Off road custom Trailer Build

Hi Everyone,

I run a mountain bike company in Scotland and one of the products we offer is an uplift service using our 8 seater 110. This is for downhill mountain bikers who want a lift to the top of a hill so they can ride their big heavy bikes down the technical terrain. We had a trailer from Burtech and whilst the trailer is well made for roads etc, anything rougher than a smooth fireroad and it was being shaken to bits. Our route to the top is only on forest fireroads and at speeds of 10-15mph.

We have discovered that when not underload, the suspension design was not activated causing shaking and sheer fractures at welds and weak points. The wheel size also meant the trailer felt every bump and so we are looking at landy sized wheels, rather than standard trailer wheels.

We are looking at alternatives and are just waiting on a reply from Douglas Motors about their Merlin Trailer. We would need a custom job able to take 12 bikes, without any damage being done to them, (we can't just sling them in a cattle trailer without suitable protection for each bike).

My reason for posting is this: We have £2000-£3000 to spend on a trailer suitable for the job. If Merlin can't do it, is there either another company or one of you that is handy with a welder and some spare parts and would like to be commissioned to do the job? Specs are:

• 12-15 bikes each weighing up to 45-50lb. Wheelbase of bike approx 120cm. and tyre width up to 2.6 inches.
• Each bike needs to be individually attached using rachets, ties or bungees but must not touch any other bike or part of the trailer (except for the tyres obviously).
• Handbrake and rear lights required
• Suspension and wheels suitable for rough fireroads (sustained bumps and ruts of 1-3 inches)

Please let me know ASAP if you are interested or would like to know more!

Many thanks

Adam Flint

surprised you got no answer yet mate...

there was a thread on ere a few days ago with a custom trailer made from a series chassis ave a search

ere ya go
http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f15/sankey-wide-track-expedition-trailer-build-161131.html

I`ve seen the parallel thread as well. Its a big ask for that budget.
I wonder if you can make it simpler ? I agree that landy size wheels and tyres are a good idea, but I also wonder if you would not be better suspending the bikes from a custom made hanger ( sort of like a scull or canoe trailer ), say in two rows of three on each side of a serious central strut ? Each bike to have its own "hook" and securing mechanism and all metal to be pipe insulated.
If you were to buy say a wide track Sankey trailer, you might be able to find someone to fabricate the hanger assembly so as to fit onto/inside it. It would not be beyond their wit to design it to be removeable to leave you a pretty much standard trailer.
I think that stands more chance of coming in on budget and potentially making the whole thing smaller and easier. You might also look at the ex military dealers, try Milweb.net for leads, some of the more specialist military trailers than Sankeys might also be a good basis. I don`t think you necessarily need to build the whole thing from scratch, just the carrier
Laterasl thought, 12 to 15 mountain bikes on a heavy duty trailer plus 8 people going uphill on a fire road is also a big ask for a 2.5 litre engine over any distance, if you look at a bigger tow vehicle it might free up some alternatives ? Sorry to offend any LandRover one make purists. Maybe an RB44 or something similar ?

as above a sankey trailer cost ya £700 for a good un...

then £2000 odd left to pimp it at ya local welders.....

Have had a look at the trailers and a bit of a brainstorm and this looks to be a good solution. A sankey trailer will be the main body. Around the sides will be a bike stand (See below). This will allow for up to 20 normal bikes, or 12 downhill bikes spaced apart, each one stored vertically. At the top end (front wheel) each bike will be strapped either with ratchets, bunjis or even old inner tubes to a central column with a circular halo around it. It will create a pyramid effect but keep weight centralised. It will also be significantly shorter than our current twenty bike trailer, allowing for better turning circles and manouverablity. What do you guys think?!



dont know if this image will work so here is a link to a new one on amazon

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mounted-Aluminium-Holder-Storage-Stores/sim/B0051EZ8KC/2]Amazon.co.uk: Floor Wall Mounted Aluminium Bike Cycle Rack Holder Storage Stand Stores Up to 5 Bikes 134cm (W) X 33cm (D) x 25.5cm (H) Round Tube DIA 16 x 1.2mm Square Tube 30mm x 30mm x 2mm: Explore similar items[/ame]

if you go to a builders merchants and get a 8'x4' of 100mm foam type insulastion slab (ie;kingspan or supertherm) cut to width needed for spacers and rap in duck tape shou stop the bikes rubbing together/damaging each other when ratcheted down.

I would highly recommend CLH trailers. Chris the boss there designs a lot of custom trailers for everything from quads to large boats. We first came across them about 5 years ago when we bought a small animal trailer off them and were cheaper and far better quality than a comparable Ifor Williams one.

Only downside is they're in South Wales (very local to me in fact) but I was having a chat with a local chap who runs a haw / straw haulage company from his farm and he mentioned someone in a similar situation to yourself. They had the trailer delivered to the farm and then as they were running empty up to Yorkshire they put the trailer on the back of the wagon to deliver it. Might be able to come to a similar arrangement so you don't have to pay a fortune for delivery.

Unfortunately I don't think they'd be able to build it quick enough for me to take up (taking my 110 up to the Highlands ~13th to visit grandparents / do a bit of stalking).