Thread: Current side projects

Finally got the float to the point where it is drivable on the road. U know lights, guards etc... Took it to the weigh bridge, 840 KG.

Rule 1 to trailer building: always recheck wheel nuts before the maiden voyage. No the wheel didnt overtake me, but there were some loose wheel nuts to deal with on my travels.

The electric brakes work a treat, once of course some fine tuning of the brake controller was done on a back road. Who says u cant smoke up the tyres under braking on a trailer? Although I recon once a horse is loaded some more tweaking will be required.

Tows well and I recon I will sneek in under 2 tonnes with a couple of horses in the back.

Next one is off to do battle at the RTA.

Think I got all the fiddly stuff sorted: reflectors, side clearance/number plate lites. When I registered the 10 x 5 tandem, some goose at the RTA made me put orange side reflectors on it. Made it under having to put side clearance lites on by 20 mm.

Think I got all the fiddly stuff sorted: reflectors, side clearance/number plate lites. When I registered the 10 x 5 tandem, some goose at the RTA made me put orange side reflectors on it. Made it under having to put side clearance lites on by 20 mm.[/quote]

Thats Victoria for you! I registered a large enclosed bike trailer in Vic had clearance lights and had to fit reflectors, go figure. I like the different rules around Oz, have to pay reg for private 6x4 here in QLD but not in Vic.

Originally Posted by shallis2

Thats Victoria for you! I registered a large enclosed bike trailer in Vic had clearance lights and had to fit reflectors, go figure. I like the different rules around Oz, have to pay reg for private 6x4 here in QLD but not in Vic.

Actually, they are National Regulations for building small trailers, including how many lights and reflectors a trailer must have, and where they go. Clearance lights won't help other drivers see your trailer at night, parked on the side of the road.

I agree with you on the different rules around the country though... but it used to be worse. Previously, if you were towing a trailer from Melbourne to Brisbane that weighed over 750Kg, once you got to the NSW border, you could be booked for travelling over 80kmh, even in a 100kmh zone, until you got to the QLD border. Go figure.
And... while you were travelling through NSW, you were considered over weight if the trailer weighed more than your tow vehicle, even though in Vic & QLD you could have 1-1/2 times the weight of your tow vehicle.


However, down here you don't have to register a box trailer only if you comply with 4 requirements;
1) The trailer is used for private use only, not commercially. (Fairly straight forward)
2) The trailer must not be londer than 10', including drawbar. (Most 5x3's and 6x4's)
3) The trailer must not weigh more than 200kg empty. (Good luck...)
4) The trailer must not be wider than the tow vehicle. (This is a good one... The same trailer towed unregistered behind a Commodore or Falcon, must be registered when towed behind a Mini...???)

But then again, for around $30.00 a year, why wouldn't you register your trailer in Victoria?

Originally Posted by jatt

Rule 1 to trailer building: always recheck wheel nuts before the maiden voyage. No the wheel didnt overtake me, but there were some loose wheel nuts to deal with on my travels.

Lucky!!!

The electric brakes work a treat, once of course some fine tuning of the brake controller was done on a back road. Who says u cant smoke up the tyres under braking on a trailer? Although I recon once a horse is loaded some more tweaking will be required.

What controller do you have?
There's terrific, average, and down right dangerous. And the later comes from a reputable towbar manufacturer, who should just stick to towbars!!

Tows well and I recon I will sneek in under 2 tonnes with a couple of horses in the back.

Next one is off to do battle at the RTA.

Think I got all the fiddly stuff sorted: reflectors, side clearance/number plate lites. When I registered the 10 x 5 tandem, some goose at the RTA made me put orange side reflectors on it. Made it under having to put side clearance lites on by 20 mm.

You must have had wide guards on it!! You only need side (red/amber) clearance lights over 7' wide. A 10 x 5 with 9" std guards is only 6' 6"...
However, you should have either white front lights, or red/amber side lights on anything over 5' 3" (1600mm) wide, which includes all 6x4's. Once the trailer is over 7' (2100mm) wide, you're required to have white front and red/amber side lights.

Brake controller: Tekonsha from memory. got me thinkin. Must have a look in the ute.

The chassis rails are 1650 wide, havent bothered measuring it with guards. Must admit I spent a lotta time looking at commercially built units. The 2 horse floats all seem to have em, so I did the same. Taking it to the RTA today for rego.

The tandem has got white lights on the front. Must admit I bought the 10 x 5. Had no tie off rails above the guards or tradie racks so I made some. Yes it was a relatively cheap unit, light duty. But its still good for a tonne and a bit, and I need the length as I regularly carry timber.

Thought I would do some lab testing today.

Grabbed some stuff off the bench today & thew it to the security guards. No I wasnt about to get in between them. Probably lose an arm.

Also I'm testing this resizing program I downloaded.

Originally Posted by jatt

Brake controller: Tekonsha from memory. got me thinkin. Must have a look in the ute.

That's one of the good ones.

The chassis rails are 1650 wide, havent bothered measuring it with guards. Must admit I spent a lotta time looking at commercially built units. The 2 horse floats all seem to have em, so I did the same. Taking it to the RTA today for rego.

The reg's for the lights are for overall width, not just chassis. And for the record, your standard width guards will be 9" (230mm) wide, which puts your float at 2110mm overall width.

The tandem has got white lights on the front. Must admit I bought the 10 x 5. Had no tie off rails above the guards or tradie racks so I made some. Yes it was a relatively cheap unit, light duty. But its still good for a tonne and a bit, and I need the length as I regularly carry timber.

The tie-downs are never where you want them, or the size you want.

Yeah we get some interesting things to cover here in the workshop. I guy popped in with his little 5 x 3, goffer sitting on board. Says he wants to cover it, so it doesnt get wet in transit. He had some little ramps made up so he can simply drive it on and off. Anyone who has tried to pick up a Goffer knows how heavy they can be.

Figured the easy way would be to make a bolt on frame, then get the machinist to put a ripstop cover over the top. Attach it with bungee loop (like a ute cover) at the bottom.

Made the bars rounded with the pipe bender out of 3/4 square tube, then simply welded some 3/4 between them. Nuthin complex.

Grinded and buffed back the welds, sharp edges with canvas are a no no of course. A quick hit with cold gal and we are done.

Damn thing was on the other digital camera I'm using. Floor is just some hardwood tounge & groove I got from a demo site. Once all cladding was done put some form ply and rubber over it. Horses are brutal on floors.

If anyone is planning to build their own float, dont do what I did and put treated pine slats on the loading ramp.
Their shoes soon splinter that stuff. Go straight for the hardwood.