105 replies to this topic

[darkcat]

Morning all
I dont have room for a car trailer, most of us dont - and its illegal to tow a car on a dolly unless it is an emergency. 

So I am thinking about designing and making a mini-specific car transporter that can be taken apart for storage into maybe 6 sections that can be stored (for example) behind the shed.

I am FULLY aware of the legal situation surrounding building, testing and type approval of trailers, so please dont start with the legality comments!

The basic trailer would be JUST long enough to carry a standard mini, and wide enough for widened minis (being sectional it may be possible to vary the width with different centre-sections) - and fully galvanised, obviously.
A Standard mini's quoted kerb weight is aprox 650kg, so as long as the complete trailer is under 100kg all in, means the trailer does not need to be braked (so is significantly cheaper to produce)

EDIT: having run the numbers there's no way it will be under 100KG!! 

 

SO... Assuming all bases and legalities are covered, in principal, would anyone be interested in one? (not sure on cost yet though)

Edited by darkcat, 02 March 2015 - 02:54 PM.

[Black.Ghost]

I like the idea. Potential interest in the future for me (need a car with a tow bar and space to put the minis in as well!). But it would make such a difference if for example you broke down, or wanted to take it for painting or some welding.

You might also find interest on motorbike forums.

Are there no such trailers on the market that break down for storage? If not, and you could make them closer to a normal car size, you might have a decent market.

[darkcat]

Exactly yes this is for the occasional user, maybe someone who goes grass-track racing now and then or as you say needs to take a car for paint, but doesnt want to rent / store a full size trailer every time (plus collection, return hassle etc etc)

I've not been able to find anything at all, even full size, but am open to being proven wrong!

I suppose I could build an add-on for bikes too

Edited by darkcat, 02 March 2015 - 10:17 AM.

[GraemeC]

Think the nearest I'v seen is folding drawbar type trailers.

Its a good theoritcal idea - I'd love to see if it can be put into practice.  The 100kg target will be a challenge!

[Shifty]

Most minis are gonna be more than 650kgs. As a space saved I've wondered about storing a trailer on its side yo take less space.
I don't see how you're going to beat the 750 limit? A striped out racing mini can do it but a 'heavy' road going one won't.
I'd make it braked and ensure that you have capacity to spare rather than risking being illegal.

[darkcat]

Yeah the 850 is quoted at 610kg, 1275 at 645kg and rover 1275 at 653kg... I'm just going over the numbers now to see it is at all feasible.

I want to keep the whole thing under 750kg if at all possible, but (having read the DVLA rules again) its not the end of the world, just means it needs brakes which add cost and complexity.

Cost is obviously going to be a very important thing.

 

 

Edited by darkcat, 02 March 2015 - 02:13 PM.

[Shifty]

Cost and the plated weight of the trailer is important. If there's no plate then they will measure it by the lowest rated component is tyres or hitch. So if you've got 2 tyres rated at 400kgs each and a hitch that's rated at 1000kgs your weight would be 800kgs. I'm talking about a roadside check here.

Factory trailers you can get down plated to suit your requirements.

[blackbelt1990]

As far as I know, if you use a bigger tow car, you aren't limited to the 750kg, it increases to 3500kg for the whole unit, providing you're within the car's towing specs obviously! That's why I use my Shogun to tow anything too heavy for my mini.

Add brakes, it would be much easier to sell/use


Quote:

From 19 January 2013, drivers passing a category B (car and small vehicle) test can tow:

small trailers weighing no more than 750kg
a trailer over 750kg as long as the combined weight of the trailer and towing vehicle is no more than 3,500kg Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM)

Edited by blackbelt1990, 02 March 2015 - 01:48 PM.

[darkcat]

Yes true, and agreed - I'm pricing up the build at the moment, the problem with a braked setup is that it adds considerable cost (about £300 - £400 extra) and complication when trying to make the thing collapsible / sectional.... (think brake cables etc)



I suppose a good question is how much people would be willing to pay for an occasional use trailer

Edited by darkcat, 02 March 2015 - 01:57 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

MPi's weigh over 700 kg's in the dry.

 

if you make the trailer too small then you may hit issues with weight balance, either too much weight on the hitch or even worse back heavy.

 

Having had a trailer ( which I miss desperately ) and a beaver tail which was a complete waste of money, I'm going back to A frame, so it's always available in the back of the van.

[darkcat]

I'm getting massively varied figures on weights for the rover cars, from 645 up to 700, so must assume 725 with fuel and a full ash tray. 
I don't see how making it shorter than a 'normal' trailer will lead to imbalance, if anything it will force placement to be in the right place - As long as i get the axle in the right place to start with of course.
It's going to have to be a braked setup :-( OK its safer that way and means it can be more heavily built, BUT does complicate things...

 

Still playing about with the numbers....

 

[Guess-Works.com]

My thoughts on making a storable trailer for a mini would be based around a single axle which both front and back articulated upwards like a shuttle in starwars

[Ellie]

Something like what these make? http://bulldogfoldingtrailers.com

[Carlos W]

Just to add to the debate, My daily is a 2009 Mazda 6 2.2TD.

 

The log book has just come back after changing the address and so happens to be in front of me.

 

Mass in service 1405kg.

 

Technical permissible maximum towable mass of the trailer

braked (kg) 1600

Unbraked (kg) 550

 

No matter what weight you make the trailer you will struggle to tow it with a family car (obviously 4x4s, vans etc will be different)

[darkcat]

Thanks Carlos - so a braked trailer would be fine for you.

Mini, say 700kg average + trailer aprox 200kg max = 900kg, so all good