First Trailer Build

[JeepDork]

Looking very good! Very simple and very useful just like it should be. I like it! I noticed that your vehicle plate and trailer plate have the same numbers? What's that deal about? Kind of a neat idea, wish we could do that here.

 

[bobDog]

Looking very good! Very simple and very useful just like it should be. I like it! I noticed that your vehicle plate and trailer plate have the same numbers? What's that deal about? Kind of a neat idea, wish we could do that here.

I'm guessing that since Europe seems to be 'anal' about their auto rules, they think that the trailer will hide the auto plate and therefore someone might get away with something that they could be fined or taxed on, so they require you to put a matching plate on the trailer.
Should make it a ***** to lend a pal your trailer for the weekend if I'm right.:coffeedrink:

 

[EWS]

I'm guessing that since Europe seems to be 'anal' about their auto rules, they think that the trailer will hide the auto plate and therefore someone might get away with something that they could be fined or taxed on, so they require you to put a matching plate on the trailer.
Should make it a ***** to lend a pal your trailer for the weekend if I'm right.:coffeedrink:

Hi.
Thanks for the comments.

Yes , the rules are that the trailer number plate must match the towing vehicle. Unless it's an agricultural trailer, then any number plate registered to a tractor on that holding will suffice. No registration required to the authorities for the trailer re ownership!!!!!!!!!. No problem when your mate wishes to borrow said trailer, you just replace the number plate. So also no problem for the thief when your trailer gets nicked !!!!!. Legally getting a number plate requires you to produce proof of ID, proof of ownership of said number plate. Trailer theft is an increasing problem and they sell well on the web.

Really want to get your knickers in a twist , try the regulations re trailer hitches, and thank the EEC for this. As my trailer is classed as 01 Light Trailer 750Kg unbraked .I have two choices, a standard 50mm ball hitch, with its limitations re articulation, or a 40mm ring to fit a fixed jaw. ( this ring is rated at a max of 750kg and is as much use as a chocolate teapot, for offoad use, it seems its use is for light luggage trailers).

I cannot use a NATO ring hitch assemble as it contains braking components, therefore I would have an incomplete braking system, any way they weigh around 20kgs , and that's a lot , when you have only 750 Kgs to play with.

VOSA are aware that the 50mm ball hitch has problems, breakage and stretching problems causing the receiver to come away from the ball hitch, when used in an offroad situation. No the excellent offroad 50mm ball hitches from Australia or any where else are not permitted in the UK. Not tested here and all that stuff even though many exceed the UK specifications. Problems with a 50mm ball hitch coming adrift due to stresses due to offroad use are a Health and Safety Executive and user issue , not VOSA's , as offroad use has no specific part in testing or use of the item. And remember the insurance companies , if they can find a reason !!!!

I am using ball hitch receiver, that's the trailer bit, that's rated at 2500Kgs, on a 750Kg rated trailer). And motoring fines are increasing revenue for the UK local government, hence number plate recognition cameras.

Any thing that is not a trailer made from rolled out bean cans , ex China, or a Ally European spec , one size fits all, rubber suspension, the norm, with tiddly little wheels and soon it will be illegal to make a home built trailer here in the UK, unless you have it tested in the IVA scheme


Link- http://online.businesslink.gov.uk/Transport_files/127_IVA_O1O4_Inspection_Manual_May_09_2.pdf


Separate section not yet available to the public, re all welding to be by certified/coded welder. Drawbar design and sample to submitted for testing ???.

Isn't it great to live in the UK.

 

[EWS]

Today fitted a drop on spreader bar, fitted the sheet, and got a weigh bridge ticket. As seen, the unladen weight is 240Kgs so that gives me a load capacity of 500Kgs to stay withing the UK’s 750Kg limit for a unbraked trailer. Time for a few test runs to see how it shakes down and see what falls off!!!!

 

[EWS]

Now we have the trailer operational, there is a number of items that I feel I wish to modify. The rear door anti luce fittings/latches really need to be a few inches lower, they prevent the fitted sheet from droppings fully down over the tail gate corners, the trailer lights seem to vulnerable to damage, and I need to remove one or more leaves from the spring packs, as they are rated at 900kg a pair and the trailer is limited to a max weight of 750kg ( the lightest rated double eye spring packs available in the UK of the shelf to suit 16 inch wheels) as there is a lot of impact/bump induced bounce, tyre pressure is 18PSI, not sure if I should go lower, noted that the tyres footprint on tarmac is only half of the tyres width, running empty.

The rear of the trailer is visible in the rear mirror and just visible in the side mirrors, easy to reverse, so seem to have got the drawbar length about right.. Overall I am pleased with what I have achieved, given that this post on another site, for a basic offroad capable trailer, inspired my trailer build.

http://www.wildyoats.com/off_road_trailer_build.htm


And that all the plans /ideas were in my head, or put on paper, just thoughts and lots of reading of posts on this site, and to keep it simple as a first build.

The idea to use a cannibalised hand pumped hydraulic engine hoist to lift a powered wheelchair aboard is working its way through the grey cells, again a KISS and basic idea and also a demountable item.

Still have to deal with the 50mm ball hitch (rotation around the ball) limitations, to fit around the UK regs, or to hell with it and import a better but illegal 50mm hitch /not tested here one that exceeds the UK/EEC specs from Australia or fit a NATO ring set up, which VOSA are not sure about, (due to the inbuilt braking components), in the use in the unbraked trailer category.

 

[EWS]

The link to http://www.wildyoats.com/off_road_trailer_build.htm seems to be longer functional, the site has been run down over the last few years. I have a few saved images from the site . Again thanks to “Johnny” for all his work on the original trailer and posting, the inspiration for my trailer.

Images from “wildyoats”


EDIT "Images failed to load"

 

[bob]

Some excellent work sir. Very well built, totally functional. Just what was needed. Thank you for sharing your build with us.

 

[EWS]

Hi

Thank you for your comment.

It was planed as a basic light trailer, with the ability to stay with the Land Rover over whatever conditions we would face in the UK, though I still have to deal with the rotational limitations of the standard 50mm ball hitch. (Still harbouring thoughts of importing an illegal AL-KO off road 50mm ball hitch from Australia, may purchase one on our next trip). Due to the UK's adherence to EEC dictated laws.( the AL-KO hitch exceeds the UK specs),and the not tested here rule strikes again.

Sure this simple design would suit many people who do not feel the need to have trailer that carries everything including the kitchen sink, and want a general purpose trailer, it allows the suspension set up to be leaf springs for cost effectiveness, or to adapt for airbags/bellows as in the thread below.

Link- http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/69485-Another-Trailer-build/page3

 

[harts]

the AL-KO hitches here in AUS are not rated very well. They are a pain to hook up.

Maybe check out the hy-land hitch? It still attaches to the 50mm ball, but is alot easier to hook up.

Very neat trailer build!

 

[BobOso]

Maybe something like this will work for your lift

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-capacity-pickup-truck-crane-60732-9889.html