MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Aug 29, 2012 17:13:51 GMT
|
In my house my wife's hobbies come first, so the project car has been postponed again, oh well better practice on this...  I was thinking, lowered, banded wheels, metalflake paint or maybe rat donkey look.  What it's got to be used for a horse, OK then replace floor, new tyres and a smarten up (with a few unique touches). Ideally I'd like to match it to the tow car. It needs to be done on a budget, started with some reclaimed 18mm plywood for the floor.  For anybody who knows about horse trailers, Ifor-Williams boxes go for £3-4K new and secondhand prices stay high as well, this is an old model and we got it for a good price. My wife will only be doing local travel so it's ideal. Could also be used for a mobile hotel at RRG '13, better fix the leaking roof first though. |
| |
Last Edit: Dec 17, 2012 11:11:45 GMT by MiataMark
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 29, 2012 18:31:14 GMT
|
I've always wondered how practical it would be to convert a horse trailer into a caravan-esque thing  What are the weight limits on these things? Horses aren't exactly known for being light... |
| |
You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
|
|
|
|
Aug 29, 2012 18:53:19 GMT
|
I've always wondered how practical it would be to convert a horse trailer into a caravan-esque thing What are the weight limits on these things? Horses aren't exactly known for being light... Work on 2 horses at 15 cwt each so a decent horsebox will carry 1.5 ton easy. Remove bodywork and you gain extra capacity. Yes - I'm sort of involved with horses  Paul H |
| |
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Aug 29, 2012 20:18:52 GMT
|
I've always wondered how practical it would be to convert a horse trailer into a caravan-esque thing What are the weight limits on these things? Horses aren't exactly known for being light... I think the chassis of a horse trailer would be over engineered for a caravan, and cost wise they would make an expensive starting point. However if you already have one, being able to use it to sleep in could be a bonus. |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With 18mm ply, I'd be tempted to double floor it. Nowt worse than seeing a horse trying to pull its leg out of a plywood hole.
Back in the day when I used to re-do horse trailers and boxes for a living I used 1"x 6" Keroin for trailer floors and ramps. Cost a fortune and weighs a ton but would still be there long after the metal melts. For horse boxes it was double skin 3/4 exterior ply and Keroin ramp.
Apologies if you know all this already!
|
| |
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
|
|
Apologies if you know all this already! Apologies not necessary and good to get advice from a professional. I was thinking of putting some 12mm over the top. There will be plenty of reinforcement below. I should have enough spare 18mm to double skin. if needed. On a previous trailer I got some old conveyor belt to use as flooring, that was excellent. Might put some 14mm stable matting in. |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Sept 24, 2012 10:20:08 GMT
|
 I'm using this project as practice for a car project so when it came to wheels I got a bit carried away...  Rusty front, rusty back, wire wheeled and kurust, spray hammerite on the back. The front is zinc primer, Citroen meteor grey and clear lacquer. For the rest will probably use a normal grey primer. It's only a trailer.... Meanwhile the interior started like this;  Rubber floor stuck down, rotten and sodden (with horse wee) wood floor (2 layers of 12mm ply).  Stripped out, chassis sprayed hammerite satin black, replaced with 2 layers of 18mm ply (one layer shown above).  The start of 2 layers, staggered joints etc. Don't worry it's all being painted with wood preservative, with stone chip and underseal on the bottom.  There was quite a lot of grinder action, all replacement hardware will be A2 stainless where possible. This also shows the state of the side panels, eventually will be replaced by new panels probably painted.  There's a bit of damage to the side panel at the back, will be hidden by interior panels and some chequer plate on the outside. Off the the local tyre fitters to get the remaining tyres removed, I took the other one off but it took ages and I used, tyre levers, jemmy bar, cold chisels, and the grinder. Need to get some part worn 13" (175) commercial tyres. The tread on the tyres is fine they're just perished, a common problem on trailers. Must keep saying to myself, it's only a trailer.... but where's the fun in that! |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 27, 2012 23:15:35 GMT
|
|
Wheel looks good!
"Must keep saying to myself, it's only a trailer.... but where's the fun in that!"
Nah, re-doing a horse trailer is proof that you really can polish a turd! ;D
Nothing like having a smart outfit when you pull on the showground.
|
| |
Last Edit: Sept 27, 2012 23:16:31 GMT by georgeb
|
|
kieram
Part of things
Posts: 43
|
|
Sept 28, 2012 1:38:38 GMT
|
|
Echo what was said before about floor strength, overkill is a good thing in that area.
|
| |
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Sept 28, 2012 7:23:19 GMT
|
Nah, re-doing a horse trailer is proof that you really can polish a turd! ;D Definition of a horse "a machine for turning bank notes into manure" |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 28, 2012 13:35:24 GMT
|
Definition of a horse "a machine for turning bank notes into manure" Don't get into boats: "A hole in the water into which you pour money."  |
| |
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Oct 16, 2012 20:41:56 GMT
|
So having gone overboard with the wheels electrics next! The plan is to bring the cable from the tow hitch (a socket not a trailing cable) inside and then distribute out to the corners of the trailer, eventually I want to use LED lights and have a fuse box. Meantime I designed a distribution board using "choc connectors". To start with I did a PowerPoint diagram,  Which was glued to the board as a guide, and will be mounted vertically at the front of the trailer.  Main block is for cable in, bottom is feeds to rear corners and centre (for number plate and fog light), mudguard mounted repeaters will branch from corners. I know the connectors are frowned on but all cables are soldered and eventually will be changed for fuse box. Meantime a sticker for the back,  Oh and in case anybody is concerned about the strength of the floor, 2 layers of 18mm ply to be covered by 6mm rubber flooring. Liberally coated in preservative & varnish with stonechip on underside.  And there's nothing like a tidy working area, and this is nothing like a tidy working area...  |
| |
Last Edit: Oct 16, 2012 21:04:47 GMT by MiataMark
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming along nicely there ! I like the sticker for the back.
|
| |
Todos con Lorca
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coming along nicely there ! I like the sticker for the back. Yep, looking good now. Keeping the electrics tidy will pay dividends in the end. Seen many where a long exterior wire trailing front to back gets ripped off on a rough showground, especially at the entrance. At best, it's crawling nuder a muddy trailer to get some lights again.  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'de go for LED lights if you can we used to have normal ones mounted on the loading ramp of our Bayhill trailer and we were forever replacing bulbs due to the vibration when the horse went in. We moved them to the side of the trailer but I think LED's would have been the way forward if they had been available at the time as they are less sensitive to vibration.
|
| |
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
|
|
I'de go for LED lights if you can we used to have normal ones mounted on the loading ramp of our Bayhill trailer and we were forever replacing bulbs due to the vibration when the horse went in. We moved them to the side of the trailer but I think LED's would have been the way forward if they had been available at the time as they are less sensitive to vibration. LED lighting is definitely the way to go, more robust lower current but more expensive. These at the back;  and something like these on the sides;  and this at the back;  Meanwhile to get the thing usable I'll make do with what I've got. |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,960
Club RR Member Number: 29
|
|
Dec 17, 2012 11:15:44 GMT
|
So the trailer is still on the drive and the neighbours are putting fairy light all over their houses, so I thought I'd decorate the trailer   Don't think they're too impressed, makes them think it's permanent. Actually it's now ready to move, floor done, electrics done, just a few peripheral bits left. Next step is to see if the bloody pony will actually go in it! |
| |
1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
|
|
