bikedaft
Well-known member
I believe it's only for new trailers. Not for the motley collection I have (and I suspect you too...) which must have been new once, when everything was in B&W
Trailers
- Thread starter fisherman
- Start date
ProDave
Well-known member
You will have great difficulty doing that, there is nothing down the middle to bolt your spine to. You would first have to bolt 2 or more steel box cross sections to bolt your spine to. It might still wobble like a jelly and the spine might end up rather hig off the ground.
Daydream believer
Well-known member
My father built his own caravan. He built it using a new factory made caravan trailer. From what I recall the trailer was quite a flimsy affair. It derived much of its rigidity from the caravan on top of it. He also had to insert additional timber framing, within the steelwork "U" beams, to carry the floor & the longitudinal stress to the sides. The trailer manufacturer supplied this info. It was all done to make the whole structure as light as possible.
Personally I would consider a caravan trailer of similar type, totally unsuitable for anything other than its original intended purpose .
Personally I would consider a caravan trailer of similar type, totally unsuitable for anything other than its original intended purpose .
DownWest
Well-known member
That really depends on how you modifying it...
The one I am looking at has a central spine as far as the axle and two channel frames out by the wheels, these taper to cross supports front and rear.
I need two channels to take the dolly wheels, so some more cross tubes (stiff) and weld them on after cleaning off the galv at the weld points. Since it is not going in the water, some spray galv paint on the welds will do.
( I am on a better position than most, as my first job was designing and building boat trailers, up to 3.5 ton.)
rogerthebodger
Well-known member
DIY Guide - Chassis Design - DIY Caravans
My car trailer is not much different to a caravan chassi just has increased sides to give increased strength to the outer side stringers and boards for th car wheels
My boat trailer just has cress braces positioned when the boat keel support rollers are positioned
No main spine
My car trailer is not much different to a caravan chassi just has increased sides to give increased strength to the outer side stringers and boards for th car wheels
My boat trailer just has cress braces positioned when the boat keel support rollers are positioned
No main spine
ProDave
Well-known member
This is about all you get with a bare caravan chassis, a world of difference to your car trailer.
fisherman
Well-known member
For sure this, the one for sale, looks as flimsy. It will definitely need some reinforcing. But what does rule it out for me is the width: unless I needed a substantial flatbed to carry a car, it's really inconvenient. Thanks for the comments.
The Q
Well-known member
The construction law on trailers or come to that cars, is the law on the date it was built, so for instance my old 1984 Landrover doesn't have to meet modern emission regulations. The old big trailer I've got, has brakes that don't meet new regs as it was built 1982.
There have been several revisions of trailer law over the years and it's quite difficult to track down what was required and when.
fisherman
Well-known member
I daresay any roadside plod would find it equally difficult, but it's always the good old 'insurance let out' that's the worry.
Pump-Out
Active member
That's another thing that has gone - The Traffic Police Officer who knew every nuance of both C&U and driver regulations. These have now been replaced by civilian staff working for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
DVSA have the powers to stop any vehicle, without the presence of a police officer.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency