Extending caravan a frame to take jet ski?

[Park_monkey]

Hello all.
The wife is trying to convince me a caravan is a good idea at the moment and I have said I would only consider it if I can have a jet ski. The problem is getting it to the beach with the caravan, so I was wondering if it would be possible to extend the a frame so a jet ski could fit on there.
It would likely have to have an extra axle underneath to support the weight and have to be detachable so could be used as a standalone trailer to launch the ski.
This may be a completely ridiculous idea so feel free to tell me.
Cheers

 

[stuvy]

the weight of a jet ski your gonna struggle to find a vehicle to pull it and a caravan. Plus its gonna be looooooooooooong

get a pick up and load it on that then tow the caravan

 

[madkayaker]

Your going to fall fowl of a whole raft of construction and use regulations with regards to home built trailers (its all on here and not repeating it ) I'm guessing a jet ski is not a light item (200-300kg?) having that amount of weight that far back will make caravan very unstable to tow and the chassis will not stand it. Adding an axle is not easy as caravan will need to be butchered to fit the wheel underneath, the brake system will need reworking and again chassis design is wrong.

Also do you plan to back the caravan into sea to launch jet ski?!


Much better converting a van to motor home and getting a jet ski trailer

 

[the snooper]

and have to be detachable so could be used as a standalone trailer to launch the ski.

Cheers

Also do you plan to back the caravan into sea to launch jet ski?!

 

[DrNik]

roof rack, reverse into the sea to launch and off you go, sorted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLaBmngdCbI

 

[madkayaker]

I had missed that bit but comment stands as I carnt see the second axle all the way at the back with axle in the middle being a viable option (and that's before we start trying to work out brakes as the extra axle would need them as the ground axle has them)

 

[DrNik]

the caravan with an extra axle at the back wouldnt go round corners at all, scrub a pair of tyres every journey

 

[normspanners]

Make a roof rack that doubles up as a launching trailer that has four unclipable legs that are interconnected and fold with two hydraulic rams either side , that can lift the jet ski to the height of the car drive the car out fit the launch wheels have a tow hitch mounted to the front of the roof rack, lower it down hitch to the car and off to the beach reverse the procedure to come home.
The jet ski would have to be quite a small kneeler type one that is light.
another thought is two small hand winches to either of side legs even cheaper!
as they use on some m/cycle work platforms.

 

[Park_monkey]

The thing that got me thinking about it I the trailers I see occasionally that can take two cars. They have two axles in the middle then a third axle at the front that is part of the a frame and pivots independently from the rest of the trailer and allow it to steer.
I would like a pickup but they aren't very practical for the family, and a crewcab is expensive. Also the towing capacity isn't normally very good and I would like to use it to tow a banger racing car.

 

[langy]

It will play havoc with the nose weight.

 

[Mikey D]

why not add a towbar to the back of the caravan, then hitch a jetski trailer to that .

Well the showmen do it with the waltzers then the ticket office pulling up the rear

cheers Mike

 

[normspanners]

The thing that got me thinking about it I the trailers I see occasionally that can take two cars. They have two axles in the middle then a third axle at the front that is part of the a frame and pivots independently from the rest of the trailer and allow it to steer.
I would like a pickup but they aren't very practical for the family, and a crewcab is expensive. Also the towing capacity isn't normally very good and I would like to use it to tow a banger racing car.

that would be classed as two trailers and that is illegal unless you have a showmans licence. Get it on the roof !!

 

[brightspark]

Hello all.
The wife is trying to convince me a caravan is a good idea at the moment and I have said I would only consider it if I can have a jet ski. The problem is getting it to the beach with the caravan, so I was wondering if it would be possible to extend the a frame so a jet ski could fit on there.
It would likely have to have an extra axle underneath to support the weight and have to be detachable so could be used as a standalone trailer to launch the ski.
This may be a completely ridiculous idea so feel free to tell me.
Cheers

easy answer buy a caravette and tow a trailer otherwise its a no goer

 

[KemppiFrog]

Fit a rear door to the caravan and carry the jet ski inside on a narrow trailer with ramps to load it. Might cause weight problems in towing, plus a rather minimalist interior to the 'van.


(as a yachty I think jet skis are spawn of the devil)

I knew a guy who carried his plane this way, with folding wings.

 

[nickk]

guys- your missing the point of his request-that is to extend the 'a' frame & thats just too much nose weight.

 

[brightspark]

guys- your missing the point of his request-that is to extend the 'a' frame & thats just too much nose weight.

i havent missed the point thats why i said its a no goer

 

[normspanners]

guys- your missing the point of his request-that is to extend the 'a' frame & thats just too much nose weight.

I think your missing the point he was asking about putting another axle / bogie under it and making it into a trailer for the jet ski

 

[Stubradley1]

Motorhomes can be bought fairly cheap and you can tow easy with them

Like this 1.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LDV-400-2-3-BERTH-MOTORHOME-FULLY-EQUIPED-2003-DIESEL-may-px-/300890675008?pt=UK_Campers_Caravans_Motorhomes&hash=item460e7b5740

 

[CompoSimmonite]

A mate, since dec'd, had a bolt on extention to his horse box so he could carry a cart at same time. The extention was to the drawbar and the resulting outfit was very stable. Obviously this was a 4 wheeled horsebox with massive chassis and pulled by a large van. The cart was carried BETWEEN the van and the horse - on the drawbar that had purpose made ramps.
For OP I'd say consider a bigger caravan and adapt the back area to carry the jetski inside. You can buy commercial made caravans like this.

Paul h

 

[nickk]

I think your missing the point he was asking about putting another axle / bogie under it and making it into a trailer for the jet ski

well,he states wanting to extend the 'a' frame so he can put it on there.