About 15 years ago I needed to move a load of scaffolding tube so I built several trainers out of the tube itself, drilled one tube for the hitch off my other trailer and used a 5ft wide Indespension axle set with a sort of cradle to attach the tubes with Ubolts. the rigs were successively 8ft, 13ft, 21ft plus a bit for clearance round the hitch. I mounted the 21ft in pairs one above the other to avoid sag. Think I did 4 or 5 trips.
I still have the bits but wonder if the new 2008 (or is it 2012) regs would kybosh it or whether the key parts of hitch and wheelset constitute a trailer predating the changes.

Edited By Bazyle on 05/08/2019 21:41:41

VOSA used to be the relevant agency, but things have changed

This now appears to be the place to look: **LINK**

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tow-a-trailer-with-a-car-safety-checks

… and note the helpful link to this: **LINK**

https://ntta.co.uk/buyers-guide2/suppliers-free-trailer-safety-checks_34

MichaelG.

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P.S. it must be 40 years since I built mine [now gone], but I remember Indespension being very helpful

… and their suspension units made it a very easy job.

Night shift used collect together steel, bring in indespension units and tow hitch – the drive out of the works with a trailer when they clocked off. Not so easy now there are security cameras!

If i were to need another trailer, I would go along to a relevant auction, search out a suitable candidate and bid on it.

Small second hand trailers are likely cheaper than making a new one. There were about six in the sale I went to, at the weekend. Some sold, some didn’t.

Seems like an unbraked trailer is all that is required, so no brakes needed and a lighting board could be used for the electrics?

.

That's an interesting link, Robert

**LINK** added for convenience

But I do find it a little worrying that the text has not been updated since VOSA, as such, ceased to exist.

MichaelG.

If you plan on using a trailer for taking stuff to a council Tip  Recycling Centre check if they have a size limit, our centre will only allow smallish trailers into the domestic type section. Council rules seem to vary from area to area as well.

Edited By V8Eng on 06/08/2019 09:16:27

Also check your car specification. A Fiesta is only rated for 600kg unbraked but 900 braked, not the 750 one assumes. Don't like the idea of having to register trailers – guess Brexit will give the petty bureaucrats the chance to increase our 'freedom' from EU regulations.

I have an old book called Your Complete Guide To Trailers and Towing published by Indespension who made the wheel units etc, a useful book if you can obtain a copy.Some years ago a friend of made his own flexible suspension rubber units, using some square section tube, four circular length of rubber (rod) and a shaped steel piece to fit inside, which he made himself. I think he had seen the Indespension units being made. However, he put the lengths of rubber in his freezer, then later pressed them in place, together with the steel piece.My friend made a few for his mates, they seems to work OK and never heard of a failure. Not at all sure about modern legislation reading trailer. Not many home made looking trailers at car boot sales or auto jumble sales. now days. john

Over a long period,I have built six small trailers for motor cycles and stationary engines,plus trips to the dump.Some of my trips have been over hundreds of miles when buying stationary engines,My last home built trailer now 30 years old has had some updates,I based the chassis on those that indespension used to sell ie 6 ft x4ft ,measured up one down our local trailer centre when no one was looking,modified it by making it 6 inches longer and just over 4ft wide so that a new sheet of 6 x 4 sheet timber will fit inside and hang over the tailgate.It is unbraked I first used mini hubs and wheels and 500 kilo indespension units,first mod was to fit metro taper wheel bearings in the mini hubs which made the trailer roll better,and replaced two sets of indespension units due to bent axle shafts, the mini hub is only 7/8 ins dia and theindespension steel is not as strong as a Mini Spindle, All due to overloading with stationary engines and a 15 cwt surface grinder. The trailer now has Avonride units which have stronger one inch dia spindles,and trailer parts suppliers now have hubs to suit these axles and a variety of wheel sizes,try to get better quality bearings ,the real cheapo ones are not very good. The avon rides 550 Kilo capacityalso have solid arms from the rubber down to the axle and are a lot stronger than those made from rectangular tube.Try looking at Trailertek website. I would just build the trailer,stamp/mark on the max gross weight ,just guess it dont worry about weighing it, the gross weight has been mandatory for a very long time,also a safety chain is mandatory on unbraked trailers.nobody can tell how old it is so dont worry about latest regs which currently apply to manufacturers. Make the trailer neat and tidy,paint it and add plenty of tie down points,trailers only seem to get stopped by the law if they have poorly secured loads and look as though they will fall to bits. I carry stationary engines to rallies so need reliability so use 8 ply tyres ,carry a good spare wheel ,plus a new wheel hub and bearing.and jack,dont rely on the car jack as a lot of cars dont have jacks, my wifes Vitara had as standard the aerosol of glue in the boot in case of punctures, no jack or wheel brace, so I ordered the skinny get you home kit,the kit comprised the wheel and tyre,plus nut spanner and jack ,then when I checked the kit the wheel nut spanner did not fit,wrong size so the suzuki garage had to rob one from their stock of cars oops.and then made sure the skinny wheel fitted, What made me flaming mad was the agent told me that a full size spare would not fit in the boot well, so I checked it out when it was too late,the full size spare does fit with about a 2 inch loss of boot space.If building a trailer costs too much,try finding a trailer of known make and make sure that it is not been abused,rusty,and does not have perished tyres,If you do consider making a trailer to the full 750 kilo capacity I think you will find that 750 kilo spring units will beat the load to depth as these rubber sprung units will take well over their rated load. By the way for my larger engines up to 3/4 ton an Ifor williams with leaf springs is the best ,these springs give a really nice ride for the valuable load. The problem with an Ifor is theft prevention.

Two general purpose trailers and three dinghy trailers built over the last forty years. I only have one g.p. trailer now but I believe all the others are still in use. Quite a lot of overthinking above. How would anyone know whether your privately built, lightweight trailer for taking stuff to the tip is new or refurbished? The new trailer would just join the enormous fleet of privately built bike, boat, camping, general purpose etc. trailers that already exists. I think the best advice posted above is the suggestion to check with the tip on the maximum size of trailer that they will accept.

Andy

Many years ago, my brother wanted a small trailer for livestock. he worked for the council, so collected all the old angle iron bedframes. With four Mini wheels and Indespension units, I made him a trailer based around 4 x 8 foot plywood sheets. The brakes were connected diagonally, so that if one cable broke, it would still have a working brake on each side. The sides and front were 4 feet high, with a central kingpost and two diagonal braces, so effectively a space frame, light, but very stiff.

Must have been mad, but rode on the trailer frame when it went out for a test run along a country lane!

Glad I didn't fall between the framework.

Can't do that sort of thing, now, even if you know what you're doing, unless you have been certified, at a great cost, by someone who probably is less well qualified than you are.

Howard