Making a trailer from a rigid lorry body

Donnacadh

Lads,

I have come into an old rigid lorry. About 20 foot long, engine gave up i.e. the vehicle wasn't in an accident so no physical damage

Was wondering would it be worth my while thinking about using the body as a trailer? Anyone done this before?

If so how much would it cost to get a lad into do it?

What way would you be as regards legalities on the road? would it need air brakes etc, what about a weight plate? I'm thinking it would only be a single axle trailer although with double wheels at both sides

(i'm sure the legalities would be similar north and south)

All comments welcome

enricoh

I' d imagine its on multi leaf springs, u have two options- leave springs in or cut out axle n fix it in
Forget air brakes u can buy 2 hyd brake units about fifty each n hoses another fifty

Weld two 6 by 3 channels together for drawbar 8 ft long, 4 ft out the front. N weld onto 6 by 3 boxes that u weld onto chassis.rsj might get u out for boxes

If the chassis is badly rusted away, forget the above n scrap it! No point spending dough on junk

st1979

Another thing you can get is air over hydraulic brakes. Seen them on ebay new for about £70 each and they fit the same brackets as the air brakes do. Leaves it handy for future. I was mean and just bought the hydraulic ones from ebay.co.uk they were £25 each new.

Zr105

Just one thing on the brakes, I'm guessing you are planning on using the existing drive axle that is under the body?
If this is the case as far as i know the brakes are set up differently to that of a straight trailer axle. I'm not sure i those air over hydraulic units will work.

Oh and for a single axle id be incline to drop the springs... Or atleast get some rubber bump stops set up so that id doesn't lean over. The truck is okay as when it leans to one side both axles are pushing against it, but when you chop off the front and stick a drawbar under it your basically making it into a pivot point.

By ensuring that the drawbar is angled upwards into the trailer, the back of it tucked up towards the floor and the front down below the chassis rails, you reduce the twisting effect somewhat.

Jonblack

http://www.rsa.ie/en/RSA/Your-Vehicle/About-your-Vehicle/Example-of-non-Dup/Trailers-/Legal-Requirements-for-towing-trailers-/
http://www.armitagetrailers.com/trailerlaw.htm
Check these links and make sure you are within the new laws.

Sam Kade

I converted two lorry bodies. By the time you take off the springs weld the axle back on the chassis and make up a draw bar with channel iron it will end up costing more than a good secondhand trailer. That's not allowing for the time spent working on it and if you have to pay someone to convert it forget it.

Donnacadh

Thanks for the info lads

The more talk here the more I think I would be safer scrapping it and buying a second hand one, theres a few on done deal would do the job for about 1500

The cost and time of doing it will wipe out any benefit I reckon, I have an old bog needs a bridge - might just throw it across that!

locky76

Madness doing it, you haven't a leg to stand on if anything happens you on the open road, you wouldn't drive a car without insurance so why would you with a trailer....
Apologies for being so frank, no offence meant...

Donnacadh wrote: »

Lads,

I have come into an old rigid lorry. About 20 foot long, engine gave up i.e. the vehicle wasn't in an accident so no physical damage

Was wondering would it be worth my while thinking about using the body as a trailer? Anyone done this before?

If so how much would it cost to get a lad into do it?

What way would you be as regards legalities on the road? would it need air brakes etc, what about a weight plate? I'm thinking it would only be a single axle trailer although with double wheels at both sides

(i'm sure the legalities would be similar north and south)

All comments welcome

Mycroft H

The new type approval certs don't apply if it's towed by an agricultural vehicle.