Building a trailer from a Series tub

[Ranga]

I'm thinking about building a trailer for the Defender out of a Series tub. Not that I'm that mechanically minded, but I've got friends who are!

Is it as simple as picking up a complete Series vehicle, and "chopping it in half"?!

Or even unbolting it in half and chopping the chassis? Obvioulsy a drawbar would need to be attached, but would it be as simple as that?

If so, I was thinking this one might be a good start - LANDROVER - eBay 4x4 Accessories, Exterior, Car Parts, Accessories, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 23-Aug-09 20:07:13 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LANDROVER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em 14QQhashZitem3ef79d36e2QQitemZ270442247906QQptZAUQ 5fCarQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported).

I got the idea from here - New Page 1 (http://www.cqlroc.org/trailer1.htm).

Thoughts?

[snowbound]

IMO the part of he chasis most likely to be in reasdonable condition is the bit you don't need for the purpose. if however, the rear of the doner chasis is in good condition, then it would be a shame to chop it! sell the vehicle to someone who wil love it or use the money you would have spent on it to buy a pre-built trailer!

[JDNSW]

I am at the planning stage of doing this. In my view the chassis is far too heavy, although I have done this for a farm trailer.

I am planning to make a new frame to go under the tub, and also a new axle. (you are likely to find issues with registration authorities using the original axle, although there is no good reason for this).

I am planning an unbraked trailer to avoid the annual inspection, which means minimum mass is important, but less of a problem if you are making it braked.

John

[Ranga]

Maybe a new chassis/frame is the way to go, and mount the tub straight on it. If I do that, I'll probably use one of these AL-KO Australia : Vehicle Technology : Products · Axles · Independant Rubber Suspension (IRS) axles (http://www.alko.com.au/vehicle/axles/irs.html) like others have done.

How much should I pay for a decent tub?

[weeds]

foz.in.oz as made one

[Bigbjorn]

Quite a few people have done this. Anyone who goes to swap meets in SE Qld. would have seen the Land Rover tub trailer of Kevin Baker, the Lucas (and many other) electrics man. A good one was made from two Series III 88" tubs fitted together front end to front end on a tube frame and a braked axle with LR wheels.

I am with JD on this. You will be far better off measuring up and drawing a square tube frame to fit under the tub. Will be much lighter.

[JDNSW]

Quite a few people have done this. Anyone who goes to swap meets in SE Qld. would have seen the Land Rover tub trailer of Kevin Baker, the Lucas (and many other) electrics man. A good one was made from two Series III 88" tubs fitted together front end to front end on a tube frame and a braked axle with LR wheels.

I am with JD on this. You will be far better off measuring up and drawing a square tube frame to fit under the tub. Will be much lighter.

As a further comment on my plans, I intend to fit the rear section of another tub to the front of a lwb tub to have a tailgate at both ends. Also solves the problem of having a neat front.

John

[lane]

I've done this with a Rodeo ute tub, and the total mass and braking question is important, as JD has said. We went unbraked, 750kg total mass, if memory serves. We used (roughly) 40 x 20 box section mild steel and purchased a new axle, wheel hub assemblies, leaf springs, etc., from a trailer parts place and used Ford steel rims. Total cost, registered in WA, was around $1500 including $500 for the tub (which was brand new, from a ute converted to a tradie back-end). The other important issue is the requirement that your load space in front of the axle be equal to or greater than the load space behind the axle. Not sure how a Landy tub stacks up in this regard, but almost all ute tubs have the wheel arches too far forward for the purpose, and therefore to get such a thing registered as a trailer you need to add load space at the front, which is generally done by adding a large tool box on the draw-bar. Certainly putting two together as JD suggests would solve the problem, and you could go twin-axle using both wheel arches that way also.

Hope that's helpful.

Cheers,
Lane.

[discowhite]

Maybe a new chassis/frame is the way to go, and mount the tub straight on it. If I do that, I'll probably use one of these AL-KO Australia : Vehicle Technology : Products · Axles · Independant Rubber Suspension (IRS) axles (http://www.alko.com.au/vehicle/axles/irs.html) like others have done.

How much should I pay for a decent tub?


you should have a look in the trailers section... never know what you might find:eek: especially as there are now 2 tub trailers in there that ive built, one with an alko irs and one with leaf springs.....

cheers phil

[Ranga]

you should have a look in the trailers section... never know what you might find:eek: especially as there are now 2 tub trailers in there that ive built, one with an alko irs and one with leaf springs.....

cheers phil

Yours is where I got the idea for the alko irs ;)

Wanna build me one from a LWB? :angel:

[Bigbjorn]

As a further comment on my plans, I intend to fit the rear section of another tub to the front of a lwb tub to have a tailgate at both ends. Also solves the problem of having a neat front.

John

That is how the trailer made from the two 88" tubs was built. The front ends came together in the middle and there was a tailgate each end.

[3 Sisters]

I'll be selling a very tidy No5 very shortly.

[Ranga]

I'll be selling a very tidy No5 very shortly.

Keep me posted please :angel:

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

Been there, done it, got it!

Check my thread - http://www.aulro.com/afvb/trailers-vans-campers/63367-out-rolux-109-a.html

Think I have a few pics on my photobucket thingy too..... feel free!

Dont use the chassis, its way too heavy, just fab a new trailer frame or mod an old one as I did and its done.

Cheers

Andrew