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Trackdays Trailer Build

Discussion in 'Builds & Projects' started by Northan Monkey, Feb 27, 2017.

  1. After 6 years with my current trailer which will only carry 1 bike and many months of mental planning.
    I've finally drawn up the plans for a 2 bike trailer and ordered the steel for the big build!
    I'm currently working my way through all the prep work of drilling the many holes for hanging the axle and drawbar coupling. As well as predrilling the base and side panels prior the a trip to the Galvanisers.
    I intend to keep updating here as I go. But the build will probably take few months due to work & family demands. IMG_2126.PNG
     
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  2. I'd have got 2 different coloured bikes for a start [emoji19]


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  3. Yeah thanks for that!:Finger: It was the best model of a 999 I could find in the sketch up warehouse.
    Just a shame they didn't have a model of an RS250.
     
  4. Don't forget the wheels :Wideyed:
     
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  5. You may or may not be aware that if you are sending closed tube or box section for galvanising that they have to have ( expansion ) holes drilled
     
  6. id put a tow hitch on it too, gets a bit wobbly with just a bit of chain!! :tearsofjoy:
     
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  7. Love a build thread!
     
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  8. I was aware of that but Cheers for the heads up. I had the miss fortune of having to make the Sea freight cages at work a few years ago which was all enclosed box. Spent ages drilling M6 holes everywhere.
     
  9. But not as wobbly as your riding:Finger:
     
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  10. What sort of budget are you looking at ? Andy
     
  11. All done and painted & galvanised for £1400.
    I'm £900 into it. With just the sheet material, adhesive and sundries left to buy.
     
  12. Okay, thanks. Andy
     
  13. Northan Monkey.

    Are you using separate suspension units, or a pre-built axle?
    I'd guess on this build separate units will give you a lower bed height.

    Please don't think I'm trying to teach you to suck eggs, but the front of your 'Box' is quite wide compared to the length of your drawbar, which could compromise your turning circle if the corner of the box touches the corners of your car bumper.

    Also, I'd have been looking at having the axle/suspension units a bit further back so you can get some weight on the towbar for stability. Ideally you'd make the axle mounting adjustable to fine tune the weight on the towball after it's fully built and you have the bikes on board.
    I'd imagine the position of the bikes inside will be fixed, so you can't move them(The load) backwards and forwards to adjust the weight on the towball.

    Too little or too much weight on the towbar will give you all sorts of issues with stability, you do need to adjust it when you first load it up, so either the load or the axle position needs to be flexible fore and aft.

    I tow a lot, and some of the trailers I've built myself, mainly boat trailers, from unbraked under 750kg tiddlers to twin axle braked trailers touching the 3500kg limit of my discovery.

    Your trailer will be quite light, and being high sided will be effected by cross-winds and 18 wheelers passing you too close, so anything you can do to build in stability will help.

    I don't want to appear too much like a know-it-all on this, but I've seen so many images of broken boats laying in the road when the trailer they were on hasn't been set up properly and has caused the trailer to flip over or it has lifted up the back of the car or caused instability some other way and caused an accident.

    Also the difference in the whole towing experience is vast between a trailer you can forget is there and one that is constantly jiggling the back of the car about or constantly hopping from one wheel to another.

    Nasher.
     
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  14. Make it six foot longer and you can sell burgers between sessions. Make a fortune. Don't forget to add a deep fat fryer and drop down riot screen if going to Knockhill.
     
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  15. Thanks for the advice.
    Please add any pointer you have to this reply.
    Axle centreline is 225mm behind box CL.
    Drawbar length from box front to hitch is 1300mm and my tow vehicle is 1770 total width.
    I've scaled up the dimensions of my old trailer as best as I can and trawled a few trailer build forums. The bikes will sit ahead of the box CL. So hope it will be nose heavy enough.

    I picked up a new 1300kg indespention beam axle cheap as it was a cancelled order. The only down side was I've had to cut it down by 200mm which is now done. I've clamped it to a surface plate at work and jigged it before welding. I also added insulation to protect the rubbers. And used temp stickers to monitor the heat sink over the area.
    Thanks for your post!
     
  16. It looks like you've done your homework, and from what you've put it looks like you should be OK, sorry if I doubted you.

    Your drawbar should be long enough to give you a decent turning circle. With the bikes forward of the box centreline, and the axle behind it you could find the weight close enough to adjust by moving a toolbox or spares around a bit.

    I would try to build in some adjustment however, in case you want to make some mods to storage or carry just one much lighter bike in the future.

    The 1300Kg Indespention axle is a good one, it should have brakes, which you shouldn't need as you'll be under 750Kgs, but they might be worth fitting for the option of using the handbrake. It would of course really hike the cost of the hitch etc.

    I'd also be thinking about a fold down bench to throw a camping Matress on, and a simple awning for the back so you can sit somewhere or work on the bikes in the dry or shade.

    If you need to order parts other than axles, I can't recommend TrailerTek - Trailer Parts and Spares - Trailertek enough.

    Good luck with the build

    Nasher.
     
  17. No need to apologise. You clearly have more experience building trailers than I do.
    I am building it with a braked coupling (which I've already bought) as I also shunt bulk load of fire wood around a few times a year when I restock the wood pile. Which would take me well over 750kg and I like to have the trailer braked anyway.
    I have towed for many years when I worked for a small race team. And had to transport race cars to events regularly so I've got half an idea of positioning the load correctly and having seen what happens when the load is set too far rearward. A work mate managed to deposite a Group A Escort Cosworth on the M1 in Derbyshire! After he had a massive tank slapper!!

    Good idea with the fold down bench. I had considered building an awning on the side but at some point I've got to say that's enough.
     
  18. All we need now is pictures:grinning:
     
  19. All in good time.
    All I've got is a garage full of steel and parts and dwarf at the moment.
     
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