Spot the deliberate mistake...

Trailer Guy · 30 October 2012, 15:36

Dropped a dust cap off to remove the drum, for a pre-service inspection, anyone notice what's missing?....

incredibly this trailer had been towed from Poole to Warsash like that and then to and fro, from the chaps' house to the slip and the dry stack. I think the only reason it didn't unwind itself was due to the fact that it's the offside wheel. Amazing really.

The chap who owns it was assured, on purchasing the RIB and trailer that it had all been sorted and the trailer was fine. Some people are naughty. This guy could really have come a cropper.

He phoned me to service it and said that the brakes didn't seem to be working very well. When I dropped the drum off (brake cables were still in situ) we found out why they weren't working too well....

PeterM · 30 October 2012, 16:02

You can see why police do spot checks on trailers !

I feel its all too common for this stuff to happen regularly...

Ian M · 30 October 2012, 16:37

Some people have no morals

mick · 30 October 2012, 16:49

Now that is taking the p--s

captnjack · 30 October 2012, 17:01

I'm not seeing where the pic was removed. Looks like it was never installed in the first place.

PeterM · 30 October 2012, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

I'm not seeing where the pic was removed. Looks like it was never installed in the first place.

much like everything else inside the drum....

Leapy · 30 October 2012, 17:22

One for your rogues gallery

uncle al · 30 October 2012, 17:47

name them and shame them, someone could have got killed

captnjack · 30 October 2012, 18:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

much like everything else inside the drum....

I can't tell are the bearings missing??

Nasher · 30 October 2012, 18:09

Who needs a split pin when you have that much rust holding it on.

Nasher

Trailer Guy · 30 October 2012, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by captnjack

I can't tell are the bearings missing??

This is what it should look like in there sir. As you can see, everything's missing, but the brake cables were left in place, so, from the outside, it looked like the brakes were fitted and working.

It's tempting uncle al, but not sure that's my place. Agree with everyone's sentiment though - it's bloody dangerous. This is a big, twin axle Snipe, with a GVW of 2000kg. Only one drum had brakes inside, which didn't work either, as the cable had seized in it's sleeve and the shoes had delaminated, wedging themselves between what was left of the shoe carriers and the drum face.

And you're right PeterM - I see this on a pretty regular basis. I pray for the day that they bring in compulsory MOTs / checks on trailers and caravans. The crazy thing is, if this customer said, "don't worry about it" (which he wouldn't as he's quite plainly smart and aware of the implications) I'd have no choice but to just put the drum back on and let him carry on with the trailer in this state.

One day we'll catch up with the rest of the modern world when it comes to trailers. I'll be long gone by then though!

LURCHER · 30 October 2012, 18:45

Ben,
I suspect that if you put it back together in an unroadworthy state you would lay yourself open to a liability claim as the last person to work on it , either insist on rectification or walk away leaving the parts disassembled .

Trailer Guy · 30 October 2012, 19:52

Hmmm, that's a good point Lurcher. I have to admit, with the way the world isn't the moment, I think you've made a valid statement there. Think I may have to look at drafting out some T&Cs. Not the way I like to do things, I'm rather old fashioned really. A man's handshake is his bond and I invoice people on completion with the expectation they'll do the right thing. Such is life now, I guess, that you have to prepare for the worst!

wavelength · 31 October 2012, 11:11

Hi T.G.
Seen a wheel come off at speed from a dive club boat trailer due to a failed split pin. Nearside wheel unwinding the nut and the complete wheel and hub (with the dust cap still on and holding all the loose bits inside it) overtake the car, cross both carriageways on a dual carriageway road and bouncing to windscreen level when it left the central reservation. Flew through a rare gap in the traffic and went straight through a thorn hedge on the far side of the road. From a following vehicle the incident all seemed to play out in slow motion...scary stuff!
Whilst it would be difficult to put a case against MoTs for trailers having regard to the safety issues it would only say the trailer was correct at the time of testing and I've seen more than a few dangerously unroadworthy cars with a certificate only a few days old let alone a trailer that is being dunked in salt water. I would rather pray, if I were of that persuasion, for trailer manufacturers to fit parts to boat trailers that are suitable for the purpose and resistant in some way to salt water corrosion. Mild steel (or whatever it is) brake shoes with auto reverse mechs are going to rust and seize when dropped into in salt water. Bonded on linings are going to fall off the metal shoe when rust creeps between them. The back plate rusts causing increased friction as they get pitted, the shoes dont move properly and the adjusters rust up. Cables seize when seawater collects in them(although s/s ones help) and become inoperative.
I know I have towed trailers on which the brakes have seized up and most who use trailers in the sea will have also done so at some time...although maybe unwittingly.

9D280 · 31 October 2012, 14:18

There is also an argument for getting a flush system fitted. I removed my wheel a couple of weeks ago for a check, and the mechanism (now 4 years old) is still operational & remarkably good nick considering the salt water dunks it's had. To makle it even easier, I have arranged the flush hose such that there is a Hoselock connector that feeds both, so as soon as I have finished wioth the engine, I can sewap the hose to the hubs in seconds.

Having said that, I tow every time I launch, so making sure it has a good fresh water flush after each recovery removes the salt, and the resulting dampness inside is dried out on the trip home by the heat generated from stopping.

Interestingly, I also have nylocks on mine instead of the split pin. (as supplied by Knott) Suffice to say I have a stock of them for moments like a couple of weeks ago!

jwalker · 31 October 2012, 18:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelength

........Whilst it would be difficult to put a case against MoTs for trailers having regard to the safety issues it would only say the trailer was correct at the time of testing and I've seen more than a few dangerously unroadworthy cars with a certificate only a few days old let alone a trailer that is being dunked in salt water. I would rather pray, if I were of that persuasion, for trailer manufacturers to fit parts to boat trailers that are suitable for the purpose and resistant in some way to salt water corrosion. Mild steel (or whatever it is) brake shoes with auto reverse mechs are going to rust and seize when dropped into in salt water. Bonded on linings are going to fall off the metal shoe when rust creeps between them. The back plate rusts causing increased friction as they get pitted, the shoes dont move properly and the adjusters rust up. Cables seize when seawater collects in them(although s/s ones help) and become inoperative.
I know I have towed trailers on which the brakes have seized up and most who use trailers in the sea will have also done so at some time...although maybe unwittingly.

I agree, the manufacturers are to blame and it's about time they did something about it IMHO. Even when one buys galvanized suspension units, only the outer part, the casing, is galvanized and the rest is left simply painted or cadmium plated, neither of which is much use in salt water.

Trailer Guy · 31 October 2012, 18:44

Currently mucking around with a retro-fit disc brake system (Bramber brought one out, but it wasn't hugely successful and now trying to get parts for it is a complete pita), on a shoe string budget. It needs to be auto reverse, which causes the headache....

perhaps i should approach dragon's den

jeepster · 31 October 2012, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

Currently mucking around with a retro-fit disc brake system (Bramber brought one out, but it wasn't hugely successful and now trying to get parts for it is a complete pita), on a shoe string budget. It needs to be auto reverse, which causes the headache....

perhaps i should approach dragon's den

Not sure if you have found a suitable auto reverse solution yet TG but I would be happy to work on the problem with you as I have also thought about retro fitting disc brakes to my 1100kg capacity Knott caravan axle, but its a fairly daunting task on my own.

Leapy · 31 October 2012, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trailer Guy

... disc brake system (Bramber brought one out, but it wasn't hugely successful and now trying to get parts for it is a complete pita)

Jeez, it was an option when we bought a trailer a couple of years back. Was interested as all the working are visible, but the price:

Glad I didn't

Leapy · 31 October 2012, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepster

I would be happy to work on the problem with you as I have also thought about retro fitting disc brakes to my 1100kg capacity Knott caravan axle, but its a fairly daunting task on my own.

Could be, er, interesting