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.

 

 

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southcity104's picture

Posts: 1659

Date Joined: 27/01/09

looks the goods!!

Sat, 2012-03-24 17:24

simple setup which would work well!!

cheers for the post.

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Paul_86's picture

Posts: 1449

Date Joined: 27/03/09

 Looks like a good job mate,

Sat, 2012-03-24 17:36

 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.

Posts: 88

Date Joined: 20/08/10

Cheers mate, but I reckon the

Sun, 2012-03-25 12:20

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 .

 

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

thanks for sharing the idea

Sat, 2012-03-24 17:50

thats for sharing the idea it looks ok pl let us know when you have tried it out

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 18032

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 job well done. cant see why

Sat, 2012-03-24 21:39

 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 

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

NORUN NOFUN's picture

Posts: 1035

Date Joined: 15/08/11

Nice

Sat, 2012-03-24 22:13

Good man to have on a road trip !! Nice fab work - like a good DIY !!

Posts: 2925

Date Joined: 27/12/06

Great post

Sun, 2012-03-25 08:44

 Great post tigerfish, looks like a good solution

UncutTriggerInWA's picture

Posts: 2692

Date Joined: 05/09/08

Great solution well thought out

Sun, 2012-03-25 09:56

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.

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Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.

Posts: 88

Date Joined: 20/08/10

 Cheers guys. I should really

Sun, 2012-03-25 10:48

 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.

 

Posts: 5806

Date Joined: 18/01/12

second that

Sun, 2012-03-25 18:33

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!

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 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's picture

Posts: 1752

Date Joined: 07/12/08

yep good idea

Sun, 2012-03-25 10:57

 itll come in very handy i reckon

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Gooooone Fishin!

Posts: 812

Date Joined: 09/10/06

Good job mate. Mite steel

Sun, 2012-03-25 14:35

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

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

Yeah, and a chain with a

Sun, 2012-03-25 14:50

Yeah, and a chain with a turnbuckle that goes from the boat to the trailer spine, for long trips.

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Posts: 88

Date Joined: 20/08/10

 Yeah cheers, will definitely

Sun, 2012-03-25 18:18

 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.

Posts: 9358

Date Joined: 21/02/08

More that if the safety chain

Sun, 2012-03-25 18:23

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.

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