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What trailer is this ?
andy996tt - 1/5/12 at 07:23 AM

Can anyone identify this trailer. Would be ideal for what I need but don't know where to buy it.

Cheers

Andy


andy996tt - 1/5/12 at 07:24 AM


andy996tt - 1/5/12 at 07:25 AM


big_wasa - 1/5/12 at 07:33 AM

I would say thats home made.


andy996tt - 1/5/12 at 07:36 AM

Doesn't look home made to me


owelly - 1/5/12 at 07:41 AM

Looks like the car has the suspension mounting and drawbar plates welded to the chassis so you just bolt them on, hitch it up, and off you go.


zilspeed - 1/5/12 at 07:48 AM

I'm not sure that it actually is a trailer.

It's not an A frame.

If it was a trailer, there would be a visible means of driving the car onto the trailer.

My suggestion is that the creator has devised a means whereby the suspension hubs and drawbar are demountable.
Jack the car up, bolt on the hubs and drawbar, let it down, hook up to your towcar, away you go.

Fair enough idea I suppose.

The only thing not available in the picture above is a simply constructed drawbar.
The rest is off the shelf.
It's the demountability of it that slightly confuses me.
I don't imagine it'll be the work of a moment to do so in a manner which is safe and secure.

The drawbar would be relatively simple, bit not so sure about the hubs unless there was some sort of locking slide mount or captive bolts.

I guess if you've no room for a trailer (like a great many of us) it would suit fine.

[Edited on 1/5/12 by zilspeed]


slingshot2000 - 1/5/12 at 07:50 AM

Is that not the draw-bar, just under the mudguards in the second photograph ?

Regards
Jon


big_wasa - 1/5/12 at 07:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by andy996tt
Doesn't look home made to me


Why ?

The draw bar is a length of 2" box. The plate on the end is an of the shelf hub mounting plate.
The key in this being safe is what you can not see, ie the plates that have been welded to the chassis to spread the load.




[Edited on 1/5/12 by big_wasa]


Hector.Brocklebank - 1/5/12 at 08:03 AM

quote:
Originally posted by big_wasa
I would say thats home made.



+1

certainly looks home made to me too.

In effect the car chassis is the trailer, and as long as everything is bolted to the chassis in a safe and sufficient manner it should be OK.

clever idea, not sure how Mr traffic plod might view it though


Dangle_kt - 1/5/12 at 08:29 AM

Great idea. Looks a bit of a faff getting it on and off, but most home brew trailers are less than ideal anyway.

I especially like the locating pins on the draw bar, clever idea to speed up correctly locating that 6 bolt plate (you can see them just in front)

I'd imagine that the suspension is mounted onto two welded on plates, maybe even with captive nuts fitted - that would speed it up a lot.


zilspeed - 1/5/12 at 08:37 AM

And the exhaust has to come off too.

Just saying.


MakeEverything - 1/5/12 at 09:14 AM

Clever idea.

I don't know anything about trailers, but should a trailer be MOT'd? If that's the case, then i don't see how the plod would have an issue with this, other than the fact that the wheels and draw bar haven't been inspected by the IVA or MOT station whilst fitted to the car.

But then, how many traffic officers know the finer points...


zilspeed - 1/5/12 at 09:44 AM

Trailers don't have to be MOT'D.


Many a new trailer has been built "old" just to give it that look of "been like this for years occifer, never given me a minute's bother, nothing to see here, move along now."

Just to avoid all this safety related plating nonsense (sic).


TAZZMAXX - 1/5/12 at 10:48 AM

It looks to me like it would be putting extra loading on areas of the chassis that weren't meant to have them. The idea is good enough but it doesn't inspire confidence the way it's constructed or attached.


PAUL FISHER - 1/5/12 at 11:24 AM

I can't see how the car is held on the trailer either, loading and unloading would be a right pain by the looks of it, removing the exhaust etc, just what you don't want at the end of a long day at the track
Ive not got any room to store a trailer, just a single garage, so I have just bought a second hand Brian James Minno trailer, twin axle, tyre rack, fuel storage for 3 20L jerry cans, winch, and wheel straps, all for just £900, just fits in a single garage no problem, I just drive the car on and off when I need it, and the good thing about buying a quality second hand trailer, it will always sell for around what you paid for it when you come to move it on


TAZZMAXX - 1/5/12 at 12:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PAUL FISHER
I can't see how the car is held on the trailer either, loading and unloading would be a right pain by the looks of it, removing the exhaust etc, just what you don't want at the end of a long day at the track


Especially if you inadvertently stuff the car whilst on track. Imagine trying to bolt that lot back onto a twisted wreck


Wadders - 1/5/12 at 12:17 PM

Nice idea, but wouldn't fancy towing it far on that, not at any decent speed.........not that any of us exceed the limit when towing......A very sedate drive back from Anglesey behind Chris mason one year springs to mind

Al.


owelly - 1/5/12 at 01:47 PM

Taking the exhaust can off takes a minute. One mounting bolt and one clamp bolt.
Fitting the drawbar and wheels could be done quicker than it would take to strap the car down to a trailer. You could just drive the front wheels up a pair of ramps to bolt the wheels and drawbar on. A minute for each with a battery impact wrench. Then reverse off the ramps so the car is now sat on the 'tow wheels'. If the weight distribution is right, you could get the weight on the drawbar (noseweight) to be minimal.
I can't see how folks can comment on the safety of this set-up, unlesd they have actually seen it. There could be additional steelwork added to the chassis to combat any additional stresses. Plus, you can strap a pair of reflective triangles to the back of the car to use its rear lights as the trailer lights.
IMHO, it looks like a better solution to a lot of the flimsy caravan chassis creations often seen used, where the deck load structure bolted to it probably puts it over the SWL of the axle before a 750kg car gets plonked on top!


puma931 - 1/5/12 at 04:38 PM

Andy996tt - Looks great, where did you get the pictures from, as it would be good to find out where the owner purchansed the parts.

Cheers

Mathew


andy996tt - 1/5/12 at 05:00 PM

Just looking around on ebay. The seller wouldn't tell me much about it


PAUL FISHER - 1/5/12 at 05:16 PM

Found it here.

Westfield Kit car Track car | eBay


puma931 - 1/5/12 at 05:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by andy996tt
Just looking around on ebay. The seller wouldn't tell me much about it


Do you have the link?


mark chandler - 1/5/12 at 05:36 PM

Cannot see a problem with it myself provided the frame of the car is adequately supported, my trailer has 'under wheels' so the wheelbase of the trailer is the same.

If I went that way I would have a built a crucifix out of box to drop the car on adding support and included brakes.

[Edited on 1/5/12 by mark chandler]


fha772 - 1/5/12 at 05:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
Looks like the car has the suspension mounting and drawbar plates welded to the chassis so you just bolt them on, hitch it up, and off you go.


I agree with Mr O, it looks like they jack the back of the car up, and bolt the 2 suspension units on, then lift the front and bolt the drawbar on.


mad-butcher - 1/5/12 at 05:55 PM

Great idea, but doubt if it would work on my indy, sure I wouldn't have any clearance under my road wheels with my current protech suspension units by the time they are fully extended


puma931 - 1/5/12 at 06:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by PAUL FISHER
Found it here.

Westfield Kit car Track car | eBay


Great... comes with a free car


SteveWalker - 1/5/12 at 06:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by puma931
Andy996tt - Looks great, where did you get the pictures from, as it would be good to find out where the owner purchansed the parts.

Cheers

Mathew


There are plenty of places to get trailer suspension units, mounting plates, etc. Just two examples: Towsure or Indespension.

For heavier cars you can also get braked units, sliding hitch and brake cables, but they start to get expensive, hence people using caravan parts.

Steve W.


puma931 - 2/5/12 at 09:29 AM

Any ideas on the size of the 'trailer' wheels?

I have spotted some trailer build packs on ebay for £270 + delivery, which contain most of the parts, but I am not sure what trailer wheel size to go for, plus how much drop will there be on the suspension (car is at my mates garage so I can't check - locost race car)?


tasmod - 2/5/12 at 04:50 PM

That's a good looking idea. Once bolted up no need to tie down, bolt on axles minus wheels use a quicklift type jack and bolt on wheels. Simples.

I think i would be inclined to make a bolt up 'cross' bar utilising the plate method to move the wheels out a bit and clear the exhaust.

Maybe even make it a T bar incorporating the drawbar.

Unbraked trailer limit is 750kg overall. After that brakes required.


Hmmmm.


mad4x4 - 2/5/12 at 06:02 PM

I would be building the Basic frame for the Trailer and then Tie down rather than "bolt to car" Could make a simplet 3" box Frame that holds every thing square and a Few Pins or Clips under the car place correctly to make with tralier.


In the yatching world they use this with the boat of the light "launch trolley" in out case the Car could be the Launch Trolley....



Could easily fit Brakes to this if it was required due to a "heavy" build

[Edited on 2/505/12 by mad4x4]


puma931 - 21/5/12 at 08:16 AM

I bought all the bits from ebay (£330 including jockey wheen and wide light board with fogs)..... just need to fit them and make up the front arm.

I was thinking of mounting the front arm under both engine mounts (welding mounting plates to the underside of the chassis. The floor on my car is made of steel so the suspenson units will bolt directly onto the floor. I will take some pictures when I get around to it.


owelly - 21/5/12 at 08:25 AM

Unless your floor is at least 8mm thick I think you'd be better off mounting off the chassis!


puma931 - 1/7/12 at 09:45 PM

On Saturday I welded the plates to the floor (for the trailing arms) and now just need to figure out where to fix the tow hitch arm.... probably off the chassis near the engine mounts. Will take some pics when finished. Cool trailer solution


owelly - 1/7/12 at 10:04 PM

Velcro. Very quick and suprisingly strong......


puma931 - 2/7/12 at 08:52 AM

quote:
Originally posted by owelly
Velcro. Very quick and suprisingly strong......


;-) very good..... I think I will stick to welds and bolts


motorcycle_mayhem - 2/7/12 at 10:16 AM

What a superb idea!

For those (few) of us with no space/money/serious tow cars - a bit of welding and I've got a means of carefully getting the car back home after a damaging track day. No trailers, no hassle, just this kit in the back of the wife's MK1 Mundaneo in case things go wrong on the circuit.


puma931 - 16/7/12 at 09:34 AM

Latest picture of my 6 wheeler....

Welded plates to the floor (chassis/rollcage section) and just need to weld some more plates to the front (near sump/suspension arms) for the arm/tow hitch.



IMO this is an excellent trailer solution that will take about 10 min to fit / remove

[Edited on 16/7/12 by puma931]


puma931 - 22/8/12 at 02:46 PM



Got my car home :-)

The trailer solution works and it towed very well behind my 318d.
Now it is at home I can finish off the to do list and hopefully I will get it on track soon.

Happy days.


number-1 - 26/8/12 at 09:57 AM

That looks like a great idea. did you find the balance point of the car to weld the wheel mounting plates to or was it a guess? Any pics of the underside after you welded the plates on?

N1


abarth695 - 26/8/12 at 04:06 PM

I am a bit lost here, why have the added wheels ? Can't the existing rear wheels be used such as an A Frame but with the front one's off the ground or is that too much weight for the tow bar?


number-1 - 26/8/12 at 04:48 PM

I think if you leave the kit cars wheels on the ground the kit car has to be insured. By taking the kit cars wheels off the ground it doesnt need insurance....i think?


MakeEverything - 27/8/12 at 12:18 PM

or Tax...


JoelP - 27/8/12 at 03:02 PM

You would have far too much nose weight using the cars rear wheels, tow bars usually want 50 - 100kgs, with a cec you'd see about 300kgs.

Also, its well known to plod that if the cars wheels are on the ground then its more likely to be illegal, at least with the bolt on wheels it *looks* like its legal (i dont actually think it is, but i also dont care anyway).


puma931 - 28/8/12 at 07:54 AM

The plates were welded under the front section of the roll cage (nice and strong), which gives about 100kg weight on the front. I will take some pictures later in the week of the plates and the connection points for the tow hitch. The car is not road legal, so it has to be lifted off the road, effectively the underside of the car becomes a trailer. I went for this solutiuon as I don't have space for a trailer and it only takes 30 min to fit using manual tools, scissor jack and 2 axle stands (much quicker when I get an impact gun and low profile trolley jack).



quote:
Originally posted by number-1
That looks like a great idea. did you find the balance point of the car to weld the wheel mounting plates to or was it a guess? Any pics of the underside after you welded the plates on?

N1