Thread: Gav's 101.

Originally Posted by Sitec

Re chain, not sure where you stand in Vic, but here in SA there are two sizes, both of which are rated... Be worth looking into rather than welding some lifting chain on then having to cut it off again!!

Have a look at the VSI in my link. Basically, it says the chain must be able to withstand the rated towing capacity of the drawbar. It mentions nothing about being ADR approved.

Originally Posted by juddy

I have to put those safety chain on my Sankey, easy job? what chains do we have to use, do they have to be ADR approved?

Where did you mount them?

They are welded to the bottom front of the drawbar. I'll take some pics in the morning.

As Mick has mentioned there is no ADR requirement for the chains in Vic - not sure about other states. The chain I have used is a heavy chain we use as safety chain on our larger trailers at work. We use 2 sizes - a really thin weedy looking chain for the 6x4's and 8x5's and this thicker chain for everything from there up to 2 tonne. Not sure what it is but we have 100's of trailers registered with this chain on them, so I'm not expecting any dramas.

It was a straight forward job welding them on - you have to weld greater than 50% of the link, and allow the link attached to it to move freely.

Compared to the chains I've seen on a lot of factory made trailers, these will do the job fine.

The pics will tell the story when I post them.

Here's some pics of the chains and how I have attached them to the 101. I need to shorten the chains by a couple of links as the regulations state that the draw bar must not hit the ground if the trailer comes off the hitch. I tried it and it just touches, so a link or two shorter will work well.





These plates are just some 5mm gal brackets from Bunnings with a hole drilled in each end. They bolt straight in with the bolts that hold the hitch plate on. Took 5 minutes to fit, no modifications required and you can't see them unless you go looking for them.

Very neat. Is that a half tonne Sankey or the bigger Rapier trailer? I liked the style of Micks trailer, saw some pics of it on here with a decent looking trailer tent assy atop of it..

If this trailer is going to NSW do you actually need to register it Vic - would a permit suffice?

In all jurisdictions the chains have to be rated chain - not sure of the specifics but the rating has to be high enough to cover the load (obviously).

Garry

No, it will need full reg. NSW Police Officers take great delight in booking Victorians for non compliant trailers. Technically it needs to be registered in Vic too, but I would be unlucky to get pinged for it down here as it is smaller than a 6x4 but its tare weight exceeds 250Kg, so it needs rego. It is only $28 a year I think, so no killer there.

Chain wise, the only 'rating' it requires in Vic is that it must be able to hold 1.5 times the full weight of the trailer. As mentioned, not worried about the chain - it is the same chain we use on hundreds of trailers in all States and Territories in Aus - I'm sure we would have a rating certificate somewhere at work if this is an issue with Vicroads, but I doubt it.

Originally Posted by Sitec

Very neat. Is that a half tonne Sankey or the bigger Rapier trailer? I liked the style of Micks trailer, saw some pics of it on here with a decent looking trailer tent assy atop of it..

I believe it is a 3/4 tonne Sankey - that's what I have been told anyway. It is in very good condition as the PO had it fully and professionally rebuilt. He admitted he paid way too much to have that done, but his loss, as it came with the 101.

I use it for camping and it has 2 batteries in there that charge off the auxiliary supply on the trailer plug, the Engel, the spare tyres for the 101 and trailer, as well as other lighter, bulky items like my big camping chairs, etc. easy to tow, but I can't see the bloody thing in my mirrors - ebay to the rescue there, as I have just ordered a cheap reversing camera that clips onto the rear view mirror so I will be able to see it and what is behind me much better.

There is also another trailer type by Sankey which looks the same but is wider in track. It's known as a "wide track Sankey". Yes, it's a bit difficult to understand why they call it that. I think the 101's towed those in the UK.
AJ had one of them for sale last I saw. I think he is open to offers.
The Rapier trailer is a very different beast. Apparently, the Australian Rapier trailers have various modifications.
My camper trailer is an Australian manufactured Track otherwise referred to as a "RAAF Track Tactical". Track trailers made a civvy version which Mallee Fowl has one. I must visit and take lots of photo's of it.
Track currently make a different civvy version which is redesigned to suit Landcruisers. Starting price, around $20,000.