Opinion on trailer materials.

[Bigjoe]

Evening all,
Im thinking of building a small trailer (approx 6'x3') for carry junk for the tip and diy materials etc so probably a max load of 350-400kg, just wanted to ask 50x3mm angle and box section would be man enough for the job, i know the cheapest way is to get an old caravan and cut down the chassis but im struggling to find anything of any good around here, its either rotten or people want silly money for rolling chicken sheds.

Thanks in advance

Bigjoe

 

[migmag]

Apparently...

Its illegal to make your own trailer these days.

 

[Paul.]

Apparently...

Its illegal to make your own trailer these days.

Hmmn. not sure if thats right, but they are hardly worth making nowadays, when you add up the cost of all the components have a look at this http://www.northerntooluk.com/main.asp?category=Trailers

 

[Wozzaaah]

Machine Mart sell them too, even cheaper if you can wait til a 'VAT free' day. You still get discount on non-clarke stuff, just not as much, think it's something like 10% off.

 

[English Steve]

Its illegal to make your own trailer these days.

Not illegal just yet ... but type approval is coming soon

 

[Bigjoe]

Jesus can we do nothing without sitting an exam....you will have to do a multiple choice before having a dump soon! I know that its cheaper to buy a trailer but i have access to a pile of 50x3mm angle for almost nowt,just wanted to check it should be man enough for the job in question.

Joe

 

[Paul.]

I made a 4ft x 3ft x 1ft 6" deep one about 30 years ago, its made from 40 x 40 x 3 angle fitted with indespension units and mini wheels, Its still going well, Its had 20 odd years lugging camping gear around, cleared tons of rubbish, and now i use it as a mobile toolbox for my business, 50 x 50 would be fine.
Paul

 

[malcolm]

A lot of the plywood panel trailers are made for that sort of weight with that sort of angle iron.

I understood the regs say you have to date stamp the trailer and if it's made after a certain date it needs to be type approved. Trick would probably be to make the thing last year like you do with old wiring installations.

 

[snowcat]

I dont know about trailers, but I find a plateing on most lifting equipment easy and cheep to get, a quick sketch drawing and a final look for aproval job done, Im guessing trailers could be VOSA, which I bet is whole diffrent game

 

[English Steve]

Trick would probably be to make the thing last year like you do with old wiring installations.

And I think that's how most individual people will get around it (me included), but the costs to small businesses producing trailers will be considerable.

Im guessing trailers could be VOSA, which I bet is whole diffrent game

Yep, our friends at VOSA will be controlling some of the paperwork. Manufacturers will have to present a whole raft of paperwork to prove that the trailer complies with all of the various European Directives ie braking, lighting etc (there are around 30 different directives which could apply). Then they will have to build a trailer and submit it for testing and appraisal - for which they will have to pay. This applies to every 'type' of trailer they manufacture.
Then, if they don't have ISO 9000 quality certification, they will have to have there premises and systems audited to ensure 'Conformity of Production' - for which they will have to pay. Then they will be audited periodically (at least once every two years, but possibly every six months) - for which they have to pay.
Then if they wish to make a significant modification to their design or manufacture, they will have to go through the whole routine again.

This is the exact same system the major car manufacturers go through, but they can probably afford it better.

 

[snowcat]

I was actualy asked to make a car transporter the other day, wasnt really my thing, but mostly I knew I could never build one as cheep as a big trailer mfr...

unfortuantly its the way of the world tho, govement haveing zero concept of small bussiness, just look at all the rules and regs about employees, Ok if your MR Tesco, with an army of personel offices, not quite so handy if you joe blogg, with 2 workers.

 

[English Steve]

I agree it's the way of the world, and it has been done to (supposedly) make things more difficult for the cowboys. Unfortunately though the timing is c@@p with everything else going the way it is, fuel, steel prices etc. Amongst other things, we make maximum legal size semi trailers - about 10 tonnes of steel in each one and have just had an order for 13 cancelled due to steel increases and the general downturn in haulage. Thats 13 trailers at almost £40,000 each - ouch . We simply cannot afford to employ someone solely to do the paperwork, and fund the approvals, with costs spiralling as they are.

 

[Hitch]

I can see exactly why they are looking to regulate homemade trailers.
Id expect most of us have all seen some shocking trailers and towing equiptment over time. Some of which is frankly only fit for the scrap bins.
You have to MOT your car to keep it legal, so why not a caravan or trailer? It goes on the road directly behind your car.

What some people think is a really well made trailer...

 

[Bigjoe]

I quite agree with you Hitch,ive seen some really horrific trailers and i would be more than happy to a nominal fee for a trailer MOT and i can understand the big manufacturers having to get type approval for some trailers but i think a basic inspection scheme for home trailers would work well especially for the ever increasing police checks near to tips etc.

Joe

 

[English Steve]

I agree that there needs to be control over the quality and safety of trailers on the road, and yes, we have all seen some of the rubbish people are happy to tow. My gripe is in the way this is being done, which will put an increased financial burden on those who want to do it properly, while leaving loop-holes for those who want to cut the corners - there is still not going to be a mandatory trailer registration scheme.
Currently all trailers over 3500kg gross (I think) have to pass an annual MOT.

 

[Wozzaaah]

The problem is that there are people who can easily build a well-engineered trailer using all the right materials and who have the necessary skills and equipment and there are the ones who simply shouldn't be let loose near a welder and who have a go .
I picked up a tidy little Daxara tipping trailer which carries just over half a tonne for not a lot of money. It does me very well and I know it's safe.

 

[SC_BK]

A lot of the small trailers like the erde ones you get in Halfords and made mainly out of thin tin plate. Ok for camping stuff but get damaged easily.

For the kinda size you're after you should be able to find something decent but old on ebay/paper for say £100-£300 and the beauty is it should still be worth the same amount in a few years time if you decide to sell it on


50x50x3 angle will do for most of it, not sure about the box and the stell you'll need to bolt the suspension on to
If you're interested, this is my traile rproject from last year http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=2574
(also my box trailer if youre interested http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=5504 )
The caravan chassis looks mainly like channel 70x30x2. The bits I added on for the sides are 25mm angle, think it's either 2mm or 3mm thick. There's also some 40mm angle, the only thickness they had in at the time was 4/5mm IIRC



There are a lot of DIY ****ters on the road. I don't think a small trailer/caravan MOT is needed but IMO the police should be stopping more people. I see sooo many trailers with faulty lights/no number plate/unsafe load all the time - go down the tip on a saturday for plenty of examples
I put a lot of effort into the trailers I own and other's I tow. I have around 5 number plates with the same reg . Trailers are kept clean, repainted as needed and lights are checked every use and repaired as nessecary

 

[aametalmaster]

Here is a link for some of the 500 trailers i have built...Bob
http://s110.photobucket.com/albums/n86/aametalmaster/Trailers i have built/