Setting out a washer trailer

« **on:** February 15, 2013, 06:22:55 pm »

Having bought a pressure washer, looking for advice as to setting out the trailer.
Trailer is an ex army trailer, very solid with hydraulic brakes.
Next step will be boarding it out with water proof sheets, the floor will be 2.5mx2m

thinking about putting machine over rear axle, and a water tank towards the front to aid balance.

Anyone any thoughts or advice

Andrew

« **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2013, 06:23:56 pm »

Putting a pic on this bloody site is getting a pain

« **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2013, 07:22:07 pm »

You need to consider you need the nose weighted when towing but its not so important on a twin axle trailer. I'm building a single axle trailer which will have the tank washer and boiler. The tank will be in the middle, the washer at the front because it weighs more with the boiler at the back - that way no matter if the tank is empty or full it will always be nose heavy and handle nicely

« **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2013, 08:49:00 pm »

what size trailer would be sufficient to use as a setup, i havent got a van so been thinking this way, use my focus estate car too much as a family transport, otherwise i would have a van. the nose i take it is the fitting to the tow ball. fix a mesh side with tarpauline to keep prying eyes out. lots of trailers out there on ebay to pick up. , if anyone has set a trailer up to transport there pressure washer setup, can you post some pics, if not can you send some to ts1cleaning@gmail.com give me an idea, cheers

« **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2013, 10:25:56 pm »

The trailer is a Sankey MOD trailer, single axle on landrover wheels.
It was used for carrying bridge sections.

I think the nose has to weigh 180 kgs, i did google it, it is somewhere near that.
Once I have machine on, I will take it to mates weighbridge and weigh it, then
fill and adjust till get it balanced.

It is just a chassis at the moment, getting some flooring tomorrow, and all the angle iron I need.

I will be towing it with my Hilux, max train weight is about 5150kgs, hilux weighs 2150 with just me in it.

Trying to resize pics, will post them when done.

Andrew

« **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2013, 01:44:39 pm »

on the window cleaning forum i can upload any pic from my comp., on here it says its too large, havent done one yet

« **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2013, 04:29:19 pm »

Picture on my face book page, 2nd link below in siganature

Thinking of putting a lay flat tank around 4-500 lts on board

« **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2013, 04:32:27 pm »

« **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2013, 05:53:31 pm »

that is going to put some serious weight on the rear axle of your van, there is only room to fit the machine over the rear axle everything else will be forward making it very nose heavy.

i would try and find a big pneumatic jockey wheel to make it more memorable

« **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2013, 07:44:17 pm »

Hopefylly machine will be slightly to the rear of axle,
was thinking of small tank but travelling empty, and filling on sight.
Not as heavy as it looks, just need to get balance right,
new ribbed jockey ordered.

« **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2013, 12:03:25 am »

Have taken around 2' out of the length, now making an 2.5x2m bed to take machine
and water tank.
Any advice on size of tank, was thinking 350lt lay flat tank, would this size be ample for most jobs, obviously with a hose fill to keep up with flow.

Andrew

« **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:47:41 am »

Are they air brakes/air over oil? I can't make out from the picture or is it the suspension ?
There is a place that build tanks for i think boats.They are plastic this will help with the weight issue. I will see if i can find the number. Possibly two tanks ,one on either side will help with weight distribution and keep the centre of gravity low?

« **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:56:41 am »

Found it http://www.hendersons.co.uk/boattank/plastic-water-tanks.html

« **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:18:14 am »

2x175lt tanks against wheels with the machine in the centre, tool box at the front.

2 metal struts running across the top of the tanks to give the tanks stability and to fit a live hose reel

« **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:37:09 am »

The brakes work simiar to most trailers, the hitch has a shooting brake, which works the
brake fluid through a slave cylendar, the rubber spheres are like buffers for suspension.
Being military it is probably over engineered, chassis is galvanised.
Sruggled with a mig welder to spot weld it, getting a stick welder into finish it.
Nice one Mike, never thought about tanks over arches.

Andrew

« **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:56:44 am »

Andrew

Are you changing the hitch, why did you shorten the chassis??

Rob

« **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:07:47 am »

Couple more questions

Which machine are you using with it and because you have the use of welding gear could you not put a lay flat onto the base and weld a support structure above to hold the machine. Get it all over the back axle then??

Rob

« **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:10:11 am »

Having to modify the hitch, altered length to reduce weight, also all the weight would of been towards the rear.
Have shortened the suspension arms to lower/level the trailer, as it was high at the back.

Quite a bit of work and cost, trailer was only a few hundred quid. at end of day I get trailer I need.

More work being done tues night, will try post some more pics after then.

« **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:11:15 am »

Quote from: M-CLEAN UK LTD on February 25, 2013, 09:07:47 am

Couple more questions

Which machine are you using with it and because you have the use of welding gear could you not put a lay flat onto the base and weld a support structure above to hold the machine. Get it all over the back axle then??

Rob

Alto contracter fitted in a skid

« **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2013, 09:27:19 am »

Don't want that over a tank then.

Rob

« **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2013, 10:09:52 am »

this design is always a nice compact unit.

like I said, side tanks, machine in the middle and hose reel on top....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwCQV_8LELM&feature=youtube_gdata

... did i mention this machine is for sale

« **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2013, 06:48:51 pm »

Thats a Nixon drain jetter - the same machine I'm going to rip apart to build my trailer washer but with a 650 ltr tank across the axle, washer on the front and boiler on the back.
How much are you wanting for it ?

« **Reply #22 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:07:38 pm »

£850

Here's a better video

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5WHgpE0kA

« **Reply #23 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:42:40 pm »

Quote from: Mike Halliday on February 25, 2013, 07:07:38 pm

£850

Here's a better video

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qo5WHgpE0kA

Whats wrong with it? Pump specs?

« **Reply #24 on:** February 25, 2013, 07:57:36 pm »

Nothing wrong with it

specs ...... Did you not watch the video?

« **Reply #25 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:02:37 pm »

Sorry Mike, came across a bit rude

just thought it was quite cheap for that setup.

« **Reply #26 on:** February 25, 2013, 08:20:37 pm »

Got 3 trailer units sat on the lawn, tried to sell the big one last week on eBay and I was going to use this one, but now selling this one and going to use the big one.

I would also concidering a swop for a big engine, 25hp ish so I can build another unit

« **Reply #27 on:** February 26, 2013, 10:27:32 pm »

A couple of hours more work tonight, starting to take shape

Andrew

« **Reply #28 on:** February 26, 2013, 11:17:32 pm »

Mike am i right in thinking this trailer setup needs a locking pin to atatch to tow ball., is it easy to remove pressure washer from these trailers as to not leave out at night all the time. for security reasons. fix on when needed. my emails in profile.

« **Reply #29 on:** February 27, 2013, 06:58:47 am »

It just clips onto the ball, the actual machine can be removed from the trailer if you need to do some maintenance , it s a bit of a messing about as it he earth wire is bolted underneath to power the electric reel and ot light.

The powerwaher can be used independently until I fitted it in the van I used to just carry it inhe van and use it with a wheelybin

« **Reply #30 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:08:48 pm »

Another thing to look out for when towing a trailer is if the van / car plus trailer is over3500kg and used for a business you need to fit a tachograph and abide by all the driving hours. I only found this out when i spent 1/2hr to DVLA to see what i could legally tow (as i passed after the 1997 licence change)
The 3500kg is what it can potentially carry to so if a ford transit is kerb weight 1600kg plus 1000kg ish carryweight you can only tow a trailer with a maximum carry weight of 900kg. I tried to argue that if i had a good decent trailer big enough for an empty tank, pressure washer and pipes such as an ifor williams there never rated less than 1500kg so id have to get a cheaper trailer with a much lower plated weight

« **Reply #31 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:28:12 pm »

Or you can do anothe test (b+e) and tow up to 8 tonne gvm ( trailer/van mvw)

« **Reply #32 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:44:30 pm »

I will be pulling this trailer with my toyota hilux which has a train weight of 5.2 tonnes,
Passed my test well prior to 97 so ok there/
I think the tacco law dosnt count as long as your working within 30 miles of base, however, I stand to be corrected.

My best mate is a examiner for trailer tests and have already spoke about this, will double check to make sure.

Andrew

« **Reply #33 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:48:08 pm »

Why are you building the trailer in your living room?

« **Reply #34 on:** February 27, 2013, 10:52:12 pm »

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/fleet-legislation-do-you-need-a-tachograph-if-you-tow-for-your-business-you-do/37588/

Thats one news thing about it even thought it says fleet news theres a few other websites with it on amd when i was on tje phone to them they said even if anyone had a pre 97 licence or after and took a B+E it would still apply and theyll need a tacograph

« **Reply #35 on:** February 27, 2013, 11:19:16 pm »

Quote from: Blast Away on February 27, 2013, 10:48:08 pm

Why are you building the trailer in your living room?

I could quite happily live in my garage, its 12.5m x 6.5m
has wifi too, a bar in the corner would just finish it off

« **Reply #36 on:** February 28, 2013, 07:56:34 am »

Quote from: Ashley Brothwood on February 27, 2013, 10:52:12 pm

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/fleet-management/fleet-legislation-do-you-need-a-tachograph-if-you-tow-for-your-business-you-do/37588/

Thats one news thing about it even thought it says fleet news theres a few other websites with it on amd when i was on tje phone to them they said even if anyone had a pre 97 licence or after and took a B+E it would still apply and theyll need a tacograph

I found something on a .gov site, but i cant be bothered to look again. It said if your travelling within 30 miles of your base, then you dont need a tacho.

« **Reply #37 on:** February 28, 2013, 08:18:40 am »

Ye well i wouldnt be suprised if it was something like that as the people on the phone didnt know themselves. Its just something to look out for anyone that does travel further than the 30miles

« **Reply #38 on:** March 18, 2013, 10:59:49 pm »

Almost finished, bit of paint for tank frames, then mount on trailer

« **Reply #39 on:** March 18, 2013, 11:02:09 pm »

just need to change the outlet fittings to 90 degree tee's make it look tidy

« **Reply #40 on:** March 19, 2013, 03:56:25 pm »

No inline filter before the water enters the pump?

Where does the bypass feed to?

The bypass valve allows flow to return to the tank when you are not pulling the lance trigger

, when I used the same twin tank design like this I found that the bypass was plumbed to return the water to just one tank, I thought the duel feed pipe would equalise the water content of each tank.... But it did'nt I filled one tank and emptied the other unless I constantly stopped working

« **Reply #41 on:** March 19, 2013, 04:58:30 pm »

What is that blue, gas tank looking thing? looks like a helium/welding gas tank at the back? is that part of your machine? or just for your welder?

« **Reply #42 on:** March 19, 2013, 08:17:03 pm »

Thats a compressor - for puffin up tyres

« **Reply #43 on:** March 19, 2013, 09:39:29 pm »

Quote from: BDCS on March 19, 2013, 08:17:03 pm

Thats a compressor - for puffin up tyres

So it is....It looked like an upright tank, but now you mention it..

« **Reply #44 on:** March 20, 2013, 10:38:34 pm »

Machine set onto finished trailer

« **Reply #45 on:** March 30, 2013, 07:50:46 pm »

Nearly all done now, took the outfit for a quick spin yesterday
and it tows very well