Fabrication Of Trailers

Trailer Manufacturing And Fabrication

The purpose of any type of trailer is to make leisure time better and working tasks easier. Trailers are fabricated and manufactured for both domestic and commercial use.

Used in a commercial role a trailer is often the preferred method of transporting tools, equipment, vehicles, and other products. From builders, catering suppliers, car and motorcycle dealers, through to tree surgeons and leisure equipment suppliers, a trailer can be fabricated to suit nearly every industry and need.

Trailers are also regularly used by farmers who recognise there cost effectiveness especially when transporting livestock and farm supplies.

Where a heavy load is being carried a trailer is often fabricated with the inclusion of an on board braking system. Designed to cope with heavy loads a braked trailer is safer and easier to handle when used in a demanding traffic manoeuvre.   

A trailer can be manufactured from a wide range of different components with normally a high usage of either steel or alloy being present. Plastic and wooden parts are also common, especially when the unit being made may be a catering trailer.

Steel trailers normally employ a heavy gauge steel chassis coupled with the main trailer body. The body can be made from materials including light gauge steel, aluminium, plastic, wood, or a composite of several materials.  

The construction of a steel based trailer can require several key work tasks during its fabrication. After the design and sourcing of key assembly components one such work task is the drilling of the chassis to accept the trailer body.

Where the trailers chassis is made of heavy gauge steel a solution to accurately drill perfect holes is to employ the use of a mag drill. This type of drilling machine uses a magnetic base to attach itself to the work piece (in this case the chassis) and then uses its motor and combined gearbox to precisely drill the steel work.  Different boring and drilling bits can be fitted depending on the size 0f hole required as well as the thickness of metal being drilled.

After the drilling process has been carried out, holes can be tapped to create threads permitting high tensile bolts to be used in the fabrication of the trailer.

Trailers which are to have very heavy weight loads such as car trailers and those used by builders for transporting building materials like bricks, sand, and aggregates, may need their steel work welding as opposed to fabrication by way of bolts and fasteners.   

Alloy, steel, and other metals can be welded by way of using a portable or compact welder such as a mig, arc, or gas welder. Welds are recognised as being far stronger in construction than using fasteners, with the metal itself of several components being fused into one strong part.

Electrical Wiring:

The wiring of a trailer is important to ensure all onboard electrics are safe and reliable. This is especially important as regards to the wiring for the trailers lights such as tail, reverse, and stop lights.

If the trailer is a custom built unit to be used for catering purposes such as a burger van, extra wiring will need to be installed to power the catering equipment onboard which may include fryers, food warmers, water boilers, refrigeration equipment and the like.   

All electrical equipment such be accounted for before the initial stage of fabrication begins. This way the wiring can be accomodated in the structure of the trailers body itself, insulated and protected from the elements.

A trailer for use in the building trade differs from leisure use types by typically being made for the tough working conditions needed in this industry. Unlike leisure equipment trailers such as camping and catering units a trailer for use in the building trade is generally fabricated using thicker gauge metal and with more robust fittings present. Flatbed trailers are common for use by builders being low in height and capable of easy loading and movement of building materials.

The abrasive quality of sand, cement, and aggregates also dictates corrosion protection of a greater level on this type of transportation. Trailers manufactured for construction material handling are normally protected by way of galvanising and heavy duty paintwork.

The load capacity of this type of trailer also dictates the fitment of heavy duty wheels and tyres.

A trailer of this type is commonly referred to as a plant trailer due to its regular application of carrying plant equipment.  Heavy duty ramps, jocky wheel, bed, and lashing points are normal equipment on a trailer of this type.