Forums > Windsurfing General

Building a windsurfing trailer

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Created by LongTimeAgo > 9 months ago, 31 Jan 2013
LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
2 Feb 2013 2:33PM
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This is a trailer that the UNSW Windsurfing Club uses. What a bueaty!



see the video @ www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/New-South-Wales/UNSW-Windsurfing-Club-Kyeemagh-NE-Video/

Smithy
VIC, 858 posts
24 Feb 2013 9:38PM
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Hi Guys, built this purpose trailer some years back.

Trailer was 7' x 4' with extended draw bar, add a half trade box top with rack on the back. the whole thing was cold galvernised and was fitted with an alarm that monitored the box side and board rack. The open trailer bottom was great for carrying camping gear or deck chairs etc. probably still have the working drawings if anyone is interested.












LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
25 Feb 2013 10:47AM
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talk about 'thinking outside the box'

that's a great setup smithy for lugging that 'long stuff' around, pretty easy to load on & off.

azymuth
WA, 2014 posts
25 Feb 2013 8:27AM
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Smithy - what sort of alarm did you fit?

Smithy
VIC, 858 posts
25 Feb 2013 9:06PM
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The alarm was an old home alarm system with battery installed in the lock box side. A key switch and a canon plug on the outside for arming and connecting to a charger when the trailer returned home. A horn speaker was installed under the trailer. On battery the alarm could easliy last more than a couple of days.

Each of the board racks had a spring loaded tamper switch on the under side that the tie down would hold in the secure position. This allowed multiple boards on each rack to be still protected by the alarm. Another tamper switch on the lock box door which also had gas struts to help open.

The siren was more than loud enough to hear out on the water as a couple of my smart arse mates found out...

Another simple feature added was to drill a hole in the jockey wheel and add a sleeve. When parking on a slope you could simply slot in a piece of 3/8 rod In the hole to lock the wheel. Made it much easier to move single handed.

azymuth
WA, 2014 posts
26 Feb 2013 11:07AM
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Cheers for that

GTsails
VIC, 12 posts
28 Feb 2013 10:40PM
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Consider your sheet sizes before you build the frame.
Nothing worse than finding the sheet doesn't quite fit.
Better to have less joins / less cutting too.
I have a 1200 wide (4 foot) enclosed trailer and its a bit narrow. If your base platform trailer is a 6x4' consider making the frame for your enclosed section go out over the guards.
Cheers,

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
1 Mar 2013 11:50AM
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this is my build so far.... NOT!



grab comes from post

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Jason-Polakow-Aus-Tour-Video/

wouldn't like to pack/unpack that every day


Garry M
NSW, 27 posts
1 Mar 2013 3:09PM
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Hi Guys, I am a qualified Boilermaker/Welder and did the costing on building my own windsurfing trailer only to find I was going to save about $100 and then have a trailer without a manufactures compliance plate (problems getting it registered in SA) So chose to buy a standard 6X4 and work from there, this is also good for keeping the rego cost down. I have had this trailer for 10 yrs now and just love it. Easy to load, low to tow, light weight and lockable. Have done several trips from Adelaide to Caloundra, tows great, no impact on fuel economy.
Remove the top and you are back to a standard trailer, bigger market for when you decide to sell. Lid was made from 40x20 galv tube and covered with white colorbond. Racks on top of the lid are a personal design thing, I wanted to keep it as low as possible for towing and loading, also had a bracket each side to hold mountain bikes. I would recommend 25x25 galv tube with a wall thickness of 2mm for the rack framing, easy to weld.
The spare wheel is a space saver from the wreckers and mounted under the rear floor, only good for an emergency situation.

sboardcrazy
NSW, 7960 posts
1 Mar 2013 5:59PM
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Fanatic 02 Didn't realise you'd made so many....grr I want one!

Smithy
VIC, 858 posts
1 Mar 2013 9:28PM
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The guy who built my trailer was deaf. A great tradie but if you didnt watch closely would do some strange things. He built a trailer for a mate that had a ford hub on one side and a Holden hub on the other...

SeaSkip
VIC, 97 posts
19 Sep 2013 1:24AM
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LongTimeAgo, hows it coming along?
I figured I would just add to your thread instead of starting anew, luckily it's not "old news" yet.
I'm just at the fun part with mine, racks, electrics etc.
It started with a well used, but solid 7x4 box then added the extension down the drawbar.

I decided to make the frame removable, although it will take a little effort to do so.

Should have taken more pics during build, but here she is. Maximum board length of 280cm.
I used composite panel, 3mm of plastic with a very thin sheet of aluminium on each side, i bought some as seconds and saved a bundle. This stuff is so easy to work with! Sikaflex and Rivets hold the panels on...hopefully.
The internal racks hang from the roof, allowing me room for other holiday gear or a swag.



Plans include a 12v system for a water tank and pump to wash gear off.
Air vents, lights, small item storage and so on.
Pretty chuffed with the final product, certainly makes life easier not having to load and unload the car every trip.
Any ideas are very welcome.
Cheers

FormulaNova
WA, 14439 posts
19 Sep 2013 5:39AM
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Nice! I like the integrated towel racks on the sides too!

Where did you buy the composite panels from?

I think your approach is good. Something simple, but a really good fit for what you need. I am half way through building a trailer but I think I made it too complex, so maybe I might start from scratch and build something just like yours.



Kazza
TAS, 2342 posts
19 Sep 2013 10:22AM
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Just buy a horse float & put racks in it, then you can have a change room tooHmmm I think I just gave myself an idea.

SeaSkip
VIC, 97 posts
19 Sep 2013 10:27AM
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Thanks, it is a simple design, so much so I didn't ever draw any plans, just all in my head.
I wasn't sure about the rack layout, so I just put this in for the time being, but it really works for me.
It will probably evolve, somewhat.
I found the Composite panel at a local alluminium supplier. 99 bucks for primo 2440 x 1220 or 30 bucks for slightly damaged (mainly on the edges, covered by flashing anyway).
It can span larger gaps due to the thickness / stiffness, and is very quiet over bumps.
There are actually two more towel racks on the other side, for those really wet days!
Have you got any pics of yours? Keep it going, the complex ones are often the best!

mineral1
WA, 4564 posts
19 Sep 2013 11:35AM
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Select to expand quote
SeaSkip said..
Thanks, it is a simple design, so much so I didn't ever draw any plans, just all in my head.

I wasn't sure about the rack layout, so I just put this in for the time being, but it really works for me.

It will probably evolve, somewhat.

I found the Composite panel at a local alluminium supplier. 99 bucks for primo 2440 x 1220 or 30 bucks for slightly damaged (mainly on the edges, covered by flashing anyway).

It can span larger gaps due to the thickness / stiffness, and is very quiet over bumps.

There are actually two more towel racks on the other side, for those really wet days!

Have you got any pics of yours? Keep it going, the complex ones are often the best!


SeaSkip, mine is simular to yours. I glued in the inside, top sides and rear, insulation material purchased from harware store, its about 5mm think in silver and can be purchased like buying material. Used no more nails glue. Keeps inside very very cool on hot days.

SeaSkip
VIC, 97 posts
19 Sep 2013 2:36PM
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Hi mineral1, yes it is.....isn't it.....I must admit that yours is one of the idea donors for mine! I scoured these forums for ideas for a while before deciding on the design.
So I suppose there are a few people out there that don't know how helpfull they have been for me. Thanks all!
I've put insulation in my shed that is like a bubble wrap and foil product. Seems to work on my shed well.
I probably should look into doing the same with the trailer as Summers are getting hotter a every year.
Cheers



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"Building a windsurfing trailer" started by LongTimeAgo