Making a half coupe trailer

[Skull]

nope i hope a bed for 2...

[Nj]

or 3 if you have that kind of money to throw about

[K Simmonds]

Hey Noel this sounds like a great idea!!! Personally I would want the trailer to be braked not only when stationery but on the move as well. I'm sure you could incorporate a proper hitch with brake actuation mechanism and link to the hand brake callipers although this would be loads easier and more effective if you used drums instead, not sure if any of the 80's have drums on the back though. I can take a couple of pics of my braked trailer hitch if it's of any help to you.

If you want to tow a decent amount of weight (ie over 300kg) then for safety's sake you want it to be braked on the move as it will take a lot of the extra load of the tow cars braking system and prevent the trailer from kicking out and trying to over take you if you were to slam the brakes on mid corner when carrying a heavy load. Which believe me is terrifying.

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, maybe you can hire the ATeam. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yS1JrW...eature=related

[Nj]

A team intro in german! ace!

The B4 80s have drum brakes on the back I think. Is that right? I genuinely don't know what controls the braking system on a trailer. does it connect to something on the car? I'm probably being an idiot. Photos would be excellent mate, yeah.

One thing is.. with bits of welding here and there the edges are bound to be tatty. What are the chances of doing a DIY spray of these bits and it not looking totally ****? Rather than paying a bodyshop to spray my.. erm.. trailer.

[K Simmonds]

If you are very methodical then good paint results are possible aerosol cans, however when you factor in the prep and the amount of tins of primer, paint and laquer you would need to do that sort of area it would probably be less hassle to get a paint shop to finish of the paint for you with a budget cash job.

Will post a couple of pics of my hitch tomorrow for you and try provide a easy explanation as to how it works, it;s quite simple really.

[Nj]

i know a good body shop guy anyway who gives me good prices so maybe he'll be extra good to me just to be involved in the novelty of it all. At least it's silver so the contrast with big lumps of weld might not be too bad.

explanation and pics would be ace mate, cheers

[K Simmonds]

Will do, keep an eye tomorrow.

[K Simmonds]

Here you go Noel a few shots a decent braked hitch. Basically the bit with the boot on immediately behind the hitch slides backward when the brakes are applied on the tow vehicle, which via a couple of pivot points and cables applies the trailer brakes. The hand brake is linked to the same mechanism. Notice that a single cable attaches to then hitch end and then spits to two or in the case of my trailer four separate cables, this keeps it simple. I'm sure that Audi 80 drums could be rigged up like this.

[K Simmonds]

Here a close up of the mechanism, note the ratchet mech for the hand brake. You should be able to pick up a hitch and A frame reasonably from a breakers yard or maybe a Gypo via something like the Add Trader or the Scottish equivalent.

[Nj]

ahhhhhhh... so it's actually the inertia of the trailer moving against the tow vehicle that operates the trailer brakes? And there was me wondering how the hell you attach cables to the tow vehicle.
cheers for the pics mate. I'll definitely see what I can find.

I've come across a new problem. How the fek am I going to weld in a garage with no power? I doubt my wee generator would run an arc welder. ? Plus i'll need to ask the guy I know with the breaker's yard to lend me his stihl saw for a few hours to do the big chop. Reckon i'll need to pull the car out of the garage and do it in the open. i'd be blind, deaf and choked on fumes (and possibly on fire) if i tried it in the lockup.

[Jas11n]

A team intro in german! ace!

The B4 80s have drum brakes on the back I think. Is that right?

Pfft, drum brakes indeed. It an Audi, not a Corsa Even the 1.6 B4 80 had discs on the rear.
You'll have to go back to a B3 80 for drums, even then, most would have had discs.

[bluequattro]

trailer

saw this one years ago but always had the sense not to make one, must really drag

[Nj]

jase - must have been a B3 I'm thinking of.. or maybe the missus' old polo

bluequattro - that was kinda te plan to begin with but taking the lid off to make a flat trailer seems to make a lot more sense now. well.. when i say "sense" I don't mean "sensible" as such...

[dm80]

**** me. I've heard it all now. Don't sell this project once its's done though eh?

[K Simmonds]

If I were a bit closer then I'd happily give you a hand getting the with the A frame and brakes rigged up, unfortunately 300 miles is a bit further than popping to the shops.

I'm going to try and make it to the Famous grouse meet in March (all be it in the 10 valve) so may well see you then.