Trailer purchase - sizes and thoughts?

[iceman]

I'm looking to buy a trailer very soon.. Now there's a long list of "I wish" in this trailer purchase, such as a nice cage and/or canopy, but I need to be realistic and i'm on a budget.

So it has to be what I need to start with.

Trailer will be used for:
1) Camping (general camping gear, tent, poles, bags, tarps etc)
2) Astronomy (12" newt, EQ6, ED80, etc)

What is the ideal size I should be looking at? I'd been looking at 7x4's, but do I really need that? 6x4 will still fit my 12" newt lying down. and it will be cheaper.

High sides or normal sides? High sides will allow me to stack a bit more stuff, but again at extra cost.

Heavy duty or normal? Do I need checkerplate floor, mud guards, etc?

Jockey wheel? Definitely handy.
Spare tyre? Definitely handy.

Rego - how much is it for one-off rego and ongoing costs?

New or second hand? Always a risk buying second hand but definitely cheaper.

Would appreciate your thoughts if you have any experience or advice in this area.

Thanks

[dannat]

I think a solid jockey wheel is a must, I didn't think I needed one until I got one and now wouldn't be without it. I have a 7x4 and the extra foot really comes in handy for big loads.

If you were to get high sides what are you pulling it with ? if you really load it up you will need a decent engine.

I would either get 6x4 high side or 7x4 normal hegiht(with te extra floor space you shouldn't need the height, too much mass anyway)

I don't have chequerplate but my brother does & it is a nice solid base, less prone to dents. On a 6x4 I don't think you would need heavy duty

I would probably go for cheqeur 6x4, it takes up less space & is easier to manoevur by yourself.

Will you be sleeping in it when camping?

[RB]

Don't know about trailers so I'm interested too.
I remember Rod getting his for a bargain from someplace around Kuring-Gai or Asquith (?).

[mick pinner]

hi Mike, first rule: always buy bigger than you need, you WILL buy more gear.
trailers come in standard sizes, stick with this as custom made will cost you a fortune, trailers are very cheap to make but this is not passed on in retail prices but having said that they really are not expensive, if you get a 4' x 7' with an added 30cm in height on the sides it should be reasonably priced, then a good quality tarp on top.
you obviously need mud guards by law but do not get a checkerplate floor, more expense, more weight and things will catch if you try to slide a heavy load onto the trailer. a jockey wheel and spare are necessities.
also get one that can take 15" rims and tyres, this will make it much easier to push when not connected to the car and increase tyre life when being towed. being in Vic not sure on your rego costs.

[iceman]

I've rang up a few places, the difference in price between 6x4 and 7x4 is minimal so i'd probably go with 7x4.

I won't be sleeping in it.

I'll be pulling it with a Toyota Camry and don't want powered brakes.

So far the NEW prices seem to be between $900-$1000 on road, for a 7x4 with high (500-550mm) sides. $50-$100 less for normal (350mm) sides.

[erick]

For years I had no jockey wheel on my 6x4, then saw one on special for $29 - bought it and got a friend to weld the bracket on for free. I'd never go without one now! Remember to fit the jockey wheel on the left side (for safety - curb side, not road side!)

Yes, try to get high side. I have normal height and am really struggling to carry everything conveniently. Of course, I cannot get high enough side to carry the 12" dob base as well, but if the top was higher than the diameter of the 12" OTA, I'd be happier. I have plans for some form of canopy. I want waterproof and secure, handable by myself only, and cheap - all these are incompatible :sadeyes: but I'm working on ideas. Currently I throw stuff in and do my best to fit a tarp over - but it flaps and rain gets in! But given I'm packing stuff covered in dew when I finish observing, water isn't a problem. But anything of value (eyepieces etc.) are locked in the car.

A suggestion: see if you can fit a carpet in the bottom. I found I had an old carpet rug that is just the right size for my 6x4. Good for additional cushioning. But it gets a bit wet often so I just have to be sure to let it dry properly each time.

Can you get a trailer with Camry wheels so your spare Camry wheel is also a wheel for the trailer? I do have a spare wheel bolted on the draw bars of the trailer - but it sure adds some weight.

[Ian Robinson]

Bathroom carpet - rubber unders nylon uppers would be idea for a trailer , and easy to look after. If it gets wet , simply roll it up and toss it over a fence and the water will drain straight out . The stuff is virtually indestructible - had some in one of our bedrooms (the room we set up as a nursary) for over 27 years and it still looks great .
Cheap too. Try Clarke Rubber.

I'd go a heavy duty 4x4 camperstyle trailor if I bought a trailor , got all the mod cons in them and stacks of secure storage.

[GrahamL]

mike 7x4 high sides and other modified trailers .. from some makers can skip ..just.. over the 250 kg limit ..meaning yearly rego checks and more cash for the govt.

I'd sure check this out with the manufacturer before you head to the weighbridge ..or just to be sure take off the spare and tailgate ..;)

[acropolite]

Mike, ditto what the others say about 7x4, a jockey wheel would be nice but is easily fitted after, you can get bolt on models from most marine dealers. That said, if your trailer is properly balanced a jockey wheel isn't really a must have on a trailer that size. I carry my ride on mower on my 7x4 and don't use a Jockey wheel.

A few more things would be on my list.

Slipper springs (less complicated and less moving parts)

Opening tailgates at BOTH ends
(I have this on mine and wouldn't be without them). This will allow you to carry long pieces of timber, plaster sheets, flooring etc if necessary (for when you are building that observatory!).

Galvanising if available. A galvanised trailer will outlast painted and look newer for longer. I have a painted trailer, it's been heavily used, regularly filled with dirt, weeds, gravel etc and it rusted through the metal completely in places after 10 years.

If they are on offer, LED taillights will save on maintenance, I have to replace my bulbs almost every trip to the shack, the vibration over gravel roads shakes them from their sockets.

I wouldn't worry too much about extra cost for the features you want, a good trailer will last a lifetime.

[GTB_an_Owl]

Mike - ask how much for an "extended draw bar"
longer draw bar will normally make the trailer track better

geoff

[AstralTraveller]

As I recall, if you don't have brakes on the trailer you are legally only allowed to pull 750kg total. Hence lighter trail = greater payload. On the other hand heavier trailers may be better built and so last longer. What is your payload?

When looking at a trailer think about rust. Galvanising is great but it adds weight. What you want to avoid is overlapping pieces that water can get trapped between. The most likely places are where the sides meet the frame and where the floor sits on the frame. All panels should be butt-welded onto the frame. My father's last trailer was built like this and kept well painted and >20 years later it still looks like a 2 year old.

If you are going to tarp it then well placed tie bars will make life more comfortable. Many trailers have these too close to the top lip and it is difficult to pass a spool of rope through them. If the bars are down at floor height then you have the space to get a tarp made that overlaps the sides and can still be tied down. You need tie bars on the front and back as well as the sides.

Personally, the idea of putting a scope in a trailer with its basic suspension gives me the heeby jeebies. Are you sure you don't want shock absorbers or a tandem trailer??

[erick]

My $450 6x4 painted trailer (bright red!) is doing really well after some 12 or more years. Mind you, I've always kept it clean, dry and in the garage when not in use, while the $30,000 cars stayed outside in the weather! Go figure :screwy:

[iceman]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it's definitely helped.

I've got some on watch on ebay, and I have some quotes on some new ones. I'm sure i'll make a purchase in the next week or two.

[Gargoyle_Steve]

While much of this probably won't apply to you Mike I'll mention it anyway in case someone else finds it of interest......

Some years ago when I was doing a lot more travelling / 4wd stuff that I do these days I found I had need of a trailer and went shopping. I made sure that it was built so that the hubs (therefore wheels & tyres) were exactly the same as what I had on the car so I could use my existing 2 spares for both, and also that the axle length on the trailer was such so that the trailer wheels followed along exactly in the same tracks as the car wheels.

I supplied the wheels ($80 for 2 x 16 inch wheels from a wrecker, again matched the wheels on the fourbie) and tyres (I bought new tyres, but inexpensive new ones). On this standard 7' x 4' (or 7' x 5' ?? long time ago) body that meant they had to shorten the axle slightly, but it already had the right hubs on it to match the car as this was the first thing I had looked at.

That trailer ran nicely "level" on the back of my car and tracked well through dirt, mud, sand, etc. While the tyres and wheels may have been overkill for some people, I bought this trailer while part way through a 11 week trip (purchased in Alice Springs) so it's very first real road test was 3500 km's trip bringing it home here again - further in 7 days than many people would do in a lifetime of taking their load to the dump, etc.

(Sadly I don't have the trailer any more - I lent it to a "mate" once, he had it at his place for a few months, I wasn't worried as we'd both been working together, but we both left the company on the same day and went different directions, before I knew it he had moved and I haven't seen him, or my trailer, in a few years now.)

It did have the drop down front and rear tailgates, and I modded it to carry a spare on the A frame. My only regrets with the design aspects of that one was I got the standard 300mm sides, next time if I were getting a new one made I'd get 500mm sides, and though I didn't have time for this in Alice I'd get a galvanised body. I've seen too many people leave rubbish sitting in a trailer for a while until they have enough for a trip to the dump, in the meantime it gets wet, and before you now it the floor is rusted through. I've seen this happen to 3 friends now, their brand new trailers rusted through in around 3-5 years.

Having said all of that, I bought a cheapie privately from someones footpath last weekend - a little 5' x 4' for $160, need to redo some electrical wiring, and clean it up a bit to register it, but she'll be fine for now. ;)

[johnno]

Hi Mike,

Have you considered something like the Oztrail Camper 6,9,12.
Depending on your family needs.

I know they are a little more than you wanted to spend,but they fit your criteria nicely.

There are used ones around,we paid $2.5k for ours

The trailer has high sides,and long drawbar.

You can easily store your gear,inside the trailer,as the double bed is bolted to the top of the trailer.

The trailer is Registered,as a 6x4 $52.00 per year,

And then the tent section is bolted on after rego.

You can also find then on Ebay.

If you just buy a trailer with high sides,you can add the tent later.

Regards.
John

[White Rabbit]

I bought a 7x4 at xmas off of ebay for $250. It had a fair bit of rust on the but I just set about it with a wire brush and then coated it in rust converter primed and the painted it. Look good as new when I was done. All up it cost me about $350 and some hard labour.

I bought a tent to sit on top for $900 off ebay as well.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/CAMPER-TRAILER-TENT-LASTEST-RIPSTOP-CANVAS-08-09-4X4_W0QQitemZ140259160310QQihZ004QQ categoryZ123351QQssPageNameZWDVWQQr dZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you bide your time with ebay you can get some bargains.

[iceman]

Thanks for all your help and suggestions.

Last weekend I bought a heavy duty 7x4 trailer with high sides, from Mario Trailers (http://www.mariotrailers.com.au/Box_Trailers.html).

With a bit of rearranging in the garage, it fits in the second car space so it's out of the weather which is good. My car continues to decay out on the driveway each night :)

Now just need to get some tarps and ties and occy straps and ropes for the much anticipated first use!

[h0ughy]

did you get a spare tyre and jockey wheel Mike? You wont know yourself!! scope in car - kids in trailer:rofl:

[iceman]

Yep, got a spare tyre and jockey wheel - and also one of those security things that clamp over the front end so it can't be stolen.

[RB]

Ah yep that's the mob I was talking about, I remember now, that's where Rod bought his from too.

:thumbsup:

[Rodstar]

Well done Mike, sounds like you got exactly the same trailer as mine from the same vendor (Mario's).

Just for Nightstalker's info, I just renewed the rego on mine (I got it just over 12 months ago), and no need for an inspection.

For others considering such a purchase, one thing to be aware of is that the dimensions quoted (such 6'x4') are referring to the dimensions from the outside. In other words, depending on the width of the sides, the available internal space will be a few inches less in each direction. As I use a 6 foot ladder for The Mary Rose, and because the ladder has to go lengthwise in the trailer to fit everything else in, I had to go with the 7 foot length.

I also highly recommend the high sides. The ordinary sides are really only about 1 foot high, which leaves a lot exposed if you have reasonably bulky equipment like I do.

[iceman]

yeh Rod, I think it is exactly the same. Mario's seemed like a good bunch and the price was about $200-$250 cheaper than the same product at a local shop on the Central Coast.

In the future I'd love to get a cage and canopy for it.

[erick]

I'm trying to get a frame and canvas canopy for my 6x4 (full of 12" dob etc).

Best I seem to be able to do in Melbourne is $490. And I'll have to add the tie down points.

If I was back at the beginning, I'd be buying a 7x4 with high sides, that's for sure.

Cannot afford or work out how to handle (by myself) a rigid secure canopy :sadeyes: