DIY rolling trailer spare and beach launch wheel
Thought I'd share my recent project in case anyone is looking to do something similar. When I bought my tinny last year the trailer didn't have a spare wheel. I've been risking it on shortish trips to the ramp for the last few months but thought I'd better sort it out before my easter trip down to Denmark and May trip to Exmouth.
I began thinking of ways to mount the spare, and thought about cutting off a stub axle from the old axle and bolting this to the winch post. Then I thought that I may as well buy a full spare hub assembly so that if I did have a bearing failure, I could just remove the whole hub and chuck on the spare rather than sitting on the side of the road trying to tap out bearing races and getting covered in grease. Then I began to think that since I would have a rolling spare, it would be handy to be able to use it as a third wheel for beach launches on the upcoming trip to Exmouth. We are hopefully going to be launching at Pilgramunna on the west side which is very shallow for a long way out (esp at low tide) and I don't think my brother will be too keen to back his new Patrol into the drink. Roadmaster make a swing down bracket for just this purpose but it goes for $160 before you add the stub axle and hub, so I decided to come up with a cheap DIY solution.
Basically, it is a 39mm stub axle and hub assembly with two short sections of galv pipe (3mm thick, 40mm inside diameter); one bolted high onto the winch post for when travelling, and one bolted to the bottom of the draw bar for beach launches. I drilled a 10mm hole through one end of the stub axle and corresponding holes into the ends of the galv pipes. a 10mm bolt with a 4mm 'R clip' is used to lock the axle into either pipe. Only takes a few seconds to remove the locking pin, pull out the wheel and axle, slot it into the other pipe and put the locking pin back in.
Budget
- Stub axle $0
- COmplete hub assembly (hub, bearings, wheel nuts, cap) $30
- Galv pipe $2 (from the tip)
- U-bolts and plates $25
- Total $57
Now just need to find a cheap, used 14" HT rim and tyre.
Anyway, like I said, just thought i'd share in case anyone is thinking of doing something similar. I haven't tested it yet - I'll post an update once I have given it a work out.
southcity104
Posts: 1659
Date Joined: 27/01/09
looks the goods!!
simple setup which would work well!!
cheers for the post.
"Its a life style job"
Paul_86
Posts: 1449
Date Joined: 27/03/09
Looks like a good job mate,
Looks like a good job mate, simple but effective! I just brought and fitted a swing down bracket for the spare tyre for the same purpose and that cost me $200, but yours looks like it will work just as well.
tigerfish
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 20/08/10
Cheers mate, but I reckon the
Cheers mate, but I reckon the proper bought jobs like yours will be a lot sturdier than mine - can envisage some flexing and twising with my set-up in rough terrain. Would definitely have got one of those rather, but looking to maximise the tackle budget for my Exmouth trip .
meglodon
Posts: 5981
Date Joined: 17/06/10
thanks for sharing the idea
thats for sharing the idea it looks ok pl let us know when you have tried it out
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18032
Date Joined: 11/03/08
job well done. cant see why
job well done. cant see why it wouldnt work. for retreval just tie a rope to the trailor and car and drive it out of the water. no need to get the car wet at all. i can see these popping up everywhere. you might need to sell the plans
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
NORUN NOFUN
Posts: 1035
Date Joined: 15/08/11
Nice
Good man to have on a road trip !! Nice fab work - like a good DIY !!
Rig
Posts: 2925
Date Joined: 27/12/06
Great post
Great post tigerfish, looks like a good solution
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
Great solution well thought out
I pays to think things through and it's even better when you have the tools and the know-how to do it. Job well done mate.
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
tigerfish
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 20/08/10
Cheers guys. I should really
Cheers guys. I should really have given some credit for the design to one of the guys at Martin's Trailer Parts (didn't get his name) in Wangara. My initial idea was slightly more complex and would have involved using my 'not so hot' welding skills. If anyone needs to do trailer work themselves, I couldn't recommend them highly enough. The guys behind the counter are not just till jockeys - they know their stuff and make sure that you get what you really need.
Otherwise, I have a length of the galv pipe left and the other end of the old axle if anyone would like them to make their own. You would need to have the Holden type bearings on your trailer. I'm in Tapping, just north of Wanneroo.
Rob H
Posts: 5806
Date Joined: 18/01/12
second that
Ive always found Martins Trailer Parts great to deal with. Occasionally might find someone too busy for advice over the phone, so ring another branch!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
kane
Posts: 1752
Date Joined: 07/12/08
yep good idea
itll come in very handy i reckon
Gooooone Fishin!
holth
Posts: 812
Date Joined: 09/10/06
Good job mate. Mite steel
Good job mate. Mite steel your idea.
Couple of suggestions, put a lock and chain on the spare or it will be easy picking for anyone.
The other is your winch post looks pretty light on, not sure on the size of the boat, but might be worth beefing it up with some supports, do a search on here for what can happen when you need to stop in a hurry.
Paul
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Yeah, and a chain with a
Yeah, and a chain with a turnbuckle that goes from the boat to the trailer spine, for long trips.
tigerfish
Posts: 88
Date Joined: 20/08/10
Yeah cheers, will definitely
Yeah cheers, will definitely be putting chain and lock through it - would hate some p***k to relieve me of my hard work. Boat is only a bare bones 4.2 tinny with 25 on the back so pretty light and I have an extra wide strap across the stern, winch and safety chain on the front and a doubled up rope with truckie hitch holding the bow down onto the hitch so hopefully it wont be going anywhere in a hurry.
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
More that if the safety chain
More that if the safety chain went from the boat hitch, to the trailer spine at the bottom of the winch post, it would be a lot stronger than how it has now.