Member - Tony G (NSW) replied:

Hi Jack,

I am presently getting a trailer built in the same format that you are. I will be picking it up next week

I wanted a trailer that I could take off road, but also used as a general trailer also. I did not want to spent the money on a camper only to have it sit in the garage for 300 days a year

Spec's on my trailer are:

1. Hyland 2000 coupling
2. 7 x 4
3. Off road suspension & 15" Nissan tyres
4. Swing out tailgate
5. Gas bottle holder behind wheel arch
6. Jerry can holder in front of wheel arch
7. Hot dip gal
8. Disk Mechanical Over ride brakes.
9. Chequer plate floor
10. 500mm high sides
11 Stoneguard on drawbar
12. Spare tyre mounted behind stoneguard
13. Tool box fixed to drawbar
14. Drawbar approx 2100mm long

I am based in NSW, getting it built in Silverwater. I know of 6 trailers built by this trailer manufacturer (some heavy duty) and quality with all has been very good.

Please send me an email and I can forward there details to you

Thanks

TonyG

Crackles replied:

Jack. If you're looking for a go anywhere trailer you can't go past a 'TRACK' trailer.
Built to Military specs you wont buy better. Besides their camper trailers they have the Oasis which is a dust sealed general gear carrier or you can get the 6x4 bare unit and fit it out youself. Not cheap but if you like the best...... http://www.tracktrailer.com/Oasis.html Craig......................

flappan replied:

Where are you ?

In Victoria , O'Briens Build offroad trailers.

http://www.obrienstrailers.com.au/

colin replied:

biggest thing to look at is suspension, 2 ways 2 go if you go leaf make sure it has shockies built in, and independant coil suspension which is far superior better handling and not as harsh which doesnt destroy any thing being carried on board, bit more expensive but well worth it. Col

DARREN replied:

Jack,

I went through this issue last year before a Cape York trip and ended up getting a well built second hand one which did the job very well. I was paranoid about suspension failures and took heaps of spares but did not use them despite driving past lots of broken trailers, I had no problems at all. Some issues to bear in mind are:
* Suspension, despite advice to the contrary with good leaf suspension you do not need shocks ( I initlally thought you did but am now convinced otherwise). Mine had a very good leaf and axle setup with electric brakes, (from Melbourne Trailers whom I strongly recommend and ended up getting my spares from). It had rebound dampeners, from memory 7 or so leaves with double wraps around the eyes. Yes, things in the trailer get shaken a bit but so does everything in the car if you travel on corrugated roads. The beer cans in my trailer suffered no more corrugation fatigue than those in the car. I had split rims on mine for their diameter and after letting down the tires a bit found that the trailer rode quite smoothly, much to my initial suprise. The is a lot of difference between what one manufacturer describes as "off road suspension" and some of the spring I have seen described as this simply are not.
* Stone Guard: to avoid sand blasting the rear of your vehicle and/or breaking rear window, make sure that you have a very good one, look at the likes of the Kimberley Camper, some of the stone guards around are pretty average.
* I only had a tonneau cover and the trailer was mainly for carrying the boat, motor etc. but it all ended up pretty dusty in there, if I was making one from scratch i would be interested in exploring a way of dust proofing it perhaps using opening doors with rubber seals, I am interested if anyone else has had success with this.
Not sure if you are in Melbourne but I spoke to O'Briens, very knowledgable but expensive