Advice on trailer build.

[Maddog]

Hi Guys,

I'm currently re-building an old motorcycle trailer i bought off Ebay.. The Chassis is a 3 bike trailer, which had been converted into a box triler with ply base on the bike ramps and very high ply sides, all of which were very damp and rotten. I junked all the wood and began cleaning up the flaky chassis (only surface rust), but cleaned up ok with needle scaler, wire brush and grinder. Painted with a real heavy zinc paint it all came up ok.

It was a bit wide so i narrowed it 6" each side, cleaned up the indespension units, bought some old 4" PCD 12" Minilite wheels to raise the whole thing to a better angle for towing (level rather than nose high).

I got a load of free 25mm X 25mm box and welded the main structure, will be using thin sheets of GRP for the sides and Phenolic ply for the base.

My question is what is the best and cheapest type of angle to trim all the edges in? I would like to use aluminium and rivet it all down, however 25x25 ally angle is very expensive. Any other ideas gents?

Thanks in advance.

 

[madkayaker]

Ali would be my first choose but look online as apposed to DIY spots

 

[madkayaker]

Or plastic angle and glue it on

 

[Bigsteve]

Have you got any photos ? I build commercial vehicles for a living and have access to loads of angles, cappings and trims etc. I've recently built a box trailer for myself using grp, Ali angle and door cappings

 

[madkayaker]

Would be interested in seeing some photos Steve. I'm starting to think about building a demountable campervan to go on back of pickup and I'm trying to get my head around the body work!

 

[Maddog]

Have you got any photos ? I build commercial vehicles for a living and have access to loads of angles, cappings and trims etc. I've recently built a box trailer for myself using grp, Ali angle and door cappings

Not yet chief as its just a scruffy semi finished frame at the moment, will take some as soon as I'm home in daylight and post them up.

Thanks.

 

[Bigsteve]

heres the trailer ive just done.bought a caravan for 80 quid, scrapped the body and used the rest for the trailer. made a new chassis and mounted everything on that. it has a 1300kg axle and 13" rims. pretty much carry anything and tows really well. even has a mercedes sprinter spare wheel carrier underneath

cost me roughly 150 quid to make inc new lights , mud gaurds etc

 

[madkayaker]

Tidy job

 

[chris-law]

heres the trailer ive just done.bought a caravan for 80 quid, scrapped the body and used the rest for the trailer. made a new chassis and mounted everything on that. it has a 1300kg axle and 13" rims. pretty much carry anything and tows really well. even has a mercedes sprinter spare wheel carrier underneath

cost me roughly 150 quid to make inc new lights , mud gaurds etc

Thats a great job , i was looking at buying a box trailer but they are big bucks even for a shed , who supplies all the parts to make them , is that big enough to get a motorbike in

 

[Bigsteve]

Nearly everything came from work . The grp panels , the floor, steel for chassis and most of the alloy sections were off cuts. The amount of materials that get thrown away or weighed in is scary. As for a motorbike fitting in it , the answer would be no . I built it mainly for camping trips and I didn't want it too big as it takes up too much space in the garage. The main limitation to size is the grp panels available . Mine were off cuts but I asked for a price for a 8' x 8' 14mm thick panel and it was £160.

 

[Maddog]

Hi guys, finished off making the frame for my box trailer today.

It's not pretty, but will do the job. It's only really for carting junk around, car parts etc.

The trailer as it is now is attached.

It has cost me 77 quid for the original 2nd hand trailer, all the 25mm box was free from a friend.

I just need to find some GRP sheet. I had found some on eBay, but it was only 2mm which I think will be a bit thin.

Anyone know where I can get something very cheap to skin it in?

Thanks.

 

[Bigsteve]

I have some 14mm grp panels .think they are about 5'x3' .got about 5 of them if your interested ? I can also get 15mm buffalo board for the floor .all for much cheepness I'm in Preston .

 

[Bigsteve]

My bad , Just seen you've already sorted some Ali for the sides