Trailer boards

[beamishken]

Anyone found a reasonable replacement for trailer board planks? I've got loads of otherwise good lighting boards with knackered planks but cant seem to find any replacement planks unless I buy 1000mtr run of the stuff. I can't be the only one who hates buying new boards cos the shitty plastic plank got bust.

[Orwell boy]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Anyone found a reasonable replacement for trailer board planks? I've got loads of otherwise good lighting boards with knackered planks but cant seem to find any replacement planks unless I buy 1000mtr run of the stuff. I can't be the only one who hates buying new boards cos the shitty plastic plank got bust.

Personally i have given up with light boards ,but what i have noticed is the barriers they erect round holes in the road, look to have potential !

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Anyone found a reasonable replacement for trailer board planks? I've got loads of otherwise good lighting boards with knackered planks but cant seem to find any replacement planks unless I buy 1000mtr run of the stuff. I can't be the only one who hates buying new boards cos the shitty plastic plank got bust.

I’ve used upvc window sill boarding in the past, the new composite decking materials look promising. Personally I think sealed LEDs on retractable legs is the way to go. Way more reliable & no faffing.

[jwalker]

I go two different ways one on each boat; I use a plank of wood on one with a hinge in the middle so I can fold it and pop it into the car. There's a metal strap at the rear with a wingnut to hold it rigid when in use.
The second way is simply two pieces of tube, one into each chassis rail. The tube has a plate big enough for the tail light, the number plate is also attached to one of them. A piece of coiled cable joins them.

Both work fine but the two piece is easier to deal with. Never cross over the two pieces or the flashers will be wrong...don't ask how I know...doh....

[treerat]

Thinking of giving up with them and going for these;
https://www.trailertek.com/new-in/co...kaArwQEALw_wcB

[Orwell boy]

If anybody is thinking of going led submersible ,then this takes some beating ,i have bought a couple of sets and even have a spare set .top quality ,price is for a pair (i even reckon it could be a pricing error !) they come with 6 x 6" wires which you can link to low dia trailer cable and then join 2 cables within a 12 pin connector ,gives you reversing lights ,fogs + the usual
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193074414...YAAOSwNCRdZ-Ql

[Oldman2]

Around £100 a pair elsewhere, even Bison themselves want £108 looks like a right bargain Orwell boy.

[beamishken]

Does anyone think theres a market for someone selling replacement blanks to fit your own lights to? I made a couple of phone calls this afternoon and if there was a demand it might be worthwhile getting a batch produced & selling them on . Whats the opinion price wise I think to get a return on investment I'd need to sell a 2m blank @ around £20-£25 which is roughly half what a new board is new. short boards are £20 ish so hardly worth the effort but 2m ones seem to be £45+.
Would people buy them?
Presumably if you go led you either need to reengineer the lighting mounts or use a led board. There must be thousands of trailers built for plank style boards with owners who cant be bothered or arent set up to alter the mounting arms but could probably swap their hardware onto a new plank after they step on it or lower the engine onto it
Whats everyones thoughts?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Does anyone think theres a market for someone selling replacement blanks to fit your own lights to? I made a couple of phone calls this afternoon and if there was a demand it might be worthwhile getting a batch produced & selling them on . Whats the opinion price wise I think to get a return on investment I'd need to sell a 2m blank @ around £20-£25 which is roughly half what a new board is new. short boards are £20 ish so hardly worth the effort but 2m ones seem to be £45+.
Would people buy them?
Presumably if you go led you either need to reengineer the lighting mounts or use a led board. There must be thousands of trailers built for plank style boards with owners who cant be bothered or arent set up to alter the mounting arms but could probably swap their hardware onto a new plank after they step on it or lower the engine onto it
Whats everyones thoughts?

In my experience by the time the board gives up the ghost, everything else is shot too. The lamps & wiring are usually goosed.

[jeffstevens763@g]

I get mine from here not worth messing about IMO

https://www.towingandtrailers.com/pr...nd-6m-cable-2/

[Gazzago]

Originally Posted by treerat

Thinking of giving up with them and going for these;
https://www.trailertek.com/new-in/co...kaArwQEALw_wcB

Ive just got some. Yet to try them in anger but seem really good. The local farmer swears by them.

[_monkey]

Originally Posted by Gazzago

Ive just got some. Yet to try them in anger but seem really good. The local farmer swears by them.

Looks like it could be a good way forward. How are you alerted to faults or battery condition?

[Gazzago]

Originally Posted by _monkey

Looks like it could be a good way forward. How are you alerted to faults or battery condition?

Battery’s last up to 10 hours use from memory. So I will recharge after a trip. They are usb chargeable.

They don’t alert you to faults. Same as a trailer board there. The car still beeps with the indicators as It should.

Seem well made and very bright. I just keep them in the boot of my car all the time they don’t take up much room.

My experience of trailer boards has always been they are cheap fittings.

[Daibheid]

Originally Posted by beamishken

after they step on it or lower the engine onto it
Whats everyones thoughts?

If I had a fiver for every time.....

[Orwell boy]

Originally Posted by Oldman2

Around £100 a pair elsewhere, even Bison themselves want £108 looks like a right bargain Orwell boy.

Did you buy them ?

[Oldman2]

Originally Posted by Orwell boy

Did you buy them ?

No. Of little use to me I fold my boat into the boot, by your question I guess someone did and now they are £100 (guessing)


They look good though.

[Limecc]

Originally Posted by _monkey

Looks like it could be a good way forward.

Trailer board holds number plate as well as light clusters. Still needed?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Limecc

Trailer board holds number plate as well as light clusters. Still needed?

nope

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Attachment 137486nope

Seen some like that but made into docking poles unfortunately not road legal but neat solution.....

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Seen some like that but made into docking poles unfortunately not road legal but neat solution.....

Not sure what you’re referring to. The photo was to show the number plate mounted “sans trailer board” in the bottom right of the photo. This is perfectly road legal. The long vehicle marker boards are a legal requirement in Spain (where the photo was taken) if you’re over 12m long. Ironically they’re illegal in the UK if you’re under 7.5t, such is the minefield of driving abroad.