The IVA day befoe

Well, I don't think I've been this anxious or nervous ever, and I have two kids!! It's IVA day tomorrow, and the process started today.

I picked up the trailer at lunchtime, from All-fit in Lichfield. First impressions were good service, good price, I was in and out in ten minutes with a big thing attached to my behind. 

I got it home (which considering it's my first time towing is an achievement itself!) and started to have some troubles. First one was self inflicted, turns out my best laid plan of reversing in the open area in front of my house was a no-no, I just couldn't get it turned round tight enough. Fairly simple to resolve though, I simply took it to the main road and reversed from there. A bit further and a bit squirmy but sorted.

Next challenge, getting the car on to the trailer. Despite a couple of misses and close calls. I got it halfway up with no problem. And then it just went 'dink'. Turns out the car isn't heavy enough to push the trailer down and decrease the loading angle. And my car is simply too low. When I'm in the car the seat bolts going through the floor extend too far, and they just got hooked on the ramp. 

This was emergency fix number one, getting the car high enough to clear the ramp. Thankfully I could just wind the spring platforms up and that got me enough, it's probably a good thing anyway as I know the car is too low. The only thing is that it messes up the geometry (and possibly the self centering), and also the wheel guards. I've just measured the wheel guards again, they're 40 degrees to the front and 60 to the back, so still within limits. (side note, one of the spring platform allen bolts has seized, that will need to be sorted)

Then came problem number two, and it's related to the deflection as well. There is a small edge on the trailer, and the rear wheels just span against it. That was easily rectified, a bit more speed on to the ramp and it was sorted. I'll need to do the same thing for the journey back. 

So it fits quite nicely on the trailer;

I couldn't have used the next size down, it wouldn't have been long enough. 

Now problem number three. One of the tie down straps looks like it's gone ten rounds with something, and doesn't work properly. It ratchets ok so I'm happy it's safe, but to unlock it needs some encouragement with a screwdriver. It'll get me there, it'll just be a bit longer to open when I get there.

And then lastly the car looks very crooked on the trailer, so I put a jack under the back and hoiked it over an inch or so. At least now it'll come off the ramp straight. It should be pretty easy to line up after the test too, it fits between two of the grooves so I can see what I'm doing. 

I also put the jack in the back of the car, just in case...

Oh, did I say 'lastly'? Silly me... there was one more issue. As the car hasn't towed before, the electrical connections are 'suspect'. I've given them a wiggle and they're on now, but I can't get 100 miles on a 'wiggle'. I'll leave it for now and just hope they're ok, but as a backup I'm borrowing my brother in laws light board from his trailer. I know that works as that's what I used to test my electrics. I'll just need to fix it somewhere on the back of the car or trailer. I've got a pack of zip tie wraps in my IVA toolkit. 

The cover is on, it's looking like rain tomorrow but I'm still undecided whether to leave the cover on or risk the small amount of rain. Knowing me if I take it off it'll be monsoon season on the M5, if I leave it on it'll be ripped to shreds before I get to Kidderminster. I suppose either way it's on for the night. 

So it's a 5am departure, that gives me an hour of contingency/coffee time. Early night tonight, in the vain hope that I'll get some sleep. 

As everyone says, if it passes then yay, if not then I will have a list to work off. If it needs a retest I will be driving it, this whole trailer thing has been extra hard work I could have done without. Of course, if the DVSA hadn't closed some of their test centres, I'd only be going down the road instead of a 4-5 hour round trip!