Getting a little sick of loading up the station wagon and having boards take up the passenger side front seat, booms and mast near touching the glove box and a tub of wet suits, extensions, harness, vest, gps, fins etc all sliding around in the back. And a little over un-loading the whole show at the end of the day too. So, I was thinking of going down the modified box trailer route. I have safe, dry storage for one, and was hoping to load it with 3 boards and half a dozen sails plus the usual tub of bits and pieces. So if anyone has any ideas, tips or tricks (and some pictures) of how they set up there box trailer, I'd be happy to hear (and see) them.

About to buy a trailer, and was thinking a 6x4 gal model would be a good canvas to start with?

Ps- I reckon the enclosed ones look great, and probably are a great idea, but I'm thinking of keeping it nice and simple, and still have a usuable box trailor for very occasional tip run etc.

Cheers

Get an 8x4 or 8x5 and then nothing extra is needed as it will all fit inside :)

Phil, drop around to Mark.Js and have a look at his open top trailer. I borrowed this trailer last year, similar to the size Mark_australia mentioned. I went to Yamba and took everything, 2 waveboards, 3 wavesails, assoc masts and booms, + 3 slalom boards and 5 slalom sails from 5.5-8m + assoc masts and booms. So a sheetload of stuff. Booms, sails and all extra stuff fitted within the trailer. Mark.J also had made up a rack system that slipped into braces at the front and back corners of the trailer, so I could tie the boards to the racks without squashing my precious slalom sails. The racks were easy to get on and off by one person. A great set up, although the gear was not securable against theft, which is where Mark's other enclosed trailer has a great edge. Good luck mate......looking at options myself, and keep coming back to the idea of buying a PoS van to have just for sailing and just leaving the gear in that.

www.myswag.org

Check out some of the build threads.
Heaps of mods or minimal mods. Adapt to how you want.

Cheers

This is my old setup Phil. I probably need to sell it too........

Carried 4 boards if needed. Sailbox was waterproof along with front storage box and the 6 x 4-1/2 under tarp as well. Never had a drop of water on anything and just hook it up to go.

Phil, Mark.Js rack system is very similar to Marty's. Great and easy system.

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ikw777 said..

Yeah, seriously thought about it ikw777, but got the family to consider, and still have to cart every in and out of a van. Adams' old PoS van idea is ok, but trailer rego is way cheaper...

I'm liking Marty's set up. And the place in the pic looks familiar.

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ikw777 said..

Has somebody abandoned a van in front of your place?

I bought an enclosed motorbike trailer and just put some some timber rails from one side to the other so I could have different levels to stack gear. I can fit heaps of gear including camping stuff plus its lockable. Just stacking gear on or in the car became impossible as soon as my kids got involved in the sport.
Only downside is my brother keeps wanting to borrow it to go motorbike riding.

Just curious, what about the rest of your gear when you're out on the water?

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Jfunk said..

ikw777 said..

Has somebody abandoned a van in front of your place?

That's the best damn van in Australia!

Sounds like you are after one of these!!! Drop In, Drop Out welded tubular steel 'Box' for my 6 x 4 box trailer. Currently setup to carry 4 boards (including a mammoth 210l Starboard Start, 5-6 sails, 4 booms, 3 masts. (Could carry heaps more masts and sails). Most of the pics are somewhat older. The last pic (with the kids in it) shows the recent improvements of cutting 200mm PVC stormwater pipe in half to create sail 'shelves' alongside the two narrower boards to utilise the space - sails are nicely supported along their length. Also added removable cross bars on top to carry a kayak. Only 2 months ago I hoisted the windsurfing 'box' out of the trailer and took in in box-trailer form to pick up 1/2t of aggregate and 1/2t bricklayers sand....versatility!!!

If you want to know more, PM me (to save boring the rest of the thread readers!)

PS - do you recognise that 8.0 HSM GPS in the last pic!!! - an old friend of yours!!

PPS = build it so all the internal cross beams are 'slot in / slot out' and it becomes even more usable - a full 1200 x 1200 x nearly 3m cavernous void, fully enclosed.

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ikw777 said..

Jfunk said..

ikw777 said..

Has somebody abandoned a van in front of your place?

That's the best damn van in Australia!

It only lacks a free lollies sticker

Hey Eckas, yep, that sail looks a little familiar Hope you getting some good speeds out of her. It was a powerful thing!

I'm now leaning towards your idea of an inclosed, removable top trailer. I read an older post (which had your trailer in it) and seen the light. This fellows trailer is my current plan. I should be able to put it together for decent price. All amped, hope to start something this weekend.

maybe you can find some ideas over here ;

forum.windsurfing.nl/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=13855950&p=7323547&hilit=surftrailer

Phil. Don't make my mistake -measure the 'swing' on your wagon tailgate right at the start and make sure it clears the trailer. I didn't and had to extend the drawbar at a later date, although the lengthened drawbar brought with it other benefits around towing stability.

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cammd said..

I bought an enclosed motorbike trailer and just put some some timber rails from one side to the other so I could have different levels to stack gear. I can fit heaps of gear including camping stuff plus its lockable. Just stacking gear on or in the car became impossible as soon as my kids got involved in the sport.
Only downside is my brother keeps wanting to borrow it to go motorbike riding.

How much are they?

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sboardcrazy said..

cammd said..

I bought an enclosed motorbike trailer and just put some some timber rails from one side to the other so I could have different levels to stack gear. I can fit heaps of gear including camping stuff plus its lockable. Just stacking gear on or in the car became impossible as soon as my kids got involved in the sport.
Only downside is my brother keeps wanting to borrow it to go motorbike riding.

How much are they?

About 8k new (from local hunter valley trailer builder), or plenty of second hand ones on ebay. Search for Enclosed Motorbike Trailers, or Gokart trailer.

example:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ENCLOSED-LOCKABLE-MOTORBIKE-GOCART-FURNITURE-SEGWAY-TRAILER-/181305839536

Phil, when building one, make sure you get the centre of balance right. You want about 20 kg? on the towball? Seaskip did a really nice job on his trailer, but adding the extra bodywork to the front half of the trailer could make it hard to lift onto the car, especially without a jockey wheel.

Good luck, trailers are awesome!

Thanks for the compliment jamesf, your right about the towball weight. I've just put another door on the front passenger side to allow easier access to my Fridge/Freezer and now the weight is over 70kg on the ball. Nowhere near the capacity of the Commodore but yes a bit heavy without a "functioning" jockey wheel. This is not an issue for me, but understand for some it may be.

Eckas' point about the tailgate will cause problems for me if i decide to buy a vehicle with one, but with my sedan there is full functionality.

PhilSWR, I love my trailer and it is the most practical option for me and my family.
When i make another there will be changes/improvements though.
If you have room for one in the driveway, you will be happy to have one.
When your done PhilSWR post some photos on the thread you found mine on, just to keep it alive.

Good luck