Surf trailers: Transporting equipment in the trailer - solutions, tips and sticking points
Tobias Frauen
· 15.09.2024
Windsurf boards belong on the roof of a car, according to the law. What was true for decades has been shaken by ever shorter boards. Even a VW Lupo can accommodate a waveboard and two rigs inside - if properly secured. However, if you want to cover a wide range of wind or several disciplines, you will quickly reach the logistical limits of roof transport. Not to mention the risk of injury when you're standing on a wobbly ladder with tired arms in eight-strong winds to stow your board and co. back on the roof of your motorhome or van. If several people want to go out together or even the whole family is going on the water, there will soon only be one option for transporting equipment: a trailer!
The advantages of a trailer specially designed for surfing equipment are obvious: everything is neatly stowed at handle height and each item can be removed individually. No (salt) water runs into the car and there is plenty of room for other luggage and fellow travellers. On the other hand, there are more or less serious disadvantages: A trailer can be stolen more quickly than surf stuff from the roof, and a suitable parking space is also required at home. Depending on the licence, the cruising speed is limited to 80 or 100 km/h. You also take up more parking space at the spot and may have to manoeuvre the trailer by hand.
Surf trailers from the manufacturer
Anyone looking for a suitable vehicle will sooner rather than later come across the surf trailer from the Company Kochwhich is the only one on the German market to be marketed with precisely this profile. The fact that the model is widely used at spots in Germany and abroad and that the company once sponsored the German Freestyle Battles adds to this. "A now retired employee was a windsurfer himself and developed the model," explains a Koch company spokesperson. The company from Winsen an der Luhe sells around 400 of them every year.
The basis is a conventional lid trailer with aluminium walls and stainless steel fasteners. On request, the floor can also be made of aluminium instead of the standard screen printing plate, so that even salt water cannot cause any damage. Inside, the surf trailer already comes with a rack for the equipment. However, the individual parts for this are supplied loose so that everyone can fit the rack to suit their own requirements.
Prices start at just under €3,000 and can reach the €6,000 mark. By the way: If you don't want to do it yourself, you can also have the interior designed by Koch according to your own wishes, but then you will have to budget considerably more. "If the customer pays for it, we can do anything," says an employee.
Self-build surf trailer
If you are not afraid of a little tinkering, you can customise your trailer to suit your needs and material. Any trailer that fits in terms of size can be used as a basis. However, there are some pros and cons to consider when choosing a model:
Closed box
- + Good theft protection
- + Protection from the weather and sun
- + Aerodynamics
- + Roof can be used for bicycles or similar if necessary
- - expensive
- - Little ventilation
- - heavier
Box with open board holder
- + more favourable
- + easy to load
- - Poorer theft protection
- - Boards not protected
Trailers with tarpaulins
- + frames good for attaching holders for boards etc.
- + good ventilation
- + Protection from the weather and sun
- o Unobtrusive look
- - slightly less theft protection
Suppliers of luggage trailers are Company Koch e.g. Böckmann, Humbaur or Brenderup. But it is also worth looking beyond the borders: The Dutch manufacturer Pak also has a model known as a surf trailer in its programme, but it is supplied without an interior. The French brand Boxrider offers numerous box trailers with front and side doors, which are even more variable than the standard models. Those who prefer something more exclusive and aerodynamic should take a look at the "Excalibur" models: Originally intended for transporting motorbikes, the GRP models look very classy and streamlined, but they also come at a price. In addition, the fixtures and fittings for the material are significantly more expensive.
In most cases, however, it is cheaper to buy a used trailer. Any trailer that hasn't been completely rocked down can be given a second life for your equipment. The most important thing here is the substance: if the chassis and brakes are in good condition and the load-bearing parts are not too badly rusty, you can go for it!
What to consider when fitting out the interior
There are virtually no limits to the design of the interior. The basis for all considerations should of course be how much material needs to be accommodated. Every part should be quick and easy to reach, but even more important is the securing. In sharp turns or during emergency braking, nothing should be allowed to slip, otherwise a flying fin will drill through the sail or the nose of the board will flatten against the front wall. Plenty of padding material is therefore a must. Ideally, the sails should be stowed in such a way that they are not squashed by the struts or other material.
The first choice for the interior construction is of course wood, also because the right tools are available in any reasonably well-equipped hobby workshop. A storage system made of iron rods ends up being quite heavy, aluminium profiles are noticeably more expensive and more complicated to install. Plastic tubes from the DIY store can be an alternative: With plenty of corner, T and cross pieces and a saw, you can build a light and robust frame.
The best followers of surf readers
surf reader Bernhard Schandelmeier from Neustadt an der Weinstraße has been optimising and modifying his trailer for many years. "The basis is a second-hand trailer from 1989, which I have always developed further. Whenever new boards arrived, I adapted the trailer." For example, he created a bulge at the side to accommodate particularly wide boards, and there are openings at the front for long sails. "At the back, I initially had a single flap across the entire width. But it was always flapping back and forth in the wind, so I made two smaller doors out of it, which are easier to tie down". His hot tip for self-builders: "Stainless steel screws! Normal wood screws rust very quickly, you can't get them off properly!" He is now known for his special construction with lots of patina in many spots. "I thought it had to be beautiful and I'd paint it, but I never got round to it," laughs Bernhard.
Trailers are even more common at surf spots in the Netherlands than here. Marco Lambers from Zeewolde also built a trailer according to his wishes. The basis was also a second-hand trailer. The wooden interior has a separate shelf for each sail, the booms hang on hooks for garden tools and the extensions are neatly lined up in the doors waiting to be used. "With a little help, I added a side door at the front right to make everything easily accessible. I also have an inner door to protect the boards from prying eyes. Too many expensive toys in there," reports Marco. There are also various boxes for small parts, all secured with rubber bands. A roof vent, which is powered by the airstream, also ensures air circulation.
Jochen Auster knows that a trailer can turn even a Mini into the perfect surf mobile. "Years ago, I had a trailer built by an agricultural machinery manufacturer to match my then red Mini. Everyone recognises me at the spot: the surfer with the Mini!" Jochen transports his boards on an open frame, secured with a board lock. There is space for sails and everything else in the low box underneath. But Jochen also adapts his trailer to the new equipment if necessary: "As the sails now have a longer boom, I recently had to extend the trailer with a professional bucket. It even passed the MOT!"
Even more trailer variants
Driving licence sticking point
Surf gear is not heavy, but it is bulky. Even extensive equipment rarely exceeds 150 kilos. However, as the driving licence is not based on the actual weight of the trailer and its contents, but on the permissible total weight, you need to take a close look here. This is because most models that are large enough to accommodate several boards, rigs and accessories are designed for significantly higher payloads.
Anyone who obtained their driving licence before 1999, i.e. still has the old category 3, is on the safe side for our needs. This is because the old class 3 entitles you to drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, even with a trailer. The permissible total weight of the trailer must be less than the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. With our bulky but fairly light equipment, it is extremely rare to get into these weight regions.
In 1999, the driving licence classes changed, from 3 to class B. Trailer operation is also included here for the time being without an additional test, but only up to 750 kilos. The permissible total weight of the combination must not exceed 3.5 tonnes, and the unladen weight of the towing vehicle must also be higher than the permissible total weight of the trailer. If both apply, the trailer may also exceed 750 kilos. However, most models that can be used as the basis for surf trailers are above this limit. In this case, category BE must be acquired with an additional test.
Things get even more complicated with driving licences issued from 2013 onwards. Class B rules then apply, but the scope for trailers can be significantly extended by taking an additional test and entering the B96 licence number. The permissible total mass of the combination may then be up to 4.25 tonnes.
Sticking point: authorisation
Driving with a trailer means travelling at 80 km/h through the countryside. However, up to 100 km/h may be permitted under certain conditions. The towing vehicle must have ABS, the trailer tyres must be approved for up to 120 km/h and not be older than six years. In addition, the mass ratios must be suitable; these are calculated using various factors, always based on the unladen weight of the towing vehicle. For trailers without brakes or hydraulic shock absorbers, the maximum permissible total mass may not exceed 0.3 times the unladen weight of the towing vehicle; for braked and hydraulically suspended trailers, it is 1.1 times the unladen weight of the car. If the car also has a trailer stabilisation system, the trailer may weigh 1.2 times the unladen weight. TÜV, Dekra or registration centres can help with the calculation. However, many trailer manufacturers also offer their models with 100 km/h approval as standard.
Registration as a sports trailer can be a worthwhile consideration. This gives you a green licence plate and eliminates the need for tax and insurance. If the trailer is coupled, it is covered by the car's third-party liability insurance. However, it is advisable to take out your own insurance so that it is also insured as a free-standing vehicle. However, sports trailers may only be used to transport the relevant equipment. If you add a crate of beer, you risk a fine in the event of a police check.
