This wasn't a trailer issue, just way overloaded for a single axle. I wouldn't have tried if it was any further.
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Tyres hit top of wheel guard if heavily overloaded. When sensibly loaded there's plenty of clearance. I won't be modifying it. If I was bothered and often taking overloading risks I'd either insert a bump stop, or more likely hire/buy a higher rated trailer.
I think you're both missing the point I was making - what my experience with in repairing trailers damaged like this is that the load was on the evenly loaded and heavy side but within limits for the trailer in all but one case, and it that one case the load was an awkward piece of machinery with most of the mass on one side but still technically within mass limit for the trailer.
What caused the damage in a few of the cases, is the trailer being towed over "traffic calming" devices where the trailer only went over one lump and not both or being dragged over uneven ground where one side of the axle took a lot of the weight for a short amount of time. I suspect with the traffic calming lumps, it's the drop OFF the lump that did the damage. It basically caused an overload of the leaf spring on one side, causing the wheel to either strike the guard or whatever was over the top of the wheel and get damaged, or the wall of the tyre shoved into the side of the trailer by one spring collapsing into overload and basically turning inside out (what we used to call Ranger bum after the early PX rangers turning their leaf springs inside out and sagging like an old lady). I've had to chop out and replace a couple of axle stubs from this - bent back and out of alignment among other damage.
It's a bit of a design limitation with a basic single solid axle and leaf spring layout, without shock absorbers or stops of some form the leaf springs don't load share side to side very well and you can get some horrific angles and lift on wheels without realising it. Not something you HAVE to fix if you don't want to, your trailers and all but it's something to be aware of as it could be happening more regularly and with lighter loads than you might expect if you are seeing it at all.
Greetings All,
I had a homebuilt 8 x 4 trailer for around 40 years. It had Landrover wheels, hardwood deck and heavy RHS frame and was heavy as. I towed it with a Landrover and later a Navara. It had got to the stage that it was getting hard for me to move so when I downsized to a Jimny recently it was replaced with a Kea 5x4 which only weighs about 170 kg. I can push it around with one hand. It is a small trailer granted but does everything I need. One size does not fit all with trailers.
Regards Grandpamac.
My current trailer is a dog of a thing, spent several years as the undercarriage to a custom built trailer being used to tow ship refuelling hoses on a wharf. The top with the gear attached to it was chopped off, basically leaving a frame with sides behind with a tail and head gate. A mate moved the axle back, welded the tail and head gate onto the sides as running boards, and the guts of it was tidied up the minimum needed to WoF it. It is really too narrow as it's not quite 1200mm wide inside, but it is light and will take the quad (just). It is also able to be dragged by the quad so it spends most of it's time being used as a garden trailer and the quad as a garden tractor... It will take 1/2 a cube of gravel just. I think Prescott was responsible for the original iteration of it... Ugly but effective you might say (when you don't have a trailer and you need one it's the best thing you've seen haha).
My trailer is an old ugly as fuk looking thing but shit does it tow well.
We got caught with one of those dodgy chinese ones (8x4 Tradesman) that Bunnings was importing some years back, luckily they stood beind them and reimbursed the cost.
It did sound like the design fault is found in some other chinese trailers but it was to do with the drawbar detaching from the tailer frame.
Replaced it with a 8x5 from Compass in Dargaville. Not cheap but I was in the lucky position of being able to make it a work expense which helped.
Z
Thanks everyone for your input & advice, it helped me during my search. I purchased a "Lucca" trailer, it's a Chinese import NZ assembled trailer, Not a great trailer as it looks heavy duty but I'd rate it as med/light duty, the galv is of dubious quality but $1530 for a 7'x4' tipper was ok with me. If you're looking for 1 they list them for $1 reserve on Trade Me
I bought a 7 by 5 from them .paid a good price as needed it that weekend. Got cage and cover also. Got then to change the white wheels to galv . Although the galv wheels maybe not great galv it's better than the white painted ones that you always see rusted . Got a free upgrade. I went over it and tuggtened all the bolts after a trio. Checked all wheel bearings and draw bar bolts etc. Does rhe job . If I was using it everyday I'd probably spend a bit more on something more hearty. But tbh I've actually used it more than I would have thought. And the loan rate at a box of beer foe mates has sort of paid for itself.