Thread: Ho har's car trailer build

Originally Posted by slug_burner

<snip>
You don't need that much head on the bolt anyway.
<snip>

Oh didn't see that!

You could solve the bolt head problem by cantilevering the spring mount plate a little to the inside of the deck side rail. This would bring the shackle bolt head in line with the chassis rail, you may need a couple of webs over the stress points, but it would be the easiest solution rather than lengthening the axles.

It would however mean grinding off some of the nice welding of yours!

Ummmmmm,
Im sure you mocked it all up and it works but having the pivots parralel with the A-frame links and not perpendicular with the direction of pivot will cause big binding loads on your pivot bolts/ mounts when the trailer is tilted. I guess the tip angles are small and this may not be a problem but...

Funnily enough I learnt this lesson on my first rendition of an independent trailing arm setup on a boat trailer!!! It "worked" but the bush bind was unacceptable for long term reliability.

I agree with lotzalandy that stepping the spring mounts inboard and gussetting is the best solution to the spring vs tyre but you could always make up some spacers for the wheels rather than changing the offset?

Steve

Nice job guys ....will get a hell of a work out based on the last year of your adventures.....

cheers

Just comeback from the workshop..HH forgot the camera

Bed is on ..tilts beautifully..wheels getting changed this afternoon

Pics to follow.........

Mrs hh

excellent!
Tilt angle less than bind angle - perfect engineering!

Steve

winch support....for those times when you don't have a running vehicle and when loading item longer than the bed



Close up of locking pin on draw bar



Hitch plate..12mm thick



Clamping tread plate sheets



Red oxide after welding the sheets from underneath



view from underside of pivot on draw bar



Axel placed on top of springs, less backing plates



Backing plate and drum fitted



new ford rim width with different offset...tyre now clears spring hanger

Looking great, good that you could get the rims with a different offset!

Addit: (Below)

Originally Posted by Rangier Rover

Very nice work, as usual. I like the tilt, load sharing suspension and four wheel braking.
I'm just curious on how trailer will balance with the given axle combination position. Mine has a bad habit of going into widow mode wile going down hill with over 2 Tons on doing 90 kph. I think I may try moving the axle combination back 6".
Tony

Tony
When I modded my float (originally single axle) by fitting a second braked axle, lengthening the deck and drawbar, new ramps and even sockets for a lifting crane, I had a bit of trouble getting balance correct. My suspension set was mounted on angel irons which were in turn bolted through the chassis and I was able to slide it back and forth to get the balance correct.

Now it tows great and the four wheel electric brakes mean that you can pull up evenly no matter how much weight is on board. In an emergency the Prodigy controller means I get an emergency stop possibly even better than I can get without the trailer on board. I would never go back to an override brake system.
Diana

Very nice work, as usual. I like the tilt, load sharing suspension and four wheel braking.
I'm just curious on how trailer will balance with the given axle combination position. Mine has a bad habit of going into widow mode wile going down hill with over 2 Tons on doing 90 kph. I think I may try moving the axle combination back 6". Yours should be fine as the vehicle will be well forward on the given area.

Tony