Car Sleeper Trailer - Another Big Update :)

well, ive just been reading up on the law!

Basically the 145 QV can tow 1200Kgs (i believe total gross weight)

the law states if the trailer weighs less than 750Kgs I can tow it (as after 1997 the law changed for people passing there normal car test)
It also states that It doesnt need to be braked if under 750Kgs and doesnt need a brake away cable...altho a wire to stop the nose hitting the floor so the trailer is still steerable is a requirment.

Ive just got to not go over the nose weight for the actual hitch downforce as such (according to the guy I'm buying a whole towing ball section from (for my 145 as ther rare as fook 2nd hand - is 50kgs) so I cant go over that weight.

I saw an audi car sleeper trailer on ebay, and sent him a question about if his was braked and he said his wasnt and tows fine. hes now taken it off ebay as he loves it to much lol so I got some good advice and help from him

THANKYOU! whoever you are ;D

So ther we go! exciting stuff!

don't worry the trailer will be braked regardless of weight, just so it makes it easier to tow

It is now nicely balanced i must say....trimmed a few more kilos off the front and put the spare wheel back in and its nice and light at the front







and of corse a nice pic of my working view

I did wonder if you'd pull this off, this is getting hopeful.

how are you gunna blank the front off?

i think using summat with the door lock mechs and latches to make the whole front removable would be a sweet idea. and relatively safe?

thanks guys. I thought about having a front that unlocks, but because of Alfa's amazing jaggered lines down the side of the car, its going to be extremely tricky for me to weld a seam down it let alone build a opening door. lol

its the only way i can think of thats going to look any good :unsure:

and whats a gusset? in response to "waveman"

Ahhhh i see! that would be a good idea! I may see what i can do....


Thanks

Done a bit more today and its starting to get somewhere biggrin.gif

I have taken lots of pics to post up. in a bit when i get home.

Because we don't want to spend £500 on a new mig welder atm we have given the project to a local engineering firm in the village. They have ordered £66 worth of sheet metal 1.6 x 3.0m ( a little over budget but it has to be done ) and one of the lads is going to make a proper job of the front for me including bending the metal to fit properly all for cash so it shouldnt be too expensive. *cough*

Me old man said he would subsidise it as I cant afford that much outgoing all at once laugh.gif

Did take the trailer for its 1st spin on the road behind the van and she tows very well. With the soft car suspension it handles all the bumps very well. So quite happy with that biggrin.gif

So deffo should be water tight by next weekend, and then I can get the misses to start sorting out the interier while I get sanding the outside so I can spray it the same colour as my car.

I bolted it all down to a frame on the front of the original car, to support the welding etc





Welded in 1 "gusset"



Now 2 gussets in place





built a frame out of some angle iron i found round the yard :thumbup:









and its first journey on a road



and now its going to the fabrication shop to get sized up and then it will come back to me and i will tack weld it all and then it will go back to one of the guys who will mig seam weld it all properly


List of things to do:

Sand down paint
Mask
Paint
Interier design? (the womens job)
Tailgate lights need wiring up to a plug
Towbar needs fitting to my current car and get electrics wired up to that
Lower the suspension so it sits the same height as my car
Draw bar needs cutting to correct length
Wirebrush floorpan
Paint and underseal floorpan
Board interier floor
Number plate

I think thats everything?

getting closer everyday! exciting!

Right I didnt tackle the front as I dnt have the right equipment for it, so I paid £80 for a guy to do it at a fabrication place.....Well worth it I feel for the quality and time he has spent on it.

and here is the outcome....





















and of corse the curse word thats going to tow the trailer -



Basically we have decided to (because it will save money/time/effort) to spray the front with Polyurethane! Its very exciting! My dad runs his own company and that is what he specialises in.

It will insulate, protect, fill in the holes, gaps, etc etc and be in a grey colour, fully UV protected and can be as thick as I want it to be! Fantastic stuff it is! its a great idea I think imo.

So I'm gonna tidy things up and start sanding the rest of the car to be sprayed the normal way in metallic grey, the same colour as my car.

Enjoy Next update will possibly include, interier starting to go back in and preparation for painting.

It appears I have lots of questions to answer from 145.com/alfaowner.com...anyways

The front end wasnt shaped more because I'm simple. Simple is the way forward! why make it more difficult? I'm only going to be sleeping in it. Also I like the table it has made! perfect to sit on, cook on, use as a table etc etc Also needed to keep weight to a minimum.

Rightio, interier (where to start)

the floor will be boarded with thin board (not MDF or chipboard, cant remember what its called)

The boot floor is higher than the rest, so it will be suspended as such so everything is level and comfy lol

The wings will be filled with foam for insulation. The plastic window surround wheel arch carpet and the "door" cards will go back in place. They may be painted a different colour?? unsure atm.

Curtains will be made by the gf in a dark grey so there not noticable too much against the colour of the car.

The original roof lining will go in covered in a new fabric. Obviously it will be cut to fit.
The interier of the new front end will possibly be coated in poly aswell for insulation, aesthetics and comfort.

I cant think of anything else for interier?

Exterier-

All bits removed to make it easier to sand and paint lol

YES it will be painted the same as my car. Yes its metallic so hard to spray, but either way Iv gotta learn somewhere. Well iv sprayed bits before so its not all bad

The exterier will generally stay standard unless I stick a big green vinyl all over it celebrating alfas centenary year

don't know yet. The front draw bar will hav a short jockey wheel, and it will be shortened.

All electrics have yet to be installed.

I also need to pick up the towing stuff to fit to my car so I can actually tow trailers lol

The wheels will also be lowered to the correct height. Possibly by clamping the springs. I would prefer to keep the anti-roll bar attached as it adds stability.

I hope this isnt too much to read, but thers been alot of questions.

If you have an idea about interier or anything else, throw them my way! I need lots of inspiration! lol

Thanks for reading