Everyday life on the hook: This is to be considered with trailers for the car

Small car trailers are practical everyday helpers. However, if you only look at the price, you can also experience nasty surprises. So what should you pay attention to?

Overview

Just disposing of the garden clippings or moving away bulky furniture - this is done quickly with a trailer. Small trailers can be rented by the hour for just a few euros. If you need one regularly, it might be worth buying. They are offered, for example, by hardware stores or specialist dealers. What to look out for

In the class up to 750 kilos total weight, new trailers are sold from as little as 400 euros, says Burkhard Böttcher from ADAC. "However, we found out during a test that the equipment and workmanship of very cheap trailers are not the best," he says. With two trailers, the axles would even have shifted, which could lead to dangerous situations while driving. Before making a purchase, it is important to clarify which trailer is the right one.

Which trailer is good for whom?

"Anyone who only wants to take away green waste occasionally transports little weight, so a small trailer with one axle will be sufficient," says Böttcher. In addition, the vehicle documents must always be checked to see how much weight the towing vehicle is allowed to pull. "Here a distinction is made between braked and unbraked trailers," says Böttcher.

Trailers with a permissible total weight of more than 750 kilos must have an additional brake. "The towing vehicle is relieved by an overrun brake, the braking distance is shortened and driving stability is higher in the event of emergency braking," says DEKRA accident researcher Stefanie Ritter. Another advantage is that they are secured against rolling away when parked by their own parking brake. These overrun brakes are used for car trailers with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tons.

If you regularly transport heavy things, a trailer with a double axle can also be useful. The weight is better distributed here. "The disadvantage of these trailers, however, is that they are difficult to maneuver by hand when uncoupled, even when empty," says Böttcher. The advantage, however, is the higher payload.

Overall, the range of trailers is large, as is the range of prices. "There are very simple entry-level models for a small budget, such as those offered by many hardware stores," says Michael Jursch from the Trailer Industry Association (TIV). "Anyone who wants more will find what they are looking for at specialist dealers, who can then equip the trailer according to their personal needs."

The weight of the load is decisive

It is important in any case not to overload the trailer. "You should first look at the unladen weight and the payload of the trailer, which results in the maximum permissible payload," says Stefanie Ritter. If you are unsure about this, you can also drive onto a public scale before loading to determine the empty weight. "Especially with smaller trailers, people like to save on accessories such as fastening or lashing eyes. Trailers with seven-pin plugs are still being sold," says Böttcher. In contrast to the 13-pin which is now the norm, the reversing light, for example, is not displayed on the trailer. A safety aspect that should not be underestimated.

Trailer with conifers: Of course, there are also limits when loading a trailer. (Source: Steinach/imago images)

Anyone who only occasionally travels with a trailer should consider that the driving behavior of a car changes significantly due to the load. "Especially when the trailer is loaded, the braking distance increases significantly and you have to brake earlier," says Ritter. If the load is not well distributed, a team quickly becomes unstable and there is a risk of tipping over. "Heavy parts, for example, should always be positioned below or further forward in order to make full use of the vertical load, which improves driving stability," says Ritter. The vertical load means the maximum weight that can rest on the trailer hitch.

It's also important to take a look at your driver's license

Anyone who drives with a category B driver's license can tow a trailer with a maximum permissible weight of 750 kilograms. Trailers above this are only permitted if the total mass of the towing vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3.5 tons. For larger trailers with a higher total weight, the BE trailer driving license is required. At least five additional driving lessons must be completed for this. And important: "A trailer is an independent vehicle that must also be insured accordingly. The existing car insurance does not cover damage caused by a trailer," says Jursch.