P38 Dse Towing a 20ft by 8ft Ifor Williams Trailer.

P38_Ireland · Mar 17, 2011

Hi lads,

How do you reckon a standard P38 will do pulling that monster? buying the trailer next week as im moving house and wanted to use it as it has curtain sides and will keep everything dry during the 300KM move. also it will take less runs to get the job complete, its mostly motorway so how do you think i will get on? i think the GVW of the trailer is 3500KG.

Ridesafe · Mar 18, 2011

Should be a breeze!!

ladyranger · Mar 18, 2011

P38_Ireland said:
Hi lads,

How do you reckon a standard P38 will do pulling that monster? buying the trailer next week as im moving house and wanted to use it as it has curtain sides and will keep everything dry during the 300KM move. also it will take less runs to get the job complete, its mostly motorway so how do you think i will get on? i think the GVW of the trailer is 3500KG.

you need to know the unlaiden weight of the trailer as to weither it will be useful to you. being that size you may find you can't put alot in it before you reach you GVW. but my P38 will tow around 4.5tonnes up a 10% hill so it's more than capable but take it steady and don't expect to tank along pulling that weight.
be aware of your kerb weight, about 2.5tonnes on a p38, if you have an accident carrying more than this in the trailer you can get done for unsafe load.

Datatek · Mar 18, 2011

You need the unladen weight of the trailer and it's max weight to know what you can do with it. The P38 is legal to pull a 3.5tonne gross weight trailer according to the book. That's the total weight of trailer and it's contents. The P38 will handle that with ease, just do not try to go too fast as if there is no anti snaking device you could get into a terminal snake if you are not careful. Try some little induced snakes at different speeds to see how the rig reacts and govern your speed accordingly. Collecting a P38 on a trailer behind my Transit, 50mph was the absolute max before it became unstable.

Beneagles · Mar 18, 2011

You might like to consider the trailer size regulations:
The maximum width of a trailer must not exceed 2.3 metres (76) or 2.5 metres (82.5) when towed by a heavy goods vehicle. The trailer must not extend more than 305mm (12) outwards each side of the towing vehicle, irrespective of allowable width.
The maximum permitted trailer body length without the tow bar is 7 metres but the overall train length must not exceed 18.35 metres.

Datatek · Mar 18, 2011

Beneagles said:
You might like to consider the trailer size regulations:
The maximum width of a trailer must not exceed 2.3 metres (76) or 2.5 metres (82.5) when towed by a heavy goods vehicle. The trailer must not extend more than 305mm (12) outwards each side of the towing vehicle, irrespective of allowable width.
The maximum permitted trailer body length without the tow bar is 7 metres but the overall train length must not exceed 18.35 metres.

I think that's for the UK, the rest of Europe is different and so maybe Ireland is too. 8ft wide caravans more than 20ft long are common over here.

Beneagles · Mar 18, 2011

Datatek said:
I think that's for the UK, the rest of Europe is different and so maybe Ireland is too. 8ft wide caravans more than 20ft long are common over here.

For continental europe - yes. But given the geographic situation, it would be unlikely that Eire regs would differ greatly from UK

No doubt someone in the emerald isle can clarify....

Irishrover · Mar 18, 2011

Looking at some of the trailers loaded with fully grown cattle being towed by Pajero's, old Toyota Avensis etc. to the local market every week, I can't see a problem.
Added to that, cars being driven with "L" plates full of kids in the back, vehicles with faulty lights, bald tyres, the list is endless...shall we say the Gardai (Cops) over here are "Blind in one eye". They think a Tacho is a fancy CD player with paper discs !!

Don't think for a miute that they would have the resources or experience to weigh a trailer.

What's up Garrett are you fed up with country life and moving to the big city ????

seanmull · Mar 18, 2011

irishrover you are very wrong the traffic cops have mobile weigh mats which they use to weigh vehicles they can even check the brakes on a truck by using some device which measures the heat of the brake drums (cold drum no brake) last week in one town on market day 4 cars were stopped and prossecuted for towing a double axled trailer which should be towed behind a 4x4 also they are stopping vehicles towing trailers checking brakes, lights, and brake away system and looking to see if you have a licence to tow a trailer but all said i think garrett should give it a try wont know how good it will work unless you try it

P38_Ireland · Mar 18, 2011

Beneagles said:
You might like to consider the trailer size regulations:
The maximum width of a trailer must not exceed 2.3 metres (76) or 2.5 metres (82.5) when towed by a heavy goods vehicle. The trailer must not extend more than 305mm (12) outwards each side of the towing vehicle, irrespective of allowable width.
The maximum permitted trailer body length without the tow bar is 7 metres but the overall train length must not exceed 18.35 metres.

i think that the uk im in Ireland,

Irishrover said:
Looking at some of the trailers loaded with fully grown cattle being towed by Pajero's, old Toyota Avensis etc. to the local market every week, I can't see a problem.
Added to that, cars being driven with "L" plates full of kids in the back, vehicles with faulty lights, bald tyres, the list is endless...shall we say the Gardai (Cops) over here are "Blind in one eye". They think a Tacho is a fancy CD player with paper discs !!

Don't think for a miute that they would have the resources or experience to weigh a trailer.

What's up Garrett are you fed up with country life and moving to the big city ????

Ha ha!! maybe up in "H'offaly" there Irish!! im moving up to wexford in a few weeks Opening in a new restaurant up there. will fill you in more when i see you next.

seanmull said:
irishrover you are very wrong the traffic cops have mobile weigh mats which they use to weigh vehicles they can even check the brakes on a truck by using some device which measures the heat of the brake drums (cold drum no brake) last week in one town on market day 4 cars were stopped and prossecuted for towing a double axled trailer which should be towed behind a 4x4 also they are stopping vehicles towing trailers checking brakes, lights, and brake away system and looking to see if you have a licence to tow a trailer but all said i think garrett should give it a try wont know how good it will work unless you try it

yeah sounds like the traffic corp alright. there demons if you get on the wrong side of them.

whats this about an anti snaking device? i got to drive 350KM each way sounds like it could be handy!!

Datatek · Mar 18, 2011

P38_Ireland said:
i think that the uk im in Ireland,

whats this about an anti snaking device? i got to drive 350KM each way sounds like it could be handy!!

Some hitches have a built in anti snaking device but you can also buy an add on unit. The one I had looked a bit like half a leaf spring with a rotary friction damper on the car end. The loose end of the leaf sat in a bracket bolted to the trailer chassis. Worked a treat.

Thought you were into farming half way up a mountain? Or have I got the wrong person??

P38_Ireland · Mar 18, 2011

Datatek said:
Some hitches have a built in anti snaking device but you can also buy an add on unit. The one I had looked a bit like half a leaf spring with a rotary friction damper on the car end. The loose end of the leaf sat in a bracket bolted to the trailer chassis. Worked a treat.
Thought you were into farming half way up a mountain? Or have I got the wrong person??

no no, right person, i was farming as a partime hobby, im a restaurant owner and chef the rest of the time.

Datatek · Mar 18, 2011

P38_Ireland said:
no no, right person, i was farming as a partime hobby, im a restaurant owner and chef the rest of the time.

Restuarants and farming, glutton for punishment, 2 of the hardest jobs in terms of hours on the planet

P38_Ireland · Mar 18, 2011

Yeah and driving range rovers!! I'm a glutten for punishment!!

gavbriggs · Mar 18, 2011

chances are you wont get collard by the old bill and if you do put the wife in the hot seat!! lol!!

OXO · Mar 19, 2011

Our Ifor Williams trailer is the same size, with mesh sides and cover. We moved ourselves from Cornwall to France with it, and no problems towing at all. All I would say is make sure it's loaded evenly and the air suspension isn't having to work too hard lifting the tow bar up to running height

And once here I have used it many times getting supplies from the builders merchant. Take the mesh sides off and it will take 2.5 tons of sand

- its a bit squirrely going down steep lanes then, so take care if you do this

P38_Ireland · Mar 19, 2011

OXO said:
Our Ifor Williams trailer is the same size, with mesh sides and cover. We moved ourselves from Cornwall to France with it, and no problems towing at all. All I would say is make sure it's loaded evenly and the air suspension isn't having to work too hard lifting the tow bar up to running height

And once here I have used it many times getting supplies from the builders merchant. Take the mesh sides off and it will take 2.5 tons of sand - its a bit squirrely going down steep lanes then, so take care if you do this

this particular one is curtain sided no should be a little less heavy and less likely to get my stuff wet

Irishrover · Mar 19, 2011

Triple axle should make it more stable. Where are you moving to ?

drewsp38 · Mar 19, 2011

Id worry if it didnt, I used my dads 2.5 1999 to pull a 4.6 back from scotland to nottingham and it was fine... however, make sure the props are well greased, i had problems when i got back because one had gone dry and the extra weight had damaged it...
You can pull upto 3.5 t allowing 2.8 for the load depending on the trailer.
Hope this helps

seanmull · Mar 19, 2011

looks like your p38 will pull your load no problem best of luck with your new restaurant

P38 Dse Towing a 20ft by 8ft Ifor Williams Trailer.

Well-Known Member

New Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Active Member

Similar threads