Quote Originally Posted by JB#3 View Post
OK this question was always going to come...

to brake or not to brake...
Good question, well asked...

If you didn't already know, 750Kg is your limit without brakes. That's unladen trailer, plus load. I'd look at three options;
- One: Build it without brakes. You should be way under the 750Kg. And it's the cheapest.
- Two: Set it up with brakes from the start. (Whatever brakes take your fancy, and even though I hate them with a passion, over-ride brakes are the easiest for several tow vehicles.)
- Three: Set it up to be able to add brakes at a later date. Welding on a four bolt coupling plate, and having brake mount flanges fitted to the axle, will allow you to have it unbraked for now, but adding brakes later is a "bolt-on" exercise.

Im currently leaning towards brake, but just an over ride mechanical system (I plan on buying a new tow car next year, well nice big diesel van actually, but i also want to be able to tow with my daily driver, so i can take the trailer with me to work or whatever when needed) hence the reason i dont want electric brakes.
The Mechanical drum brake is a really good option to set up on a trailer if you have to go over-ride, as the mount for the coupling and the mounts for the brakes on the axle are identical, which means you can upgrade to Electric brakes in the future by swapping the coupling, brake assemblies and drums, without having to remove and replace mounts on the axle.

I've worked out the enclosed box section of the trailer will be about 1700 high, and in order to fit it under my garage door, allowing for 17inch rims with 205/45 tyres, and the actual chassis itself, it only left me 100mm to play with for the "bottom of chassis to center line of axle" distance (springs, hangers, suspension travel ect).

So was thinking i should get an axle with 2 1/2inch drop stubs.
Roughly calculating, from the measurements you've stated, you'll have;
- 615mm overall tyre diameter.
- Approx 240mm centre of axle beam to ground with a 2-1/2" drop axle.
- I'm estimating just over 2100mm from ground to top of trailer, assuming 40mm chassis rails. Using a 4" drop axle will drop you another 40mm, but make sure your 'U'bolt threads aren't lower than your rims, or you'll drag them along the road if you get a flat tyre.


Dose this make sense to you 'well learned' people out there? the above statement might be complete and utter BS... in which case just laugh it of and tell me so

with average 1000kg 5leaf springs, what would be a normal "bottom of chassis to center line of axle" measurement?


Thanks guys,
Josh