57 replies to this topic

[dattoman]

Unbraked can't exceed 999kg fully loaded inc trailer
SO thats out unless your carrying a very light car

So it must be braked

[dattoman]

If they don't have brakes... and your towing overweight... you are doing it illegally... yes

[mitchg]

How much is your torana worth to you? Iv heard so many horror stories about trailers failing that I personally wouldnt build my own car trailer, just because I am afraid of something going wrong and would feel more comfortable spending a bit of money buying one off a reputable company.

When I researched building the torailer, I came across heaps of plans for building trailers and it came with lists of everything needed to pass a roadworthy all from a google search.
Unfortunately none of this info is on this computer, but from the top of my head:
- Full brake, reverse and indicators
- Reflectors on the front and rear of the trailer
- Braking systems required if full load weight exceeds 700kg on single axle, 2 axles if full weight exceeds 1250kg.
- Arches covering wheels/tyres
- Weight ratio of 70/30 towards front of trailer.

As I said these are off the top of my head so may not be 100% and they are for NSW rules and regulations. May be different in WA.

Ill try and find some info, but i think that computer went bang

[mr5000]

if ay gonna build your own dont go cheap on the materials i hear every one says lighter is better i dont trust the lighter ones coz a few ive borrowed and hired have been half rooted cos the steel is to light weight any one who has seen my trailer knows its pretty heavy duty it is heavier than most and car sits higher but because the wheels sit directly over the trailers wheeels it tows very well and makes it easy to see whose behind you ect also if you have the choice go electric brakes coming back from this years drag day down the slide i would have been stuffed it i had hydraulic or cable brakes road was very greasy had to cut a couple of corners but im certain if i couldnt manually apply trailer brakes to slow me dow it woulda pushed me over the edge

[Statler]

You're gunna build what this time???..... a trailer??......hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[Neils LX]

Hi

Id just buy a trailer, if something falls apart off your trailer and kills or hurts someone you could be sued for millions.

[Heath]

Heaps of people have built trailers. If you plan everything in accordance to the regulations and get it legitimately registered, I don't see the problem. Making your own seems like a pretty good way to go to me

To avoid making something that comes together and ends up being shithouse to tow, try and get some nice magic number dimensions off other people who have built them before. Or you can pretty much do a replica of someone else's

But you seriously need to sort out your projects. Reach a milestone before you start thinking of building other things that you want. You say you work all the time, so you must have a bit of money for hiring trailers on the odd occasion that you need to do so. Pay off your stupid loan, put a grand aside for building a trailer later on, get one of your cars sorted. That's my opinion

[Heath]

Here is my car on mr5000's trailer

[76lxhatch]

if ay gonna build your own dont go cheap on the materials i hear every one says lighter is better i dont trust the lighter ones coz a few ive borrowed and hired have been half rooted cos the steel is to light weight

You do have to look after the lighter trailers and not overload them which is why the hire places build Sherman tanks, but I'd still say that lighter is better. Last hire trailer I used must have literally weighed the best part of a tonne by itself - there was little difference in feel with a car on it, it was ridiculous! There's no way i would even consider towing that kind of behemoth with the likes of a Commodore or Falcon, it would be downright dangerous, whereas something suitably smaller and lighter could well be safe to.

[dattoman]

Thats gotta punch a huge hole in the air

Can't say I'm a fan

[Heath]

Ryan's style of trailer has some advantages (like a lot of space to store shit - a full set of wheels will easily fit under the car - also very good for ground clearance i.e. lowered cars don't have to drive over as much of a peak, and there are other designs that don't have that peak at all! Very easy to load etc) but it definitely has disadvantages too. In my opinion it isn't ideal because the C.O.G. is high, frontal area is huge, extra material means extra weight and more rolling resistance, but if it was behind some kind of enclosed truck where the extra drag wasn't a big deal, it would be a pretty nice setup.

[Ice]

You will need 3k just in materials dont kid your self leave it to the pros after all you could kill someone if not built right.
And you say your mate builds patios god help us all.

[Heath]

Did you word that that negatively because it's Josh?
Or because he's young?
Or just because that is what you genuinely believe? And you would recommend that to anyone?

If I asked the same question as Josh asked in this thread, and you gave me that response. I would be very unhappy.

Edited by Heath, 02 July 2010 - 12:06 PM.

[TerrA LX]

Can't really see a trailer needing engineers, A; it is not driven, it is towed and B; it has no passengers, so long as the ADR's are met for rego, the onus is on you to have it fit for use.

[mitchg]

Wont need engineers, will need blue slip.

Edited by mitchg, 02 July 2010 - 05:01 PM.