Caravan, SIB and Trailer

Steve509926 · 01 July 2021, 15:51

For the past 12 months when we've been away for any length of time in the caravan, we've put Redneck on the roof of the truck. I know it's not the way most people envisage transporting a SIB, but for us it has worked very well not having to inflate/deflate every day for a week or so. It's very convenient and saves setting up/packing away time.
BUT! on our last trip to Scotland Diane hinted (in that way women can make a hint sound like an ultimation) that a different solution had to be found, because she was finding it heavy going. Hence my recent search and questions, https://www.rib.net/forum/f50/road-legal-trailer-adaptation-86322.html, about trailers.
I eventually found the ideal trailer. It is big enough for Redneck, will easily accept bunks and most importantly will break down into parts that will fit into the caravan and the back of the Navara with only 12 bolts (excluding wheel studs) to undo.
The idea is to set up the trailer when we are on the caravan site, use it for the duration of the holiday, then pack everything away to come home.
Im hoping it works the way I think it will, if not there could be a trailer for sale on Ribnet!

Fenlander · 01 July 2021, 16:02

Takes a bit of settling to what works best for you and the family. We tried the rooftop idea at home on the drive and in theory it was just doable but it needed all hands on deck at the moment I wanted to get the SIB off the roof... if that happened to coincide with Mrs F dog walking... getting a coffee... etc then the plan failed. At least I can manhandle the SIB out of the car and inflate single handed. In the same way you should be able to set up trailer and SIB with minimal assistance.

Brinormeg · 01 July 2021, 17:13

https://youtu.be/yfXmgwz6hBY

Came across this on YouTube when thinking along the same lines as you while waiting for everythimg to come.

For my potential main use.....I've got a few options to launch within 20 minutes away which i can see becoming a hassle folding everything up and down, along with the weight of everything.
But a small lightweght trailer with the added bonus of being able to dismantle and put in shed along with sib ob etc over the winter, might well be an option for us later.

Is this your actual set up you have now in the pics steve? Will be interested to follow your experiences with it. Weight limits. How it tows etc as time goes by.

Steve509926 · 01 July 2021, 18:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

https://youtu.be/yfXmgwz6hBY
Is this your actual set up you have now in the pics steve? Will be interested to follow your experiences with it. Weight limits. How it tows etc as time goes by.

Yep, this is the set up now as in the pics.

I bought it as a used base road trailer. The guy wanted to keep the launching trailer for his sailing dinghy which suited me. He'd kept it in a barn for the past 13 years on blocks so as not to flat spot the tyres! so it's in great condition.

The struts for the bunks are similar to these:-

https://strutchannelsdirect.com/41-x-41-1-5mm-slotted-channel-3m/

I've got a mate who has an engineering company so he made the struts up for me.
The bunks are cls and 4x2, painted and covered with a strip of Diane's yoga mat! I'm sure she won't mind

Took it for a 20 mile run, A & B roads and on the M6. Pulled perfectly and reverses easier than the caravan. Just have to remember it's in the back of the truck

Steve509926 · 04 July 2021, 14:33

The collapsed trailer fits into the caravan better than I thought it would.

West Wales here we come

Steve509926 · 14 July 2021, 20:53

It's been amusing seeing peoples faces as they walk past the caravan this afternoon.
They left the site this morning passing just a caravan and truck.
"Where the hell did the boat and trailer come from!"
Quite a few people have asked if I drove home to pick up the "boat" and trailer,they can't seem to comprehend when I explain we brought both with us.

Fenlander · 14 July 2021, 21:41

Fantastic solution for you... I forget where now... Wales possibly?

Brinormeg · 14 July 2021, 22:26

Great the new setup is working out for you.

Steve509926 · 14 July 2021, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Fantastic solution for you... I forget where now... Wales possibly?

Yes David, Wales it is.
West Wales last week, some really good places to launch a SIB at all states of tide with transom wheels (obvious sore point!). New Quay, Llangrannog and Tresaith in this part of West Wales probably being the best and easiest IMO, and just really nice places to be. All of them have parking problems, but once you know where, how and when it's realativly easy.
The Dolphins around New Quay are just amazing, swimming around and under the Redneck, but just to fast to get any pictures.
The Gower this week. Not the easiest of places to get on the water, not only due to the huge tide range, but also a lack of places to launch.
Port Eynon - a lovely place but I wouldn't want to launch there. Low tide exposes a minefield of sharp rocks, I think the fact that the Port Eynon Boat Club boat park is empty tells its own story. It's also bloody expensive and difficult to get things sorted, Swansea Council just appear to be wanting to take as much money as they can from everyone. Knab Rock at The Mumbles - again not the easiest to get things sorted. The guy at the slip today just refused unless I had registered the SIB with Swansea Council, can't do this on the day.
Oxwich Bay is a private beach and slip. £16 for the truck, trailer and to launch with the added bonus that it is a beautiful bay. Back there again tomorrow.

Steve509926 · 14 July 2021, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brinormeg

Great the new setup is working out for you.

Just need to get the bloody transom wheels sorted now Brian, then I'll be happy.

Steve509926 · 29 August 2021, 15:49

I've made a few adjustments/alterations to my trailer so as to make launching and recovery as easy as possible.

I've added a winch and post to make recovery less arduous - Diane was impressed that I colour coordinated the webbing strap to match the wheels

I've increased the height of the struts on the bow bunk by 250mm and reduced the height of the struts under the tubes so as to create an angle so the SIB will naturally slid off and on. However, there is still a considerable amount of friction between the bunks and the tubes.
I'm sure I've read that someone on here has used HDPE sheet on the bunks. Does it work? Does it reduce the friction? I'm presuming you can't glue HDPE, so is it a mechanical fix?

jeffstevens763@g · 29 August 2021, 16:00

HDPE has a low friction value but doesn’t glue very well it’s surface is oily for want of a better word better getting it thick enough to screw down IMO

https://www.directplastics.co.uk/uhmwpe-sheet

This site has all the info on sheet engineering plastics steve

Steve509926 · 29 August 2021, 16:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

HDPE has a low friction value but doesn’t glue very well it’s surface is oily for want of a better word better getting it thick enough to screw down IMO

https://www.directplastics.co.uk/uhmwpe-sheet

This site has all the info on sheet engineering plastics steve

Thanks Jeff

TmMorris · 29 August 2021, 16:07

Hi Steve. When setting up my trailer I also lowered the rear supports as far as I could to obtain an angle. The bunks on mine have a cloth covering and I had been pondering whether to simply spray them with silicone. I can't see that it would do any harm to the boat?

jeffstevens763@g · 29 August 2021, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by TmMorris

Hi Steve. When setting up my trailer I also lowered the rear supports as far as I could to obtain an angle. The bunks on mine have a cloth covering and I had been pondering whether to simply spray them with silicone. I can't see that it would do any harm to the boat?

Tim silicon will soak into the boat fabric preventing a solid repair

Steve509926 · 29 August 2021, 20:17

10mm HDPE sheet ordered, thanks for the info Jeff.

jeffstevens763@g · 29 August 2021, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

10mm HDPE sheet ordered, thanks for the info Jeff.

Steve just for info I’ve done quite a bit with HDPE if you want to form a leading edge so there’s no sharp edges you can bend it with an heat gun same if you want to have the bunk convex so the full edge drops away to prevent chafe I know you work with timber so heating the HDPE up and clamping it down to get the shape will be easy for you

TmMorris · 29 August 2021, 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Tim silicon will soak into the boat fabric preventing a solid repair

That would be a good reason! I'm supposed to have been a chemist at some distant moment in my life and never knew silicon would get absorbed by pvc.

Lard?

Steve509926 · 29 August 2021, 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Steve just for info I’ve done quite a bit with HDPE if you want to form a leading edge so there’s no sharp edges you can bend it with an heat gun same if you want to have the bunk convex so the full edge drops away to prevent chafe I know you work with timber so heating the HDPE up and clamping it down to get the shape will be easy for you

Cheers Jeff, I was just going to route a radius on all upper edges but if I can form a leading edge curve I think that would be much smoother.
Did you just use heat to form the radius or did you also cut a few slots in the inner radius?

Brinormeg · 29 August 2021, 23:41

Just bought a few of bits off ebay and was trying to work with it today for the first time to make a slide for my transducer...

Great to work with in some ways although hdpe is slightly softer than some other plastics available.
But bloody hell I can certainly confirm its slippy nature. I tried to clamp it to a bench with 3 good quality clamps to cut with my jig saw against a straight edge as I would a piece of wood. Ruined 2 small sheets of it before I gave up and just used the handsaw because the vibration of the jig saw was enough to keep moving everything and ruining my cuts.