Bending Trailer

[Hightower]

Does anyone now if Admiral Trailers is operating under a different name, or is still going?

[Trailer Bloke]

Rumour has it that they were purchased after they went out of business, but their phones are not answered so maybe not

I went past their works the other week and all was shut up

So its another Snipe Trailers I guess

[Hightower]

I spoke to David from Dovetail today and am hopefull that something can be done.

[fred bolton]

In the good old days of rear leaf sprung cars you could buy spring assisters for towing caravans / trailers these were basically another leaf spring attached to the car springs by u bolts maybe this sort of arrangement would sort the "bend" on your trailer have a look here - http://www.springassisters.co.uk/Lea...ing%20Page.htm

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by RichardB

. if they come along after a prang without being told, then they may well use it as cause for not paying up.

I'd be more concerned about other manufacturers (this one no longer in business ofcourse) who can make trailers like this, when if you did have a prang.. would clearly collapse under the impact leaving who knows what consequences with your boat and car, and others involved

*edit* thought I'd checked all the posts but I think top banana was saying the same

[Bigmuz7]

As a footnote to that... I think some trailers are very poorly set up for carrying boats, I've had three from a dealer on different installations that were woeful in the way they were configured,.. i.e drawbars being too 'bouncy', supports in the wrong place, balance wrong, etc all very important to the load they are supposed to carry and vital to how they trail and handle.

[Trailer Bloke]

Originally Posted by Bigmuz7

As a footnote to that... I think some trailers are very poorly set up for carrying boats, I've had three from a dealer on different installations that were woeful in the way they were configured,.. i.e drawbars being too 'bouncy', supports in the wrong place, balance wrong, etc all very important to the load they are supposed to carry and vital to how they trail and handle.

This should be solved in a few years when we have type approval, this should sort out the men from the boys!

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by Trailer Bloke

This should be solved in a few years when we have type approval, this should sort out the men from the boys!

Interesting, do tell what's to come

Pete

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Trailer Bloke

This should be solved in a few years when we have type approval, this should sort out the men from the boys!

Not so sure. Even if a trailer is rated to carry 'x' and looks the part, it can still be a 'bag of bolts' and handle like one if its not set up correctly to support the boat its meant to carry or winch on, but for sure, only experience has shown me how this needs to be done, there is no book on the subject, as every hull is different and trailers get made to accomodate a variety of hull shapes and weights with infinately adjustable trailer parts.

Good I say,... for the smooth way you can now launch and recover your boat, and center your hull every time on recovery, but the boat and trailer have to be united properly in transit, and that sometimes takes a good bit more thought when issues such as sudden braking, or constant jarring from potholes become relevant.

[waverunner]

No wonder your trailer is bent, you should try retrieving your boat with a winch like everyone else.

[Pete7]

Your implying Andy is to trailers what Rogue Wave is to Ribs who incidently has just fallen off a tug into Belfast Lough luckily his shape kept him afloat

[Hightower]

I was in fact trying to get the RIB home without the trailer

[waverunner]

It's probably safer that way

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Hightower

Thanks Chris, I thing the weight limit is Gross and Net that inclues figures the load and trailer.

The load is no where near the plated maximum, so provided the Gross weight isn't breached I'll be fine.

Andy,
What is the Gross Weight of this trailer?
Have you weighed the whole rig, inc. fuel and all your other kit on board?

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Andy,
What is the Gross Weight of this trailer?
Have you weighed the whole rig, inc. fuel and all your other kit on board?

Well the trailer is rated for a load of 1250kg's and gross is 1500. The bare boat is no more than 500kg's and engine 200kgs a full tank is roughly 160kg's that means that jockeys, consol, battery's and everything else must be within 390kg's. The trailer handles really well on the road and there's no reson to suspect the boat is heavier than the loading the trailer will take.

[Downhilldai]

If it's a 1500kg gross, you should be ok, but likely to be at or near the upper limit. This shouldn't cause the drawbar to bend though - probably down to poor design, but looks like you'll sort this out with a bit of fabrication.
Good luck.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

If it's a 1500kg gross, you should be ok, but likely to be at or near the upper limit. This shouldn't cause the drawbar to bend though - probably down to poor design, but looks like you'll sort this out with a bit of fabrication.
Good luck.

'Fabrication' is what you need if you wanna be a 'record breaker, yeah'.

[Bigmuz7]

Originally Posted by Mollers

'Fabrication' is what you need if you wanna be a 'record breaker, yeah'.

*breaks out trumpet*

[Hightower]

Thought I'd let you guy know that a friendly RIBnet member came round today for a chat and offer his much more experienced views on what could be done to the trailer to Beef it up.

I've decided that the easiest way forward by way of manufacture and cost is to build a bracing structure that will mount between the angled box and the horizontal box section. This will consist of a two flat plates (one for each box profile) interconnected with two fabricated fillets welded to the plates. This structure will be held in place with U bolts.

Excuss the crappy sketch!

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Jono

Zinc contamination of S/S welding will end in tears...

Oh ye of little faith.