Validate my decision, to not shorten this trailer

[skotl]

Bought a trailer at the weekend for £150. Based on a (rusty) twin axle caravan chassis.

It's 16 ft to the nose,so around 13ft load area and my plan when I bought it was to cut it off just behind the rear wheel to bring it to around 8 1/2ft load area.

Problem is the length from the axles to the nose:

I weighed it tonight, and it's 70KG at the nose. I suspect that lopping off the back will likely take 30KG out of the balance so hitting my 100KG tow limit on the towball, before I load it.

I could move the axles forward but, to be honest, it's all a wee bit seized rust under there and I'd be worried that I had enough metal left to weld the axle runners to. I thought of removing one axle but figure that this will just add more weight to the nose.

So I reckon I sell it for what I paid, and seek out a better sized trailer.

A shame as I was looking forward to the cut'n'shut challenge but I think it's best left alone. Agree / disagree?

By the way, the brakes are shot (and have been for years) so it's effectively an unbraked 750KG max GW unit.

 

[rikrobson]

if you have a 100Kg limmit on the ball then you are not going to get much in that trailer before you hit that limit. if you cut a piece of the back then its going to move the centre of Mass forward a bit but not by enough to put 30 kgs on the nose.
is the trailer plated? if so what are he figures?
If you wanted to shorten it then i'd go for hlaf the length from the rear axle to the end.
and get the brakes fixed!!!

you can take a wieght on each of the 5 points or just the rears and node with the two fronts off the axles and in the correct position on the bed to get the position of the centre of mas and the actual weight of the trailer. Then you 'll be able to decide if it can take the leads you want and if the last 3ft can be lopped off.

and fix the brakes!!!

 

[skotl]

It's plated, but as a caravan, so it reads 2500KG (which would assume working brakes!).

I think I have buyer's remorse so will likely just move it on - for the money, you've not said anything that would dissuade me!

 

[rikrobson]

So at the moment its kinda not really legit being 2500kg and no brakes. Get the brakes fixed. It will be just cable operated drums. There are only a couple of types of hubs that get used on caravans.
Also id shorten the back any way. It just doesnt lok right in the photo.
Also depending on its age it msy need a new certificate as its been changed from the caravan.
There a whole load of legislation rhese days over trailers

 

[winchman]

I would just move it on its worth that all day long.
The way laws and tip rules are evolving means you have to be very careful with trailer selection.
My local tip takes trailers with a box under 6ft but over you have to have a licence but I do wonder if they will start charging for a licence one day?
I once had a large trailer is was excellent braked big 14" wheels made from box and ally checker plate, but it was massive it filled my garage and was often in the way, you have to consider how often you use it. I have just sold my tip run trailer as I borrow the Brother In Laws

 

[Migmac]

I would sort the brakes and punt it on. Looks like there is no tail gate on it, I find that a pain when shovelling out stuff. Are there drain holes for the water to get out?

 

[Hood]

.... it's all a wee bit seized rust under there and I'd be worried that I had enough metal left to weld the axle runners to.....

If it is as bad as you make out then I would be more worried about towing it whether loaded or not.

 

[rcx132]

Aren't the axles in the wrong place? They should be slightly rear of centre. The way they are now, if you put on an evenly distributed load you will have negative nose weight which is seriously dangerous because it's lifting up the back wheels of your car!

 

[pedrobedro]

if you have a 100Kg limmit on the ball then you are not going to get much in that trailer before you hit that limit. if you cut a piece of the back then its going to move the centre of Mass forward a bit but not by enough to put 30 kgs on the nose.

100 kg nose weight limit can be altered just by positioning the load differently in the trailer. I'd cut it off where the boards join at the back of the rear set of wheels and keep the main weight over the axles when towing it. If it has brakes fitted they should be working whether you need them or not (and they are a good thing when towing heavy stuff especially downhill) I'm impressed with the parking, with the trailer on you've achieved a 4 bay park

 

[skotl]

100 kg nose weight limit can be altered just by positioning the load differently in the trailer. I'd cut it off where the boards join at the back of the rear set of wheels and keep the main weight over the axles when towing it. If it has brakes fitted they should be working whether you need them or not (and they are a good thing when towing heavy stuff especially downhill) I'm impressed with the parking, with the trailer on you've achieved a 4 bay park

Aye! That's the ikea car park and I'd already attempted and aborted a 37 point turn

 

[normspanners]

not be overly hard (well hopefully)

Might be expensive though have you seen the price of trailer brake shoes

Wow -----How much weight in the double skinned sides ?? that is looking like a serious WAG waiting to happen------ I would call that a TAILER not a trailer, coz the tail will wag the dog.

 

[8ob]

I think it was a bargain, it must of been nearly what you wanted so stick with it. I would just loose the excess overhang on the rear and do the brakes, twin axle trailers are a bit more forgiving on weight distribution so will probably be ok as is on the drawbar.

Bob

 

[KMP]

I don't know when it was built but I suspect it was before the legislation change so while it looks wrong and may attract the attention of our towing expert lads in blue, removing the brakes and plating at 750Kg might be OK but I guess they would claim any changes under the new legislation would demand an inspection. You could always extend the ball forward a bit to better balance it? It looks heavy though so I'm not sure there would be much useful load capacity left.

I think your plan is the way to go, anyone with long lightweight loads, canoes etc would no doubt take it off you for that price. A pity they didn't shorten it all those years ago (?) when it was converted. I also have to say that with that layout I wouldn't tow it very far or very fast. On a motorway with a strong crosswind I could certainly see that the tail would try to way the dog.

Keith

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I'd move on to somebody else and avoid all the work required.

 

[Migmac]

This is my works double axle trailer, axles are more to the rear.

 

[fixedfixer]

Looks to me like there is a joint / extra bit added to the rear (red circle area). I'd chop it about there to be more balanced and have less 'swing out' when turning. Fix the brakes, job done.

Enlarge the Skotl's pics I've made this too small.

 

[Coo]

Plan !

 

[armalites]

I would shorten to so the wheels are in the middle but having been though the whole old trailer thing before it's very easy to end up with a "cheap" trailer that owes you as much as decent one would have cost.

 

[GW8IZR]

I have a simple way of looking at such things, if it doesn't 'look' right it probably isn't.

In my opinion that will always attract attention when in use and that's hassle that I can do without.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I have made a couple of trailers from caravan chassis, the older chassis were fairly strong and would make a very handy trailer, they started using lighter steel as designs and materials changed and those still make a trailer but nowhere near as strong.

It does look out of balance and as though it has been extended to suit a specific purpose.

A couple of feet off it would sort of make it look right and behave better but you really need to have a real good luck at the condition of the underneath, insurance companies would leave you on your own if it failed and caused an accident.

I would suggest selling it on will save a fair bit of money, a lot of work and possible future problems.