Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,740
Club RR Member Number: 83
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DIY trailer..... and the law?Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Oct 24, 2008 18:02:28 GMT
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Hello all. I'm getting fed up of stocking my car to the gills with wheels and tyres for the many track / drift days I do, esp as even though I rachet strap the things in, I am concerned by the safety aspect! So I am thinking about a trailer, but being a natural born traveller I'm pretty sure I could construct something suitable from various parts, or just an old scrap car. (Have a welder, also have enough projects already but hey!) Thing is, Ive seen a few of these.... but I don't understand the law.... when you build one, does it need to be inspected? Or can any old nutter tack something together with wheels and attach it to the back of their car? Ive seen some really REALLY ropey ones round here. Heres some random images..... heh thought this was a bike with a wierd trailer..... but its actually just a wierd trike! Google-fu = FAIL.
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Oct 24, 2008 18:07:08 GMT
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Trailers under a certain weight don't have an MOT so aslong they are roadworthy and comply with legislation I don't think theres a problem.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Oct 24, 2008 18:12:23 GMT
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I didn't think any trailers had to have MOTs!
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1997 TVR Chimaera 2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Oct 24, 2008 18:14:55 GMT
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I drive a articulated lorry and the trailers I use have to have an MOT. Were talking quite a bit more weight than half a maestro van but theres definately a line regarding weight between needing an MOT and not needing one!
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,740
Club RR Member Number: 83
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DIY trailer..... and the law?Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Oct 24, 2008 18:16:00 GMT
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Trailers under a certain weight don't have an MOT so aslong they are roadworthy and comply with legislation I don't think theres a problem. Is that just basic stuff like lights and numberplates and stuff? Cheers for the help!
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nizzer
Part of things
Posts: 217
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Oct 24, 2008 18:31:13 GMT
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Trailers for articulated lorries do have an mot, ive just spent 2 days sorting one out for it lol
Smaller car trailers do not need a test.
as long as all the lights work correctly, you have the correct number plate fitted and the outfit looks 'right' ie, trailer looks to be the correct size for the towcar (not looking like its too big and you could be overweight) then you shouldnt see any problems from the fuzz.
be careful if you end up with a trailer that looks like you will be towing heavy weights with, even though you may not be because afaik if the trailer can carry over 750kgs then it needs to be braked, and if the trailer looks like it can carry that then plod will insist it needs brakes regardless of whatever you may say.
rule of thumb is if it looks 'right' then you should be ok.
hope this helps you in some way.
cheres, neil.
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Oct 24, 2008 20:12:07 GMT
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There is no inspection, but it needs to conform to a few rules regarding the brakes. If the gross is over 750kgs ( a transporter will be obviously), all wheels need to be braked. - there are plenty for sale with "front axle braked" but this is no good, all wheels on the ground need brakes. If you are making it up from bits of something else, the brakes need to meet certain efficiency standards. I'm not sure of the figure offhand, but the brakes need to be at least 50% efficient iirc. No drum brakes from a car will ever meet this standard, so legally you cant build up a trailer using car hubs. Thing is....this ruling was introduced relatively recently, trailers made before a certain date (I have no idea what date) don't need to meet this standard and can use car hubs no problems. What I wonder about is if pulled for a VOSA inspecton, do you have to prove the trailer was built before this date, or is it up to them to prove it is a recent build? Either way, its risky ground imo.
If you are going to build a trailer, either get proper indepension-style suspension units, or use caravan axles. The advantage is that these give you proper trailer hubs with auto-reverse brakes. If you use car hubs, you need a reversing latch to prevent the brakes pulling on every time you reverse, which is a bit of a hassle. Caravan axles are too short unless you build the deck over the top of the wheels, or have a very skinny car, but I have successfully cut caravan axle tubes in the middle and extened them with heavy tubing without problems.
There are a few other regulations about lighting requirements, positioning etc. Basically, you all rear lights, a transporter should really have front marker lights too and depending on length, maybe side marker lights too. It will need two triangular reflectors on the back too.
Keepan eye on classified ads, ebay and ask in caravan dealerships if they have scrappers they want rid of - A decent twin axle caravan with a rotten or smashed body will turn up a pair of decent axles, the complete hitch, over-run damper and handbrake assembly, brake cables, a modifiable chassis, possibly lights etc all in one. Watch the axle weights though - a smaller van may well have a max gross of only a ton or so, so the axles are only good for 500kgs each. building up a chassis and putting a car on it will take them overweight.
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Last Edit: Oct 24, 2008 20:17:34 GMT by dave21478
1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Oct 24, 2008 20:32:39 GMT
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good little axle for trailers-citroen saxo all in one with dampers and reasonable little drums, compact and mounts on just four bolts. carries the weight of a car so is good for many purposes, bit narrow though for some applications. I'm using one for a trialer and using the A-frame from an old caravan for the brakes with a lockout for reversing but you have to get out of the car and apply it. its to be a general use trailer, for fuggin' great bikes, c90's, engines, whatever I need basically. its small(ish) but if you put two harleys on it, its gonna need brakes!
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Oct 24, 2008 21:15:42 GMT
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..... carries the weight of a car so is good for many purposes.... But it doesnt, it carries less than half the weight of a car. A saxo rear axle weight is under 500kgs iirc. You could easilly add 100kgs+ making up the chassis, frame, sides etc of the trailer, so that leaves you well under 400kgs load capacity. Also, for all trailers, check the tyres load rating is high enough. Most car tyres are rated around the 500kgs per tyre mark, so a pair on a single axle will carry up to a ton. /Trailer Nazi.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Oct 24, 2008 21:43:26 GMT
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..... carries the weight of a car so is good for many purposes.... But it doesnt, it carries less than half the weight of a car. A saxo rear axle weight is under 500kgs iirc. You could easilly add 100kgs+ making up the chassis, frame, sides etc of the trailer, so that leaves you well under 400kgs load capacity. Also, for all trailers, check the tyres load rating is high enough. Most car tyres are rated around the 500kgs per tyre mark, so a pair on a single axle will carry up to a ton. /Trailer Nazi. A saxo rear been will carry say 400kgs of just car, plus 3 butch men and their luggage, say 700kgs, plus a bit again I would think. The only thing is, PSA rear beams tend to be quite soft and bouncy, not really ideal for a lot of applications.
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1997 TVR Chimaera 2009 Westfield Megabusa
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,740
Club RR Member Number: 83
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DIY trailer..... and the law?Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Oct 24, 2008 22:01:19 GMT
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heh, I think you guys may be misunderstanding the intended use..... the trailer is to carry my tyres / rims / tools for the trackday. Being towed by the track car I'm not towing a car, as for starters Id need to sit a trailer test! (passed post 98's or whatever the cut off was) So it looks like I could get away with an unbraked trailer which simplifies things a lot. As a kid I did a lot of family holidays with a late 60's caravan (Cheltenham Nyala.... rare!) and know all about reverse latches and things, if I decide to go braked. B&D.... it was working on the back of a citroen AX that gave me the idea Thanks for all the help so far! TBH having seen Indespension beams 'ride' I think Id rather have a PSA rear beam TBH! Indespension units are horrid
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Last Edit: Oct 24, 2008 22:04:38 GMT by Colonelk
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Oct 24, 2008 22:51:24 GMT
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You could lash something up pretty easily with some angle iron, some old wood, mini wheels and a couple of indespension units.
But you could probably buy something to do the job just as well without the hassle. I've got a wee 'towrite' trailer, 250kgs gross but you can wang wheels and whatnot in it no bother, tows nicely when you've got stuff in it (bounces about to sh1t unladen mind, and didn't like it when I put a quarter ton of hardcore in it), cost me £95 all in to make from a simpleton kit. Or look at the ones you get down at B&Q for a couple of hunnert... why? Because they are designed to be tipped on end for storage & movement in confined spaces, like the back of the garage.
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Oct 24, 2008 22:56:17 GMT
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Gah, picked you up wrong, I thought you were talking transporters.
If its just a box thing to carry spares, I wouldnt even consider making one unless you already have the parts to hand. All shapes and sizes go on ebay for sub £100. By the time you have sourced suspension, wheels, tyres, steel to make the chassis, flooring, sides, lights.......its just not worth it.
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1986 Panda 4x4. 1990 Metro Sport. 1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Mr S
Posted a lot
10-4 Good buddy.
Posts: 2,654
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Not much to add except this pic
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Suzuki GSXR1000 K2 BMW R1150GS BMW K1200RS Chevy K5 Blazer Chevy Suburban LT Jaguar XKR
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Gah, picked you up wrong, I thought you were talking transporters. If its just a box thing to carry spares, I wouldnt even consider making one unless you already have the parts to hand. All shapes and sizes go on ebay for sub £100. By the time you have sourced suspension, wheels, tyres, steel to make the chassis, flooring, sides, lights.......its just not worth it. have to agree with Dave here, it´s not worth it unless you want a matching trackcar trailer...
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,740
Club RR Member Number: 83
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DIY trailer..... and the law?Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Oct 25, 2008 11:39:45 GMT
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heh, I think dave picked me up wrong again. I need to carry wheels and tyres. Like a good 12 at least. Plus lots of bits. Most of the cheapie trailers Ive seen are tiny tiny! and the bigger s/h ones Ive seen appear to be mainly made from wood and hope. Add that to the fact I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on a senator shell for free (see, Oldbus was reading my mind a little! I could have a matching trailer ) and most of the metal work / wheels / etc are free. Just need an A-frame and tow hitch then, and a plug for the lights. Hmmm. Anyways, the main questions been answered, the big IF I build one, I don't need to have it inspected or plated or anything. Cheers guys! Also, missed a shot of a retro + trailer combo...... an old old old landrover pickup on the M40 the other day loaded to the hilt with BIG logs, towing a trailer that looked like the back of a landrover pickup (including matching mud tyres!) also loaded to the hilt with wood. Got to have been overloaded though I'm sure!
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Oct 25, 2008 11:54:59 GMT
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Like this? Sankey trailer as used by military, does look a bit like the back of a LR IIRC they have a non-standard hitching method though... fine with a LR, rubbish with standard 50mm hitches
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purplevanman
Posted a lot
Way too orangey for crows
Posts: 3,829
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Oct 25, 2008 12:16:00 GMT
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sankeys are hopeless on cars as they are so high, al your load will tip out the front lol, hitch can be changed easy. I picked up a small rubbish 4 wheel trailer from a scrappy for 20 quid, all the parts to build a decent jobbie in one hit ;D matching trailers do look good just watch your weight
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Oct 25, 2008 14:53:42 GMT
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A FIAT Panda axle's a good choice. Simple leaf-sprung beam.
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1953 Minor (Long term project) PT Cruiser
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