Trailer built from Telephone exchange!

[tommo]

Hi
Really good forum excellent advice here.
Just thought i would show you my trailer i built out of galvanized bits of exchange.
These bits were outside for a good 5 years and havent corroded a bit so i figured
they would be good for a trailer for my Honwave 3.5 (as i got hacked off pretty quick with building it every time or trying to lift 73kilo onto the car roof!)
It cost me £155 for all the wheels and wood etc and because of the way it bolts together
is totally adjustable!
Works a treat!
Tommo.

[9D280]

Welcome!

Cool. Be interesting to see how it holds up after swimming in the salt, but I guess replacing bits won't be too difficult even if it doesn't.

[tommo]

Cheers.
Its all open channel metal so no water gets trapped.
Its been in and out 5 times now and there is not one sign of rust or anything yet!
But as you say its all dead easy to swap out and as long as i wash it down every time it should last me.
Recon i have save myself a few hundred quid on a new one!
Tommo

[Mattywooo]

Hello Mate,

Im a Openreach engineer in west sussex and i really need a trailer.

Do you have any plans to share ?

It looks just what im after, excellent stuff, dont let you OM see it tho !!

Thanks
Matt ...

[tommo]

Alright mate.
Aint life grand on the firm at the mo!
I am afraid i just chucked it together as i was going along.
I measured my boat width to just beyond the middle of my tubes and made sure my wooden bunks went to just passed that point.
I also angled them slightly inwards.
As long as the tubes are supported and you got something to tie the nose too you will be fine.
I just looked at lots of different trailers on the net and didnt know what i was building until i knew what bits of unistrut i could ahem borrow!
Get friendly with the contruction guys on Operate and keep your eyes open for disguarded
bits round the back of exchanges and in dark corners.
Contractors are putting up all the racking now and they dont seem to give a toss what they leave behind!
I will put some more pics up if thats helpful.
Cheers
Tommo.

[Northern Pike]

I started out with a galvanized frame that was ready for the scrap yard. Removed all the rollers etc., then started adding bits of galvanized pipe to fit the SIB on. Anything made for use in road signage or hydro/telephone line hardware is heavily galvanized for long term outdoor usage and is perfect trailer material.

[thornbackflound]

cool trailer there,looks the biz

[Mattywooo]

More pics would be good, in the exchange now but none at this site. I dont think they would appreciate a half broken exchange !!

Also if you have info where to get the wheels and stuff.

[tinker]

It looks like unistrut that you have used. You can actually buy it in stainless steel. Road vibration may be a problem though. Excellent idea.

[Fishery Pokery]

I love the idea of this, especially that it is open unlike a box section like mine that can hold water. I will definately think about this way when mine gives up the ghost.
The only thing I wonder about is how do you know how much weight it can take, as a trailer normally says so on it?
Cheers,
Geoff

[tommo]

The boat weighs just over 100k with engine etc.
The suspension units are 250k rated.
I weigh 14.5 stone and can jump up and down in the boat on the trailer without the thing bending!
All the weight is over the wheels and the balance point is spot on.
The weakest point is the neck (where the hitch is) and i can stand on that while its hitched up and it will give a bit but just bounces!
My brother has got a tender he wants taking out of the water soon that weighs alot more than my sib! so that will be the test.
The thing is quite flexy without the sib on but as soon as its on and strapped down it actually strenghthens the whole thing if you think about it!
Cheers.