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Thread: Weight balancing hire car trailers.

  1. #1
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    Weight balancing hire car trailers.

    I brought home an ex Army Series III from Melbourne a fortnight ago to use as a donor for my FFR and wasn't impressed with the trailer having the wheels positioned so far back.

    Is this a requirement by Vicroads? I'm considering building my own car trailer and have been following Stevo's thread with interest.

    Starting to build car trailer

    I decided to put the weight engine forward rather than at the back but there wasn't enough tray space to balance the weight properly. I could've moved it back by a couple of feet but decided to tie it down at the front in case it moved.

    The Disco towed it well but there was a few 'interesting' moments where the trailer was trying to push the rear of the car out to the side downhill. The brakes hardly worked when empty so I wouldn't have been surprised if this was part of the problem.

    The other issue was the nose of the Disco 'nodding' over bumps and the steering starting to go vague. I know I need to replace the front shocks and possibly the front springs but I have towed bobcats weighing up to 3 ton without any handling problems. However, the bobcat had it's own purpose built trailer that was correctly balanced over the trailer wheels.

    I have attached a picture of the trailer before and after the air suspension levelled the car before tying on.

    The trailer rego label says the tare is 500kg and the GVM is 2,000kg. A soft top Series III weighs around 1,600kg IIRC so it was probably a little heavy

    I probably should've tried weighing it at the Geelong GoWeigh but I wanted to get home before dark.

    I'd appreciate advice on what I should or shouldn't have done here.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    REMLR Registrant No. 436
    LROCV Member No. 1703

    1976 RRC Suffix D
    1979 Series III GS FFR
    1980 Series III GS FFR with a Perentie RFSV tub
    1991 Discovery 1 3.5 V8 3 door
    1993 Discovery 1 200Tdi 3 door
    1993 Defender 110 200Tdi ute

  2. #2
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    You probably should have put the Landrover on backwards.

    Oh, the further back the wheels, the better they tow.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh View Post
    You probably should have put the Landrover on backwards.
    I did think of that but I was concerned about the trailer becoming tail heavy.

    It does tow very well unladen.
    REMLR Registrant No. 436
    LROCV Member No. 1703

    1976 RRC Suffix D
    1979 Series III GS FFR
    1980 Series III GS FFR with a Perentie RFSV tub
    1991 Discovery 1 3.5 V8 3 door
    1993 Discovery 1 200Tdi 3 door
    1993 Defender 110 200Tdi ute

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by LRT View Post
    I did think of that but I was concerned about the trailer becoming tail heavy.

    It does tow very well unladen.
    Front wheel would have been just aft of where the back wheel is(landy on trailer I am referring to), so weight would have been perfect, if on backwards.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gordie View Post
    Front wheel would have been just aft of where the back wheel is(landy on trailer I am referring to), so weight would have been perfect, if on backwards.
    Ah yes I see now.

    Would it be advantageous to have a little more tray length at the front and back of the trailer providing it was within legal limits?
    REMLR Registrant No. 436
    LROCV Member No. 1703

    1976 RRC Suffix D
    1979 Series III GS FFR
    1980 Series III GS FFR with a Perentie RFSV tub
    1991 Discovery 1 3.5 V8 3 door
    1993 Discovery 1 200Tdi 3 door
    1993 Defender 110 200Tdi ute

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by LRT View Post
    Ah yes I see now.

    Would it be advantageous to have a little more tray length at the front and back of the trailer providing it was within legal limits?
    Personally, I would build any vehicle to the limits, if it were for general use. It's about how it is loaded, not the size of the deck. Unless it makes it too cumbersome for purpose of course. But that trailer you hired looked pretty good.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gordie View Post
    Personally, I would build any vehicle to the limits, if it were for general use. It's about how it is loaded, not the size of the deck. Unless it makes it too cumbersome for purpose of course. But that trailer you hired looked pretty good.
    It’s a Trailer Factory one. I found it carried Freelander 1s very well but I really need something that can carry a Disco 2 or equivalent weight.
    REMLR Registrant No. 436
    LROCV Member No. 1703

    1976 RRC Suffix D
    1979 Series III GS FFR
    1980 Series III GS FFR with a Perentie RFSV tub
    1991 Discovery 1 3.5 V8 3 door
    1993 Discovery 1 200Tdi 3 door
    1993 Defender 110 200Tdi ute

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh View Post
    Oh, the further back the wheels, the better they tow.
    The better they reverse as well.
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by LRT View Post
    It’s a Trailer Factory one. I found it carried Freelander 1s very well but I really need something that can carry a Disco 2 or equivalent weight.
    I hired one from U-Haul today. Put a D2 on it, which may have exceeded the 1200kg load limit just a tad. I set the D2 about 600mm back from the very front of the trailer. Still made the D1 tow car sit a little high at the front. Oh for SLS. Trailer coped just fine, and the poor old D1 did just fine as well, on it's 31" tyres. Towing it up Mt Dandenong had me worried, but it was fine. Pretty sure U-Haul are very conservative with their limits.

    If you have a Kennards near you, their trailers are rated for a 2200kg load. Maybe have a look. 2200 still doesn't cover a D2, but I reckon Kennards would be conservative as well.

    Of course, you could consult a mechanical engineer...
    ​JayTee

    Nullus Anxietus

    ​Getting involved in discussions is the best way to learn.

    2000 D2 TD5 Auto: Tins
    1994 D1 300TDi Manual: Dave
    1980 SIII Petrol Tray: Doris
    OKApotamus #74
    Nanocom, D2 TD5 only.

  10. #10
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    Tows beautifully.

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