Collapsed suspension?

About the important piece of kit under your Cape Cutter 19 when on the road.....

Collapsed suspension?

Postby Julian Porter » Wed Jul 31, 2019 7:02 pm

My friend has been storing a Cape cutter on the trailer for about 3 years. The axle was supported by wooden blocks to take the weight off the tyres. When the blocks were removed and the trailer lowered to the ground, the suspension arms continued to rotate until they met the brake activation lever. I think it is coincidental that it didn't drop below this height and remove the levers. Can someone with a South African trailer (with disk brakes) confirm that the suspension arms should support the boat rather higher than this? Ive pasted photos showing the position below. Assuming that there is a problem and the suspension has failed, what is the solution?

https://flic.kr/p/2gM7rhV
https://flic.kr/p/2gM7rey
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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby erbster » Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:17 am

I think the ZA trailer was not UK road legal without modification? Can anyone confirm?


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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby Gary Oldfield » Sat Aug 03, 2019 9:30 am

Hi Iv got a za trailer , however as already mentioned the axle isn’t up to the job , this needs to be completely replaced which is what has happened to mine before I bought it
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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby Julian Porter » Sat Aug 03, 2019 4:20 pm

Gary Oldfield wrote:Hi Iv got a za trailer , however as already mentioned the axle isn’t up to the job , this needs to be completely replaced which is what has happened to mine before I bought it


Yes I'm going to get the axle replaced, probably with a new axle with drum brakes.
Do you know why else the trailer might not be road legal?
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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby erbster » Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:17 am

The UK made trailers look more beefy (too beefy, probably), but I thought I was the axle. You’ll need to take specialist advice on that. The ZA trailers had submersible electrics for the lights etc which I heard mixed opinions on about their reliability.


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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby Malcolm Sadler » Mon Aug 05, 2019 10:57 pm

Hello Julian

I bought my CC with a SA trailer plated at (as I recall) 1400kg. I believe the loaded (all spars, outboard, inflatable tender, etc) weight plus the weight of the trailer exceeds that. Hence illegal.

Quite apart from that the brakes didn’t brake, so I had to do something to stop having my car shunted out into traffic at T junctions!

I live in Oxford and a new business near Aylesbury supplied and fitted a 1800kg axle (drum brakes) plus three new wheels and tyres plus waterproof wiring and LCD sealed lights (inc riding lights on mudguards now a legal requirement), plus some welding on the trailer, all for about £1200. I suspect this was not much over wholesale price of parts.

It was so comforting to know if I get checked while towing I am legal.

The only problem since then was corrosion in the leaky wiring junction box. I found a German product which is two pack resin which you pour into the box and it “sets” to a jelly completely sealing in all wiring and connections. Certified water
sealed to 25 metres! My lights 2 seasons later after multiple sea launches are so bright people flash me!

Of course it’s still a CC trailer and you have to get the mudguards an inch under water to float the boat off, but it’s legal and reliable.

Of course what we all ought to do is clone Bob Steele’s brilliant design which makes launching/recovery sooo easy.

Good luck with the refurb.

All the best

Malcolm
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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby erbster » Tue Aug 06, 2019 10:38 am

Hi Malcolm, I don’t know you had a ZA trailer! I notice you mention lights for the mudguards. I didn’t know about this, but I can’t find any reference to that on the gov.uk site. Do you have a link, by any chance? What is the requirement?


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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby Greybeard » Tue Aug 06, 2019 11:09 am

Ive not seen the legislation, though I would anticipate that any reqirement for side maker lights would apply only to new trailers. Its rare for legislaion to be retrospective, though it was for fitting brake lights to motorcycles made before the relevant date - think it was 1978 from memory. It can be a challenge fitting a brakelight switch to pre- WW1 machines ;) Strangely, if no lights are fitted all (a 'daylight' mot can be issued) having a brake light only is not permitted! Such is the reasoning of bureaucrats :confused:
I was never happy towing a wide, unmarked boat/trailer combination and fitted small red/white rubber mounted led lights that can attach to the gunwales and run off the boats battery when needed. I still have them for the whammel though I generally avoid towing at night anyway.
Search for LED side marker lights and youll find hundreds to choose from.

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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby erbster » Tue Aug 06, 2019 2:19 pm

Thanks Steve.
I have just changed trailer board. My old one had “wings” on each end with red/white lights, so oncoming traffic could see the trailer (high up, so more obvious is large trailer). They kept getting bashed, so I was looking at battery led lights on the widest part of the boat.


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Re: Collapsed suspension?

Postby Malcolm Sadler » Wed Aug 07, 2019 12:24 am

Charles

I’m afraid I don’t have chapter and verse for the law on riding lights. The firm who fitted the new axle told me it was a requirement given the width of my trailer. But even if not required by law, I am much more comfortable towing with them than with 9 inches or so of unlit mudguard protruding outside each of the tail lights.

I often seem to have to tow at night. I try to squeeze in one last sail before haul out and derig. Or sometimes just take too long derigging. Either way I seem to set out too late to get home in daylight!

All the best

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