Buying a (possibly homemade) trailer?

[Can'tWeld]

Hi,

I got my B+E earlier this year to tow my race car. I am looking at buying a trailer that's super cheap (needs a bit of work doing) but doesn't have any identifying marks and honestly looks homemade.

Is this a bad idea? Would I need to do anything regarding getting it plated etc? Or can I just hook it up and tow it, obviously with a numberplate and electrics? I know you're not allowed to construct your own trailers anymore but this is nearly 20 years old so presumably the rules were different then - is it retrospective?

Cheers.

 

[gt6s]

If it is 20 years old you are okay it does not need plated. What about braking requirements ? Are brakes fitted / okay ?
Laurence

 

[Can'tWeld]

Brakes are fitted and work. It needs a bit of welding on the bed and has no lights at the moment (easily sorted).

 

[gt6s]

Go for it then, even old DIY made transporters are not cheap to buy. Building one from scratch really expensive too. Then you have the new regs to meet and get it tested.

Laurence

 

[HughF]

Figure out the mam of the trailer based on your tyre loading, buy trailer plate off eBay, stamp plate, fit plate...


Job done

 

[Can'tWeld]

Cheers guys. Gonna have a look at it tonight, might have just bought my first trailer, exciting This is a big deal for me as I've been looking for one for ages that's within my (very tight) budget.

 

[winchman]

Figure out the mam of the trailer based on your tyre loading, buy trailer plate off eBay, stamp plate, fit plate...


Job done

Very good point, I re bodied a trailer, so I could use the chassis plate after a conversation with the Bods who deal with this was it VOSA or DVLA I forget, they told me even if you have an old trailer buy a plate and stamp it with the details. Get the vendor to give a receipt with when he bought / made it just incase you need it for future.

 

[ibrooks]

We bought a trailer in the 80's (Grandad, Dad and both Uncles chipped in as we all used it). It was a flatbed and we immediately fitted a metal cupboard that was being thrown out to it to make a box (doors removed, laid on it's back and the bottom cut off and turned into a tailgate). It came cheep because it had a dodgy sized hitch for a smaller ball than standard so the hitch was changed too.

Fast forward 10 years it was the first thing I ever towed when I passed my test (no additional stuff needed in those days).

Another 10 years and I threw the metal cupboard away as it had rusted through in various places and I built a wooden body for it.

Another 10 years and the "chassis" was so rusty that I had to get a bit extreme and make a new one.

It's had bearings and tyres over the years but a couple of years ago we needed to replace the wheels but couldn't get them any more with the right PCD and hole size (some odd US combination of M12 studs at 4x4" from memory). Turned out to be cheaper to get new stub axles with hubs to fit more conventionally available trailer wheels. It was easier to fit them to a new piece of box section rather than the original axle.

So what's left of the original trailer......... the leaf springs.

But I was there when it was bought in the mid 80's.

 

[moose]

Just make sure your tow car is suitably plated for towing

 

[JohnRUFC]

We bought a trailer in the 80's (Grandad, Dad and both Uncles chipped in as we all used it). It was a flatbed and we immediately fitted a metal cupboard that was being thrown out to it to make a box (doors removed, laid on it's back and the bottom cut off and turned into a tailgate). It came cheep because it had a dodgy sized hitch for a smaller ball than standard so the hitch was changed too.

Fast forward 10 years it was the first thing I ever towed when I passed my test (no additional stuff needed in those days).

Another 10 years and I threw the metal cupboard away as it had rusted through in various places and I built a wooden body for it.

Another 10 years and the "chassis" was so rusty that I had to get a bit extreme and make a new one.

It's had bearings and tyres over the years but a couple of years ago we needed to replace the wheels but couldn't get them any more with the right PCD and hole size (some odd US combination of M12 studs at 4x4" from memory). Turned out to be cheaper to get new stub axles with hubs to fit more conventionally available trailer wheels. It was easier to fit them to a new piece of box section rather than the original axle.

So what's left of the original trailer......... the leaf springs.

But I was there when it was bought in the mid 80's.

Sounds like Triggers broom.

 

[Stingray]

We bought a trailer in the 80's (Grandad, Dad and both Uncles chipped in as we all used it). It was a flatbed and we immediately fitted a metal cupboard that was being thrown out to it to make a box (doors removed, laid on it's back and the bottom cut off and turned into a tailgate). It came cheep because it had a dodgy sized hitch for a smaller ball than standard so the hitch was changed too.

Fast forward 10 years it was the first thing I ever towed when I passed my test (no additional stuff needed in those days).

Another 10 years and I threw the metal cupboard away as it had rusted through in various places and I built a wooden body for it.

Another 10 years and the "chassis" was so rusty that I had to get a bit extreme and make a new one.

It's had bearings and tyres over the years but a couple of years ago we needed to replace the wheels but couldn't get them any more with the right PCD and hole size (some odd US combination of M12 studs at 4x4" from memory). Turned out to be cheaper to get new stub axles with hubs to fit more conventionally available trailer wheels. It was easier to fit them to a new piece of box section rather than the original axle.

So what's left of the original trailer......... the leaf springs.

But I was there when it was bought in the mid 80's.

Bit like triggers broom, 18 new heads and 14 new handles...

 

[armalites]

You do need to go into it with eyes open. I been down the old trailer route and I'll not do it again. I can fully understand the apeal of a cheap trailer but in the long run I'm convinced you are better to buy a branded trailer that's all up together. Once you have to put a set of tyres and sort the brakes or some bearing the costs start to mount and there is no guarantee you'll get the bits. If you are towing a car you want something that tows nice or it becomes very tiring to drive. Brian James transporter can often be bought for sensible money and if you ever want rid it will sell immediately probably for what you paid.

 

[Can'tWeld]

Bought the trailer, I'm quite happy with it, it's very small but quite ruggedly built. I think its original application was for moving Minis around as it's just the right size.

Unfortunately my Ray Charles of a neighbor decided to cut the corner and drove over it the other night. I've spent the weekend cutting out the (now bent) rear bar where the loading ramps hook over and replacing it. Couldn't make it up

 

[Shedendman]

Insurance,make sure your fully covered

 

[Can'tWeld]

It's only covered 3rd party on my van policy, but yes, really should look into that for when I've got my car on it. Couldn't be bothered dealing with all that on this occasion anyway, she's paid for the material to fix it. Rest of it is still straight so it should be all sorted soon once I've finished off the ramps I'm making for it.

 

[chris pruteanu]

I went years ago on the same route, bought a handmade trailer just because it was cheap, i found it unsuitsble and sold it yo get a brand new ifor williams which i had for 10years till it got nicked.
I then bought another used ifor williams ct136HD and had to replace all bearings hubs and hand brake cables. They cost me a few quid but the trailer tows nice and brakes in a straight line- no snaking whatsoever. As advised above, buy decent used plated trailer, use it for a few years then sell for very little loss due to depreciation!

 

[Stueeee]

It's only covered 3rd party on my van policy, but yes, really should look into that for when I've got my car on it.

If you buy "non track" race car insurance it will cover the trailer, your tools and the car for fire theft etc. all the time you're not actually on track. I had this insurance when I was running my car in a championship series, wasn't expensive for the peace of mind when staying in a B & B somewhere with just a tarp over the car outside.

BTW, my car trailer was home made -it took me two very long days to build- the suspension is 2 Escort Mk 3 van rear axles bought for £50 each from a local breaker. I redrilled the escort hubs to take 10" mini wheels. The hitch came from a scrap caravan. IMO, it should be fairly obvious if a home made trailer is any good or not -birdsh*t welding, scrubbed tyres etc. would tell me to go elsewhere if I was looking to buy one.

 

[rtbcomp]

Some insurance companies won't let you tow a non-branded trailer.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Unfortunately my Ray Charles of a neighbor decided to cut the corner and drove over it the other night.

I hope it wasn't parked on the road with no lights, might cause liability issues - but it looks like she has accepted full responsibility [which is good ] ?

 

[bourbon]

Paint it with any left over paint you have lying in the garage. Make it stand out. Less attractive to thieves then