Reply With QuotePluck a duck........gonna be one helluva trailer.
Electric disc? Is that electric over hydraulic?
Will be interesting what the final rate weight is.
Master
SupporterI am in WA and was looking to get a new large trailer and did not want to be towing dead metal to get the capacity I wanted, so opted to build in aluminium.
It seemed that to get Aluminium I would have to look to QLD or Vic (which would add to costs and I was time poor), so have gone down path of designing and getting engineer to review my design, check and sign off on it.
Found almost nil interest in WA trailer builders in making in aluminium, most wanted to sell me steel, or even said aluminium breaks, wears out, fatigues.........and endless list of why not to use aluminium.
I have now found a general engineering fabricator who appears to have the smarts and the willingness to make it as long as I give him plans.
Trailer conceived to be suitable for transporting furniture as I often have to relocate in remote areas every couple of years and tired of the high removal costs.
Volume approx 28M3 capacity, can accommodate a vehicle (can take a D3 easily), and can also be used to camp up at rural rodeos/events or as a caravan (albeit basic).
Trailer is 2495 wide (5mm inside max width), 5.5m cargo area, with 2.2m internal height, will be fully enclosed, with a drive up loading ramp and personal access 'caravan' security/screen doors up front on each side.
Running gear is independent triple ALKO axles with electric discs.
Can be rated at 4.5 ton capacity, but I will only licence for 3.5 cos that's all I can tow anyway.
Will have adjustable shelving system that enables stacking furniture boxes/crates (to maximize space use), but which also double as single or queen size bunk bed bases (can sleep 8).
Built in video camera on rear to vehicle to monitor following traffic. Roll out BBQ.
We are looking at <1100kgs finished. Could have saved approx 200kgs using tandem and lighter chassis, but had an 8 week wait for alternative axles (the 3 were available due to an over order, and at a good price) and I just wanted to be sure on the chassis.
Floor height will be approx 550 from road.
What experience has anybody else had with all aluminium (including chassis) trailers?
My project is now under way (as per pic), but any pointers or pitfalls gratefully received.
IMG_2633.jpg
Swaggie
Pluck a duck........gonna be one helluva trailer.
Electric disc? Is that electric over hydraulic?
Will be interesting what the final rate weight is.
Master
SupporterYes, should have clarified, electric over hydraulic, 6 x 10" discs, with the usual auto shut down option if it detaches.
had to fit 175x14's as 185 put us 10mm over-width.
The tolerances to not be over-width are pretty tight.
Chassis of 2495 with additional 2mm facing on each side (to cover chassis rails), will leave it at 2499 wide.
Took the axles as a job lot because we didn't have time to wait 2 months for a custom make.
So got 3x1450kg's axles, when I would perhaps have preferred 2x2ton axles, and about 10mm narrower.
Chassis with running gear came in at 650kg, so rest will be canopy and drawbar locker.
Still hoping for 1100kgs max.
Originally Posted by weeds
AT REST
I did a little aluminium fabrication working in a company back in the late 80's and there was one thing that stood out: you can't easily weld dirty old aluminium. Therefore you have to hope that you never get cracks that need repairing. With mild steel it's a matter of moments to scrape off the rust and whack a patch on. My steel trailer builds weighed a little over half what other peoples did, simply because of careful use of point reinforcement on not very thick walled RHS steel sections.
Swaggie
The trailer people you have spoken to have got some pretty good points with regular off the rack aluminium and I agree with them.
Just check that the general engineering fabricators actually has the smarts as opposed to telling you what you want to hear - remembering that a fabricator is not an engineer and aluminium isnt as forgiving as steel.
Cheers
Slunnie
~ Discovery II Td5 ~ Discovery 3dr V8 ~ Series IIa 6cyl ute ~ Series II V8 ute ~
Master
SupporterThe engineer who I got to review my design (and sign off on it) specialises in trailer design, and he reckoned I was perhaps 200% over Aust design requirements, but following from bee utey's point on cracks, I went for overkill so that I don't get cracks from strain because I went for minimal frame.
The fabricator does have lots of Ali welding/fabrication experience, and has made the odd specialist ali trailer, but he wasn't touching anything unless an Engineer checked and certified the design.
In the end the fabricator and I pushed back on the Engineer's reduced specs for the chassis, and made sure we retained the 30% or so extra ali in the chassis.
So I hope I never have to get any repairs done to it because (as noted) old ali is so hard to repair.
Plan on welding the chassis to a checkerplate 3mm floor and expect that will strengthen it.
Time will tell.
Fossicker
Ally trailers are definitely subject to cracking, particularly at the point where the front rests across the draw-bar. A good flexible tow bar like the Hayman Reece will help one helluva lot.
Master
SupporterThat was part of the difference we had with the design engineer, in that we wanted to have one of the chassis rails as a solid piece (no joins) running through the middle to the tow hitch area.
So that was part of the 30% extra ali we had worked into the chassis.
the other two draw bar side sections are fused into the cross rails and joined to the chassis at several points, but hopefully the extra central rail will add some resistance to stress cracking.
The main chassis rails are about 180x80 "I" section, so we are hoping we have enough metal...but with Ali who knows.
Probably have to stand the test of time, but it is still a work in progress, which has to be finished by Dec 20, because I have a 4000k move I need it for.
Swaggie
YEp, the Ali needs to be pretty big. Whats the wall thickness of the 180x80 I beam. I'm assuming also that your 3 drawbar members all sit under the chassis rather than becoming extensions of it?
Good on you for making it happen though and persisting down the right path.
Cheers
Slunnie
~ Discovery II Td5 ~ Discovery 3dr V8 ~ Series IIa 6cyl ute ~ Series II V8 ute ~
Super Moderator & CA manager
SubscriberLooks good. We use heaps of Aluminium trailers at work for a lot of small equipment like mini excavators and mini skid steers that are quite heavy, so we can keep the combination under 2,000KG - makes hiring them much easier as they only need over ride brakes. We also have some larger ones that bigger genset s sit of that gross 3,000Kg.
All made by a manufacturer here in Melbourne who make a very good product. With the abuse they cop in the Hire game, we do see cracks turn up in them - the Mechanics are trained to carefully go over them before every hire and we do see cracks turn up where the drawbar meets the trailer and where the hitch plate is welded to the draw bar. Easy fix, a quick zap with a spool gun and you’re away again. They last around 8 to 10 years before the metal is fatigued beyond repair and you can’t keep up with repairs at which point they are scrapped, but I’m talking getting used almost every day here and they are always loaded close to their limit, so with domestic use, you should get a very good run out of it. 👍
If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.
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