q ones may well do the job. I don't know of any
cheaper options, unless you happen to own a welder and have a spare
axle knocking about. Grab some thin blue polyprop rope too if you're
doing bulky rubbish, small trailers bounce quite well. They are
lightweight so won't stand abuse, but look after them and they should
be ok. Trailer specilist places may be worth a look, but IME they tend
to be overpriced, especially for spares and accessories. My local one
also has the same trailer (A Caddy, iirc) that B&Q does but 50 quid
dearer. If it doesn't have a jockey wheel, be aware you prolly won't
be able to unhitch it loaded, but they're dead easy to move around
when empty.

PLEASE practice your reversing if you've not towed a trailer before,
or at least stay out of the lanes! (Bane of my life, trailer drivers
who can't reverse). The smaller the trailer the harder it is to
reverse.

Check your licence. Towing rules changed ~96 so if your licence was
gained after that you may need a seperate test (or not, it's
complicated - I can get you some info if this is the case).

I've got four trailers now, but my little one is what I've just
finished refurbing for the fourth time (had it 16 years or so,
exchanged it rotted for a couple of hours work). 6'x4', 1/2 tonne or
so. Home built and uses the back axle off a Vauxhall Viva, complete
with drive shaft that's been collared and welded up to the chassis.
Useful size, small enough for my lawnmower, big enough so it's usable.
Hopefully this 18mm wpb ply, with four coats of bitumastic emulsion,
should last a good few years.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK
uk.d-i-y FAQ: http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/