Has any one any pointers or tips for me regarding towing a small box trailer on the beach and through sand trails? I just came back from a camping trip in the manx and the poor old buggy was loaded upto the gills with equipment- when i got home yesterday I started eyeing off my old box trailer with thoughts of converting it to a camp trailer- I just dont know how it would affect the buggys handling in the sand though.

Take all the stuff you took on your last trip and half it. put the half you do not need in your box trailer and leave it all at home. Sorry not much help but it sucks to be towing a box trailer on a camping trip. especially in the sand.

LOL.... what you really mean is leave the missus at home- then i wouldnt need half the stuff! (i'll prob be in trouble now for saying that)

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/wetoddimage.wtdr/wNTk3MTM3NnM0MTNkZmQzMXk1N...

I had a box trailer made for towing behind my buggy, specifically for going to Frazer Island last year, but I have used it several times now. It went fine on the sand. It is 5 * 3.5 * 18 inches high. We put heaps of stuff in it and had no problems. Went through Indian Head on Frazer without getting bogged at all.
Here is a pic just after coming back through Indian Head.

Mark.

Thats just what i had in mind- I would like to make it as light weight as poss. and maybe fit vw stud pattern to it as well.


Any more vw towing pics like this?

http://www.netspot4u.com/~manxclub/gallery/Fraser2003/105_0583_jpg 

Try to make the trailer the same wheel base as the manx so it follows in the same wheel tracks.
cheers rick:beer

What's the story with weight distribution? Do you make it all central over the axle or slightly forward?

I only ask cause buggies are tail heavy as is.

I pack mine with some weight on the tow ball. It works really well and is no problem on the freewaty at 110 km/h.

It is not as light as I thought it would need to be - it is not a problem to tow. It also has VW stud pattern.

Mark.

mmm making the wheelbase the same is something i didnt consider but makes great sense...... keep the comments coming guys:bounce

I have made a lid for mine. It is held up by 2 gas struts to make it easy to lift. It means you can make it lockable. It has a seal around the lid so that it is water proof.
If you want I can take a picture and put it up for you.

Mark.

thanks mark that would be great:beer

Not to be picky, but the correct term is the same "Track" as the tow vehicle........"wheelbase" is the distance between the front and rear wheels which is not possible on a single axle trailer......."Track" is the distance between the left & right wheel.

Sorry to have taken so long. Have finally got some pics for you.

Here is the lid that is made out of 1.6 mm galv and had cross braces bent into it. You can see the seal around the edge of the lid that just squashes down onto the base.
I also put in marine carpet the just clips out for easy cleaning, but I did this because our camping gear got holes rubbed into it with the constant chaffing against the steel.



Here is how I attached the gas struts.



Picture of the latch. I need to weld these on so I can lock it.
Also, this is what makes it seal as when you put the cross brace in the lid ends up a bit warped. By having latches that you can adjust so they are tight it straightens it all out.



I have put a stip of rubber across the front edge so that water does not squeeze through the front seal when cruising along the freeway in the rain.



The painful bit is when you want to take the lid off you have to unbolt the struts. Even if you just want to open the rear gate you need to unbolt the strut. Apart from that it works pretty well.

Mark.

I would have thought it would bog down in the rear a little and reduce your control when pulling in boggy areas.

Use Holden Commodore bonnet struts (or flat ute lid struts) - they are quick-release, leaving the 'ball' in place!

Good idea!!! Why didn't you tell me that before ??? :thumb:thumb

Very neat setup

i was thinking including one side of the trailer as part of the lid and hinging it from the bottom of that side so the lid will sit on the ground via roof racks that way i can use it as a tent base - does any one have a set up like that? if i find it to difficult i will make it similar to yours mark
ps thanks for the pics:beer