Time to build a car trailer

[Holden202T]

t it was time i posted an update, really from the last picture it hasn't really changed, however it now has fully functional handbrake and all wiring and lights are installed. Hopefully if the weather is dry i will be trying to get a weigh bridge ticket sorted out then after that it will be blue slip time!

i should probably buy some paint sooner or later too hey

[v6bucket]

Nice trailer. Are you fitting electric brakes?
This is the sort of gusset that "festy" is referring to.

P1010963 (600 x 450).jpg

[Holden202T]

yeah its got electric brakes, i was sold on them when i first borrowed my mates trailer with them, so much nicer than the other options!

i can't see how that gusset is going to strengthen the draw bar ?

i have just finished welding the brace onto the bottom of the draw bar as per my previous post, and thats made her a whole lot more solid!

i just got it weighed too, 580kg

[festy]

It's not that the gussets strengthen the drawbar, they just don't weaken it like welding across the top does.
You want the weight to be supported along the whole length of the drawbar (from the spring mounts to the coupling) - but welding across the top means it can't flex along it's length - and it really wants to flex at the front crossmember.
Because that's now rigid and the weld is stronger than the RHS, it will eventually fracture the steel around that weld (being the weakest link) and the drawbar snaps.
By welding across the top, it's almost the same as having a drawbar that only extends back as far as the front crossmember.

Here's a bit of background:
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f184/weld ... ar-102123/
http://forums.overlander.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=35309 (last post)
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=5057.0

[Six_Shooter]

All of the trailers I've used have the drawbars welded in a similar manner to how this one is, if not they are welded to the front crossmember, not under it. Never had a problem, even with loads that were likely heavier than they should have been.

[Holden202T]

well Jayme asked me about the car trailer and i realised i have been pretty slack with progress updates, so i figured i'd rip out to the shed and get a few snaps of it for yas!

so currently its all done bar the little things like tie down hooks and stuff like that, got my new tyres for it and almost finished attaching the ramps.

as you can see from the below pics one ramp is on and the other is leaning against the trailer. i was undecided about swinging ramps or not and in the end i went for swinging but they are way high so im not sure if i need to maybe look at halving them with a hinge in the middle .... i figure i'll get them on and try the car on it and see how much ground clearance i have, i might be able to cut a bit off them and still have it clear, anyways we'll jump that bridge once we get to it!

trailer has been blue slipped and i just need some funds then i can register it, but it will be regoed by gunnedah drags in mid march! .... anyways i'll let the pics tell the story.

P1090787.JPG

P1090788.JPG

oh and yeah i need to paint it

[Holden202T]

well this is long overdue, but i thought you guys may be interested to see the finished product painted etc.

pleased to say after towing 3.5 hrs to gunnedah and back the thing tows beautifully and i didn't have an issue at all!!!

painting1.jpg

you can see at the front of the bed on the draw bar there are two plates going across, this is where my toolbox sits on, other than that just have two steel bars on the sides to hold the ramps up, we had to use the ratchet straps you see in the pic due to the shed roof being too low to have the ramps up where they should be!

and for those interested, the guy painting is my brother and the owner of the nitrous vn v6 drag car we have been playing with!

[Holden202T]

pics work now

[darcy]

Do you find the ramps cost a bit in wind drag hanging up in the air?

I'd also consider an addition web member in your drawbar, directly under the front of the trailer bed.
This is where the bending moment in the drwbar will be at it's highest, and the additional bottom chord you have added under won't be of most benifit here without one.

Has a nice long drawbar, so should be a piece of cake to reverse.

[Holden202T]

well i haven't ever towed it without the ramps so i have no idea on the effect they have, i would suggest mostly not a problem because the gemini covers alot of them, but yeah possible would add to fuel economy although from driving experience with it and how it feels i reckon its more the weight of the trailer thats the issue

well honestly haven't really had to back it much but when i did into my driveway it was fine to reverse.