Trailer of Mystery - wot's it for?

[Thorne]

Just bought this trailer today in Watsonville -- it will hold most of my historical reenactment gear, now that I've sold my truck and are using the Jetta TDI wagon.

Any idea what it and/or the similar one in yellow are for? They are too small for carrying canoes and have no factory roofracks. Mine is rated to carry 1200lbs, the larger one rated at 1600.

The top hinges up from the side and has small gas shocks that hold it up like a car's lifting tailgate. The front bit hinges back and is held up with a pivoting rod, like a car's hood.

http://www.luckhardt.com/aerotow1.jpg

http://www.luckhardt.com/aerotow2.jpg

The yellow one is larger but similar, where the metal bed was lined with chopped roving fiberglass. The one I bought has a 4x6' bed and is 10' long overall, the yellow one had a 4x7' bed and was 12' long.

http://images.craigslist.org/1131f7140ZZZZZZZZZ8ascab082e0c4931570.jpg

Here's an identical model to the one I just bought, listed in Canada -
http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i16/02/k/000/7d/86/4202_20.JPG

http://kijiji.ebayimg.com/i6/01/k/000/7d/86/409c_20.JPG

[David G]

Low-rent hearse?

[Thorne]

Only for short cadavers. Or ones that have been processed by Mme. Guillotine...

;0 )

Just that the shape is so strange for a utility trailer. And in both models (made by different companies I think) the nosecone bit is separate from the main body. Too heavy to be motorcycle trailers, and too low to be 4x4 / ATV trailers.

[seanz]

Dogs?
I've seen trailers that size and shape that are covered in signs for the particular breed of dog. Not sure if they were top opening but they have a grill at the back but you have craftily left that angle out of the pics.
If I'm right, do I get a puppy?
:)

[SaltyD from BC]

I think they are designed for guys that sold their truck and have to pack stuff with a Volkswagen :p

[Paul Girouard]

There purpose built trailers for hauling historical reenactment gear for people who sold thier truck. :D

BIG market don't cha know.;)

See Salty D knew about it to!

[Thorne]

What is it about guys living on islands in the Pacific Northwest? Too much rain makes Jack a clever boy?

;0 )

Nah, that would be THIS trailer by Let'sGoAero -
http://www.letsgoaero.com/upload/Prius-Car-GW125-WebM.jpg

[Paul Girouard]

Well see , it's a ever growing market:D

Wanta buy some stock?

[Thorne]

Actually if I was an investing man, I would. I lived in the UK in the mid-90's for two years, and did the usual "tow the small trailer behind the small car" thing for Sealed Knot military reenactments.

There is a HUGE potential market in the US (and probably Canada) for small, lightweight trailers designed to be towed behind small cars. Once we get more small diesel cars and trucks to provide the necessary torque at 3x the fuel mileage of a fullsize truck or SUV, that market will BOOM!

Bejabbers, I've hijacked me own thread!

[Larks]

Could it be a motor bike trailer, ie tow behind motor bike? There's a bike trailer for sale down the road from me and it looks much the same size, however it is just wedged down to the drawer bar at the front and otherwise is basically a metal box with a lid that lifts from the rear.

[SaltyD from BC]

There is a HUGE potential market in the US (and probably Canada) for small, lightweight trailers designed to be towed behind small cars. Once we get more small diesel cars and trucks to provide the necessary torque at 3x the fuel mileage of a fullsize truck or SUV, that market will BOOM!

Bejabbers, I've hijacked me own thread!

I think you're right Thorne. But first we need the small deisel rigs to show up. They're everywhere else in the world... Hilux, Nissan, Suzuki wee trucks/4x4s with nice little turbo diesels that go a bit slower but do anything we need them to do. On dick all for fuel. We're starting to get the like used imports from Asia with the steering wheel on the wrong side :confused: and they're selling like hot cakes.

OK hijack over. Hey wait a minute, you started it :D

[Thorne]

Nah, too heavy and wide for a motorcycle trailer -- the frame is quite heavy even if the body parts are lightweight sheet steel.

Salty -- I hear ya! Sure seems that if Ford can make 'em in Europe, they'd be able to make 'em here...

http://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/78/29997778__1224347328__0__2-5e7ce247bd0fa42f82bd7a68862e4d01.__big__.jpghttp://www.gumtree.com/posting_images/75/30560875__1225622704__1__1-ce64edceed2ea055b37bb88d1dc0d6e8.__big__.jpg

[David G]

Twin,

Now you're talking. If the price was halfway decent I'd have bought one of those in a heartbeat, instead of the Honda Fit I got. 28-35 mpg is good, but it doesn't have anywhere the room inside that this Ford does, nor does it have the diesel torque for towing.

[htom]

My first thought was "snowmobile", but a go-kart would fit, too, maybe better. Racing lawn tractor?

[Tylerdurden]

I don't know what it was for but its a sick little trailer. Good find.

[Brian Palmer]

What is it about guys living on islands in the Pacific Northwest? Too much rain makes Jack a clever boy?

;0 )

Nah, that would be THIS trailer by Let'sGoAero -
http://www.letsgoaero.com/upload/Prius-Car-GW125-WebM.jpg

Hmmmmmm.... According to the owner's manual for our Prius, you are not supposed to tow anything. And I believe it.

Brian

[Thorne]

Heck, you are not supposed to even drive a Prius with a roof rack on if you don't need to, as I've heard it can cut fuel mileage by 20%. That's why we are grumbling about the lack of small diesels.

But it was the only illustration of a **current production** small lightweight trailer designed to be pulled by a small car that I can find. There's a cute plastic one from Oz, but not much Stateside.

So many cargo trailers are designed to be a 'rolling safe' = in other words, built very strong to keep people from breaking in. But the thieves have an answer to that -- they just tie the hitch to their bumper and tow the trailer to a place where they can break in. And the additional weight needed to make the small 4x6 cargo trailers 'bulletproof' also makes them too heavy to safely tow behind a small car when loaded.

http://images.craigslist.org/126143135ZZZZZZZZZ8ag545e3b7e248713b9.jpg http://images.craigslist.org/1261g614bZZZZZZZZZ8agd7e300e8e0fd1b12.jpg

[Paul Pless]

Just bought this trailer today in Watsonville -- it will hold most of my historical reenactment gear, now that I've sold my truck and are using the Jetta TDI wagon.Ya know, if you'd a bought a convertible you wouldn't need a trailer for your hat!:p

[Shang]

Never mind the trailer,
can we see a picture of you in your reenactment gear?

[Thorne]

Now THIS is why I usually stay outa the Bilge.

Sure... (grin)

I'm CO of a Parliamentarian regiment, so we are not fond of Kings or Popes...except King Jesus, of course. We give our All for Ollie...
http://www.luckhardt.com/noking1.jpg

Now this is a truly magnificent and quite authentic 17th C hat! Me and the woife -
http://www.cardiffrose.com/marinfair04v2-Images/10.jpg

Lt and Ensign -
http://www.cardiffrose.com/marinfair04v2-Images/13.jpg


Being a poser at the Golden Gate Faire -
http://www.luckhardt.com/Thorne-GG.jpg

[David G]

Thorne the Magnificent rides again!

[Thorne]

Although the sobriquet was originally self-coined, one is forced to admit to the aptness of it at times....

[Rich VanValkenburg]

Save the costumes since we're headed back to fuedalism anyway.

As for the trailer, the only thing that really makes sense is taken from it's name, Aerotow. Less drag, aerodynamic, etc. but how does it tow? Does it sway much?

[Thorne]

Well, I've only towed it empty -- home over the Santa Cruz mountains.

Nope, no sway but lots of vertical bounce when empty. It has torsion axles, which I've learned on this Forum are good under load and super stiff with no load -- suspect they are rated for 1000lbs but can't find any markings.

Don't plan on repeating that experience as I had to slow down to under 50mph on some rough sections of freeway. The seller said it tows well with a load and I believe him. Sits very low so shouldn't have much sway even if I put stuff on a roofrack on the top hinged lid.

[Joe Dupere]

Another hijack. Nice buff coat, what kind of leather did you use? Did you make it yourself?

Joe, FPoP (sometimes known to handle a rapier or two)

[Songololo]

Thorne, I have seen the small locker at the front used to store the spare wheel for the trailer - keeps it out of sight of those with itchy fingers.

[Yeadon]

There's nothing I love more than a "Thorne on Trailers" thread. Just messin' with you.

Actually, that's a really cool little trailer you found.

[Thorne]

Buffcoat was commercially made in the UK -- munitions-grade model is generally frowned apon these days as being too thin and not "proper". Perhaps half the thickness of belt leather, suede/split on the outside and topgrain inside.

Don't wear it when I attend events in Europe, but out here it is still OK.


Yeah, back to the boring old trailer. I'll have to get rust off the body rust in a few spots. I know how to sand and strip paint, how to prime and paint using Rustoleum products.

But once I get the rusty areas down to bare metal, what is the recommended rust-remover / inhibitor these days?

http://www.theruststore.com/images/evapo-rust.jpg http://www.theruststore.com/images/rf0008.jpg http://www.safestrustremover.com/images/overview.jpg http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/images/PRODUCT/medium/9166.jpghttp://a1061.g.akamai.net/7/1061/5412/home/www.walgreens.com/dbimagecache/308416.jpg

http://www.theruststore.com/Rust-Remover-Comparison-Chart-W22C2.aspx

How about home-made rust removers?
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/cleaningtipsandrecipes/qt/Rust_Removers.htm

[Michael s/v Sannyasin]

soap-box derby cars

http://images.chattanoogan.com/photo_images/gallery_22292.jpg

[MiddleAgesMan]

But once I get the rusty areas down to bare metal, what is the recommended rust-remover / inhibitor these days?

Ospho.

[Woxbox]

U-Haul is renting these now:
http://www.uhaul.com/trailers/sport-trailer.jpg
Don't know if a person can actually buy one anywhere. And a local dealer has some nice small trailers for small cars, but they're simple boxes, but not too tall.

[Thorne]

I asked my local U-Haul about the 'sport trailer' and they said, "Gosh, haven't seen one of those for years." Looks like they can be hard to rent, and you have to contact the national offices to find one...

But a cool trailer nonetheless!

[Woxbox]

I drive by a U-Haul place on my way to and from work. There's usually one sitting there. If you had one painted to match your car, it could look pretty nice.
Here's that other type I mentioned. Wells Cargo makes them.

http://www.wellscargo.com/wells/images/mpt461.jpg

[Thorne]

That does look like a contendah -- curb weight just over 400lbs with some aluminum tubular framing to reduce weight.

http://www.deandetrailers.com/trailerdetails.asp?ecategory=utility&ID=111

http://www.deandetrailers.com/products/Multipurpose%204X6%20003.jpg

[rddrappo]

You're lucky, Thorne. I wish I could get by without a truck. I'm in 9mpg '77 Chevy beast. Maybe a car would do if I put all my tools in the little trailer...

[Thorne]

Some of the lower-profile diesel Dodge Sprinter vans (nee Mercedes) are supposed to get mileage in the mid-20's, and carry a ***lot of stuff***.

I feel your pain. For a short while I owned a '78 Cherokee Chief that also got 9mpg , and even at under $2/gal filling that double tank really hurt!

Tool trailers can work, but you MUST keep them off the street in a secure area.

[rddrappo]

Sprinters are nice, but in this economy, a new vehicle is out of the question. Both trucks are paid for, and run good (most of the time), so I can't complain too much. If I didn't need to haul materials, I'd be using a small SUV. They hold a lot if you don't need the back seat. Hope the trailer works well for you.

[LeeG]

Is it decided that it's a soap box derby trailer?

Or a trailer for body transport services ,,does it smell 'off'?

[Thorne]

No, not a soapbox derby trailer -- the tailgate doesn't make a ramp, and it is only 17" high at the crown of the domed top in the main bed. Interior length is less than 6'. Doesn't smell.

At this stage I'm guessing that someone decided to build a small light trailer in this particular design, adding the 'nosecone' bit for better wind resistance reduction and storage. It IS nice to be able to see over the top even in a small car...

[LeeG]

it is a bit of a mystery as the trailer is made for carrying more than a few hundred pounds. Something heavy that can't be rained on for people who don't have trucks or vans.

I wouldn't want to carry delicate model airplane models in it bumping down the road.

Maybe it's for work staff at an estate where none of the vehicles are allowed to be higher than the shrubs lining the driveway.

[Songololo]

I reckon you have an 'Elite' trailer ... or an equivalent thereof :)

These (or one of the other similar models) are very popular in South Africa as a general purpose trailer for home or small business use and have been around for many years. If i recall correctly, the company Venter Trailers (http://www.ventertrailers.co.za/trailers.htm) were the first to get the ball rolling in SA.

You will typically see them behind the family car or minibus taxi on the weekends or during the holiday season. The low profile is an advantage when traveling on the highway. They have also been known to transport the odd pile of garden refuse to the local dump...

http://www.ventertrailers.co.za/images/elite%20large.jpg

As mentioned in a previous post, the nose cone compartment is a good place to store the spare wheel (unseen!).The compartment makes use of otherwise wasted space and also probably improves the aerodynamics. Beware of placing heavy items in this space while keeping the back (main) compartment lightly loaded - this could lead to a front heavy trailer - not a good idea.

[Thorne]

I'd say we have a weener, folks! Looks like the identical trailer, so perhaps they were made under license over here, as the maker's plate doesn't indicate foreign origin.