Trailer towing transport options for new business

PrudentSpender

Hi Guys,
I need some advice
I'm setting up a street food business, i need a vehicle to tow a trailer.
My business is brand NEW so no credit history, so business leasing is out. But i'm not sure whether to buy something second hand outright. Or buy something on a 'personal leasing' option? and im getting stressed about it. I dont want waste money in the wrong places. I basically don't want to make a mistake.
Any advice would be welcome, 

Undervalued

I can't directly answer your question. 

You are probably aware of this but just in case......

Depending on your age and when you passed your driving test you may be very restricted on the size and weight of trailer that you can legally tow. Check carefully before buying. 

Car_54

You really need business advice, not this forum.

PrudentSpender

I’m doing a towing course in March, so that will sort out my licence, but thanks for info. 

forgotmyname

Hope you have secure storage for the trailer(s).  And somewhere arranged in advance where
you can site them and what council regulations apply to that location. It can be a bit of a
minefield with different areas requiring different criteria.

Quite a close knit business, it maybe very hard to virtually impossible to get a pitch unless
you know people.

PS. its going to be parked up most of the day, buy something used for cash and your settled.

jimbo6977

I do hope you are aware that the food trailer business is sewn up tight as a kipper by a certain group of people who are, shall we say, more familiar with towing than most. Expect a visit. 

Rolandtheroadie

PrudentSpender said:

I’m doing a towing course in March, so that will sort out my licence, but thanks for info. 

Not even 50% sure on the legalities, but my company put me through the CPC as I may have needed to tow a trailer with a  4x4. The 4x4 had a digital tacho fitted just in case it was being used for towing. Total weight would have been over 3.5t but well under 7.5t. 
Might just have been overkill by my employer though, but worth checking out the law and any exclusions. 

Goudy

Can't really help you with how to buy, but you really need to know what you're towing, weight wise and match the vehicle to that.

There's plenty of advise on sites that match caravans and cars, just try linking a car to a caravan of similar weight.

One thing worth considering if you decided on an used vehicle, emissions might come into play if it's an older diesel, you might find yourself paying low emission charges if you're in and out of city centres.

Ectophile

I thought the traditional approach was to buy a knackered old horse box or caravan, then spend very many hours completely refurbishing it and fitting it out.  That way requires less credit (but lots of time).

forgotmyname

Ectophile said:

I thought the traditional approach was to buy a knackered old horse box or caravan, then spend very many hours completely refurbishing it and fitting it out.  That way requires less credit (but lots of time).

  How many catering trailers out there because people buy them and find they cannot find anywhere
to trade then end up reselling them?

AdrianC

forgotmyname said:

  How many catering trailers out there because people buy them and find they cannot find anywhere
to trade then end up reselling them?

Or, more like, they realise it isn't half as profitable as they hoped.