Guards for my trailer

[Fafnir]

I need some guards made up for my boat trailer, and I'm looking for some ideas/advice on where to go.

I am based at Victoria Point.

The fibreglass guards that came with the trailer were fine until I upgraded my wheel size from 10inch to 13inch and now they sit too low.

There's not a lot of space between the top of the wheel and the bottom of the boat. It's not dangerously close, just close enough that some prefab guards won't fit. That and the fact that the brackets the guard mounts to are too close together for the prefab guards I have seen.

So I need to get some guards made up. I am probably selling this boat/trailer in the next couple of months so I'm not looking to spend a fortune on them. I rang and got a quote of $180 per guard from a company in Capalaba, but that's about $100 more per guard that I'm wanting to spend.

Any ideas on a cheap way of getting some guards made up? Or is $360 for 2 guards about right?

[johncar]

I would think surely you can buy some off the shelf mudguards and mount them onto your trailer at a workable height. You will probably need to weld on some new support brackets. However if you increased the wheel and tyre size and have reduced the clearance from the tyre to the boat then you will have to either just work with that minimal distance and probably have the new guards close if not touching the boats hull but would should still be trying to achieve 50mm clearance .
Can you lift the boats rollers/skids to give more clearance as most trailers are adjustable in that regard.
Probar at Caboolture have a range of premade mudguards from $25 each so yes $180 would seem expensive even if made from Stainless Steel.
http://www.probar.net.au/shop/index....00257f7f229c8d

[chris69]

Try gold coast trailer supplys and i think the deliver or can get it delivered.

[barra71]

I welded two guards on to my trailer and I only had 200mm to play with, I just got the guard and trimmed it back where I needed to and saved myself a lot of $$$. Even if you don't have a welder a local welding shop will weld them on or weld on brackets for you for a small fee.
All up with the cost two guards and haven them welded on would cost you no more than $100-$150 tops maybe even less, any more than that would be a rip off......


Chris

[Fafnir]

Thanks heaps for the replies.

I did think about lifting the boat slightly, then I took a look at the state of the support brackets and changed my mind. They are not dangerously rusted, but I can't see the bolts coming undone in a hurry. Would be an angle grinder job and given that I am probably selling it, more work than I want to do on it. Good job for the next owner.

Good suggestions about modifying off the shelf guards. For that matter I could maybe use the original guards if I get a bit of extra metal welded onto the existing brackets to lift them up a bit. I think I will look into that.

The only other option would be to get some new 10" tyres fitted to the original wheels and put the old axle back on. But not sure where to buy tyres or get them fitted for the 10". Called a couple of tyre companies and they say they don't fit 10" tyres. So where does everyone else get theirs done?

[chris69]

Well the trailer places should know because some sell 10inch fitted so someone must do them try them.

[barra71]

look on ebay or trading post for tyres, i to have looked for them over the yrs and it's not that easy to find them. do a little ringing aroung at some of the boat shops, or as above any trailer parts place might know..

[MTAQ/BTAQ]

I bought some guards for my trailer on E Bay, a guy at Allora (near Toowoomba for $50), he can courier them to you but I was driving through and bought them. Had a welder then fit them to the trailer so cost about $100 all up.

[marto78]

Could you use a couplle of bits of C channel bolted between the existing brackets and guards to get the height you require or is the boat going to be in the way?

[Fafnir]

Could you use a couplle of bits of C channel bolted between the existing brackets and guards to get the height you require or is the boat going to be in the way?

I think that might be the solution. Will have a chat to a local welder and see what we can come up with. Must be a cheap way out of it.

[Rip it up]

3mm ply can bend over a 9mm ply semi circle to form a new mudguard. Easy to do if you have the tools. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365133033.795564.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1365133087.391555.jpg fibreglass the whole setup. Also allows you to cover in the inside of the guard to stop mud/tar getting onto the hull.