SVA approval for trailers?

Does anybody know if home made trailers need any form of SVA approval?

I have an idea for one to drag behind my Disco on long haul which is going
to be around 8' long and based around a fairly heavy box section chassis
riding on what is effectively the rear suspension from a range rover.

The idea for this is that I've looked at the Safari trailers that some
companies provide and decided that nice as they are, £10k is well more than
they are actually worth.

I have a need for a towable fuel bowser (150-200 gallons), portable
generator, small scale field kitchen including fridge and a substantial
water store and general storage.

I'm planning on having this thing sitting on top of Rangie suspension with
the bottom of the trailer actually being the same level as the spring
hangers. Using a rangie rear axle means that I have a trailer with the same
track as the Disco.

I was planning on having the fuel split across maybe 5 separate tanks with
transfer pumps to try and keep things balanced, a couple (maybe as many as
four) of deep cycle batteries, a decent sized gas cylinder available for
the cookery side of things and a few other treats.

I figure that I can build the trailer itself for £2-300 and maybe the same
again (or a little more) to kit it out.

So - does this think need any form of legal approval.

I suspect that making it a fuel bowser changes the rules a little.

P.

Paul S. Brown wrote:
> Does anybody know if home made trailers need any form of SVA approval?

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/identification_plates.htm

From the above it's likely you'll need an engineer to design the
trailer for you. Additionally you'll need to sort out what you do about
brakes. From yuor description you'll not only be over 750kg and need
override brakes, but you'll be over 1500kg and need breakaway activation
of the park brake too.

>
> I have an idea for one to drag behind my Disco on long haul which is going
> to be around 8' long and based around a fairly heavy box section chassis
> riding on what is effectively the rear suspension from a range rover.

Build one on leaf springs (even parabolics if you like) - they are
simple, easy to look after and very quick o boild. Also they'll give an
engineer less grief to state some specs for.


> The idea for this is that I've looked at the Safari trailers that some
> companies provide and decided that nice as they are, £10k is well more than
> they are actually worth.
>
> I have a need for a towable fuel bowser (150-200 gallons), portable
> generator, small scale field kitchen including fridge and a substantial
> water store and general storage.

Jesus man - 200 gallons is nigh on 700kg of fuel even before you add
anything else. What's the unladen weight of a Disco - from my reading
of the regs your trailer will have to be less than this laden, and the
whole shooting match will have to be under 3500kg fully loaded. With
the amount of stuff you want to carry this is not looking possible.

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/vehicle_categories.htm
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_506866.hcsp

>
> I'm planning on having this thing sitting on top of Rangie suspension with
> the bottom of the trailer actually being the same level as the spring
> hangers. Using a rangie rear axle means that I have a trailer with the same
> track as the Disco.

Leaf spring it, and make a tube axle to suit - bolt on rangie stub axles
and use the rangie hubs, calipers and discs.

>
> I was planning on having the fuel split across maybe 5 separate tanks with
> transfer pumps to try and keep things balanced, a couple (maybe as many as
> four) of deep cycle batteries, a decent sized gas cylinder available for
> the cookery side of things and a few other treats.
>
> I figure that I can build the trailer itself for £2-300 and maybe the same
> again (or a little more) to kit it out.
>
> So - does this think need any form of legal approval.

Probably - my reading of the regs are it will need plating and an
engineers input of some sort.

>
> I suspect that making it a fuel bowser changes the rules a little.

For diesel it's fairly easy
http://www.fta.co.uk/services/dangerousgoods/poster/packagedgoods2.htm

For petrol I can't find anything definitive, but it looks like the full
force of the regulations will apply (placards, licences, training,
extinguishers, etc, etc)



--
EMB
change two to number to reply

Paul S. Brown wrote:
>
> I have a need for a towable fuel bowser (150-200 gallons),

If this gets off the ground, could you let me have the plans? I could do
with one to go behind the Rangie.

;-)

--
--
Rich

Land Rovers
Boat
Dog
Wife
Kids - in that order

> ...........portable generator...........fuel split across maybe 5 separate
tanks with
> transfer pumps...........deep cycle batteries...........gas
cylinder.........


I hope the specification includes a few fire extinguishers!!

Paul S. Brown wrote:
> Does anybody know if home made trailers need any form of SVA approval?

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/identification_plates.htm

From the above it's likely you'll need an engineer to design the
trailer for you. Additionally you'll need to sort out what you do about
brakes. From yuor description you'll not only be over 750kg and need
override brakes, but you'll be over 1500kg and need breakaway activation
of the park brake too.

>
> I have an idea for one to drag behind my Disco on long haul which is going
> to be around 8' long and based around a fairly heavy box section chassis
> riding on what is effectively the rear suspension from a range rover.

Build one on leaf springs (even parabolics if you like) - they are
simple, easy to look after and very quick o boild. Also they'll give an
engineer less grief to state some specs for.


> The idea for this is that I've looked at the Safari trailers that some
> companies provide and decided that nice as they are, £10k is well more than
> they are actually worth.
>
> I have a need for a towable fuel bowser (150-200 gallons), portable
> generator, small scale field kitchen including fridge and a substantial
> water store and general storage.

Jesus man - 200 gallons is nigh on 700kg of fuel even before you add
anything else. What's the unladen weight of a Disco - from my reading
of the regs your trailer will have to be less than this laden, and the
whole shooting match will have to be under 3500kg fully loaded. With
the amount of stuff you want to carry this is not looking possible.

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/law/vehicle_categories.htm
http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_roads/documents/page/dft_roads_506866.hcsp

>
> I'm planning on having this thing sitting on top of Rangie suspension with
> the bottom of the trailer actually being the same level as the spring
> hangers. Using a rangie rear axle means that I have a trailer with the same
> track as the Disco.

Leaf spring it, and make a tube axle to suit - bolt on rangie stub axles
and use the rangie hubs, calipers and discs.

>
> I was planning on having the fuel split across maybe 5 separate tanks with
> transfer pumps to try and keep things balanced, a couple (maybe as many as
> four) of deep cycle batteries, a decent sized gas cylinder available for
> the cookery side of things and a few other treats.
>
> I figure that I can build the trailer itself for £2-300 and maybe the same
> again (or a little more) to kit it out.
>
> So - does this think need any form of legal approval.

Probably - my reading of the regs are it will need plating and an
engineers input of some sort.

>
> I suspect that making it a fuel bowser changes the rules a little.

For diesel it's fairly easy
http://www.fta.co.uk/services/dangerousgoods/poster/packagedgoods2.htm

For petrol I can't find anything definitive, but it looks like the full
force of the regulations will apply (placards, licences, training,
extinguishers, etc, etc)



--
EMB
change two to number to reply

Paul S. Brown wrote:
>
> I have a need for a towable fuel bowser (150-200 gallons),

If this gets off the ground, could you let me have the plans? I could do
with one to go behind the Rangie.

;-)

--
--
Rich

Land Rovers
Boat
Dog
Wife
Kids - in that order

> ...........portable generator...........fuel split across maybe 5 separate
tanks with
> transfer pumps...........deep cycle batteries...........gas
cylinder.........


I hope the specification includes a few fire extinguishers!!