Step Frame Trailers

[howardm]

Hi,
Anybody know anything about Step Frame Trailers.?
I need one....I think.
It's needed to convert to a yacht transporter, my 30 ft yacht is 4 tonnes and over the trailerable limit.
What I want is a low deck and small wheels at the back because of a height restriction on my driveway. The guy delivering my yacht had a nice trailer with a cut-out in the deck to take the deep keel with padded Acro props welded in to hold it laterally. I have googled about and found nothing similar, probably using the wrong search words.

Howard

 

[johnny max]

I say you will end up getting a stepframe and doing the mods to it for your yacht
A lot for sale on truck and plant mag
Johnny

 

[snowcat]

the type of step frames I'm thinking are for hauling plant I have one sit in the yard I doubt this is what you meen..

Most boat trailers are custom built and these cost £££££ once you run commercial your also need to keep it in plated if its road going..

Iv made a few yard type trailers up before for the lads at the local boat yard, I am guessing this is more what you want? these use two steering axles and the chassis are built from UB typically with adjustable stays...

 

[howardm]

No mate,
I need to get the yacht home from west to east scotland twice a year.
Having my own trailer saves me 2 crane lifts at 300 quid a go.
It also means I can fix the yacht at home at my leisure instead of paying marina labor etc...

 

[snowcat]

so is it a draw bar type or running on a plate to be towed by an arctic?

If its over the 3500KGs as iv said it will be subject to a test, and of an approved design, IE you couldn't just cut and shut an old unit and tow it along the road...

building a trailer getting it plated and then keeping the annual inspections up may make haulage and lifts seem a cheep option..

I would have thought a Skelly trailer with bolsters would work as well as anything, but theres a multitude of designs Axel configuration tyre sizes etc that you could use, I'm currently building a hook lift unit for a customer and we ended up talking for a good hour just on rolling gear and tyre options, Id be tempted to have a chat with a trailer mfr first...

An unplated 40' donor trailer these days is going to cost about 2K, in plate 5K.. step frames if you can find one more.....

 

[Cal]

We towed my mates girlfriends 27ft sundancer with a sprinter, I take it that was a bit naughty then??

 

[Lewis Medlock]

We towed my mates girlfriends 27ft sundancer with a sprinter, I take it that was a bit naughty then??

Not at all, It's a planing boat so relatively light. I tow my 6.5m RIB on a single axle trailer with a small transit van, it weighs about a tonne. A yacht has a displacement hull with a load of ballast to stop it tipping over so they're rather heavy.

Jim

 

[Lewis Medlock]

Hello Howard,

I've had a think about this and I reckon you'd be better off with a glorified launching trolley instead of a road going trailer.

I'm thinking an old farm trailer modified with props or bunks to suit your boat which could be loaded onto a low loader with a tractor/land rover and pulled off at your end in a similar fashion.

It wouldn't do many miles so maintenance would be cheap, no roadworthiness checks as Snowcat mentions and if you've got the space to store a step frame trailer it's no bother- you could shunt it around without an artic.

If it were me I'd consider lashing the boat to it sympathetically but securely. Then welding some bl00dy great big eyes to the trailer so the wagon driver could crank it down to his satisfaction without damaging your pride and joy!

I speak as boat owner and a low loader driver

All the best, Jim

 

[Cal]

Not at all, It's a planing boat so relatively light. I tow my 6.5m RIB on a single axle trailer with a small transit van, it weighs about a tonne. A yacht has a displacement hull with a load of ballast to stop it tipping over so they're rather heavy.

Jim

Thanks Lewis, I won't be doing it again though, I quite often tow a dive rib and that alot lighter, it was heavy and we crawled along.

Cal