Car transporter trailer build

[peterjohnson893@btinterne]

Please don't take this the wrong way as I like to have a go at new things too, but this is one of those times I would suggest having a look for a second hand trailer. Unless you're drowning in 50 x 50 x 3mm? (More?) shs tube and know what you're doing design-wise, then crack on, but the thought of a poor design breaking in half on a motorway with a vehicle on the back doesn't bear thinking about. If you do get a good design together you may find the cost of the tubing an eye opener anyway. Go on ebay and have a look at what is on offer there. A name brand plated trailer is a safer bet than the home builds that look like they have been put together by someone who may not have known what they were doing. Just saying.

I have a bit experience but I think you are right probably going to try get a ifor williams lm146 as I can use it for other jobs as well

 

[tom2207]

the trick in building trailers isnt building them strong enough to do the job ,,, its building them light enough to be able to use .

 

[minimutly]

the trick in building trailers isnt building them strong enough to do the job ,,, its building them light enough to be able to use .

Indeed, strong enough and as light as possible is good...

 

[ranchero]

i built one once out of a caravan chassis it was crap but if served its purpose even after it bent. somebody must have thought it was good they nicked it. i hope it finely broke in half when on the road loaded.

 

[knighty]

My trailer I'd on its side for storage right now... If I remember I'll take so e photos tomorrow

I'm always shocked by how little there is bracing it

It carried a 4.5ton lathe no problem - before I'd seen under it... I'd have been afraid to.put that on it I'd known

 

[Erie Fred]

Here's a different approach, no hydraulics.
The axles are set on a separate angle iron frame, held in place with a pin.
Remove the pin, set the manual or electric brakes, and back up.
The top portion (the flatbed) slides back, and tips down.

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[James1979]

Here's a different approach, no hydraulics.
The axles are set on a separate angle iron frame, held in place with a pin.
Remove the pin, set the manual or electric brakes, and back up.
The top portion (the flatbed) slides back, and tips down.

Aluminum Rollback Car Hauler Trailers for Sale in Texas at Kwik Load Trailers

Haul your Car with the versatile collection of Kwik Load Trailers in Texas; we have Aluminum Rollback Car Hauler Trailers for Sale, details available here.

www.kwikload.com

One of the better things about the USA is you’ve got different regs for trailers than us.

You can have goosenecks and fifth wheels behind pickups. Your self build regs aren’t as strict either I think.

 

[stuvy]

Ok, not much choice in 2nd hand and no motorways! How do you know where members are from? I can't see that info on my phone.

Turn your phone sideways

 

[stuvy]

Here's a different approach, no hydraulics.
The axles are set on a separate angle iron frame, held in place with a pin.
Remove the pin, set the manual or electric brakes, and back up.
The top portion (the flatbed) slides back, and tips down.

Aluminum Rollback Car Hauler Trailers for Sale in Texas at Kwik Load Trailers

Haul your Car with the versatile collection of Kwik Load Trailers in Texas; we have Aluminum Rollback Car Hauler Trailers for Sale, details available here.

www.kwikload.com

One of the better things about the USA is you’ve got different regs for trailers than us.

You can have goosenecks and fifth wheels behind pickups. Your self build regs aren’t as strict either I think.

You’d have to have a seriously big truck and trailer plus the bank balance to fuel it
Sadly our roads don’t lend themselves well to us rigs

Shame as they look really cool

 

[MickeyW]

I've looked into building trailers before and quickly came to realise that the cost of the axles, brakes and hitch added up to close to the price of a reasonable second hand trailer.

If you do end up building your own I'd be interested to read your build thread.

 

[8ob]

I have a bit experience but I think you are right probably going to try get a ifor williams lm146 as I can use it for other jobs as well

There's the rub, for most of us a trailer needs to multitask. By far the most used 3.5 ton trailer we have is the IW tilt bed. Had this for over twenty years now, stuck a powerpack and underfloorwinch on it which are on Anderson couplings.

Bob

 

[Scalarocco]

Turn your phone sideways

That works! Every day is a school day!

 

[Justme]

One of the better things about the USA is you’ve got different regs for trailers than us.

You can have goosenecks and fifth wheels behind pickups. Your self build regs aren’t as strict either I think.

You can have them here too.

 

[Erie Fred]

You’d have to have a seriously big truck and trailer plus the bank balance to fuel it
Sadly our roads don’t lend themselves well to us rigs

Shame as they look really cool

Whoa ! The one I linked to is a simple "bumper pull" and pretty light.
No hydraulics, no double frame, etc.

FWIW I doo have a 1 ton truck and qty (2) gooseneck trailers, however the car hauler is not in the same league.

 

[Erie Fred]

One of the better things about the USA is you’ve got different regs for trailers than us.

You can have goosenecks and fifth wheels behind pickups. Your self build regs aren’t as strict either I think.

I built a trailer just to see how much regulations and such there is.
It's not bad, however you need receipts for your parts, a special inspection station gives it a good look over, makes sure lights are proper height and config etc., takes (4) pix, and you submit it all to the state DOT special office.
2-3 months later you get your title, your nameplate (to rivet on the frame) and a plate for the year.

I've not seen any shakey looking trailers at least here in Pennsylvania.
O-HI-O ? That's a different story altogether.

 

[James1979]

I built a trailer just to see how much regulations and such there is.
It's not bad, however you need receipts for your parts, a special inspection station gives it a good look over, makes sure lights are proper height and config etc., takes (4) pix, and you submit it all to the state DOT special office.
2-3 months later you get your title, your nameplate (to rivet on the frame) and a plate for the year.

I've not seen any shakey looking trailers at least here in Pennsylvania.
O-HI-O ? That's a different story altogether.

That sounds like our IVA.

I think your DOT regs are different between states? Maybe.

I saw a video of someone who registered her truck in Dakota because it wouldn’t pass in California where she lived.

 

[Erie Fred]

I've looked into building trailers before and quickly came to realise that the cost of the axles, brakes and hitch added up to close to the price of a reasonable second hand trailer.

If you do end up building your own I'd be interested to read your build thread.

Your missing the point.
You build it exactly how you want it, and have a bunch of fun building it.
And when done, get a good feeling of accomplishment in the journey.

Use the above linked sliding axle car hauler as your design basis, narrow it down, scale it down, what ever to meet your needs & regs. It's pretty unique design, a friend had one, very simple to build.

FWIW that's a 7000 gvw trailer, and I see above references to 3 ton trailers in you area. Our ton's are smaller,
so the trailer is pretty close to what you have.

Only counting the money, you can talk yourself out of anything, I know, I doo it all the time.
Might as well just source one from Alibaba.

 

[stuvy]

Whoa ! The one I linked to is a simple "bumper pull" and pretty light.
No hydraulics, no double frame, etc.

FWIW I doo have a 1 ton truck and qty (2) gooseneck trailers, however the car hauler is not in the same league.

Our pickups don’t have the same physical dimensions or engines to match

Let alone the allowed weight to move stuff

You do see navaras with American 5th wheel trailers

 

[James1979]

Our pickups don’t have the same physical dimensions or engines to match

Let alone the allowed weight to move stuff

You do see navaras with American 5th wheel trailers

View attachment 377929

That’s a small one by comparison. I’ve seen the big American trucks with 5th wheel campers and animal floats that look the same size as our artic ones.

It would be handy here but open to so much abuse.

 

[Erie Fred]

You can have them here too.

Yup.
Do you all have Toyota Hi-lux there ? (same as a Tacoma or "Taco" here)