Thread: Has anyone made their own trailer?

Just after some advice from those who have made their own trailer. What is the process for getting it road legal after making it?

Any help appreciated

Kj

easy. Just take it for first WOF. Follow the regs on the LTNZ website for what is required.

Go to the post office, buy a plate and then take it to the local garage for a WOF.

I had to do it the other way around to what @scottrods said as you can't get a WOF without a plate. Did it about a month ago.

Originally Posted by Fireflite

Go to the post office, buy a plate and then take it to the local garage for a WOF.

Yep this. Easy as built a couple

Originally Posted by Fireflite

Go to the post office, buy a plate and then take it to the local garage for a WOF.

What @Fireflite said.

They will charge you for the plates, a rego period and maybe an admin cost.

Cheers
Pete

Awesome, thanks for the advise.

Wow, that's just too easy, almost hard to believe that something can be that straight forward in today's world where simple things get put into the complicator machine of bureaucracy...

Many thanks
Kj

Originally Posted by kimjon

Awesome, thanks for the advise.

Wow, that's just too easy, almost hard to believe that something can be that straight forward in today's world where simple things get put into the complicator machine of bureaucracy...

Many thanks
Kj

You haven't read the regs for home built trailers yet have you?

The hardest part is getting the WOF.

Being a home built they will give it the twice over that's for sure.

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by P38

You haven't read the regs for home built trailers yet have you?

The hardest part is getting the WOF.

Being a home built they will give it the twice over that's for sure.

Cheers
Pete

And so they should in my opinion.
I'm a fabricator by trade and some of the DIY trailers you see and the loads people put on them. I'd rather not be on the same bit of road with them.

Originally Posted by clickbang

And so they should in my opinion.
I'm a fabricator by trade and some of the DIY trailers you see and the loads people put on them. I'd rather not be on the same bit of road with them.

Yea I am in both camps, have seen some things that should never have got the first wof let alone more after the first yet I think it is great anyone can design and build there own trailer within some simple guidelines.

It is one of the many things that make this country great that are being constantly eroded and it will be a sad sad day if it ever come to an end.

Unless it's a big tandem or custom trailer it's not worth it. The commercial market for standard trailers is too competitive.

I made one a while ago, very heavey duty for a single axle, I'm going to make a flat deck tandem sometime in the future, gives me an excuse to buy a mig welder.



Free Trailer Building Plans | Trailersauce | Designs, info & more is a handy site.

I've been in the light trailer industry for 14+ years and seen some shocking home handyman shit. The Trailersause web page is an excellent option for info. You are not required to have any form of welding certificate or compliance unless your trailer is over 3500kg GTM (Gross Towable Mass) The first WOF is always the initial inspection.
I don't think you will have any issue going by your other home projects

Most of the steel in that trailer I made came from the scrap yard, a lot of good steel gets thrown away there and I picked it up for less than 30c/kg.

Beware of buying cheap trailer parts off of Trademe, I've seen some Trojan branded parts sold on there new which clearly weren't genuine.

In England I used a Ifor Williams branded trailer that was brillant, it had a braking system on it where you could reverse without getting out and flicking the override thingy over. It wasn't an electronic solenoid either. Unsure of how it worked but someone mentioned something about the brakes don't work when wheels are turning backwards. Anyone know of these systems? I want to put it on my next trailer.

Originally Posted by Savage1

In England I used a Ifor Williams branded trailer that was brillant, it had a braking system on it where you could reverse without getting out and flicking the override thingy over. It wasn't an electronic solenoid either. Unsure of how it worked but someone mentioned something about the brakes don't work when wheels are turning backwards. Anyone know of these systems? I want to put it on my next trailer.

There is an Ifor Williams agency in Cambridge - they may be able to help.

Came close to buying one of the horse floats. Very nice gear. And they have the auto backing feature you mention, just cannot recall how it works.

http://www.southerntrailers.co.nz/