3.5 Tonne Capacity Car Trailer: is Longer & Wider Better?

**Lionelgee** · 10th April 2020, 09:30 AM

Hello All,

I decided to do an exercise and compare the cost of the Sydney and Cairns trailers with a local grown mob's equivalent.

Each trailer is rated at 3.5 tonnes with the same width and length. All the trailers are made in Australia.

I know that there would be significant differences in sheet and wall thickness sizes between the trailer in Sydney or Cairns and a local company that makes trailers. Also, the spacing between braces in the deck and the deck's sheet thickness. Axle capabilities between real and fudged, even down to wheel bearings.

However, if you just went off the dimensions the braking requirements for a 3.5 tonne trailer which are all "legally" ready to hook up to a vehicle and drive away - then there is at least a $4100 difference between the Sydney or Cairns trailer to one from a couple of local companies located here in my home town.

Some of the difference in price was actually an upgrade to bring the local trailer up to the same specification of having a full floor like the Sydney and Cairns trailers - the local trailer just came with tracks as the deck.

$4100 is a hell of a lot of money to go out and buy steel to reinforce the Sydney or Cairns trailer and to swap over to more capable axles and brake upgrades.

Yes I know - refer back to the paragraph in italics - no doubt all these material specifications would be different between the other trailers and the local ones.

However. $4100 is a lot of steel that could be spent upgrading a stock trailer that supposedly already meets my requirements from the very first time I buy it and tow it away.

Well that is it for now - I am off to wire up a new fused junction box and get some headlights functioning in my Series 2A shortie for the first time since I bought it, plus some considerable time before my purchase I think. Time to play!

Kind regards
Lionel

**pop058** · 10th April 2020, 09:41 AM

Try the smaller local fabricators. DMF Custom Fabrications is a good one.

DMF Custom Fabrication - Home | Facebook

**Pedro_The_Swift** · 10th April 2020, 09:46 AM

Or you could buy a welder and learn----

**Lionelgee** · 10th April 2020, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

Or you could buy a welder and learn----

Hello Pedro,

That is a very good suggestion, Pedro... I actually followed it beforehand you mentioned it.

I have bought my own welder. To tick off the being able to learn part of your suggestion Pedro, I have to wait until an electrician comes and wires up my shed for power. Having multiple power points and lights is something I am looking forward to

Having my own welder and learning how to use it is also why I entertained the idea of starting out with base level trailer 3.5 tonne trailer and then strengthen it myself; as well as tailoring it to my own quirks.

Kind regards
Lionel

**Lionelgee** · 10th April 2020, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by pop058

Try the smaller local fabricators. DMF Custom Fabrications is a good one.

DMF Custom Fabrication - Home | Facebook

Hello Paul,

Thanks for the tip - I did not know they were around. The comparisons are growing almost to the point of needing to set-up a spreadsheet on the computer.

Kind regards
Lionel

**Slunnie** · 10th April 2020, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Pedro,

That is a very good suggestion, Pedro... I actually followed it beforehand you mentioned it.

I have bought my own welder. To tick off the being able to learn part of your suggestion Pedro, I have to wait until an electrician comes and wires up my shed for power. Having multiple power points and lights is something I am looking forward to

Having my own welder and learning how to use it is also why I entertained the idea of starting out with base level trailer 3.5 tonne trailer and then strengthen it myself; as well as tailoring it to my own quirks.

Kind regards
Lionel

I'd recommend a 15amp circuit and power points minimum for the welder

**BigJon** · 10th April 2020, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by gromit

IMG_1583 by Colin Radley, on Flickr

Colin

I shifted my Series 1 shorty from Alice Springs to Adelaide on my 8x5 box trailer. Rear tailgate up, front tailgate down and reinforced by a big section of angle steel.
It towed beautifully, 140 kph to the NT / SA border, then about 115 kph from there. Having a good tow vehicle obviously helps.

**pop058** · 10th April 2020, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Paul,

Thanks for the tip - I did not know they were around. The comparisons are growing almost to the point of needing to set-up a spreadsheet on the computer.

Kind regards
Lionel

He is just on Elliott Heads Rd near the Ring Road intersection. Dan (DMF) and one of my workers are inlaws. Before going out on his own, he worked for the trailer joint near Kennedy Bridge (

) . Can intro you.

**Lionelgee** · 10th April 2020, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I'd recommend a 15amp circuit and power points minimum for the welder

Hello Slunnie,

Yes - the 15 amp circuit is part of the specifications for the shed - thanks for the advise though. Plus there will be some electrical work in the house too. You know ... Happy Wife - Happy Life! The acts of eternal compromise ...

Kind regards
Lionel

**DoubleChevron** · 11th April 2020, 08:34 AM

with the size .... go as long and wide as you possibly can. it'll be a bastard to store .... and a pig of thing to back down drives (to get a 2meter tray, you end up 2.5meters with the wheels/guards overall). I say go as long and wide as you can as you will find a good 80% of the times you use the trailer it is to move something "long"... For example a length of timber from bunnings. My trailer hasn't moved a car in probably 2 years.... but it is probably used at least once a month to move something "long" or "wide". eg it currently has a 5meter roller door sitting on it as I spotted one of facebook marketplace with all the tracks/brackets for $100 .... what a cheap way of covering the south wall of the carport so the rain doesn't blow through the entire length of it all winter!

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