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

I prefer longer and wider as it is just simply more versatile.
Mine was built with a ATM of 3000kg which i got upgraded to to 3300kg with no changes needed. Tare is 950kg with a hand winch, spare and ramps.
It is 16 foot long and 7'8 wide to the outside of the guards, so still squeezes in an 8 foot gate.
It has the front axle at the physical midway point so you can load it up and still have a VERY stable 120kg ball weight if you want too. The beavertail still allows loading of fairly low cars without dramas.
Best one I have ever used.

Thats a ripper looking trailer. It looks nice an low too (walking beam suspension?). I've rented a beaver tail trailer a couple of times and gave up on them pretty quickly. There was no way of getting my cars on them as they'd wedge there belly trying to come over the top lip of the beaver section (my usage is kinda unique though. The cars have a 124" wheelbase and 1/2 inch of ground clearance with fully inflated tires).

seeya,
Shane L.

Originally Posted by janddbone

I prefer longer and wider as it is just simply more versatile.
Mine was built with a ATM of 3000kg which i got upgraded to to 3300kg with no changes needed. Tare is 950kg with a hand winch, spare and ramps.
It is 16 foot long and 7'8 wide to the outside of the guards, so still squeezes in an 8 foot gate.
It has the front axle at the physical midway point so you can load it up and still have a VERY stable 120kg ball weight if you want too. The beavertail still allows loading of fairly low cars without dramas.
Best one I have ever used.

Guessing it’s not a fast trip towing it with the Dyna huh? 😁😉

Great trailer. 👍

Originally Posted by Homestar

Guessing it’s not a fast trip towing it with the Dyna huh? 😁😉

Great trailer. 👍

I previously had a Dyna 200 twincab as a work truck. 3.0 lt asthmatic diesel. It could sit on 80 without much load but if I put the plant trailer and scissor on behind it, it was a real slug.

We had one as our main pumper at a large CFA station - there was a steep hill just outside the station and if you had to go that way when turning out you could just about get out and walk faster until you got to the top.

Quite embarrassing when you have lights and sirens on and holding up traffic behind you.

I've got myself a duel axle 2.9t, max width at 2.48m, 4.55m (15') bed, 2.07m usable width, tilting tray, ramps, winch, spare with electric breakaway brakes I bought brand new from Pacific trailers on the Gold Coast a few years ago for $4400.

I haven't had it on a weigh bridge but the tally plate says it has a tare of 800kg. So capable of 2.1t load in theory.

It's pretty well made with decent welds and fitment and tows well, the only thing that lets it down over the years has been the paint durability.

A 110 with a curb weight of 2055kg would just squeeze in legally.

IMG_0880.jpg

Interesting thread,

No one has really touched on the ATM weight and GCM towing mass of trailers with loads.

I myself have toyed with the idea of purchasing a good car trailer. I don't think I'd make it too long but I would put sides on it for strength.

I currently have 2 trailers, a 7x4 box trailer and a 10x6 tandem with rocker suspension. I have often thought about just modifying the tandem make it 2 or 3 foot longer. I reckon that would be enough for me. It needs a birthday anyway so maybe that would work.

I'd change the brakes to 4 wheel electric whilst I was at it (currently 2 wheel electric). I guess getting a new compliance plate stamped would be the the tricky bit.

Most of the old bangers I would be towing would be 1.5 tonne (ish). My old 1966 falcon wagon , ex army s2a, series 2 swb. I'd use my 1984 110 as the tow rig.

Having a trailer which can be used for other things (as mentioned before in this thread) is key for making it worthy of ownership.

Richard

Originally Posted by dickyjoe

Interesting thread,

No one has really touched on the ATM weight and GCM towing mass of trailers with loads.

I myself have toyed with the idea of purchasing a good car trailer. I don't think I'd make it too long but I would put sides on it for strength.

I currently have 2 trailers, a 7x4 box trailer and a 10x6 tandem with rocker suspension. I have often thought about just modifying the tandem make it 2 or 3 foot longer. I reckon that would be enough for me. It needs a birthday anyway so maybe that would work.

I'd change the brakes to 4 wheel electric whilst I was at it (currently 2 wheel electric). I guess getting a new compliance plate stamped would be the the tricky bit.

Most of the old bangers I would be towing would be 1.5 tonne (ish). My old 1966 falcon wagon , ex army s2a, series 2 swb. I'd use my 1984 110 as the tow rig.

Having a trailer which can be used for other things (as mentioned before in this thread) is key for making it worthy of ownership.

Richard

Compliance is easy for this in Vic - get a new plate - from a trailer shop or eBay - mark the brand as ‘Home made’, get a new VIN off VicRoads (free of charge - call them and they’ll give you one over the phone), get a weigh bridge certificate for it and take it in and re register it as a new trailer, job done. You can then tell them what the gross mass will be too.