Smart Sydney: The Dos and Don'ts of Buying a Car Trailer

Having a car trailer all of your own will see you and your family getting around and out of Sydney far more often this summer than if you only have the space available in your car to carry tents, bikes, and all the other bits and pieces needed to enjly some quality time outdoors.

However, before you go out and buy a trailer for your car and start towing, you do need to know what to look for when it comes to choosing the right trailer. To help you find that perfect car trailer, we've compiled a list of do's and dont's so there won't be any nasty surprises while you're driving.

Do

• Check the Weight Class of the Trailer: Your weight class determines how much you can carry, as well as what sort of car, tow ball and hitch you’ll need to tow it. Don’t forget to not only factor in what you’re towing, but also the weight of the trailer. Also, the standard class B licence restricts you to towing 750kg, and the combined weight of the vehicle and loaded trailer cannot be more than 3,500kg.
• Think About the Tow Ball: Depending on how much you’re towing, you’ll need to attach your tow ball in either one of two ways: bumper-mounted (cheaper, but not as secure for heavier weights) or frame-mounted. Generally a class 2 hitch should suit most needs, giving you enough support to tow up to 1,600kg. Do keep in mind that if your car was registered after August 1, 1998, it’s actually illegal to fit a tow hitch to it.
• Think About the Type of Trailer: What do you plan to tow most of the time? For example, if you plan to use a trailer for carrying camping gear, a horse float isn’t the type of trailer you want. Pick your trailer by what you want to do.
• Set a Budget: Knowing what you’ve got to spend is the best way to make sure you don’t carried away and find yourself with a trailer you can’t afford.

Don’t

• Get a Trailer Without a Title: All trailers must have a title, so if your seller doesn’t have the title, don’t buy it, as there could be issues about the trailer being stolen property.

• Buy a Trailer Without Seeing It First: You wouldn’t buy a car without checking it out in person first, so don’t buy a trailer without looking at it first.

• Buy It Because It’s the Cheapest: It can be very tempting to buy the cheapest trailer on the market, but in the long run, it’ll cost you far more to maintain, and it won’t be as easy to tow as better-made, more expensive trailers.

• Buy It From the Other Side of Australia: Even if you see that your perfect trailer is for sale in WA, don’t forget that there’s a 99.9% chance you can find something just like it, or better, closer to home. If you’re still tempted, think about how much money you’ll have to spend to get it home, whether that’s by having someone else drive it, or doing the journey yourself