New trailer and some questions

[Rooney1000]

Hi

I am looking to buy a trailer for my Atom (3.5) and will be using it for the annual drive down to Ariel plus to 4 or 5 track days in the year. I have a big drive so no issue storing the trailer, car goes in garage, and I really want to spend as little as possible, due to the limited use. I also am looking at new ones as I know nothing about trailers so don’t really want a used / old one that needs work (and prices for 2nd hand ones seem high anyway).

Having searched a lot on here and other sites I think, but could be wrong, that the Brian James C2-126-1111 would do the job. It looks like their entry level, single axle trailer, and is around £3,000 incl VAT with no options. Happy if people want to recommend alternatives but want to keep cost as low as possible. Appreciate dual axle, covered etc all better but I really want to limit cost.

Anyway, my questions:

· The internal bed of this is 3.7m x 2.0m so whilst a tight fit I believe it is sufficient for the Atom ?
· It has ramps and is not a tilt bed. Any risk on the height of the atom and getting it on to the trailer ?
· Assume with the small trailer I would reverse on and tow with the car facing backwards ?
· As we know the Atom is a bitch to reverse, best to add a winch ?
· Anything else I should add ? If not do I just buy straps and use them to attach / secure the car ?
· Do you need different insurance to tow the atom, as in do i need to change my policy to cover towing (in-case of accident) ?

Thanks in advance for any responses !

[autobackup]

Richard at PRG trailers will build you a bespoke trailer in any width/length combo you desire.

If you don't want a hydraulic tilt facility I would recommend that you seriously consider a Beavertail trailer with extra long ramps as it's very easy to scrape the tub at higher ramp angles.

Do a search on this forum for PRG trailers to get a flavour of what solutions other nembers have gone for!

[Rooney1000]

Thanks for the response.

Its not that I dont want a hydraulic lift, just dont know what it would do and if I need one. As I say I am happy with a basic setup as long as it works and want to keep cost down.

Talking to PRG would be like me advising you on your garden - disturbing ! I dont know what size I need, just want the smallest open trailer that will fit the Atom on, so wouldn't know what to tell them (so sort of hoping someone can confirm the BJ one above, or something else, would fit the bill).

[autobackup]

It's not a "lift' but is a 'tilt' facility basically the end of the trailer closest to the drawbar rises up so the back end drops down so as to align the load angle of of the trailer with the ramps so no 'bottom scraping'!

But I would suggest that you give Richard Proudlove ar PRG a ring and ask him to talk you through the options - he's a really nice guy and has made enough trailers for various Atoms to be able to advise you on the best bed size (width and length wise) and what's necessary and not necessary and he will help you even if you eventually decide on some other trailer manufacturer.

The BJ trailer you are looking at looks a trifle narrow to my mind and would be very tricky to back an Atom on to

[GraemeW]

Rooney

I had the c126-1221. The one you referring to is the 1.8m bed. The C126-1221 was perfect for my atom 3.5. Reversed on as the trailer is much more stable at speed with the major weight further forward. I had the hand winch, which takes ages to wind out, but its much better to winch the car onto the trailer than reverse. Easier too.

other options in had (although some may now be standard)
1. Deck slick pads because the perforated deck can damage the soft tyres atoms usually have.
2.The longer 2.4m ramps making it easier to load the low atom, but I don't think these are still an option for the C range single axles.
3. Wheel chocks which help to brace it when tie down
4. the straps. See loading method elsewhere in this forum
5. rear support stands which should be standard. stop trailer tilting up when loading
6. lock fast security bar, but you can buy from any number of security suppliers.

I found the Brian James C126-1221 perfect size for the atom, and it was short enough to just fit in my garage. Also amongst the reputable trailer suppliers it seemed to be the best value.

Will an atom 4 fit? The chap I sold it to had an atom 4 with the carbon wings and it fitted.

[GraemeW]

some pics of the c126-1221

[willox]

Brian James are good trailers,have an A4,nice and low and no problem if you have 2.4m ramps.Hire trailers for around £50 a day,another option to think about,inexpensive and no worries of storing and maintaining a trailer.

[stupot]

Rooney, I can certainly recommend the PRG Lodeck Beavertail. I've had mine since 2005 and custom built to fit in the single garage I had at the time so I could store it and the Atom together. I still store it inside our current double garage with a Mini GP on it until the Nomad arrives. Get a winch and rear support stands so you easily load/unload plus a hitch lock for security. I found the standard ramps were fine for the Atom 2 & 3; you can always raise the trailer front, if necessary. I've changed the winch to electric to make unloading/loading easier or just drive on forward and roll it off.

Overall size of my trailer is 4.6m x 2.0m with the deck 3.4m x 2.0m. I always towed the Atom facing forward as I found this gave the best weight distribution and ideal nose weight.

Hope this helps.

[autobackup]

I can endorse Stupots comments about the PRG Lodeck Beavertail trailer :

1. As he says you can load your Atom facing forwards or backwards as you wish
2. The biggest advantage (to my mind) is that you can specify the exact size of trailer you want rather than having to make do with an 'off the shelf' fixed dimension trailer!

[GraemeW]

I suppose if that really weight is close to the axle of the trailer then prob ok, but its still safer to have the higher mass further forward as per video below

[autobackup]

Graeme

I requested the trailer be built with the twin axles set as far aft as possible towards the rear of the trailer allied to the shortest possible drawbar.

This means, when loaded facing forwards, most of my Atom's engine weight is positioned almost directly over the rear axle.

Net result is that with my Atom facing forwards the trailer nose weight is 78kg.

- with my Atom facing backwards the nose weight is 148kg.

- both are well within safe towing parameters!

Having experimented towing my Atom - both facing forwards and backwards - towing backwards seems to incur around a 12-14% worse fuel economy!

- this is probably, I suspect, due to the greater aerodynamic drag with the windscreen acting as a wind collector and, should it rain during the tow, also uneccesarily exposes the dash directly to driving rain which could be a problem if the dash is less than 100% sealed!

[autobackup]

Sorry - I edited my post and somehow it posted it twice!!

I was unable to delete the first post.

Apologies!

[John Scherrer]

It's gone ..

[autobackup]

Thanks John!

[Rooney1000]

Hi all

Just loading up my Atom to take it down for a service tomorrow - first time towing it. Loaded up, reversing on, but engine still a way forward of wheels. Would like someone who tows to comment but for the life of me I have no idea how to upload an image to this forum !!

Can someone help ?

(found how to do it - see next page of thread for picture !!)

Thanks