Trailer.

Wazzajnr · 29 January 2022, 20:39

Hi all,

Been a while since I was here for various family/work reasons.
I plan to be much more ready this season than last so, the motor has had a few repairs done but one thing I would like to do this year is either purchase or fabricate a road legal but foldable/dismantleable trailer.
I have a pickup and tow a caravan. There is plenty of room in the pickup bed for the boat when dismantled along with all the other gubbins but I'm looking at getting a 435 or 485 either this season or next depending on how the house move goes.
My thinking is that hand launching that size of boat every day and building dismantling it every day will be a royal pita and lead to less use.
If we get to site, assemble then tow to waters edge from campsite it will be much more use to us.

So, questions,

1. Is there anything on the market now that will do what I want.

2. If I build my own, is suspension required/recommended for road use.

3. Can the motor stay on the boat and if so, will I need to support the leg to avoid stress on the transom to tube joints?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Fenlander · 29 January 2022, 23:45

Have a look at Steve's carrying a dismantled trailer in a caravan thread here...

https://www.rib.net/forum/f49/carava...ler-86495.html

Looks a neat solution.

Re outboard support is good... if only so you are not relying on the OBs own tilt lock.

Wazzajnr · 30 January 2022, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Have a look at Steve's carrying a dismantled trailer in a caravan thread here...

https://www.rib.net/forum/f49/carava...ler-86495.html

Looks a neat solution.

Re outboard support is good... if only so you are not relying on the OBs own tilt lock.

Thanks Fenlander, I knew I had read something before but couldn't find it.
My preference would be for a T-bar type trailer.
If I ever get some free time I'll model something up in inventor and see how strong it will be. Ideally I'd like to use ally box section and be able to fold it all together when not using it.

SoCalAngler · 30 January 2022, 17:04

subscribed.....I also tow a travel trailer (term used in US for caravans) with my pickup. Plan on raft being set up and taken down at campsites. Looking for same/similar solutions to getting boat/motor to launch ramp......besides setting up and taking down each time in parking lot adjacent to ramp.

Wazzajnr · 30 January 2022, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalAngler

subscribed.....I also tow a travel trailer (term used in US for caravans) with my pickup. Plan on raft being set up and taken down at campsites. Looking for same/similar solutions to getting boat/motor to launch ramp......besides setting up and taking down each time in parking lot adjacent to ramp.

I will look into it in more detail and if I come up with a suitable design, I will hapilly share the plans with the forum.

SoCalAngler · 30 January 2022, 19:05

What I have considered to this point.....

Weight and size..... to fit my truck bed (2M x 1.2M) are very important.
Safety, reliability, and ease of set up also important.

1. Launch wheels already on boat.....substantial enough to trailer to launch ramp (1.6km or less)? Scary thought of losing boat on road....this is my least favorite option

2. Folding trailer made from 2x4 douglass fir wood or aluminum extrusion and inflatable wheels? 2" coupler to connect to trucks hitch. Perhaps launch wheels can be adapted for this and serve double duty?

3. PITA option but safe, reliable, and works every time! Set-up and tear down each day while camping...sometimes 5 days at one campground. I have an HD alu floor that weighs around 20 kilos so it takes some work to set up and tear down.

4. ?????

Steve509926 · 30 January 2022, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazzajnr

Hi all,

Been a while since I was here for various family/work reasons.
I plan to be much more ready this season than last so, the motor has had a few repairs done but one thing I would like to do this year is either purchase or fabricate a road legal but foldable/dismantleable trailer.
I have a pickup and tow a caravan. There is plenty of room in the pickup bed for the boat when dismantled along with all the other gubbins but I'm looking at getting a 435 or 485 either this season or next depending on how the house move goes.
My thinking is that hand launching that size of boat every day and building dismantling it every day will be a royal pita and lead to less use.
If we get to site, assemble then tow to waters edge from campsite it will be much more use to us.

So, questions,

1. Is there anything on the market now that will do what I want.

2. If I build my own, is suspension required/recommended for road use.

3. Can the motor stay on the boat and if so, will I need to support the leg to avoid stress on the transom to tube joints?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Hi Wazzajnr,

1. I looked high & low for a manufacturer of a road legal folding trailer to no avail. There was company in ??Blackburn/Darwin? ? that made them but has since closed down. There is a member on RIBnet who has built one and did talk about going into business, but I've not heard from him since.

2. Indespension/rubber suspension is more than adequate for a SIB. I looked at building my own, but legislation at the time and cost didn't make it viable against adapting an existing sailing dinghy trailer.

3. For the short distances I use the trailer, from caravan site to launch, max 10 mile, I leave the OB on the transom. Leg down and strapped up.

I'm only down the road from you, so if you want to take a look at my trailer, pm me.

Wazzajnr · 30 January 2022, 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Wazzajnr,

1. I looked high & low for a manufacturer of a road legal folding trailer to no avail. There was company in ??Blackburn/Darwin? ? that made them but has since closed down. There is a member on RIBnet who has built one and did talk about going into business, but I've not heard from him since.

2. Indespension/rubber suspension is more than adequate for a SIB. I looked at building my own, but legislation at the time and cost didn't make it viable against adapting an existing sailing dinghy trailer.

3. For the short distances I use the trailer, from caravan site to launch, max 10 mile, I leave the OB on the transom. Leg down and strapped up.

I'm only down the road from you, so if you want to take a look at my trailer, pm me.

Thanks for the replies, I might just take you up on the offer of a look at yours.
I'm working away for the next two weeks then I'm on holiday for a week but I'll try and get over for a look after that.
I'll message you closer to the time.
Many thanks

Paul

Wazzajnr · 30 January 2022, 20:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalAngler

What I have considered to this point.....

Weight and size..... to fit my truck bed (2M x 1.2M) are very important.
Safety, reliability, and ease of set up also important.

1. Launch wheels already on boat.....substantial enough to trailer to launch ramp (1.6km or less)? Scary thought of losing boat on road....this is my least favorite option

2. Folding trailer made from 2x4 douglass fir wood or aluminum extrusion and inflatable wheels? 2" coupler to connect to trucks hitch. Perhaps launch wheels can be adapted for this and serve double duty?

3. PITA option but safe, reliable, and works every time! Set-up and tear down each day while camping...sometimes 5 days at one campground. I have an HD alu floor that weighs around 20 kilos so it takes some work to set up and tear down.

4. ?????

I certainly wouldn't tow it on launch wheels, that's likely to rip the transom off at the first pothole.

Wooden trailer strong enough is likely to be very heavy and impossible to build dismantle when swollen from getting wet.

My material preferred choice for this project will be ally box section or if that proves too weak, I might go for stainless box section.

Steve509926 · 30 January 2022, 20:59

Hi Paul,

Link to the Chris Winwoods post. Don't know what ever happened to his trailer.

https://www.rib.net/forum/f64/newbie...ler-84723.html

Send me a pm if you want to take a look, I'm flexible on time.

knube1 · 18 February 2022, 10:11

do a search for the one i built, works really well.