ultimate trailer board!

[iandl]

Originally Posted by JSP

Before Rogue Wave turns around and tells us that's what it's all about can I ask how you'll run the wire to the lights? Will they run inside the trailer?

they'll get cable tied to the swinging tube with a bit of slack where it swings to allow the rotation...then get run to a junction box then out the jb to the car socket

wiring bits easy


I

[JSP]

Originally Posted by iandl

they'll get cable tied to the swinging tube with a bit of slack where it swings to allow the rotation...then get run to a junction box then out the jb to the car socket

wiring bits easy


I

This looks very well thought out and if your seat build thread is anything to go by it will turn out to be the Muts nuts.
Any chance of designing one that doesn't need welding, will take me an afternoon to make and cost less than 50 quid?

[Chris]

Whats wrong with a pair of these. I have a pair of these and they fit perfectly into the cradles either side of the trailer where the light board normally sits on the extendable bars then just pull the stretch band over them to fix them in place.

Then just hang the number plate of the back of the boat.

These are cheaper and not guaranteed waterproof although I have dunked mine loads of times with no problems. they are fully sealed units so I can't see where water would ever get in.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LED-Truck-Trai...713.m153.l1262

Or these are more expensive but are guaranteed waterproof

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LED-Truck-Trai...QQcmdZViewItem

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Chris

Then just hang the number plate of the back of the boat.

your number plate needs to be illuminated,

[TonyC]

Originally Posted by Chris

Whats wrong with a pair of these.

Just using those lights are below the minimum required by the regs though.

Originally Posted by Polwart

your number plate needs to be illuminated,

as well you not having any Triangular reflectors, or a fog light(s) if fits only those units being used.

[Rogue Wave]

LEd's are definititely part of my plan and I'l make up the guide post solution when I'm next off shore. But I don't only tow my own trailers I do a fair bit of towing for others and that's why I wanted a universal convenient trailer board!

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by iandl

Rogue Wave ......dont know how good your fabrication skills are but I have these in my workshop for completion ....excuse the drawing ..i'm offshore and dont have cad out here

these are going to be my light mounts and doubling up as guides for when i bring the boat back in .similar to goalposts .....they mount just in front of the rear wheel .....they are telescopic cause my tubes are a bit wider than the trailer and swing up 90 degress and get locked by a pin ......in the down position they get pinned onto a supporting angle .....I am fitting mine with LEDs, i wanted to swing them upwards so they are clear of the water cause i dont trust them to be waterproof .....also might paint them orange or something similar

hope you can understand what i've drawn

I

Nice idea Ian IMO only LED's will be serviceable here as the vibration in use would mean ordinary bulbs would be us ,.. which got me thinking , wouldnt you think that vibration would be a real problem with this design ? I have found that any board slung out on its extensions takes a real beating, as it sits quite far from the axle unsupported so I would assume lights on stalks would be the same, more so with the weight of a number plate attached, what do you think ? or perhaps I havnt read your diagram correctly !

[Chris]

Originally Posted by TonyC

Just using those lights are below the minimum required by the regs though.



as well you not having any Triangular reflectors, or a fog light(s) if fits only those units being used.

I have thought about fitting a light to the number plate and will get round to it (probably when I get told to )

The reflectors are built in to the units in the second link. I just velcro one to the transom on mine.

As for fog lights you are right there are versions with a fog light included so easy enough to get the right ones. I have got a seperate one that I have not got round to fitting yet

[iandl]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

Nice idea Ian IMO only LED's will be serviceable here as the vibration in use would mean ordinary bulbs would be us ,.. which got me thinking , wouldnt you think that vibration would be a real problem with this design ? I have found that any board slung out on its extensions takes a real beating, as it sits quite far from the axle unsupported so I would assume lights on stalks would be the same, more so with the weight of a number plate attached, what do you think ? or perhaps I havnt read your diagram correctly !

Bigmuz7 ...yes as you say vibration is a problem on most trailers with the extensions(dropped a board crossing the forth bridge) ........the arms will get tied down at the very ends to minimise this ...i might add a little rubber pad to lesson it slightly .....keen to get home now and finish them ........it was the goal post/guide arms that prompted me to design something different and getting the lights mounted is a bonus

cheers

I

[treerat]

I plan to mount these on the trailer guide uprights;

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAGNETIC-TRAIL...2%7C240%3A1318

Then put a number plate on the trailer. It won't be lit but I don't trail at night, if I did I can add a small LED light under it.

Andy

[yoyo]

Ian, I like the trailer swing up lighting system very much. I do have one negative thought tho….wouldn’t the square number plate that you mention foul or even rip the toobs during a launch or recovery with a bit of wave action?

[iandl]

Originally Posted by yoyo

Ian, I like the trailer swing up lighting system very much. I do have one negative thought tho….wouldn’t the square number plate that you mention foul or even rip the toobs during a launch or recovery with a bit of wave action?

good point ......the swing up arms will be telescopic so hopefully clear the tubes ok but ....recovering in a chop there is still the possiblity of hitting ...... when i get home and finish them i'll see if something needs to be engineered out ....
I shall overcome

thanks for the observation


Ian

[Rogue Wave]

I think it's time to shake it all about now. so on the basis that the lght cluster on the arms will never be submerged and the number plate needs to be illuminated

Then why dont you simply add an ip67 3inch box to the back of the light cluster and fit a neutrik speaker socket (or whatever yu come across that's suitable) on to it running 12v through two connectors

Then put your number plate on a bit of cladding board with a wander lead and suitable plug for the 12 outlet on lighting arm.

Plug number plate board into socket and fasten said board onto pad eyes on transom

[jwalker]

Wot a lot of hassle. Just make a folding board, unclip it, coil up the cable and chuck it into the car boot. 2 minutes, max. KISS.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by jwalker

Wot a lot of hassle. Just make a folding board, unclip it, coil up the cable and chuck it into the car boot. 2 minutes, max. KISS.

Hence the magnetic ones on each arm, just pull off, roll up and throw on the floor.

[bedajim]

My mods to the trailer lights & mudguards over the winter, as I hate fixing the light board on each time and use the mud guards as steps

Led lights, number plate light and fogs, still some more side reflectors to be fitted

Jim

[Mercury]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

I've bought and thrown away a lot of trailer boards over the years and I've decided to make one that lasts forever - well at least a month!

I'm going to make it out of upvc sofitt and use led lamps higed in the middle any body got any suggestions as to any other feature for me to pimp my trailer board

Don't forget to add, "How's my driving" With your Tw*t of a neighbour's phone No. plastered all over it, then start to zigzag over all three lanes.

[RAD]

Have you seen these - http://www.thelightingboardcompany.co.uk/index.php

The ultimate wireless trailer board. I saw them at the dinghy show in March.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by RAD

Have you seen these - http://www.thelightingboardcompany.co.uk/index.php

The ultimate wireless trailer board. I saw them at the dinghy show in March.

Very smart but I couldn't force myself to pay that much on a light board. Plus easily nicked.

[Chris]

£299

Bare in mind that one of the biggest problems with trailer boards is they are constantly breaking as they get driven over, reversed into, fall off the trailer etc etc.

At £20 it was an inconvenience at £299 it would ruin your day.