dog trailer

[brooker2008uk]

I am looking to build a dog trailer rouglly 4 x 4 and I am going to use 40 x 40 box section. can anybody please advise me on what way to do the bottom frame and I am going to use weld on stub axles so weould these go directly to the frame or would I have to weld channel underneath and weld them onto it

 

[pedrobedro]

What size dog are you going to pull it with ? I used a 40x40 box section with 3mm wall for the axle on my small trailer.

 

[rtbcomp]

......... I am going to use weld on stub axles so weould these go directly to the frame or would I have to weld channel underneath and weld them onto it

Weld-on stub axles? What are you going to do about suspension?

 

[brooker2008uk]

was just going to use stub axles

 

[rtbcomp]

A road going trailer has to have suspension by law, I also think it needs to be type approved for insurance purposes at least, and some insurance companies won't cover towing trailers that aren't made by an "approved" manufacturer.

Apart from that, without suspension it will bounce all over the place and the RSPCA will probably have something to say too!

 

[steve.h]

RTB is right I am afraid, you do have to have suspension, I am shocked you would consider putting dogs in a trailer without it, how would you feel in a box towed over our roads and potholes with no suspension ???
You will need to have an sva carried out at a vosa inspection center for any new build trailer (home or commercial built), it is about £70-£80 for a trailer under 750kg IIRC, it might be more now, but any new trailer must have an sva (like an mot) or be type approved.
You will want to look at trailer parts websites for the torsion stub units, cheap enough for 350KG, you are no longer allowed to use old car units either I am afraid, I know people used the old rear ends from astras etc but its a no no now.
You could buy an old trailer with all the parts already on it and build a new box for it. You still need to be careful "refurbishing" an old trailer, you need to use enough of the chassis and parts etc for it to be classed as the same "old " trailer....
HTH
Steve.

 

[brightspark]

whatever suspenson u use would have to suit the weight of the dog otherwise the poor ****** would be bounced all over i have a half ton trailer and when i use it empty i put 2 bags of sand in to stop it jumping all over so if your springs were 2 strong u would have to weight it down and match the pooches weight

 

[brooker2008uk]

I have found one trailer which I can adjust to make into a dog trailer but regarding the suspension I know I will some sort but don't know a lot about suspension units. I have taken a pic of the trailer here and wondering can someone please tell me is this an axle with suspension of some sort?

 

[brightspark]

turn the trailer upside down and put some stillsons on the drop arms give them a pull and see if they flex,

 

[rtbcomp]

Those look like Indespension units (Towsure also do them). Put weight on the trailer and see if they move.

 

[brightspark]

sometimes the rubbers perish with age and go hard , i had a set and binned them after 20 years because off

 

[brooker2008uk]

If I lift or jack one side up should the wheel retract downwards then. If so would this be suitable for dog trailer

 

[the snooper]

If I lift or jack one side up should the wheel retract downwards then.

no not guaranteed if the suspension is strong enough to fully lift an empty trailer

 

[brooker2008uk]

So to test if it's working how exactly should I do it

 

[brightspark]

So to test if it's working how exactly should I do it

look at post 9 turn over and put some stilsons on the arms and see if they flex

 

[the snooper]

you could always attach it to the car and jump up and down in the trailer to see if they move

 

[brooker2008uk]

So if I'm looking a cheap method for dog trailer but can someone please recommend me a suspension

 

[the snooper]

have a look here for ideas

 

[brooker2008uk]

I know but they are hardly going to tell me their suspension methods

 

[the snooper]

if you are going to buy some suspension then you will only need light suspension to carry a dog or 2, if you get suspension to carry a heavier load it just wont work and the dogs will be bounced all over you probably want something like this