I want one of these..

barra265t · 25-03-2010, 12:11 AM

This is brilliant, didn't know its possible to register what used to be half a car as a trailer. I'd love one made of a Ford Territory. If its got seatbelts,etc, any reason why it can't be used to carry passengers as well?

madmelon · 25-03-2010, 12:16 AM

probably coz it's unbelievably dangerous... still a cool idea for other stuff tho.

Yellow_Festiva · 25-03-2010, 12:31 AM

Haaa looks good, what would that weigh 5-600kg? Would work well as a promotional rig... certainly an attention seeker!

Chopped · 25-03-2010, 12:34 AM

Crash tested (Bit of fun

) -

It would be good as a mini camper though.

388cube_edxr8 · 25-03-2010, 03:24 AM

I always considered doing that with an entire stretch limousine. Would be a great way to get all my mates to the beach if I could somehow get it registered.

barra265t · 25-03-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

I always considered doing that with an entire stretch limousine. Would be a great way to get all my mates to the beach if I could somehow get it registered.

Hahahaa

thats gold mate.

outback_ute · 25-03-2010, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra265t

This is brilliant, didn't know its possible to register what used to be half a car as a trailer. I'd love one made of a Ford Territory. If its got seatbelts,etc, any reason why it can't be used to carry passengers as well?

It would be the same as any other form of trailer. Not sure that you would be able to fit it within the requirements (in Vic) of a small trailer that doesn't need to be registered though, probably too long & heavy.

As for carrying passengers - care to take a wild guess?

XR6_661 · 25-03-2010, 10:16 AM

How cool would it look dumped with some big wheels!

geckoGT · 25-03-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barra265t

If its got seatbelts,etc, any reason why it can't be used to carry passengers as well?

Because it is unbelievably illegal to carry passengers in any form of trailer.

Zed7fiddy · 25-03-2010, 10:26 AM

a bloke on the jeep forums built himself a camper trailer of similar construction!

geckoGT · 25-03-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67-FKD

a bloke on the jeep forums built himself a camper trailer of similar construction!

Now that is very cool.

aussie muscle · 25-03-2010, 11:58 AM

i've always thought there would be a market for a nice looking trailer (ie styled) that would complement the tow vehicle, instead of the typical box shape with square mudguards. i even think you could make a simple drop on fibreglass shell onto the normal type trailer.

around here you often see ute beds redone as trailers. (eg old mazdas)

Scott · 25-03-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Because it is unbelievably illegal to carry passengers in any form of trailer.

Is it?

eMpTy · 25-03-2010, 01:00 PM

Good point GTP006.
Did my apprenticeship repairing those very buses.

388cube_edxr8 · 25-03-2010, 01:08 PM

Are they technically a trailer though? I thought they were attached pretty well to the bus.

It is a good point nonetheless. If you could attach the back half of a car to the back of a ute to a high enough standard I'm sure you could get it registered somehow.

eMpTy · 25-03-2010, 01:14 PM

Hard call to make really, we used to call them a trailer and they are very well attached, however they technically an articulated vehicle, not like a prime mover & trailer.
The engine & trans is mounted in the rear of the trailer, the trailer & mid axles are both driven.

388cube_edxr8 · 25-03-2010, 01:19 PM

So would it technically be possible to make an "articulated vehicle" out of two cars, with the rear one having nothing forward of the firewall?

charles_wif_xf · 25-03-2010, 01:39 PM

OMG, that is soooooo brilliant (both the EF wagon and the Jeep trailers)!!!

eMpTy · 25-03-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 388cube_edxr8

So would it technically be possible to make an "articulated vehicle" out of two cars, with the rear one having nothing forward of the firewall?

Anything's possible with enough time and money.
The closest I've seen on the light vehicle scale was an auxiliary drive trailer. Pretty sure it was ex-british army, the trailer had a diff rather than a box axle, a tailshaft followed the drawbar to the trailer hitch where it hooked into a PTO setup that was driven by a shaft that came out of the back of the vehicles diff.
A mate used to own one of these trailers, he'd set it up as a camp kitchen and dragged it around behind an old Land Rover troop carrier.

geckoGT · 25-03-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP006

Is it?

Thats not a trailer, its an articulated bus and yes there is a difference. For a start the rear is braked, it has a turntable section in the middle and it is possible to walk from front to rear, in other words it is an integral, non removable part of the vehicle, not a trailer.

Good luck getting anything with a draw bar registered for passenger use on australian roads.

Quote:

Driving with a person in a trailer
A driver must not drive a motor vehicle towing a trailer
with a person in or on the trailer, unless the trailer is exempt
from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.
Offence provision.
Note 1 Motor vehicle and trailer are defined in the dictionary.
Note 2 Rule 257 deals with persons travelling in or on bicycle trailers.

Quote:

trailer means a vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a
motor vehicle, but does not include a motor vehicle that is being
towed.

XR Martin · 25-03-2010, 09:41 PM

Guy on Fordmods made that, it was pretty heavy IRC (over 500kg), and seeing as its not braked, GVM would be only 750kg.

geckoGT · 25-03-2010, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Exemption for road workers etc
(1) A provision mentioned in subrule (2) does not apply to a
person at the site of, and engaged in, roadworks if, in the
circumstances:
(a) it is not practicable for the person to comply with the
provision; and
(b) sufficient warning of the roadworks has been given to
other road users.
Note Roadworks is defined in subrule (4).
(2) Subrule (1) applies to the following provisions:
• Part 4 (Making turns), Division 1 (Left turns at
intersections) and Division 2 (Right turns (except hook
turns) at intersections)
• Part 7 (Giving way), except:
– rule 67 (Stopping and giving way at a stop sign or
stop line at an intersection without traffic lights)
– rule 68 (Stopping and giving way at a stop sign or
stop line at other places)
– rule 69 (Giving way at a give way sign or give way
line at an intersection)
– rule 70 (Giving way at a give way sign at a bridge
or length of narrow road)
– rule 71 (Giving way at a give way sign or give way
line at other places)
• Part 8 (Traffic signs and road markings), except:
– rule 102 (Clearance and low clearance signs)
– rule 103 (Load limit signs)
• Part 11 (Keeping left, overtaking and other driving
rules)
• Part 12 (Restrictions on stopping and parking)
• rule 224 (Using horns and similar warning devices)
• Part 14 (Rules for pedestrians), except rule 236 (1)
(which is about causing a traffic hazard by moving into
the path of an approaching vehicle)
• rule 264 (Wearing of seatbelts by drivers)
• rule 265 (Wearing of seatbelts by passengers 16 years
old, or older)
• rule 268 (How persons must travel in or on a motor
vehicle)
• rule 288 (Driving on a path)
• rule 289 (Driving on a nature strip)
• rule 290 (Driving on a traffic island)
Exemptions Part 19
Australian Road Rules – February 2009 version 289
• rule 295 (Motor vehicle towing another vehicle with a
towline)
• rule 296 (Driving a vehicle in reverse)
• rule 297 (2) (which requires a driver to have a clear
view of the surrounding road and traffic)
• rule 298 (Driving with a person in a trailer).

The only exemption for traveling with a person in a trailer is for road workers, as is stated in the quote above.

So, yes you could have people in a half car trailer, as long as you are only operating in an area of road works.

fordOwner · 25-03-2010, 09:52 PM

in perth here we have a tourist "Tram" its a purpose built bus I suppose you could call it, but the rear carrage is just towed exactly like a trailer and can carry quite a lot of people.

Click on the link to see the tram (I cant be bothered inserting a picture, too much work)

perth tram picture

**Elks** · 25-03-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP006

Is it?

In fact the ones we had at work were MAN powered and had the engine in the rear driving the very rear wheels. The trailer bit. Weird and cool.

mik · 25-03-2010, 11:02 PM

i was told , but don`t take this as gospel, that trailers are`nt allowed to run diffs, i have no proof of this but that is what i was told, the reason being that trailer are frequently lacking in maintenance also like caravans, you see them on the side of the road missing wheels , due to bearing collapse etc,etc, for diff equipped due to the possibility of axle and wheel coming out of a diff and causeing danger to people diffs are a no no, perhaps someone can dispel or confirm?

Scott · 25-03-2010, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Good luck getting anything with a draw bar registered for passenger use on australian roads.

I love that you put so much effort into your replies ;)

Darling Harbour - spot the rego plate.

geckoGT · 26-03-2010, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP006

I love that you put so much effort into your replies ;)

Darling Harbour - spot the rego plate.

Yes but it would be special use registration, If you want to make a trailer with seats and registered to carry passengers, then only operate in a certain area with a very low speed limit, cool. Not exactly the application the trailer in the OP is designed for, which is what raised the question about passengers.

Scott · 26-03-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Yes but it would be special use registration, If you want to make a trailer with seats and registered to carry passengers, then only operate in a certain area with a very low speed limit, cool. Not exactly the application the trailer in the OP is designed for, which is what raised the question about passengers.

I get that, the one in Perth is a better example, travels Kings Park-City-Uni-Casino. Not exactly throw the kids in and go but a passenger trailer on a draw bar nonetheless.

geckoGT · 26-03-2010, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP006

I get that, the one in Perth is a better example, travels Kings Park-City-Uni-Casino. Not exactly throw the kids in and go but a passenger trailer on a draw bar nonetheless.

Yes it is, but a different application and one not likely to be achieved for private use, only specialised commercial use.

But you are right, the use of a draw bar might not have been the best way to term it.

The end result is it would be spectacularly expensive and difficult to achieve legally and why would you bother? Although I guess you would not hear the kids fighting or screaming for ice cream, good on long trips.

Road_Warrior · 26-03-2010, 12:57 AM

Jeez guys, a licenced and purpose built (and probably with a bundle of special permits to go along with it not to mention a HC or MC licence for the driver) passenger motor carrier is a completely different kettle of fish to some clown driving around in his passenger car towing a trailer that has people in it. It's illegal for a good reason.

Oh and those dinky kiddie trains in places like Whiteman Park or the showgrounds no doubt get a special dispensation because they only travel at something like 12km/h

A better idea is a proper enclosed, lockable box trailer like the Stockman Pod trailer just nowhere near as stupidly priced.