SIB Trailer Progress!

MrHeadsocket · 21 February 2015, 16:23

Having been slowed down by the weather and work I have made some progress with my SIB trailer! Not much but it's on its way to becoming a half decent trailer!

Before: When I started (about 3 1/2 hours ago) it was covered in surface rust and had shoddy keel rollers and bunks on it, as well as a flat deck with no transom support or space for the keel! (See pictures)

During: it has been sanded down (as best I can, on a budget with no sander!) And mostly painted with silver hammerite and will be fully painted once the remaining holes are drilled on the uprights for the new bunks I am making. I will also tidy up the wheels and other non-painted areas!

Not finished yet but will update, I have spent less than £100 all in on this trailer. All I've bought to make it decent is:
2 x C16 timber (1 is 3m, the other is 2.4m, both are 45mm by 90mm)
1 x 4m by 3m roll of green cord carpet
2 x tin of silver hammerite (could've been 1 if I didn't spill the first everywhere)
2 x 6 pack of M8 by 75mm coach bolts
1 x 8mm HSS drill bit
1 x new jockey wheel

I have no close-ups of the trailer, but will get some when I cover it up!

MrHeadsocket · 21 February 2015, 17:31

Here are some close-ups

MrHeadsocket · 01 March 2015, 16:26

All painted now and managed to dress and fit 1 bunk! Progress will continue next weekend where it will be finished, and final adjustments made!

Peter_C · 01 March 2015, 19:53

How did you bolt the bunk down? Pre-drilled with a wood bolt? Or counter sunk and thru bolted?

Personally I would worry that the leverage applied could easily be enough to rip the bunk right off. Another cross bar in the front with stanchions should resolve any issues.

MrHeadsocket · 01 March 2015, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_C

How did you bolt the bunk down? Pre-drilled with a wood bolt? Or counter sunk and thru bolted?

Personally I would worry that the leverage applied could easily be enough to rip the bunk right off. Another cross bar in the front with stanchions should resolve any issues.

The 2 steel uprights had holes drilled into them, then the trailer was flipped and rested on the bunks for final adjustments before holes were drilled into the wood. The coach bolts were then countersunk into the wood before carpeting and then bolted onto the upright.

With regards to the leverage, we are trying to move the axle forward so the weight on the bunks is even, failing that the keel can take the weight at the front and the rest of the weight distributed

kaman · 05 March 2015, 02:25

Looks like a sturdy unit.
My only concern is the over hang the bunks have from their mounting posts - in particular forward towards the hitch??
You will know better if they are up to the job as you have had hands on and built the trailer.
Looking at the picture tho I think I would want to support the bunk at either end as those indispension units offer little in the way of shock absorption!
I use my car boot to carry my outboard and aux and pile the fishing / camping gear and provisions in the Sib thus increasing the weight borne by the bunks.
Like you mentioned a keel support may be the way to go i added one to my home made trailer.
Best of luck!

MrHeadsocket · 05 March 2015, 06:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaman

Looks like a sturdy unit.
My only concern is the over hang the bunks have from their mounting posts - in particular forward towards the hitch??
You will know better if they are up to the job as you have had hands on and built the trailer.
Looking at the picture tho I think I would want to support the bunk at either end as those indispension units offer little in the way of shock absorption!
I use my car boot to carry my outboard and aux and pile the fishing / camping gear and provisions in the Sib thus increasing the weight borne by the bunks.
Like you mentioned a keel support may be the way to go i added one to my home made trailer.
Best of luck!

There is practically no suspension on this trailer sadly (I believe it was built prior to 1980!) So perhaps after hitting the road a few times to test everything I may change the suspension units to newer ones. The trailer will have a transom support as we intend to leave the engine on (we only trailer it 2 miles down 30mph roads anyway) and use a homemade transom saver. As for the keel support, I will have to check clearances first before I do, as it maybe the keel rests on the trailer anyway!

kaman · 05 March 2015, 19:34

The trailer should be well up for the short journey you described.
Your bunks look quite a bit higher than the trailer frame hence I would think some sort of padding will be required to support the keel.
My trailer never goes in the water as I dry launch using transom wheels.
I do cover large distances with the trailer and sib, with the sib loaded to the gunnels with everything from food to camping gear to even a mountain bike.
I'm very particular about the bearings in particular.
Think it goes back to 20 years ago when my old man was towing his boat along and the nearside wheel bolts sheared - wheel came off and bounced down the road overtaking the tow car.
It was not pretty!!
Look after your trailer and it will look after you - that's my philosophy.
All the best look forward to seeing the completed project!

MrHeadsocket · 05 March 2015, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaman

The trailer should be well up for the short journey you described.
Your bunks look quite a bit higher than the trailer frame hence I would think some sort of padding will be required to support the keel.
My trailer never goes in the water as I dry launch using transom wheels.
I do cover large distances with the trailer and sib, with the sib loaded to the gunnels with everything from food to camping gear to even a mountain bike.
I'm very particular about the bearings in particular.
Think it goes back to 20 years ago when my old man was towing his boat along and the nearside wheel bolts sheared - wheel came off and bounced down the road overtaking the tow car.
It was not pretty!!
Look after your trailer and it will look after you - that's my philosophy.
All the best look forward to seeing the completed project!

Last October when I got new hubs for the trailer I used non-waterproof grease as I didn't think we'd be using a slip, after 4 dunks total the grease absorbed the water, new set of bearings all round, however the bearings have been left to the elements as I broke the dust caps for them for a few months so grit etc has got in, causing bearing grumble, so I have another set of bearings and new dust covers! The SIB would only be loaded with the engine, fuel tank and any kit we can't put in the car!

The bunks do appear higher although from eye I reckon there would be about 10cm between them, so perhaps a keel support will be in order! Will keep updating as I make more progress ☺

Nightfisher · 06 March 2015, 13:08

Sorry all. Can't seem to delete this picture upload.

kaman · 06 March 2015, 14:18

My bunks are around 120 mm higher than the metalwork of the trailer.
The sib sat on the trailer ok without a keel support.
I fashioned a bunk support out of some old wood and covered it with carpet.
The keel support really makes a difference to supporting the weight of the Sib.
I'd make one even if it is just a wrap of carpet around the box section of your trailer.

Counting down till easter hols to hopefully get back out on the brine!

MrHeadsocket · 07 March 2015, 19:14

From running out of staples to shearing U-bolts, it's not 95% complete! All that remains is to finish stapling the carpet to the bunk end on the left side (ran out of staples!) And properly attach the transom saver, and a few other odds and ends and I will have a complete trailer! The uprights (the 2 at the end that slope) won't budge so I can't raise them high enough to support the transom but the bunks should be ok... I may put in a keel support as the keel rests against the trailer, but will have a look at the rest next weekend!

camelgas · 07 March 2015, 21:23

If it were mine:
I would want a carpeted bit of wood down the middle for the keel (those bolt heads are going to damage keel ), and an extra metal cross beam at the front of the bunks to take the weight on the front and stop the wooden side bunks splitting due to the leverage effect on single support.
Mudguards would be a good idea.

Doing the above would remove lots of potential problems. HTH.

PS. heat the stuck bolts to free them.

kaman · 07 March 2015, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by camelgas

If it were mine:
I would want a carpeted bit of wood down the middle for the keel (those bolt heads are going to damage keel ), and an extra metal cross beam at the front of the bunks to take the weight on the front and stop the wooden side bunks splitting due to the leverage effect on single support.
Mudguards would be a good idea.

Doing the above would remove lots of potential problems. HTH.

PS. heat the stuck bolts to free them.

I'll second everything mentioned above.

MrHeadsocket · 07 March 2015, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by camelgas

If it were mine:
I would want a carpeted bit of wood down the middle for the keel (those bolt heads are going to damage keel ), and an extra metal cross beam at the front of the bunks to take the weight on the front and stop the wooden side bunks splitting due to the leverage effect on single support.
Mudguards would be a good idea.

Doing the above would remove lots of potential problems. HTH.

PS. heat the stuck bolts to free them.

I will be doing the keel support next weekend, I will have a think about the bunk support and may well add it in. As for the mudguards I will get a pair and fit them. Thank you for the suggestions!