Towing?

Jayjay2424

Hi everyone just curious to know I am on the look out for a dog trailer or dog hitch mounted box .. Im just curious to know what would be the better option for towing wise and fuel wise what would be the lighter to tow I kinda like the hitch box cause it don't have to be taken off when trying to reverse or if you have to turn around on a tight road .. then again the hitch box will put all the weight to the back of the jeep just curious to know what people's opinions are on the dog trailer and the hitch box was better to tow better for fuel consumption etc thanks everyone

Isambard

how big a dog trailer are we talking here? Surely reversing with an average size one shouldn't be a problem.

mullingar

Most car tow hitches are designed to have a max 75kg downweight, so if its a small-medium sized dog + dog box =<75kg to mount directly on the hitch it should be fine.

my3cents

Isambard wrote: »

how big a dog trailer are we talking here? Surely reversing with an average size one shouldn't be a problem.

Some small trailers can be a nightmare to reverse. I've two trailers here the larger one reverses easily with but the small one it is easier to unhitch move and hitch back up instead of reversing.

Jayjay2424

my3cents wrote: »

Some small trailers can be a nightmare to reverse. I've two trailers here the larger one reverses easily with but the small one it is easier to unhitch move and hitch back up instead of reversing.

It would be more or less a medium size trailer I be mostly driving it on narrow country lanes you see I never drove with a trailer before you see so looming for opinions what would be the best

Del2005

You're limit to 80km\h with the trailer and even at that they would be bouncy as hell for the dog if you use a small trailer.

Why can't they go in the the back of the jeep? They'd be much safer.

colm_mcm

The hitch mounted box would be more fuel efficient and easier to live with.

my3cents

Jayjay2424 wrote: »

It would be more or less a medium size trailer I be mostly driving it on narrow country lanes you see I never drove with a trailer before you see so looming for opinions what would be the best

The nearer the trailer wheels are to the hitch then the faster the trailer will swing around when you make small steering movements when reversing.

With the wheels well back from the hitch you can make a mess of the steering and still reverse OK.

But as suggested a trailer may be too bouncy for the dogs.

Jayjay2424

my3cents wrote: »

The nearer the trailer wheels are to the hitch then the faster the trailer will swing around when you make small steering movements when reversing.

With the wheels well back from the hitch you can make a mess of the steering and still reverse OK.

But as suggested a trailer may be too bouncy for the dogs.

I wouldn't really be going fast it's just for hunting really but I don't want to drag a big huge heavy trailer along with me if it will be very heavy on fuel as I goes very far likes of Tipperary Waterford etc all about 1 and half hour away from where I live

Jayjay2424

colm_mcm wrote: »

The hitch mounted box would be more fuel efficient and easier to live with.

Ya that's what I was thinking there are not really heavy are they?

Jayjay2424

Del2005 wrote: »

You're limit to 80km\h with the trailer and even at that they would be bouncy as hell for the dog if you use a small trailer.

Why can't they go in the the back of the jeep? They'd be much safer.

I can't put them in there as there hunting dogs and I will have a new born in there in 7 weeks so hence why im looking for a trailer or hitch box hunting dogs go through filth when out country side very risky with a new born

Jayjay2424

my3cents wrote: »

Some small trailers can be a nightmare to reverse. I've two trailers here the larger one reverses easily with but the small one it is easier to unhitch move and hitch back up instead of reversing.

Ya that will be painful having to keep get out and un hitch it to reverse

colm_mcm

Jayjay2424 wrote: »

Ya that's what I was thinking there are not really heavy are they?

A fibreglass one is around 25kg.

Del2005

Jayjay2424 wrote: »

I can't put them in there as there hunting dogs and I will have a new born in there in 7 weeks so hence why im looking for a trailer or hitch box hunting dogs go through filth when out country side very risky with a new born

The dogs in the trailer might not be very happy after a long journey, any dog trailer I've seen is too light for long road use even going less than 80. Could you get a liner for the back seats or the boot

TrailerBob

I've looked into a similar idea, and thinking of a receiver hitch like they use in the US. Then it's easy switch between the box and the trailer hitch, and you can make other attachments for the back too.

Jayjay2424

colm_mcm wrote: »

A fibreglass one is around 25kg.

What would a regular steel type be or wood the sheet galvanised boxs are fairly light also are they there only thin sheets

peasant

I'm not a fan of sticking dogs into a trailer or hitch mounted box for the following reasons: (thinking of the dogs here)

- very bouncy ride
- these things don't have windows so they can't see anything
- close to the exhaust..so it can get a bit fumy
- too exposed in case of a crash
- you have no idea how the dogs are doing (are they sick, terrified, fighting?)
- noisy ride (wind and road noise)

After 1.5 hours in those conditions they may not feel like going hunting anymore once you get there.

A proper boot liner has already been mentioned...also get a rubber mat with it and ...most importantly...a custom made dog guard for your car https://www.travall.co.uk/dog-guard.
Depending on the size of your car (and the size of the dogs) you could also fit a boot divider and leave yourself some room for luggage or a even a buggy



These travall things really are the business, they fit well, protect you and the dogs in case of a crash and can be taken in/out in 5 mins

Del2005

Del2005 wrote: »

The dogs in the trailer might not be very happy after a long journey, any dog trailer I've seen is too light for long road use even going less than 80. Could you get a liner for the back seats or the boot

I have a friend who does a 100km each way trip on the motorway twice a week with his dog in a small dog tailer as he doesn’t allow the dog in his Jeep and he manages just fine and has been doing it for years so it can’t be that bad. They are dogs not children a point lost on a lot of people nowadays it appears.

peasant

Russell Stale Milk wrote: »

They are dogs not children a point lost on a lot of people nowadays it appears.

Treating animals (man's supposedly best friend for example) with a bit of respect and consideration is a point still lost on a lot of people nowadays it appears.

shootermcgee

Would you not get one of those dog transport box's that slides into the back of the vehicle, that's what we use, if you Google dog transport box's you'll find the company in the north that makes them

Jayjay2424

I have spotted up quite a nice trailer the only thing is putting me off is the hitch unlike the normal hitch you can put a lad lock on it and prevent it been stolen when you leave the vehicle but this hitch is a different type just curious as to know has Anyone had one of these types hitch that they could put a pad lock on it when they left the Vehicle heard of trailers been clipped off and stolen when not pad locked on but it's seems impossible to get a padlock on a type hitch like this ? It's not exactly like that in the pic but very very similar has one if the hi handle bitchs

mullingar

That's not a euro spec hitch.

There are really only 2 types of modern hitches. A braked version (required on all trailers that have a dgvw of >750kg) and a non-braked version (<750kg trailers)

Jayjay2424

mullingar wrote: »

That's not a euro spec hitch.

There are really only 2 types of modern hitches. A braked version (required on all trailers that have a dgvw of >750kg) and a non-braked version (<750kg trailers)

So is there no way I can lock that onto the hitch with a pad lock or chain so it can't be taken off by any random stranger

my3cents

mullingar wrote: »

That's not a euro spec hitch.

There are really only 2 types of modern hitches. A braked version (required on all trailers that have a dgvw of >750kg) and a non-braked version (<750kg trailers)

Exactly the same hitch you get with a French Erde trailer that Halfords sell and is available all over Europe.

Its quite a good hitch. It has a go no go feature build into it. It automatically locks and if it locks forward too far, there is a mark on the side of the hitch to indicate this, then the ball hitch is either too small or worn out.

Lock > https://www.erde.co.uk/product/av001-trailer-coupling-lock-for-erde-102-trailer/

Del2005

Russell Stale Milk wrote: »

I have a friend who does a 100km each way trip on the motorway twice a week with his dog in a small dog tailer as he doesn’t allow the dog in his Jeep and he manages just fine and has been doing it for years so it can’t be that bad. They are dogs not children a point lost on a lot of people nowadays it appears.

Of course he manages fine he's in the comfortable jeep, how the dogs get on bouncing around in a trailer is the issue.