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Coming along nicely. I thought the last pic was SWMBO's idea "you spend that much time out there you might as well sleep on it" 
- Thread starter mich
- Start date
thanks for the positive feedback guys. 
I'm glad I got the wooden sidewalls all done today cause that was really holding me back. The rest of it should be relatively easy now. And yes. I spent sooooo much time on that fekin thing I might as well sleep on it. And that I will do! When I go bike racing. I'll fit a streamlined aluminium roof eventually, from the alu skin of the caravan. So in a way its kind of going full circle, but much stronger and fully refurbished.
Now. Does anyone know whether my Gross Weight plate is enough to comply with the law? Do I need anything else? But tricky really, as this thing is home-build...
Cheers Guys!
Mich
I'm glad I got the wooden sidewalls all done today cause that was really holding me back. The rest of it should be relatively easy now. And yes. I spent sooooo much time on that fekin thing I might as well sleep on it. And that I will do! When I go bike racing. I'll fit a streamlined aluminium roof eventually, from the alu skin of the caravan. So in a way its kind of going full circle, but much stronger and fully refurbished.Now. Does anyone know whether my Gross Weight plate is enough to comply with the law? Do I need anything else? But tricky really, as this thing is home-build...
Cheers Guys!
Mich
Hi Chaps,
another day another dollar. Did another couple of hours yesterday evening and started mounting the wooden side walls. Spend about 2 hour drilling the holes into the steel. I think it ended up being over 200 of the feking things!
Then started mounting the wood but ran out of screws half way through the process. 
Gonna have to procure some new ones today from screwfix. On a positive note, tonight should see this stuff completed and I can wire in all the marker lights and the 3rd brake light 
Then all thats left to do is to fabricate a strap for the brake rod, do the floor, build a ramp. Bingo!
Mich
another day another dollar. Did another couple of hours yesterday evening and started mounting the wooden side walls. Spend about 2 hour drilling the holes into the steel. I think it ended up being over 200 of the feking things!
Then started mounting the wood but ran out of screws half way through the process. Gonna have to procure some new ones today from screwfix. On a positive note, tonight should see this stuff completed and I can wire in all the marker lights and the 3rd brake light Then all thats left to do is to fabricate a strap for the brake rod, do the floor, build a ramp. Bingo!
Mich
white van man 2
The 'Rocco Horror Show
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i had wondered why you left the drop down feet thingies on there, as presumably they're not needed now it isn't a caravan. but i'm loving the "self jacking"
Good for loading & unloading when its not hitched up.
Some fit rear steadies to trailers for the same reason.
Looks good, but seems to be an awful lot of screws for the timber?!
I used about 30-40 "roof" bolts to hold all the sides on my trailer, and they haven't gone anywhere
Better be on the safe side
I counted around 280 screws in the end. Hell of a lot. But if you look at it each timber baton only has 2 screws on each side, so its not actually that much.I love the "self-jacking" ability of that trailer btw. if I ever get a flat tire I don't need to get a jack out. And when the trailer is parked at home I'll just take the wheels off and jack it up so the pikeys can't nick it! Good luck trying to find wheel nuts for those studs. They're not metric.
Anyways. Tonight's been another long one, but I'm really steaming along now. Mounted all the wooden side panels, mounted front marker lights, all reflectors and finished the wiring for everything. Number plate is on, and the strap to hold up the brake rod.
Things left to do now are the floor, mount mudguards and build a ramp. Tomorrow evening I'll pop down to Wickes to get the OSB for the floor.
Good luck trying to find wheel nuts for those studs. They're not metric.Anyways. Tonight's been another long one, but I'm really steaming along now. Mounted all the wooden side panels, mounted front marker lights, all reflectors and finished the wiring for everything. Number plate is on, and the strap to hold up the brake rod.
Things left to do now are the floor, mount mudguards and build a ramp. Tomorrow evening I'll pop down to Wickes to get the OSB for the floor.
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it'll be the first outing of the trailer. 
shenion
Tool Pack Rat
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- Stone Mountain, GA USA
Very nice job
I like all the lights and reflectors. Not because of the bling value but one of my pet peeves is someone cutting across my path at night to only at the last second notice they are pulling a trailer. Same for someone turning behind you.
I would dump the OSB and use pressure treated 5/4 planks (used on decks.) I used those on my 5x10 trailer and were real durable.
I like all the lights and reflectors. Not because of the bling value but one of my pet peeves is someone cutting across my path at night to only at the last second notice they are pulling a trailer. Same for someone turning behind you.
I would dump the OSB and use pressure treated 5/4 planks (used on decks.) I used those on my 5x10 trailer and were real durable.
michael1703
Member
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- 383
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- Suffolk
i raced ss600 from 99-04 then superstock from 05-07, sort of retired now, ive still got the bike but cant justify spending £600-£800 per weekend doing it
in 2005 my friend wanted to race but didnt know wether to get a van to tow a caravan, or a van and sleep next to the bike or what
so... my idea was to make the caravan a bike trailer too
in 2005 my friend wanted to race but didnt know wether to get a van to tow a caravan, or a van and sleep next to the bike or what
so... my idea was to make the caravan a bike trailer too
Very nice job
I like all the lights and reflectors. Not because of the bling value but one of my pet peeves is someone cutting across my path at night to only at the last second notice they are pulling a trailer. Same for someone turning behind you.
I would dump the OSB and use pressure treated 5/4 planks (used on decks.) I used those on my 5x10 trailer and were real durable.
Yeah, I totally agree with that. I fitted all the lights because I want the thing to be visible. Thats why I also fitted the 3rd brake light, cause trailer brake lights are difficult to see at the best of times.
And the OSB, I'll just paint both sides and any surfaces exposed trough cutting, so I should have no issues with humidity. OSB is still the cheapest option and I have to watch my budget a bit. I've already spent MORE than enough...
Good idea that. I actually had the same idea. I chose to go for the trailer conversion in the end because I needed to carry 2 bikes, which would have overloaded the caravan chassis, the caravan was a bit past its sell-by date and I also really wanted a trailer so that I could carry bulkier bits and bops.
I also have that same requirement that I might need to stay at the track overnight, so I might fit that aluminium streamlined roof to the trailer, just so that I have a roof over my head. Not sure yet how I'll approach that. That's for another day.
I never put anything in the thread, but I made a useful wee mod for the rear lights on my trailer which are mounted in the same place as yours.
I got the local sheet metal place to bend up some 2mm plate to form a C section just bigger than the lights, then I fitted some thread rod bars to the front (so you can access the lights to change bulbs).
It protects the lenses which can very easily get smashed!
I once had someone drive (well, nudge) into the back of the trailer when stopped in traffic, fortunatly this was after fitting the guards.
I got the local sheet metal place to bend up some 2mm plate to form a C section just bigger than the lights, then I fitted some thread rod bars to the front (so you can access the lights to change bulbs).
It protects the lenses which can very easily get smashed!
I once had someone drive (well, nudge) into the back of the trailer when stopped in traffic, fortunatly this was after fitting the guards.
Almost forgot! Went down to Wickes today in Basingstoke to get the 18mm OSB but they didn't have any. What a bummer! Bought 18mm Structural Plywood instead. It should be structurally stronger than OSB, but that's just my assumption... 
any ideas?
In terms of waterproofing it, I will cut everything to size first and once that is done I'll paint it on the underside, and on the top-side I'll apply a layer of anti-slip paint. That should keep the water off it for a few years. I hope......
Bought 18mm Structural Plywood instead. It should be structurally stronger than OSB, but that's just my assumption... any ideas?In terms of waterproofing it, I will cut everything to size first and once that is done I'll paint it on the underside, and on the top-side I'll apply a layer of anti-slip paint. That should keep the water off it for a few years. I hope......
brightspark
Member
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paint the whole woodwork with cuprinol clear wood preserver or simlar . it penetrates deep into the wood. then seal round the joints with silicone sealant. if the floor is going to get rough treatment buy some thin sheets of exterior ply and lay down on base . then when they get hacked up just throw them away leaving the trailer in mint condition
