Has anyone built a trailer from a caravan chassis?.
I am thinking of building a trailer for my car and can get a chassis for £20 which is towable so would just need ramps lights and mudguards adding Is
a single axle ok ? .I havent looked at the chassis yet but assume i would just need to add spome angle iron and chequer plate for the car to drive
onto.
Paul
bin there,have to be a pretty big trailer ,4 wheels are better,end of the day its worth getting/building a real trailer
I've got a caravan chassis getting in the way. Was going to convert it in a similar way to how you describe but have not got around to it.
Come and take it away if it's any use to you!
Chris
Thanks for the offer Chris but havent got a towbar yet. Just been scrapyard and looked at caravans. The newer ones have no proper chassis but did find
one older one that is big enough to use complete with tow hitch and brakes etc.
However I am not sure if the suspension is up to the job as the stub axles look rather weak.The good bit is if I buy it I get to be let loose on a
caravan with a sledgehammer and crowbar, as i told them i only want the chassis and it is a complete van.Worth £20 just for the fun as I Hate
caravans.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by ChrisW
I've got a caravan chassis getting in the way. Was going to convert it in a similar way to how you describe but have not got around to it.
Come and take it away if it's any use to you!
Chris
Be a lot cheaper than bulding using indispension type stuff anyway
Wouldnt worry about the suspension being up to it either.I used to tow a Ford Zodiac (even when stripped for racing that was a very heavy 1960's
Motor Car in case you were wonderin'
on a self converted Caravan chassis. Never had any problems.
Tip
Heavy duty electrical cable tray is better than checkerplate for the runners. Its gavlanised and full of holes so it's lighter
is there any sort of test which self built trailers are subject to, SVA/MOT like.
does any one know if plans are available for self built trailers, for free or little money?
Was that a twin axle trailer? i know how heavy zodiacs were a mate of none has had many hes running a mk 2 at the moment.
I can easily get cable tray and might even have some off cuts at work to do the job , hadnt thought of that.
Just spoke to indidpension and reckon on £500 for a single axle with 1300kg capacity plus the towing hitch etc.
my other option was to use a back axle from a transit size FWD van but would then need hydraulic brakes and hydraulic type hitch wich is more
expense.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by jonti
Be a lot cheaper than bulding using indispension type stuff anyway
Wouldnt worry about the suspension being up to it either.I used to tow a Ford Zodiac (even when stripped for racing that was a very heavy 1960's Motor Car in case you were wonderin'
Tip
Heavy duty electrical cable tray is better than checkerplate for the runners. Its gavlanised and full of holes so it's lighter
I think there are regs but was just going to use commonsense and hope for best.
I have been searching for plans but not found anything yet apart from the fact that indispension do a catalog with some basic details in it.
quote:
Originally posted by liam.mccaffrey
is there any sort of test which self built trailers are subject to, SVA/MOT like.
does any one know if plans are available for self built trailers, for free or little money?
I am sure a mate of mine has plans for building a trailor, i will ask him tonite and see if i imagined it in a drunken Xmas stupor.
If he has i can probably post you a copy.
indespension used to do plans and a kit of parts for various trailers,there are rules n regs about trailers,probly changed since i last built one so
go n check them first
IIRC, chrisg posted a warning last time this conversation came up (a few months ago). Very police unfriendly. Cant remember why...
If we can get around that, I would do this (its on my long list of things I've got to get round to!). Any thoughts?
I searched for trailer but couldnt find the relevant thread, i remeber something about rules and regs.
Loking on E bay there are some very rough looking car trailers fetching a good price .I am sure i could build something better than many of them and
any new regs must surely only apply to new trailers, do they have a vin type plate on them? if i use an old caravan chassis or just the plate from one
then that may help with regs.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by Mark H
IIRC, chrisg posted a warning last time this conversation came up (a few months ago). Very police unfriendly. Cant remember why...
Spyderman - 5/1/04 at 06:03 PMI have some plans that include trailers.
They came from the NET somewhere, can't remember!
U2U me and I will email them!
Terry
Ben_Copeland - 5/1/04 at 06:25 PMIt was my thread about trailors, so i know its there somewhere
U2U sent to spyderman too
chrisg - 5/1/04 at 08:05 PMWas it something like this ?
Trailers are legally required to be fitted with a plate showing the manufacturer, gross weight, max load, and so on.
Incidentally, the towbar is also required to have a plate showing max load, etc.
I haven't got my indespension catalogue to hand (it's at home) but their website may have details. The cat cetainly goes into a lot of detail.
http://www.indespension.com/home.htm
Also Towsure
http://www.towsure.co.uk/
It was posted by David Jenkins not me!!, I did however have a very large accident while towing a Humber Snipe, long story, very scary!
If there are any trailer plans knocking about I'd love some, please.
Cheers
Chris
JoelP - 5/1/04 at 11:33 PMgreat thread, i bought some 50x50x2.5mm tube today to make the gubbins for the polo im converting at the mo, should be good fun. gonna bust it in half with the plasma cutter...
how do you go about getting the thing stamped or tested?!
timf - 6/1/04 at 08:48 AMi found this
Rescued attachment Car Trailer drawing.jpg
paulf - 6/1/04 at 09:19 AMThat looks a good starting point, at least i have got some idea of materials and balance point. Maybe a van axle would be able to be used.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by timf
i found this
timf - 6/1/04 at 10:44 AMquote:
Originally posted by paulf
Maybe a van axle would be able to be used.
Paul.
escort mk3 rear beam axles were alway good for this type of thing
locoboy - 6/1/04 at 10:54 AMagreed as are pug 205 beam axles.
timf - 6/1/04 at 11:13 AMpug 205 use torsion beams iirc whereas the escort uses leaf springs allowing the beam to be cut and widened if necessary
just a thought
chris280 - 6/1/04 at 07:27 PMjust seen this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2452683066&category=9882
may be of interest.
MikeR - 7/1/04 at 07:00 PMgive me a week or two and i'll be the proud owner of the trailer plans on ebay!
paulf - 7/1/04 at 08:07 PMThe only problem with building from scratch is the price.
I have drew up a simple chassis plan for a 3m x1.7m trailer using 50mm box and 3mm sheet steel . I then got a quote for the steel and it is in the region of £250 which seems a familiar figure. On top of this is the cost of the tow hitch which is in the region of £100 plus axle mudguards lights etc, which makes the idea of a converted caravan chassis for £20 sound atractive.
Therefore i am going to persue this option further next week when I am next of work to go hunting the local scrapyards.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
give me a week or two and i'll be the proud owner of the trailer plans on ebay!
Ben_Copeland - 7/1/04 at 08:44 PMBut for others who get their metal free... like I did and can
paulf - 7/1/04 at 09:43 PMI am going to look next week to see if i can find some cheaper metal.
In that case i reckon on 3 days hard work and i would have a trailer but the braked type tow hitch is still dear so may be worth finding a caravan to donate tow hitch and suspension etc.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by Ben_Copeland
But for others who get their metal free... like I did and can
JoelP - 7/1/04 at 10:12 PMi got an unbraked 750kg pressed steel hitch for £15 from towsure, i know its no good for a car trailer but ok for smaller things.
i think the caravan is the way to go, they come up on ebay for tenners...
