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Post by themorgster on Apr 16, 2020 18:20:48 GMT
It’s a caravan a-frame jobbie, but it’s solid, braked, good bearings and good tyres.  |
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Post by themorgster on May 5, 2020 23:46:52 GMT
Custom floor mats made from 3mm chequer plate rubber and aluminium heel pad. Made up cardboard templates first... 10min job!  |
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Post by themorgster on May 6, 2020 18:33:15 GMT
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Post by camspeed on May 9, 2020 7:31:37 GMT
Hope you don't mind me making comment from past experiences? a few things spring to mind on the trailer.
Are the wheels likely to get scratched on the trailer deck sides? either when loading or when bouncing down the road?
Can you put 'over the wheel' straps to tie it down and cut outs in the floor for the hooks? Makes it easier to tie on and less likely to damage wheels.
Will the tyre rack mean you will exceed the nose weight for the car towing it?
I have a Brian James 16 foot trailer and its overkill for the Exocet. Firstly the car is so light the trailer suspension shakes it around so I lower the tyre pressures. I am going to buy a single axle trailer but the nose weight can be a problem....particularly when VOSA see you drive by and they have nothing to do. I had a 4 hour argument with them over it once on the M4. I got off but they did try and impound me over it. I passed the weigh bridge axle loading but the nose weight was too high. I had the spare wheels and toolbox to remove and store in the car. I missed my race as a result.
Just thought it worth a mention.
PS like the tyre rack, I might nick your dimensions for mine.
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Post by themorgster on May 9, 2020 8:13:44 GMT
Hope you don't mind me making comment from past experiences? a few things spring to mind on the trailer. Are the wheels likely to get scratched on the trailer deck sides? either when loading or when bouncing down the road? Can you put 'over the wheel' straps to tie it down and cut outs in the floor for the hooks? Makes it easier to tie on and less likely to damage wheels. Will the tyre rack mean you will exceed the nose weight for the car towing it? I have a Brian James 16 foot trailer and its overkill for the Exocet. Firstly the car is so light the trailer suspension shakes it around so I lower the tyre pressures. I am going to buy a single axle trailer but the nose weight can be a problem....particularly when VOSA see you drive by and they have nothing to do. I had a 4 hour argument with them over it once on the M4. I got off but they did try and impound me over it. I passed the weigh bridge axle loading but the nose weight was too high. I had the spare wheels and toolbox to remove and store in the car. I missed my race as a result. Just thought it worth a mention. PS like the tyre rack, I might nick your dimensions for mine. The wheels are 15x7 and tyres are 205/50. It’s tight on the tyre but the rim is a good 10mm in from the sidewall... looking at it I don’t think it’s possible to damage the face or lip of the wheel in transit. I have 4x 50mm ratchet straps and the trailer already has hook points, just not in the beds. I played around with various ways of strapping down and current thinking is to run the straps over the frame of the car fore, aft & mid, as plenty of it is exposed. Am I better off tying the wheels down to allow the car to ‘bounce’ a bit on its suspension? Nose weight of the car (Ford Grand Cmax) is 75kg. I was thinking I could move the car back on the trailer as far as possible to reduce nose weight, or load it on backwards (I made the rack high enough to clear the tank cover). Failing that, I have been considering a Discovery 3/4 which has a max nose weight of 150kg. Note: I actually want a Landrover Defender, but the wife has informed me of certain practical limits of my whims...  Pahhh!!! |
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Post by camspeed on May 9, 2020 8:25:43 GMT
Had the defenders 3 times. Love them but I am too tall for them. So had loads of Discos. Current one is D4 and it’s brilliant. Very reliable and easy to repair. Don’t listen to the noises people make. Just buy one and get the diagnostic software for it so you can service it. D3 rust and the engines fail due to oil pump failure. I had two of them already and I have two friends who had engine failure. I have a few contacts at JLR. They tell me early D4 is the most reliable product they ever made.
I want a lighter trailer to tow the car behind a camper van I built. Maybe do a few track days or even tie it up to Scotland or Europe and do a few tours.
I would strap the wheels. You will wear the paint off the frame eventually as it will bounce around. I was towing trailers over 30k miles a year. Best to tie the wheels and let the car ride on its suspension.
I will post a pic later of the straps I got from eBay. They do the job.
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Post by camspeed on May 9, 2020 9:14:07 GMT
Had the defenders 3 times. Love them but I am too tall for them. So had loads of Discos. Current one is D4 and it’s brilliant. Very reliable and easy to repair. Don’t listen to the noises people make. Just buy one and get the diagnostic software for it so you can service it. D3 rust and the engines fail due to oil pump failure. I had two of them already and I have two friends who had engine failure. I have a few contacts at JLR. They tell me early D4 is the most reliable product they ever made. I want a lighter trailer to tow the car behind a camper van I built. Maybe do a few track days or even tie it up to Scotland or Europe and do a few tours. I would strap the wheels. You will wear the paint off the frame eventually as it will bounce around. I was towing trailers over 30k miles a year. Best to tie the wheels and let the car ride on its suspension. I will post a pic later of the straps I got from eBay. They do the job.    |
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Post by themorgster on May 12, 2020 7:08:55 GMT
Nose weight was 45kg with the car back as far as it would go. I added another 60kg to the front of the bed (with heavy stuff from around the garage) and nose weight went up to ~75kg (max for my car). I estimate the frame and four wheels to add 100kg (40kg frame + 60kg wheels) at the front, which will push nose weight well north of 100kg. Putting the car on backwards should fix it, I’ll try that today. I also found an online tyre pressure calculator for the trailer (assuming an all up weight of ~1100kg, single axel and info from tyres pictured below) and ran the tyres up to 54psi. This feels mind bendingly high, but I’m new to towing and various forums suggest this is right. I’m just worried I’ll go over a bump and the valve will shoot out like a bullet!!!   |
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Post by camspeed on May 12, 2020 15:42:26 GMT
Sounds ok to me.
Tyre pressure in my Brian James Trailer is 45psi 2600kg capacity
Tyre Pressure in my Ifor Williams Plant trailer is 80psi 3500kg capacity
My old Graham Edwards 21 foot triaxle trailer was 90psi 3500kg capacity
So no problem providing they are reinforced trailer tyres. If unsure ask the local tyre shop. I would have guessed at 45psi, see how it sits and see if the tyres are not getting hot (flexing in travel). Must be loaded to test it.
Check tyre date code too, anything over 10 years old should be replaced regardless of condition. Google the date code if unsure.
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Post by themorgster on May 13, 2020 15:13:42 GMT
Building the trailer tyre rack and sort of realised I didn’t have anything to put on it so bought these 15” OZ RenaultSport F1’s with (half decent) Federal RSR’s. The wheels are ratty but straight. I was going to paint them black, but I’m considering keeping them yellow... they are only going to be for the track!  |
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Post by themorgster on May 16, 2020 16:34:17 GMT
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Post by stuli on Jun 2, 2020 20:54:16 GMT
Hi Morgan. Not sure if you are still checking in but I am due for my Iva in July (hopefully) and have got big concerns over my headlamps. As yours have passed and seem to have a good beam pattern can I ask what brand they are as these may be an option for me as well.
Cheers
Stuart
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Post by themorgster on Jun 10, 2020 13:02:18 GMT
Hi Morgan. Not sure if you are still checking in but I am due for my Iva in July (hopefully) and have got big concerns over my headlamps. As yours have passed and seem to have a good beam pattern can I ask what brand they are as these may be an option for me as well. Cheers Stuart Hi, they are the dominators that came with the MEV light kit. I rotated the lenses by filing a notch (too much and had to rotate them back a bit - now have 3 notches!) and also replaced the bulbs with some good quality Philips ones. I assume you are getting the wheels aligned prior to the test, if so, get them to check the beam pattern and emissions at the same time. |
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Post by hutchey on Jun 11, 2020 11:43:17 GMT
You shouldn't need to rotate the lenses unless you are mounting the indicators on the side of the headlight unit.
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snorkel
Newbie
Today the frame came back from the powder coating site and is in Kawasaki Green
Posts: 5
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Post by snorkel on Jun 19, 2020 12:06:40 GMT
Crikey. I had expensive bonnet poppers, but one still pulled out and lost its bearings inside. Shudder to think what might have happened. I was thinking to add something coming in horizontally through the sides as well, but thought it too much faff. But worth thinking about... Russ, I am using the same doner car that you used and your thread has been really helpful, so thank you. Could I please ask where you purchased your bonnet hinges from and given your experience do you feel its better to hinge them or use those flat aero catches?? as i am really at logger heads with myself over this problem |
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Pahhh!!!
