Help with a box trailer body

[winchman]

Whilst mooching on Ebay I found a 1930 trailer, not bad condition but with a very poorly built body on the back.
So I bought it and stripped the body skin off to find a nice hard wood frame.
Now I am thinking of removing this and building a new box 7ft long 3ft wide and about 36-44" heigh but basically what ever looks right.

After a trip to the tip

Now I was thinking of something like this?

So what can I use for a roof? I wondered about cutting a Landcover one down? How would you construct the sides etc?
I have the correct spare wheel and mudguards for it too.
So give me your thoughts please oh the budget is nothing so no delusional ideas please
I don't want to weld anything to the trailer its self as its all original.
It will be used for tip runs, transport of a small 80Kg motor bike and possibly sleeping it!

 

[frank horton]

sell it....the wheels and axle gotta be worth 3-400 squids........hahaha...........be very careful with weight, they wern't very stong when they were new......perhaps somebody with an Austin 7 might want it as a trailer behind their classic.........
if u do repair it, sheet ally for all the panels.......last time I bought some it was 0.6mm thick x 8x4 at around 85 squids per sheet.........
have fun Frank

 

[winchman]

Thanks Frank but thats a tad expensive for me I am a cheap skate, I was hoping to use a Land Rover roof but not sure if it would be long enough?

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

To help with cost as lie me you seam to reluctant to part with £££.

After checking the chassis for rust and defects they are the killer.

Once you have decided on the build, you need parts.

Wood.
8 x 4 ply wood sheets can be obtained from building sites what are near completion, old hording boards. Ok, they are painted in some bad colours. Near me 10 sheets of 8x4 by 13mm £15 and 2 packs of choccy hob nobs.
Wood recycling yards, Goggle has shown a few in your area. They are a good place to get some good wood.

Metal.
large sheets are expensive, sheet metal suppliers will have off cuts and half sheets. loo out in their yards for odd thickness steel sheet. Rare but they do come up.

But look out for old white goods or a side of a large van.

Fixings.
Wilko will do a good range of screws, sealant etc for pennies. Avoid the paint.
But paint can be sourced cheaply, try a local hardware store for soon to be out of date paint.

You say you have spare tyres etc you are well away.

Cheep, it just cost time and hard work.

 

[cardiffrob]

Pre-war Morris Minor front axle beam and wheels, isn't it?

 

[Justme]

That might have a 2" hitch not a 50mm one

 

[bigegg]

For a cheap lid, look for atruckman body for a nissan navara - my neighbour couldn't give his away after his was bought back by nissan.

 

[winchman]

Pre-war Morris Minor front axle beam and wheels, isn't it?

Sorry no its a Gibson Eccles all wheels are marked up with log as is the chassis plate, I want to put the original D shape lights if I can find some as I want it to look vintage when it hasn't got the box on it.
Like below but mine has a 5ft x 3ft base? I think plate is a model BT6?

 

[winchman]

That might have a 2" hitch not a 50mm one

Thanks it is a 2" one the vendor gave me a 2" hitch so I can use it safely, but I feel most people wouldn't have known!

 

[winchman]

For a cheap lid, look for atruckman body for a nissan navara - my neighbour couldn't give his away after his was bought back by nissan.

Thanks thats just the sort of Info I need

 

[winchman]

To help with cost as lie me you seam to reluctant to part with £££.

After checking the chassis for rust and defects they are the killer.

Once you have decided on the build, you need parts.

Wood.
8 x 4 ply wood sheets can be obtained from building sites what are near completion, old hording boards. Ok, they are painted in some bad colours. Near me 10 sheets of 8x4 by 13mm £15 and 2 packs of choccy hob nobs.
Wood recycling yards, Goggle has shown a few in your area. They are a good place to get some good wood.

Metal.
large sheets are expensive, sheet metal suppliers will have off cuts and half sheets. loo out in their yards for odd thickness steel sheet. Rare but they do come up.

But look out for old white goods or a side of a large van.

Fixings.
Wilko will do a good range of screws, sealant etc for pennies. Avoid the paint.
But paint can be sourced cheaply, try a local hardware store for soon to be out of date paint.

You say you have spare tyres etc you are well away.

Cheep, it just cost time and hard work.

Thanks
Screws paint etc I have got a stock from the Car boot sale!
I have a few spare sheets of ply for the sides and some marine ply for the floor, I am tempted to make the box bolt on with a Marine ply floor so it can be lifted off and we have a flat bed etc

 

[winchman]

An update
Current plan is to make an open trailer with sides but to be able to lift off the box bit and fit a Motorbike carrier instead.
So any ideas how to make it secure but easily removable?
I need to copy the example of the No4 trailer above
Bought these Pallets collars as new for £3 each to use as wood for the sides, I have small stock of marine ply for the floor

Just struggling as I can't weld it and I can't use Antiluce fittings for the dropdown tail gate

 

[winchman]

Now having stripped all the wood work off I am wondering do I build a body tub and bolt it on and off or just weld it in to a trailer, my dilemma is its 1930 and I have never seen another and once welded its no longer original as the chassis is riveted!
I am hoping to have a bolt on bike carrier and a body tub and change between the two.
Here it naked after taking half of its self to the tip

Come on I need some inspiration!
Current thoughts are weld an angle iron bolt on body tub in the style of the original

 

[Ton-up]

That's a nice looking trailer!!
I would do as you say, ply the floor for a flatbed and make another box to fit on top. Use ply and t & g board the sides. Use some period over centre catches on the outside corners and period fixings too, slotted screws, imperial coach bolts, etc. Make a removable/hinged top with board sides and a curved plywood top.
Painted frame, varnished wood, replacement 'D' lights and old looking wiring to complete the look.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I was going to suggest this, but you seem to have decided its ultimate use(?)

 

[winchman]

That's a nice looking trailer!!
I would do as you say, ply the floor for a flatbed and make another box to fit on top. Use ply and t & g board the sides. Use some period over centre catches on the outside corners and period fixings too, slotted screws, imperial coach bolts, etc. Make a removable/hinged top with board sides and a curved plywood top.
Painted frame, varnished wood, replacement 'D' lights and old looking wiring to complete the look.

Thanks I have some off cuts of the lorry flooring ply stuff and using the pallet collars for the sides as T&G is too expensive and generally poor quality, any ideas for period fasteners?
I was going to copy this for the antilock things but I was bothered about the pins falling out but I can just fit a padlock.

Old lights are what I am struggling with, I currently use a trailer board but it looks too new. I have some from a 50's car but the trip ring that holds the lenses in is missing and the owners forum aren't answering my appeals for help.
I have a proper looking set of mudguards so I will have to get a mounting plate laser cut but it will need loads of thought, I also want to carry the spare wheel on the body so need to make a mount, would you bolt a small jerry can to the side?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I was going to copy this for the antilock things but I was bothered about the pins falling out but I can just fit a padlock.

Seek, and ye shall find. http://www.absoluteindustrial.co.uk...MIgJfxl6r41wIV7bvtCh0iSwpcEAQYBCABEgJHlfD_BwE

 

[winchman]

Seek, and ye shall find. http://www.absoluteindustrial.co.uk/trailer-supplies-c9/retaining-devices-fasteners-c17/linch-pins-apple-keep-yellow-passivated-p13/s53?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=linch-pins-apple-keep-yellow-passivated-pin-diameter-6mm-length-40mm-pin-diameter-6mm-length-40mm-lpzp06040&utm_campaign=product+listing+ads&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgJfxl6r41wIV7bvtCh0iSwpcEAQYBCABEgJHlfD_BwE

Thanks
Its the lighting I am really struggling with, I want it in keeping but so little trailer info is about.

 

[winchman]

If I board the base and make a Flat bed how would I attache the open box body to it?

 

[Robotstar5]

The old Lucas style lights are about, but they're north of £100
Could you build the box body with a removable tailgate and mount the bike frame inside when required?.