Beach launch trailer upgrade

[kaman]

Last year I purchased a small beach launch trailer to take with me on my caravan / sib excursions.
Idea was to carry the Honwave T3.8 sib deflated along with Tohatsu 20hp outboard in the back of the car with the back seats down.
I intend to spread the remainder of the load between car roof box, car boot and caravan.
There are a few sites that I frequent that have beach / slipways to launch the sib on the hence the Sib lives on the beach trailer during my stay. I added an old trailer hitch to tow it on the car around the site.
Although handy this set up has kinda tied me to using certain camp sites that gave boat launch facilities.

I thought.......what if I modified the beach trailer to tow the T3.8 on the road?[emoji1]
I have one camp site in mind, it is one of my favourites, however the site is around 3 miles from my preferred beach launching point.
I dont intend going above 30 - 40 mph.
The road is very quiet / rural.
With upgrading in mind I set about ordering some indespension units mud guards and 8 inch wheels with tyres.*
(Sib not pressurised in pics)



SIB on unmodified trailer with plastic wheels






Existing Sib beach trailer axle bolted on top of road going axle.



The road axle halves in the middle for ease of storage and for transporting.
I intend taking the road axle and an old trailer light board when launching the sib off site. If I'm gonna launch the sib on a particular site I will leave the road axle in the shed and just take the little plastic beach wheels instead.

The Sib will only be towed with the outboard off, and stowed securely in the boot of my car. Once at launch point the sib will be taken off the trailer and wheeled on its launch wheels next to the car boot where engine will be lifted out and onto the transom ready for immediate launch[emoji1]

[jeffstevens763@g]

Very neat mate

[muzkeepupz]

Very nice concept, may i know where did u buy the wheel and axle? Thanks!

[Fenlander]

Very neat solution to suit your needs Kaman. I would have no hesitation using that on the road in the way you describe.

Funnily enough on our hols soon we may have the need to move the SIB just a couple of miles from our base and I started a thread a few months back about car topping the Aerotec inflated.

It seemed to be a good idea but after testing the theory a couple more times it became clear my crew (wife and small 19yr old daughter) were struggling to lift to that awkward head height needed so we've given up that idea.

Your solution would be so much easier.

[kaman]

Bought the wheels, mud guards and indespension units on Fleabay.
Axle was free - perks of the job.




Packs up fairly neatly and does the job
Bring on the summer[emoji1]

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Very neat solution to suit your needs Kaman. I would have no hesitation using that on the road in the way you describe.

Funnily enough on our hols soon we may have the need to move the SIB just a couple of miles from our base and I started a thread a few months back about car topping the Aerotec inflated.

It seemed to be a good idea but after testing the theory a couple more times it became clear my crew (wife and small 19yr old daughter) were struggling to lift to that awkward head height needed so we've given up that idea.

Your solution would be so much easier.

might suit you fenlander

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlPyVSIsgAc

[Fenlander]

I think that's a great solution for a hard boat but you need deep pockets. It's about £1000!

[kaman]

Howdy Fenlander.
Had been mulling over the concept of welding up the road axle for a while. A recent 5 day caravan / fishing excursion with my old man persuaded me it was a worthwhile venture as it was a real chore inflating deflating / wrestling the T3.8 in and out of the car - not to mention the sand everywhere. The beauty of the trailer is once it's built (12mins) the Sib can sit on it until the end of the excursion.
Hopefully the weather gods will be favourable this year.

[HDAV]

I have wondered about a modified ladder rack system these can be found used on ebay etc and sometimes used van dealers have them lying about

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rk_YzZz6aA

[jeffstevens763@g]

seen it done with kayaks dont see why not with light boats

[muzkeepupz]

Originally Posted by kaman

Bought the wheels, mud guards and indespension units on Fleabay.
Axle was free - perks of the job.


Attachment 120323Attachment 120324Attachment 120325Attachment 120326

Packs up fairly neatly and does the job
Bring on the summer[emoji1]

Did u buy this as it is, specially the idea of spliiting in to half? Thanks!

[kaman]

The axle with indespension units are extras. Welded the indespension unit plates on to a 50mm box section axle as well as the mud guard brackets.
Basically the whole road axle underneath the beach trolley are extras. Decided to split the axle for ease of transport. I'm actually using the set from my caravan at present. It is the mutts nuts! Very happy with it 😊.

[muzkeepupz]

How i wish i can have the same, maybe u should start selling[emoji4]

[Andy JC]

Hi Kamen

Nice work, I'm thinking of doing something very similar (as mentioned in a thread I recently started, but had no response )

My launch trolley is exactly the same model as yours. Luckily it already came with a tow hitch and I will also be trailering a Honwave, although mine is the T35AE

I've been looking at this kit on eBay which looks like it should fit the bill.
Do you think suspension is absolutely vital or could I get away with something more like this?

I was also planning on fitting extra braces across the rear corners for reinforcement. Do you think this is necessary or is yours rigid enough?

[kaman]

Hi Andy

I've used mine several times now and it does the job just fine, however I had to tinker with it as it was rather saggy and a bit wobbly 1st time out.
I wasn't happy towing it first time out although it was only for 2 miles either way.
Using it as it comes with the pre-drilled holes was no use.
The box section pieces only inter locked by a few inches and as the box section pieces are not a really tight fit together ot very strong - the trailer sagged under the sibs weight, particularly where the bow sat between the angled two wooden slats.
I re-drilled the box section making the trailer several feet shorter with a much greater overlap between sections.
I also used 2 further stronger pieces of box section inside to strengthen the trailer beam further. These are permanently bolted inside the beam sections now
As a result the trailer is much more rigid, but as I said it's shorter in length overall and the transom isn't supported.
As I don't tow with the engine on this is not an issue.
I towed it recently around 15 miles each way with no issues at upto 50mph.
I'm much happier with it although it is a bit heavier and slightly less compact.
Prior to strengthening the trailer had 4 beam sections and 2 sections on the axle.
It's now composed of 3 beam sections one being slightly longer than the other two and the axle.
It lives inside my tourer ready for deployment when the sib goes caravanning.
With regards to the axle kits I would think the rigid indespension units should be alright for going short distances but I would be happier with the sprung units personally.
Just noticed your other thread.
You do need mud guards now legally - your unlikely going to come under scrutiny from plod [emoji61] unless involved in a RTC. I see you are only going a short distance also so I would shorten and strengthen the trailer overlapping the beam sections as I did. The 3.5ae is heavier than my t3.8 but not massively.
You'll find the heaviest point is where the bow rests so get some heavier 40mm box section to insert and bolt in place to strengthen the beam.
Hope this helps [emoji1]

[Andy JC]

Thanks for the additional information Kaman, lots of food for thought. It's a little hard to visualise the reinforcements you've made. Don't suppose you have any photos?

[Bigplumbs]

Now this is exactly the thread I wanted to see.


Kamen


Have you got a pic of the finished trailer without the boat on. I intend to have a go at making one


Thanks


Dennis


Dennis

[kaman]

Hi Dennis unfortunately I don't have a pic of the trailer on its own.

[Andy JC]

After doing the same to my launch trolley I can't say I'd recommend this for anything other than a very short trip and low speeds. I find my launch trolley bends considerably under the load. It's only made with 1.5mm steel so not really up to the job, even after strengthening the joints. I've sourced some 3mm box section and angle iron so plan to build another trailer from scratch using the axle I've already made.

[Andy JC]

A little hard to see in the photos but both joints bend quite a bit. After driving some distance I don't think I'd like to trust them not to fracture at some point.