Gettin a US trailer Aus registered - How to
Well I thought I might as well document this while Im sorting out my trailer to help others.
I will add to this post as time goes by
Firstly: Background info
I bought a Trophy 2352 WA recently from a private seller in perth and it came with an magictilt US unlicenced trailer from New jersey
Unfortunately I wasnt fully aware of the headaches to follow, bearing collapsed on the way home only about 10 mins after picking up the boat.
Forcing me to do the following to get it home
Costings
This is what I have priced up so far
12mm Aus approved safety chain roughly $25
3500kg Trailer Coupling $60
Hydraulic Disc brakes x 2 for each axle (specified by the DPI) $800
Hydrastar HBA1600 PSI breakaway system and incar controller $1100
Flexible Brake Lines $250
LED Autolamps lighting Kit $200
New spring..?
Update 4.10.12
So I started to pull off the other side last night
Bearing was good and greased up but I wonder if anybody could spot whats missing from the picture?
Yeap there are no brakes left what so ever!!
Then also noticed this little doozy
Lucky I had the pre-purchase inspection done her......NOT!
So Im adding a new spring to my price list
Update 8.10.12
3 springs and shackles have now been replaced
Chain welded on and holes have been drilled for the coupling
Bolts have been located at a suprising struggle and im just going to get some flat plate washers to distrubute the bolting load a little better
Just a little Photo showing the old to the new
Update: 10/10/12
Ok so the update goes like this
Went to a bearing mob and could not get bearings to fit the US axle and aussie hub.
After much thinking Im getting new Aussie 45mm stub axles welded on, make this much easier if Im ever up shit creek and need bearings or other parts fast.
Bought a LED autolamps trailer kit, fantastic bit of kit and cost $200 all plug and playwith no solderings etc and all plugs have silicon inside. This also came with side markers all ADR approved.
Purchased Hydraline flexible brake line kit as well got them from a store in perth so started running those lines as well.
Just waiting for the axle and will be putting the first set of brakes on that arrived yesterday
The trailer Coupling is now bolted in as well
Update: 15/10/12
Another weekend down and she now rolls on all 4 wheel again
The new stub axles are welded on have we ground down the sleeve inside of the old axle, photo below shows new to old
Axle has been rubbed down and painted with some killrust, a nice marine blue colour
so no the hubs are on brakes are all set up just waiting on the rear axle brake kit and then ill be pulling the other axle out and be repeating the same proccess.
Update: 17.10.12
Recieved the Hydrastart Kit and brake controller yesterday
Started to wire up the Car Brake controller which looks pretty easy
signal reciever, signal sender and the POS and NEG cables
just have to finish of running them to the trailer plug and that parts sorted
Also started up getting the Brake actuator and battery mounted so I bought a piece of RHS sliced the bottom edge off and slid it over the trailer coupling and started to drill some holes and welded 2 bits of flat plate to the side to mount the battery.
Pictures to come
wagyl
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 08/03/09
Hydrastar unit
On American ebay I bought my replacement hydrastar unit (don't let them get wet) for about $630 (without controller) including delivery. The cheapest I could find in Aus was $1200. Just in case you might need another......
opsrey
Posts: 1200
Date Joined: 05/10/07
A wole report on the process..
I love the Trophys, and would really enjoy a start to finish report on this activity. Where you looked, how you paid, how you transported etc, etc.
Good luck, hope to learn more and hope you love the result.
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
Wagyl: Thanks I did buy the
Wagyl: Thanks I did buy the hydrastar from the US but the price also includes the breakaway system and the in cabin controller
Osprey: There has already been write up about importing the boat etc from the US im just trying to detail a bit more of what needs to be done to the trailer specifically - I edited my previous post as it did look confusing. i bought the boat and trailer here but the trailer had never been licensed here.
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
"i bought the boat and
"i bought the boat and trailer here but the trailer had never been licensed here."
and here lies some of the traps of importing that people dont know about!
- fyi (and this is really important!!) under the import approval (that the importer signs) of the trailer -you are not allowed to sell or transfer an imported trailer until it meets Australian Standards, further the importer is responsible for ensuring that the trailer meets these standards - ie Bradlze, if you had an accident towing the trophy on the trailer and cleaned up someone -under the law the guy you bought the boat and trailer from would be responsible!!!! - may sound crazy but thats why the import approval is such a process....
The only way he could sell the trailer is to state that it had been sold as scrap and remove the VIN.... not your problem but just a heads up to anyone looking at selling (or buying) an imported trailer that has not been rego'd here
cheers
Clint
Piggy
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Bad luck
Sounds like u baught a doozy there mate.... I was a bit lucky when I baught mine and tailed was all sweet! Keep us posted with how u go, it's an interesting read
I go boating not fishing
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
Many different ways to skin a
Many different ways to skin a mongoose
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
well on more annoying
well on more annoying news
Cannot get bearings to fit aussie hubs to the import axles so looks like im up for new axles as well
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Where have you tried to
Where have you tried to source hubs?
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Wow
In retrospect its getting closer to just getting a new Oz trailer.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
roughly 3 grand compared to 8
roughly 3 grand compared to 8 grand? no not even close
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Agree
But from the look off things there will be ongoing issues, and from somebody who had a "dud" trailer with bearings, axle issues, boat parked up between Karratha and Exxy, on dampier hill etc it drives you nuts.
Since the upgrade to a twin axle had none, and it takes the worry out.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
..
..
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
starbug, I have Aussie hubs
starbug, I have Aussie hubs from an ebayer over east
Crasny1 what ongoing issues are you talking about? I am pretty much replacing everything except for the frame so I dont know what your talking about? if you on the Import products are destroying aussie business bang wagon I wouldnt even bother.
The trailer I got is just rusted out and was never maintained, this is the main reason I am replacing so much
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
No on the wrong track mate
Just had issues ++ with my trailer.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
Try somewhere like
Try somewhere like Martins Trailer parts. You can get any mix of wheel stud pattern and bearing bores to suit you axles and rims.
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
And jeez
People jump to conclusions. Not everyone on here is trying to criticise everyone, just merely trying to help out.
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
tombstone
Posts: 169
Date Joined: 14/10/10
so let me get this
so let me get this straight...Pelagic you say that the seller of the boat/trailer is not allowed to sell, then why can bradlze not be able to recoupe the money spent on getting it up to australian standards from the person he bought it from???? For if it is illegal then i am sure bradlze has some sort of recourse???
The way i see it it is not any fault of bradlze but the person who sold it to them? Unless bradlze has told them he would not worry about an unlicenced trailer (don't know why anyone would do that), hopefully everything else gets sorted and the trailer ends up being schmicko for you, by the look of things it will be a rock solid trailer after its all finished.
to fish or not to fish...as if there was an option.
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
hmmm that is a good pointIt
hmmm that is a good point
It was a private sale but the guy I bought it from got it from a dealer but I guess it depends on if he sold the trailer as "scrap"
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
IF so it would be prudent to
IF so it would be prudent to see if you can get this trailer registered before you throw anymore time and money at it.
Piggy
Posts: 553
Date Joined: 24/08/12
Bearings
If it helps I found that early model hilux front and rear bearings fit my US import trailer.... Same as tyres... 6 stud pattern
I go boating not fishing
Starbug
Posts: 563
Date Joined: 27/08/09
I seem to remember a mate
I seem to remember a mate overhauling an import trailer and there was mention or the bearings/rims being early hilux/landcruiser.
Fishfeeda
Posts: 6
Date Joined: 19/12/11
Hi All for what its worth I
Hi All for what its worth I have just gone through this process after weeks of reserch it worked out cheaper ( i did all the work myself so no labour costs) and easier not to mention re-sale to keep the frame and springs and replace everything else with new from Martins so at least all the undercarrage is now off the shelf anywhere in oz. I spent around $3500 incluing blast and paint.
Cheers
marble
Posts: 778
Date Joined: 03/09/09
Tried this mob for bits
Tried this mob for bits ?? http://www.titanbrakes.com.au/american_trailer_parts.php
PMY 25 Centre Console DF300 Suzuki
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
New Update
New Update
till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
What a mission!
What a mission!
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
yeah a bit of a mission but
yeah a bit of a mission but then at least im only relying on my own workmanship not anybody elses
I am pretty mechanically minded but never played with a trailer so apart from spending a lot of money I have really enjoyed it
and now I also sure that I can source parts easily from nearly anywhere I take the boat.
Bradlze
Posts: 96
Date Joined: 06/02/12
Another update
Another update
Vinesh87
Posts: 2751
Date Joined: 02/04/11
Did it myself not long ago,
Did it myself not long ago, didnt have as many dramas as you, so good work, you will love the trophy.
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
"so let me get this
"so let me get this straight...Pelagic you say that the seller of the boat/trailer is not allowed to sell, "
yeah its a tricky one
it is illegal to sell the trailer - its just no one knows that as most people dont bother reading the import approval - suggest all this comes to a head when someone has an accident...
TOWSAFE
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 23/11/12
US Trailer Parts
We're in Ozzy park and have most bits on the shelf for US trailers.
Make sure you check the rating of AUS parts vs US ones before you rip them off
as most 5 stud hubs are good for 1600kg per axle and get replaced with standard
Ford or Slim/line gear with a rating of only around 1350kg.
The 6 stud stuff is rated to over 2ton per axle.
Roland
TOW-SAFE
Trailer Repair and Maintenance