Off road boat trailer

[block]

I am going to build an off road boat trailer to go under my4.2m Bluefin with intentions of going to the Cape and NT over the next fewyears. I am looking for any advice, recommendations and tip that any one mayhave on this matter. Photos of your trailer would be much appreciated.

The plan so far is to use channel in 75mm or 100mm insteadof box or RHS. 6 or 7 leave off road spring assembly to suit the final weight.Adding air bag or shockers for the corrugations. Undesired on how big to gowith the axle. Tyres and wheels the same as the Hi-Lux. Keel rollers every300mm. This is only a rough plan and I am willing to change to ideas that haveworked for others.

REGARDS
DWANE

[Blindfreddy]

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?136194-Show-and-tell-Off-road-Trailer

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?89072-OFF-ROAD-BOAT-TRAILER

http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/showthread.php?156511-Off-road-boat-trailer-for-cape-trip

[CT]

Must be a popular week for trip planning.
Here is a rip of what I posted on the Patrol forum. Give me a yell if you want any more info. Some other notes based on some of your points
-standard axle (round 39mm??)
-I would go eye to eye springs if doing it again.
Cheers, Craig

We did Cape Melville and the Starke a few years ago. I beefed the boat trailer up with a few things.
-16" rims and tyres to match the ute
-spring over on the axle (SOA)
-treg hitch
-heaps more keel rollers (from 3 to at least six)
-jerry can holders on each side in front of the mudguard

Only drama I had was with over articulation during one creek crossing dropping a slipper spring out of the rear slipper hanger. Jacked the trailer up and re-fitted the spring and all ok.

My mate on the same trip had good 14" rims and tyres and simply did SOA and added a treg. No dramas anywhere. We both cartopped the first trip and would never ever do it again after having the convenience of trailers.

Should be photos of both rigs floating around on outerlimits somewhere.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h118/shortthenlong/DSC02712.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h118/shortthenlong/DSC02791.jpg

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/general-discussion-18/offroad-boat-trailer-79340/
Outer Limits 4x4 Board • View topic - off road tiny trailer? (http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=222838&p=2036031#p2036031)


Cheers
Craig

[block]

Blindfreddy –thanks for the links, some very good reading. The trailer from Taitewelding look like it has every good idea already on it.

CT – thank youfor the info and photos. I like the idea of caring extra fuel on the trailerand not in the boat. I might see if there will be room to mount a tank underthe boat. A treg hitch is some think that a lot of people are recommending. The photo on the beach at CapeMelville makes a person keen. That is one place that is on my wish list. What didyou think of Cape Melville and would you go again? How was the fishing at Kalpowarcrossing?

Regards

Dwane

[Dan5]

Make the trailer the same width track as the tow vehicle.........If using 4x4 wheels have a look into making it a tilt trailer this will help alot at shallow launch sites........especially on retrieval.
Definatly eye/eye springs as i've had slippers pop out just on corrugations.
Channel is good for preventing rust in the trailer but it flex's too much for an off road trailer IMO......
Use the same bearings that your tow vehicle uses.......so you will have spares for both.
Airbags for a 4.2 is overkill IMO get your springs set once you have everything sorted and the boat on the trailer.....a good suspension joint will pack/pre set some springs to suit your load.........you want some give in them or you will shake the boat and trailer to pieces.


It will be a good build.......put some progress pics up as you go.

Dan

[wamjam]

Your two best friends are tyre air pressure and the way you drive... If you drive like a cowboy... you will break stuff, regardless of how good your trailer/4wd is.

When you get to the rough part of the journey (which is the last couple hundred k's of the road to the Cape) let the air out of your trailer and 4wd tyres until the ride is comfortable and take it easy. Look after your gear and don't be in a rush.

Scott

[CT]

CT – thank youfor the info and photos. I like the idea of caring extra fuel on the trailerand not in the boat. I might see if there will be room to mount a tank underthe boat. A treg hitch is some think that a lot of people are recommending. The photo on the beach at CapeMelville makes a person keen. That is one place that is on my wish list. What didyou think of Cape Melville and would you go again? How was the fishing at Kalpowarcrossing?

Regards

Dwane

Too easy mate, you flicked me some Fraser marks a few years ago so glad to be able to help out in return.

I've seen trailers with a "floor" sitting down between the chassis rails carrying fuel tanks, pots etc. I was going to make one to put my spare on, but I didn't have enough room. I had all forward and downward facing areas on my jerrycans protected by 12mm ply to avoid stone damage. Use nylocks on everything you bolt on to the trailer.

I though Melville was awesome and would go back in a heartbeat. The creeks are shallow and when we were there, the Muck river had a large sandbar right across the river a kay or so from the mouth, which governed upstream access. We were pretty right in the little boats, but something to be noted in a bigger boat.

The sandflies drove my wife and most of our group mad! Get really good mozzie nets for your swags.

The crocs are F'n huge!! We saw crocs to 3m every day and got pretty comfortable fishing around them. Then we came across a true 5m+ model while sneaking around with the honda at idle. Those big boys don't rush to hide and quite easily convince you that they own the river!

Have fished Kalpower a few times. We've always been there in the dead of winter (July), so haven't found freshwater barra. Its an absolutely gorgeous spot though, as is most of Lakefield. Plenty of Archerfish to have fun with though.

Keep flicking the questions through.

Cheers
Craig