Enclosed Motorbike trailer build

[surfin]

Well I'm onto my next trailer build and this time I want an enclosed trailer for all the bikes.

I have 3 quads and 2 dirt bikes to carry around so i need a bit of space.

This was my method of transportation for the weekend and whilst it worked I wasn't real keen on going too far with it all:

http://i691.photobucket.com/albums/v...r/IMG_0570.jpg

A caravan came up on ebay recently and its size fitted the bill nicely



It had seen better days so I soon had it looking like this:



I would like the end result to look like this:



Overall length of the trailer front to rear incl A frame is 6.5 metres

Length of deck area is 5.3 metres

Width is 2.35 metres.

I plan on using alupanel sides with 30x30RHS uprights. At this stage the sides will be 1500 high.

The floor will be 12mm outdoor grade ply.

The roof at this stage will lift vertically to allow 1800mm walking space under it when raised.

The rear of the trailer will fold down so the bikes/quads can drive up it.

Have read a few posts saying that caravan chassis are quite heavily built.

The chassis I now have is made of 75x50 RHS for the main chassis runners, for the front beam and the rear beam, and all the interior beams are 75mm C channel.

My question is....is it worth my while removing all the interior C channel beams and replacing them with something else (40x40RHS?) to try and save some weight?? It will be a fair bit of work and a few $$ and if I will only save a few kgs I'm not really interested.

What do people think?

[Yonnee]

I'd leave the chassis pretty much as is. The weight saving in changing some of the rails will be 3/5ths of stuff all.
However, the rail I would change would be the rear one, seeing as it's going to have to support a rear door/ramp, I'd also make it house the rear taillights, so maybe 100 x 50 x 4mm.

[surfin]

Thanks Yonnee. I figured it wouldn't be worth the effort.

So I'll post pics when I get things done. Might be a slow build

Cheers

Craig

[surfin]

Work is progressing slowly here. Have cut bits off the trailer and am currently getting new rocker arms and shackles made up as the old ones were worn out. Have cleaned up the axles and springs and will refit them soon

In the mean time I am thinking of ways to make my roof lift vertically..and I want someone else to run their brain over my ideas.

So to recap...when closed, the trailer sides will be 1500mm high. The roof will open vertically to a height of around 1800-1900m.

I know that pop top caravans have mechanisms to pop them up, but this requires you to be in the van to operate them. When my trailer is full of motorbikes/quads there won't be room to access the interior to operate items like these.

I also know Jayco have the crank system to operate pulleys and pushrods etc. this is probably too much effort (and expense) for mine.

So I want mine to look similar to this when the roof is lifted:



The roof section will be 4000mm long x 2350mm wide. It will be made of 30x30RHS with 3mm composite panel for the skin. Weight of it is unknown but won't be massive

What I am thinking of is using 2 of these....one on each side...located in the middle of each side...to do the vertical lifting...for opening and closing:

Electric Caravan and Camper Jack Stand

I would also have stabiliser legs located close to each corner so that once in the open position they could be locked into place to help brace it all.

Does this make sense? If not I'll try and explain it better

If it makes sense...is it a good idea...or not? Anyone got a better/cheaper/more robust idea?

Cheers

Craig

[Grahame Collins]

This is probably not exactly the thing you seek,but the panel assembly idea on pager 2 looks real good.

New Project Trailer/RV - Page 2 - SmokStak

Grahame

[surfin]

This is probably not exactly the thing you seek,but the panel assembly idea on pager 2 looks real good.

New Project Trailer/RV - Page 2 - SmokStak

Grahame

Different looking trailer...what is the winch for i wonder?

[surfin]

Progress has been slow on this. Don't get to spend too much time working on it:











I purchased the electric leg as per one of the above posts.

I have decided I will use a pulley system connected to a lever system under the trailer which will lift the roof. Involves mounting a number of pulleys but it should work out well i think. Will get some pics of that once its more advanced.

Will be purchasing the external panelling for it soon. I will be using this as the sides:

Welcome to SAS Signage

and this as the roof:

Welcome to SAS Signage

The front of the trailer will be alloy chequer plate to handle the damage from the rocks.

Cheers

Craig

[surfin]

Some more pics...and the trailer is finished now also. Will get more finished pics up when I can

A pic of the roof lifting motor and the lever system










Few pics of how the cable is looped around the place to lift the roof

[surfin]

Roof is up!









Some wheels and checker in place:





And the finished product. Tows like a dream. Not sure of the weight yet

[Yonnee]

Nice work.

Wasn't there a side door up the front there...??

[surfin]

Yeah there was to be 2 doors at the front. There is 1 on the LHS and I will put the RHS one in later but I ran out of time. I was supposed to be using the trailer to travel a few 1000's k's this weekend for the state titles of my sport but it was cancelled in the end.

I have a few other things to do first before I get back to the door