Thread: Starting to build car trailer

the main rails are 150x504mm RHS the cross members are 100x50x3mm RHS sitting on 100x75mm angle due to the single mounting point of suspension dropped two cross members out to keep weight down without dropping strength, looking at a pooch deck same as what car transporters use will leave centre open again in keeping weight down am mounting a Toyota spare wheel carrier behind suspension still have to add bracing for under deck and may make up alloy centres that can drop in if needing a flat deck, again keeping options open.


Any one know a good painter as I cannot paint it at my place but that will be next year also will have a winch but this will be a clip on set up so if not needed it stays off, will get proper handbrake cables made with an outer sleeve and with adjustments have all the imfo just get the final measurements and send off details.

draw bar is 150x50x4mm RHS with bracing plate below tow coupling and cross member which is 100x50x3mm, the rear stands can be removed again this will remove some weight have alloy guards to fit.


Once it is together will find the centre of gravity or pivot point and mark this on chassis, sort out the break away with a remote battery monitor which is needed for NSW one that turns on brake lights as well which is something my boat trailer does not do.

serious jockey wheel Stevo,,,

yep it is rated for 250 plus kgs, can use it to lift the front up to adjust the angle of trailer ramps for low cars if needed.

Well done with it Steve. I'd never heard of pooch plate, just googled it and it looks like a good idea. We have always used Checker, but that looks like an alternative.

Not sure re painters. We get sandblasted and powdercoated, but you may find even a smash repairers (There used to be some at the bottom of Pioneer Ave Thornleigh in the ally) can do a wet spray. I think there are a few galvanisers in Sydney also which is a pretty economical way of doing it if they don't drill the life out of everything.

I hope you've figured out how to seal the angle iron to the underside of the chassis, looks like a ripper rust trap to me. My home built lightweight car trailer is 37 years old and the only rust damage I've had to repair is in a couple of places similar to that.

the ramps are done and got them galvanised have recessed the tail lights into the box section used 4 mm box on that side so should be strong enough pins through ramps will make it easy to take off ramps if needed plus lights in back beam for when ramps are off, will have it so number plate can be mounted with ramp pin.

have bulk head Duetch plugs for plugging in ramp lights.

Well after having a break over Xmas time to get back into it, wiring mostly done and all inside chassis rails apart from along draw bar which goes into a junction box then into rails left and right.

Ramps mounted these are adjustable in width when loading sitting spare wheel underneath I think this is final position, started welding in tie down points mudguards only sitting in place as suspension only tacked in till drawbar gets welded in then will see what tow ball weight is thinking of around 100 kg empty.

will measure up things to get handbrake cable made up with inner cable and outer cover, also measure up for pooch decking might look at sitting it on nylon pads across the cross members have sorted out mounting method.

Great looking trailer and excellent workmanship.
May I as what sort of coin you are looking at with the finished product?

Cheers, Mick.