zook off road trailer AKA Tadpole

[christover1]

That may be a bit thin for the floor Chris. How are you going to use the floor? As a rough and ready guide you want aluminium to be about 50% thicker than steel to provide similar strength.

It's not intended to carry much weight. But unintended events do happen.
Like people jumping on floor to test springs, kids playing, firewood mad peoples etc.
This will be avoided tho.
When not camping, top will come off and it will be a home hanyman trailer.

Now thinking gal or zincalume stuff.
It doesn't need to form part of structure, as chassis should be mobile on its own.

christover

[christover1]

After a bit of research and a lot of questions on many forums, I am more inclined to use galvanised sheet for floor and sides, if it comes in a suitable thickness and price.
Unless of course I find thicker aluminium sheet at the same great price I was offered on 1.6 (not likely tho)
It would be "glued" in with sikaflex or similar, and pinned thru the original "jigging" holes.
Will start checking into this option, along with zincalume roofing type options, next.
Want to chase up my mystery hitch first.
Obviously he/she don't want my money.
christover

[christover1]

This is all I had time for today. But I like to use time wisely when I have it. They are very cheap but pass the law enough to get me going. I will upgrade to led's at some future stage as dollars permit. Unless these turn out to be good. No reflectors so I'm guessing they may be invisible when dirty or in bright sun.
christover.

[christover1]

I'm excited
Finaly got me hitch, he was apologetic for delay, he got busy.
Thanx to Bernard from Tradesmans Trailers
tradesmans_trailers@hotmail.com

[christover1]

I did just notice this hitch has a bush right thru it, with a flat section to prevent tongue and hitch rubbing together.
At least I think it goes in that way
Got the hitch mounted to trailer, destroying Ozito drill no.4.
This time they refunded so I could get a better one, a Makita this time.
Know nothing of them, but gotta be a step up from Ozito crud.

[christover1]

I finished the hitch and lights today, and finaly got to road test it.
Still gotta do a rev light and number plate light, yet.
It passed the road test, but I had to fight hard not to go bush and get some crossed up pix.
Trying to keep it clean to work on.
It tows ok, not to heavy for the car.
May need reflectors on it, cos I could easily ferget its there

I ran as much wiring internally as possible, with the rest running thru some tubing.
No rattles from the hitch, but the slipper springs complain on bigger bumps.
Happy so far, now it needs some skin and a tail gate.

[christover1]

I fixed the slipper spring rattle with real complex a high tech system.

I shoved some heavy rubber pipe around the bolt the springs, on droop, get caught by.

The issue is caused by only using a single leaf, cos the 2nd leaf on a double leaf spring is angled down to stop loose drooping.

christover

[christover1]

Decision made.
Going for 1.6 (1.55) galv for trailer floor and sides.
$90 for a 2400 x 1200 sheet inc tax. (I hate tax)
$10 to cut it in half and they waved the $15 extracting from the warehouse fee.
Threw in a few free offcuts, too.
All my needs will come out of 1 sheet.
Thanks go to BWS steel in Canterbury rd Bayswater.
Helpful chap and a 4wheeler, too.
I can forgive the ownership of a Range Rover cos he looked after me

Also thanks for everyones input, advice and links to good deals.
Thanks Jtraf for a very tempting offer on alloy cp.

Now just have to wait for it to be ready.

christover

[cj!]

Well the Tadpole lives

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cg5wBZP0xEQ

[christover1]

Well the Tadpole lives

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cg5wBZP0xEQ

thanx for that,
nice videoing.