Building a car trailer help

[Mick.]

I've just finished making plans for a car trailer to tow a patrol to comps but I would like to get some verification that I'm on the right track and haven't missed anything.

I've tracked down the running gear,tow hitches, electric brakes, brake away brakes etc to rate the trailer at 4.5tonne GVM and I hope to keep the trailer at about 1 tonne.

The front of the trailer will have some basic spares, set up to cook and sleep in and there will be a tool box or 2 either side of the axles for the basic tools etc. The whole trailer will be fully enclosed with canvas or something else very light. We are still looking at options here.

The wiring is all covered and the tow vehicle is sorted. This should give you a bit of an idea on what I'm planing.

Now my design plans are this.

It will be a drive over wheel arch design.

The total length of the trailer including draw bar will be 10.4 metres. (max allowed 12.5 metres)

The total width will be 2.4 metres. (max width allowed 2.5 metres)

The total length of the trailer without draw bar will be 8.4 metres.

The total length of the draw bar will be 6.4 metres from centre of axle assembly to the tow hitch. (max allowed 8.5 metres for a pig trailer which I'm assuming this is)

The total over hand will be 3 to 3.1 metres max (3.7 metres max allowed)

The axles will be put from the centre of spring hangers 4 metres from rear.

I think I've just about covered everything. The main thing that has me confused is your not allowed to weld your safety chains on once your over the 3.5 tonne GVM. It's says in the ADRs that you must attach the chains using a suitable pin lock coupling. What the hell are these???

If anyone has any useful advice or thinks I've missed something could you please let me know?

Cheers Mick.

[Eddy]

whew! sounds all ok. gunna be real close to that tonne! & probably on the other side.
Unfortunately the canvas cover thingy will be an open invitation for those of us who choose to shop on the maximum discount system. You may be better off with ally cladding, caravan style.


I know I got one of those couplings in the shed somewhere. If I can find it I'll get ya a piccy.

[80lsy gq]

thats about the same size as the one i built that we tow two buggies with..what exactly are you gunna be towing it with??

the one i built was an open trailer using 60mm Dexter axles with 12" electric brakes..we rated it at 4490kg...trailer weighed 1240kg..i think if you build it properly you will be well over the 1000kg mark..

the trailer below weighed 1020kg from memory..and it is only a standard style car trailer with enclosed floor



i am sure i welded the safety chains on the big trailer but maybe i didnt..it was over a year ago

dave

[Mick.]

whew! sounds all ok. gunna be real close to that tonne! & probably on the other side.
Unfortunately the canvas cover thingy will be an open invitation for those of us who choose to shop on the maximum discount system. You may be better off with ally cladding, caravan style.


I know I got one of those couplings in the shed somewhere. If I can find it I'll get ya a piccy.

Thanks mate.

I was aiming at a tonne but i'm not to fussed if it goes to 1200 kg. Everything thats going to be inside will actually be locked, the canvas is more so to keep everything dry.

Cheers Mick.

[Mick.]

thats about the same size as the one i built that we tow two buggies with..what exactly are you gunna be towing it with??

the one i built was an open trailer using 60mm Dexter axles with 12" electric brakes..we rated it at 4490kg...trailer weighed 1240kg..i think if you build it properly you will be well over the 1000kg mark..

the trailer below weighed 1020kg from memory..and it is only a standard style car trailer with enclosed floor



i am sure i welded the safety chains on the big trailer but maybe i didnt..it was over a year ago

dave

A GQ Patrol Duel cab (about to be ute) plus parts and tools.

The axles are 63mm from Marshel Engineering with the 12 inch brakes and my design is very simillar to yours.

We don't plan on filling the whole floor with steel cheka plate though. The only area being filled will be where the 4wd is driven. The rest will be a alliminum mesh to help keep weight down.

Thanks again

Cheers Mick.

[mkpatrol]

Have you got VSB1? It will tell you what you need to know. Pay particular attention to the dimiensions section and the length of drawbar and sise of the box in front of the axles vs the rear.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... index.aspx

Picture of a safety chain setup here:

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resourc ... eb2004.pdf

Save yourself a lot of hassle if it was under 3.5 tonnes though.

[Mick.]

Have you got VSB1? It will tell you what you need to know. Pay particular attention to the dimiensions section and the length of drawbar and sise of the box in front of the axles vs the rear.

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/ ... index.aspx

Picture of a safety chain setup here:

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resourc ... eb2004.pdf

Save yourself a lot of hassle if it was under 3.5 tonnes though.

Thanks mate.

Yes i'm going off the Gov vehicle standards Bulletin. Unfortunatly 3.5 tonne wont handle the weight that I plan on putting on this trailer.

Cheers Mick.

[tweak'e]

whats your tow vechile ?

[taziiy]

60 series

[CWBYUP]

What are you going to tow this with ?

Also what do you plan on using as a hitch set up ? 70mm ball or pintle hook ?

Nick

[Mick.]

What are you going to tow this with ?

Also what do you plan on using as a hitch set up ? 70mm ball or pintle hook ?

Nick

Pintle hook rated at 6 tonne from memory.

Cheers Mick.

[GUGQ]

Hi Mick,
When I built my car trailer I reiforced the end of the draw bar with some plate, drilled holes through that and used chain joiners to attach the safety chain. Hope this helps.

[tweak'e]

60 series

i assume landcruiser ?
i thought the max towing capacity was a whole lot less than 4.5ton ??

min you you guys have totally different rules.

[sierrajim]

I think you need

[Mick.]

Hi Mick,
When I built my car trailer I reiforced the end of the draw bar with some plate, drilled holes through that and used chain joiners to attach the safety chain. Hope this helps.

Thanks mate.

Every little bit helps.

Cheers Mick.

[Mick.]

60 series

i assume landcruiser ?
i thought the max towing capacity was a whole lot less than 4.5ton ??

min you you guys have totally different rules.

It is but upgrading towing capacities isn't that hard to do.

I'm only asking questions about the trailer. The towing vehicle is not an issue.

Cheers Mick.

[tobie]

couple of ????

when your building a trailer who rates the trailer??? do you have to get it engineered or just build it to the specs on the gov site??

where do you find the info for how to build to a certain gvm rating

what formula do you use for the lenght draw bar, where the axel centre goes ect

anybody got any good plans for a trailer they may whish to sell

any help much appreciated

[pongo]

says that with a break away system fitting of chains is optional. and would have to be safer for you not to have them fitted


please elaborate on increasing towing GVM of a viechle. worth doing IMHO just to meet legals when towing heavy loads

[Mick.]

couple of ????

when your building a trailer who rates the trailer??? do you have to get it engineered or just build it to the specs on the gov site??

where do you find the info for how to build to a certain gvm rating

what formula do you use for the lenght draw bar, where the axel centre goes ect

anybody got any good plans for a trailer they may whish to sell

any help much appreciated

Have a look at the link MKpatrol posted up for the rules and regulations. You can buy plans on Ebay but I chose to make my own which has changed a touch since we relised where it's going to be kept it had to be made 2 metres shorter.


I also got a bit of advise from www.marshall-eng.com.au They also sell everything you need in a kit to suit what ever GVM trailer you deside to build.

Cheers Mick.

[Mick.]

says that with a break away system fitting of chains is optional. and would have to be safer for you not to have them fitted


please elaborate on increasing towing GVM of a viechle. worth doing IMHO just to meet legals when towing heavy loads

Where my mate works they upgrade the GVMs on Mine and Energy Australia 4wds on a daily basis which is done by changing the suspension and in some cases the towing set up making everything beefier, then they have an engineer come around and engineer it.

If you have a look at VSB 1, Rev 4 section 12.3 & 12.4 it explains that all trailers must have safety chains fitted. The only differences is the rating of the chains and the way the chains have to be fitted but they do have to be there.

Cheers Mick.

[Gutless]

I reckon 1200+kg for this beast!

[tobie]

i have a pantec trailer which i have removed the body
i am going to build a car trailer, do i just build it and then get an engineer to rate this trailer??? or should i consult a engineer first

had no luck finding the info i need from the other links about ratings ect

[zagan]

i have a pantec trailer which i have removed the body
i am going to build a car trailer, do i just build it and then get an engineer to rate this trailer??? or should i consult a engineer first

had no luck finding the info i need from the other links about ratings ect

I would think of going to an engineer first to get a rough idea of what you'll need to have first then work towards that then get an engineer in to rate the trailer.

That way you won't be making a trailer that's designed wrong/can't be engineered or rated properly then end up having to scrap it.

[DIRTY ROCK STAR]

I hope this 60 series has had an engine swap mick.
otherwise it could be a slow tow.

trailer sounds like a weapon. nice and wide too good work.

[Mick.]

I hope this 60 series has had an engine swap mick.
otherwise it could be a slow tow.

trailer sounds like a weapon. nice and wide too good work.

It sat on a 90km/h to Tuff Truck this year without any dramas on gas.

I only need to tow it about 4 times a year and i'm never in a great hurry.

Cheers Mick.

[troy gill]

i dont remeber no 90kl hr to tuff truck that is what i was doing maybe down a Big hill with a run up on a hill before that one

we left cessnock together and i was set up before he got there but mick you did get there in the end but saying that you did leave redhead at 4.30am on thursday morning and arrived at tuff truck at 8.30am taking 4 hours to do 120klms

anyway ill be back in newy on the 14th of december and we will build it on sat 20th 21st if that suits you should only take two days to tack it all up

cheers Troy

also im not going to enter tuff truck this year as they getting to rich for a week end comp for me pm me your number as my sim card is dead

[bogged]

I think you need

I could certainly do with a hummer..

[Mick.]

i dont remeber no 90kl hr to tuff truck that is what i was doing maybe down a Big hill with a run up on a hill before that one

we left cessnock together and i was set up before he got there but mick you did get there in the end but saying that you did leave redhead at 4.30am on thursday morning and arrived at tuff truck at 8.30am taking 4 hours to do 120klms

anyway ill be back in newy on the 14th of december and we will build it on sat 20th 21st if that suits you should only take two days to tack it all up

cheers Troy

also im not going to enter tuff truck this year as they getting to rich for a week end comp for me pm me your number as my sim card is dead

From memory I sat at maccas for 2 hours waiting for you.

That weekend suits me fine.

Cheers Mick.