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Thinking of making a trailer out of the mazda bongo van i have just brought.I am not sure if i should use the back bit or the front end.Or even use front and back end just cut the middle out.I was going to fit all the cooking stuff in it.Sink.cooker. so i have more room in my Ford spectron van.Now do i make a chassis and fix it to that.If so does it need brakes.Will my van pull it or will i be over loaded..If i use the front end bit, can i use the head lamps as rear lights by putting red bulbs in them.Anyone got any photos of half cut vans as trailers,I know there was a thread on here with a vw camper one but i cannot find it.
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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IDY
Part of things
Posts: 893
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Oldbus's build thread about his Taunus Transit trailer is worth a look - here |
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I will get round to finishing it at some point
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If the trailers gross weight will be over 750kgs, it will need brakes. You cant legally use the vans original brakes, they have to meet trailer efficiency tests and have an auto-reverse feature, which just isnt feasabe with car brakes.
Best bet is to keep it under 750kgs and avoid all that.
As to whether your van will pull it, you need to look at your vans ratings, usually on the VIN plate - it will have a gross train weight, which minus the vans gross weight will give your tow capacity.
Using the back end as the back of the trailer is easiest for the tail lights - they are fine as they are and just require 2 triangular reflectors.
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1986 Panda 4x4.
1990 Metro Sport.
1999 Ford Escort estate.
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Sept 6, 2009 10:01:00 GMT
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I dunno how your supposed to keep the gross weight down below 750kgs, don't forget thats the maximum permisable loaded weight, if your building it out of a van i would expect VOSA (should they show an interest) to go by the vans max rear axle loading and thats way over 750kgs on most vans even without the weight of the trailer. I haven't been able to find out if the law specifies exactly how the auto reverse feature works but i suspect it would need to be type approved anyway, i gave up and am modifying an old trailer (its a large repair, replacing most of it from the hitch backwards  ) But i am working on connecting a soloniod to the reversing lights that will disable the overun brakes so i can reverse the thing without having to get out and lock it off manually, of course that means it will only work with a vehicle with a feed to the socket from the reverse lights, but mines being built to match the tow vehicle so it wont be towed by anything else. Older trailers that already exist are exempt from the auto reverse requirement, so were you to modify an already built trailer rather than bulding a new one you should be fine. |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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93fxdl
Posted a lot
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Posts: 2,000
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Sept 6, 2009 11:52:48 GMT
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another problem with using a half van as a trailer is the axle is too far back meaning the nose weight is high, quite a few years ago there was a type 2 vw in vw motoring which had been trailerised but it had an extra axle fitted in front of the original to offset the nose weight
the reversing brake issue is a bit grey as trailers built after a certain date are not allowed to use car brakes (something to do with efficiency i seem to remember) and brakes have to be auto reverse but you are allowed to refurbish/repair a trailer built before this date but what is the difference between a major refurb (axles/chassis/hitch) and a new build (axles/chassis/hitch)
i have an old indespension book here somewhere and will try and find it and add some more info and some chassis plans if you want
ttfn glenn
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Sept 6, 2009 12:14:07 GMT
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How about if i fit it to a small caravan chassis that has brakes.Then i don't have to use the van axle.
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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Sept 6, 2009 13:11:36 GMT
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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Sept 6, 2009 13:14:26 GMT
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I wanted to cut the backend off just past the roof spoiler and weld to the front bit were the back of the door pillar is.Then sit it on a trailer chassis that has brakes.? Its not this van but one the same.
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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Sept 6, 2009 21:24:00 GMT
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Should be fine on an existing trailer chassis, nose weight is only an issue if your towing vehicle has a low limit, most off road trailers are specifically designed to be pretty nose heavy as it keeps them stable and big 4x4's can cope with the loading,   your towing it with a truck, i would expect it to be ok with the whole trailer on the back of it!  Cant use car brakes on a trailer as the autoreverse part is built into the hubs of trailer brakes, i'm pretty sure if you really wanted to use a car axle and could be bothered to convert them to work with a cable they'd be fine, most people use the handbrake which isnt usually very good. I'm chopping the front of a Range Rover at the front bulkhead to make a sort of mini caravan so most of the weight is gonna be on the back of the vehicle but should still be within its limit, i'm taking all the glass out and all the door internals etc etc but it will still be a hefty bit of kit so i'm gonna stick with hydraulic brakes. I have sold the engine and box and as soon as the guy come round and removes them i'll be getting started on it, heres an artists impression.  |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Sept 7, 2009 10:10:49 GMT
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How about if I fit it to a small caravan chassis that has brakes.Then I don't have to use the van axle. Sounds like the best way forward and will save you a lot of hassle in the long run. Make sure when you´re chopping up the bodywork that you get the overall weight forward of the axle...i.e don´t balance it out as you´ll need some weight on the towhook. |
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Sept 8, 2009 13:59:47 GMT
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I have now found the curb weight of my Ford spectron van which is 1280 kg so will that be ok for towing half a van.I cannot find the gross weight anywere.Thanks
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Peace,Max signature height = 80px
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) But i am working on connecting a soloniod to the reversing lights that will disable the overun brakes so i can reverse the thing without having to get out and lock it off manually, of course that means it will only work with a vehicle with a feed to the socket from the reverse lights, but mines being built to match the tow vehicle so it wont be towed by anything else.
