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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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Small trailer plans
ME wrote:
Hi all I am planning on building a small trailer to tow with the car, for camping stuff and taking garden rubish to the council tip and fetching building materials etc. Does anybody have any tips on how to build it and what size of steel i should use for the chassis and what wood I should use for the floor/sides. Any other tips and sugestions welcome. Not wishing to rain on your DIY parade - but I did notice that last time I was near a B&Q warehouse they were knocking out 3 different sized trailers. The cheapest was well under 200 quid IIRC. -- Cheers, John. /================================================== ===============\ | Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk | |-----------------------------------------------------------------| | John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk | \================================================= ================/ |
#2
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Small trailer plans
ME wrote:
Does anybody have any tips on how to build it and what size of steel i should use for the chassis and what wood I should use for the floor/sides. Maybe it's worth punting around for an old 2nd hand trailer, and junking everything except the chassis. You could rebuild from there. It's amazing what people leave in scrap yards sometimes... -- jc Remove the -not from email |
#3
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Small trailer plans
Drew,
Check out the Indespension Trailer web-site http://www.indespension.co.uk lots of info on what's available, from specialist trailers though to parts to build your own. I build a trailer years ago using their suspension units which came complete with stub axles; these were then mated with Mini wheels & hubs. The suspension units were bolted to flanges that I'd welded onto a length of scaffold pole which acted as the main 'dead' axle onto which the trailer box was mounted. The towbar was bolted to a long length of scaffold pole which was then connected to the 'dead' axle via a tubular crucifix. I did it this way so the whole thing could be easily dismantled for storage. I found to construction easy as I had access to welding equipment. It would be possible to make a trailer using bolted angle iron but drilling this type of material is often beyond the capacity of the average DIY electric drill. Of course you could always hire tools for the build. I'm not sure that I'd build another one these days - John Rumm is correct when he says that good, inexpensive, kit is available at the local DIY sheds. Paul |
#4
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Small trailer plans
Paul Hewish wrote:
Drew, Check out the Indespension Trailer web-site http://www.indespension.co.uk lots of info on what's available, from specialist trailers though to parts to build your own. I build a trailer years ago using their suspension units which came complete with stub axles; these were then mated with Mini wheels & hubs. The suspension units were bolted to flanges that I'd welded onto a length of scaffold pole which acted as the main 'dead' axle onto which the trailer box was mounted. The towbar was bolted to a long length of scaffold pole which was then connected to the 'dead' axle via a tubular crucifix. I did it this way so the whole thing could be easily dismantled for storage. I found to construction easy as I had access to welding equipment. It would be possible to make a trailer using bolted angle iron but drilling this type of material is often beyond the capacity of the average DIY electric drill. Of course you could always hire tools for the build. I'm not sure that I'd build another one these days - John Rumm is correct when he says that good, inexpensive, kit is available at the local DIY sheds. Paul Drew, I have been rebuilding an 8' x 4' x 2' x 1 tonne leaf sprung single axle with over run brakes trailer for the past two years on and off. I got it for £20 from a local independant trailer supplier in an awful condition. Completion has become something of a crusade, especially as I do not need a trailer this big. However, if you do decide to DIY it I would suggest making friends with your local branch of Indespension and buying their catalogue. Then find a steel stockholder/fabricator and make friends with the least unapproachable bloke there with a welding torch in his hand. You'll need the stockholder as a source of material and the welder for advice on building techniques and for access to his scrap bin. A couple of relevant points from the Indespension book: Towing more than 750Kg or half the weight of the towing vehicle, whichever is less will requires your trailer to be fitted with brakes. Since 1989 only auto reversing over run brakes can be fitted (i.e. not ex-car hubs) and the coupling on a trailer made after Oct 1982 must be fitted with a hydraulic damper. So, if you are building a trailer where the gross weight will exceed 750Kg - and to be honest, as John and Paul above say, why bother if you aren't, unless you are building e.g. a bike trailer - you will need expensive braking sytems and couplings. On the other hand if you can find a derelict trailer of a suitable size, or a bit bigger, that has rescueable non-auto reversing brakes and a spring damped coupling you can restore it to it's original condition and method of operation. This is what I am doing but I reckon that I could have replaced my slightly-too-small unbraked trailer with a rather flimsy and almost big enough unbraked trailer for what I will have spent on the restoration. However that would have been far less satisfying. If you do go down the restoration route I can thoroughly recommend Bonda Prima for treating the metalwork. It's a vicious rust gripping red oxide primer that makes standard red oxide from the sheds pale into insignificance. Costs £25 x 2.5L but is well worth the money If you want to be bored by any more details of the saga of my trailer rebuild drop me a line. BOL Richard |
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Small trailer plans
My local B & Q didn't have any trailers, Halfords do, YUCK and expensive!!
I didnt mention in my original post, I have looked at several second hand trailers and although I consider myself handy with a welder etc, miricles I'm not so good at, I can't weld rust.:-) Ok, spent the day researching Suspension units 500kg capacity Hubs to fit Ford wheel (I have a ford mondeo, so wont need spare for the trailer) weld on plates for units All from http://www.trailerpartswarehouse.co.uk total cost £87 Went to my local Smithy Angle iron, 50mm x 50mm x 5mm x 6 metres £12 (base) 30mm x 30mm x 5mm 6 x 12 metres £25 (top and to make hinged back door) Box section, 50mm x 50mm x 5mm x 4 metres (for drawbar that goes all the way to the back of the trailer and for the axle) £56 Local scrappie wants £5 for a pair of Mondeo wheels with tyres Already have tow hitch ( only salvagable thing from my old trailer) Have welder, angle grinder, clamps lots of space and have been welding for ten years (self tought) although I'm used to welding broken JCB diggers, RSJ etc I'm planing on floorboards for the floor and sides, would I be better of with plywood? what will last longer? So is this overkill? I want to be able to do 70 down the motorway loaded with with 300 - 400 Kg's of whatever Thanks for the input guys Drew |
#6
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Small trailer plans
On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:02:36 +0100, "ME"
wrote: So is this overkill? I want to be able to do 70 down the motorway loaded with with 300 - 400 Kg's of whatever I think you will find the limit is 60mph, unless someone can correct me. Andrew Do you need a handyman service? Check out our web site at http://www.handymac.co.uk |
#7
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Small trailer plans
"Andrew McKay" wrote in message ... On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 20:02:36 +0100, "ME" wrote: So is this overkill? I want to be able to do 70 down the motorway loaded with with 300 - 400 Kg's of whatever I think you will find the limit is 60mph, unless someone can correct me. Good point, just had a look at http://www.towsure.co.uk/ntta/law/driving/driving.asp and the limit for ordenary roads is 50 and dual crageways and motorways 60 right enough. Andrew Do you need a handyman service? Check out our web site at http://www.handymac.co.uk |
#8
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Small trailer plans
"ME" wrote:
Hello ME M| I am planning on building a small trailer to tow with the M| car, for camping stuff and taking garden rubish to the M| council tip and fetching building materials etc. Useful things, no doubt about it. M| Does anybody have any tips on how to build it and what size M| of steel i should use for the chassis and what wood I M| should use for the floor/sides. One of my favourites is a back axle off a Vauxhall Viva, with a square of 2" angle about 4mm thick, with a triangle back to the spring hangers to the towhitch. 1/2 ton easily, although I have had a tonne in it. Just refurbished it for the fourth time... Modern indespension axles are great though, but cost the thing out properly - it can definately be cheaper to buy a ready made galvanised trailer. DO look around for a knackered one, a note in your local PO's window might bring in one for nowt. Even if it's not exactly what you want, you can cut and shut the chassis to suit. As long as the wheels turn and the chassis is structurally sound, the rest is easy. For the bed, I've used 18mm WPB ply. Coated all over with three coats of bitumastic emulsion. For the sides, the same stuff with gloss, or tanalised fencing rails (last longer, no repainting). Using it today behind my lawnmower for shifting hedge cuttings around. -- Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK uk.d-i-y FAQ: http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/ |
#9
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Small trailer plans
Andrew McKay wrote:
Hello Andrew So is this overkill? I want to be able to do 70 down the motorway loaded with with 300 - 400 Kg's of whatever AM| I think you will find the limit is 60mph, unless someone can AM| correct me. You're right, for dual carriageways and motorways. BTW, of note - did you know that non car-derived vans (Transits, Sprinters, LDVs etc) are limited to 50 on single carriageway and 60 on dual carriageways?[1] Not a lot of people seem to know that, least of all the drivers... -- [1] 70 on Motorways, though. Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK uk.d-i-y FAQ: http://www.diyfaq.org.uk/ |
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