My Mini Trailer

[Poboy kartman]

Simon....couple of things.....you can build your running carriage onto angle iron and put differently spaced holes in your frame to move it forward or back to accommodate your load....

Also....with a motorbike trailer...either the ball or the hitch needs to be able to rotate....so you can lean the bike.....

 

[itsid]

Alzheimers Doug ??

Simon....couple of things.....you can build your running carriage onto angle iron and put differently spaced holes in your frame to move it forward or back to accommodate your load....

Also....with a motorbike trailer...either the ball or the hitch needs to be able to rotate....so you can lean the bike.....

8mins and one post later....

Simon....couple of things.....you can build your running carriage onto angle iron and put differently spaced holes in your frame to move it forward or back to accommodate your load....

Also....with a motorbike trailer...either the ball or the hitch needs to be able to rotate....so you can lean the bike.....

'sid

 

[OzFab]

center the axle under the box, maybe half an inch towards the back, and call it a day.
let the pull bar be your frontweight for the empty trailer and take good care about how to load it properly.

'sid

Wait, what? While I fully agree that load distribution play a major part, I disagree that placing the axle half an inch behind the centre of the box is a good idea...

The thing to remember is the pull bar needs to be a substantal chunk o' steel plus the hitch itself will throw the weight towards the front; placing the axle half an inch forward of the centre of the box makes more sense...

 

[itsid]

Well Tony, I guess anywhere between half an inch towards front or back will effectively work out okay once the trailer is in use.

All I was thinking here is, the weight of the pull bar will not be too excessive at all
(or doesn't need to be at least) it's still a mini trailer,
and targeting maybe 20 kg of "weight" on the hitch empty,
together with a relatively short pull bar...
I'm not sure it's enough with just a centered axle,
let alone an offset towards the front axle.

But honestly, I don't know for sure since weight and length of the pullbar are yet unknown etc.
My guts tells me moving the axle towards the rear will increase the load on the hitch,
and reduce the chance of a back heavy 'loaded' trailer (the flying donkey again )
So I'd dial in on the safe side and keep saying "move the axle back a bit"
The empty trailer looks like it may only weigh in on about 50-75 kg when done,
so even the worst scenario will be maybe a load of 30-32kg on the hitch...*shrugs*

Maybe I'm missing something though ...

'sid

 

[Poboy kartman]

Alzheimers Doug ??


8mins and one post later....




'sid

You tell me....you're the computer geek....I'm not lucid enough to type EXACTLY. duplicate posts.....

IIRC.....I went to edit that post....something went haywire and the original post was there....WITHOUT the edit.....and I just left.....go figure....and....I don't think it was 8 mins. between OP and edit.....musta been what us Texans call a hangfire.....

EDIT:....Let's see if it works now....." I should have said bike hitch or trailer coupler"......

 

[firemanjim]

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...capacity-78-inch-tag-along-trailer-66771.html
That's what my uncle pulls. See how/where the box sits. All the weight is always on the axle,via the springs spread. Fully loaded or empty, his trailer tongue weight is almost always the same, about 20#'s..... Fully loaded, you can lift it with just one finger, and drag it.... Well balanced at all times.....

 

[Poboy kartman]

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...capacity-78-inch-tag-along-trailer-66771.html
That's what my uncle pulls. See how/where the box sits. All the weight is always on the axle,via the springs spread. Fully loaded or empty, his trailer tongue weight is almost always the same, about 20#'s..... Fully loaded, you can lift it with just one finger, and drag it.... Well balanced at all times.....

Pretty much......HOWEVER.. not all loads are going to have a center COG...

SO...you are correct....centering the load over the axle is the biggest best key....you also want tongue weight.....but....while not necessary....and adjustable axle costs pennies on the dollar....and allows infinite fine tuning...if required....

 

[Simon Thomas]

Hi All,

I appreciate your view and comments on this. Please keep commenting and advise as free as possible as I am still considering your advice to materialize this build. I did some work last weekend and will post the pictures here.

 

[Simon Thomas]

I managed to finish until here in last post. All my works are done at home backyard so a bit messy during work.

 

[Simon Thomas]

I managed to get a pair of second hand motorbike suspension system from a scrap metal shop. After convinced that they can be used, then I purchased it. It only cost me RM15 per pair (2 units) or about USD5.

This is how I put the suspension system into my carriage @ mini trailer.

 

[Simon Thomas]

The assembling works with the help of c-clamp here and there, and helping to hold the work piece before welding them together.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Closer look at attaching the suspension system onto the main body frame.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Putting the wheel at one side at least to align it with the main body frame of my mini trailer.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Closer look at attaching the wheel to its bearing, and its assembly.

 

[Simon Thomas]

This is the look of my work compound at my backyard where it is sometime suddenly raining so I have to find basin and cover my welding set. This is the pattern of weather we have during year end. If not, the welding machine will get wet by the rain.

A pretty congested space to work however I enjoy doing my work here.

 

[Simon Thomas]

I still have some old stuffs from building my old buggy. They are useful when needed. It is not a good habit keeping these old stuffs as they would take some space in the house, however as long as they are still needed why not keeping them.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Half way building this mini trailer, it began to rain again. This is the look after putting the two wheel together in in-complete build of my mini trailer.

After this, to include the trailer tongue.

 

[Simon Thomas]

Working with welding set when raining could pose electrocution hazard. Safety first, so the rain has paused my work for a while. While waiting for the rain to stop, I attached all the pre-cut square hollow metal to the main body frame.

 

[Simon Thomas]

As usual, c-clamps played very useful role in holding all the parts to be welded in right position. In the past, I under estimated the use of this tool. They are actually handy tool for DIYer like me.

 

[Simon Thomas]

While awaiting for my build to complete, I am not sure which color to pick in painting my mini trailer. I like red and yellow. Never mind, I just use yellow chrome from the balance of paint in my store.