Maestro trailer project started..

[Lankytim]

Heres the Maestrovan I broke up recently. Ive finally started the conversion into a trailer.

 

 

I think the vans got the hump...

 

 

Oh SNAP!

 

 

Ready to get boxed in.

 

 

 

Off for scrap... Or a Maestrovan/Xbox360 driving simulator? LOL

 

 

The sills need a bit of welding to make good, along with a few other bits and pieces (this was a ROUGH van!) Im getting the steel to make the A frame tomorrow but wont get chance to work on it until next week sometime. Fingers crossed that will then see the structual work finished!

[Father Ted]

:THUMBS UP EMOTICON:

[autofive]

looking goodyou keeping rear axle? or going with a lighter version?

[Lankytim]

looking goodyou keeping rear axle? or going with a lighter version?

Yes, the rear axle will be staying- its the best part of the van for trailer related conversions!The whole thing is pretty light actually, its very easy to move around.

[VWPowered]

cant wait to see it on the car

[ashmicro]

Superb. This will actually be a useful trailer, unlike those half a Peugeot 106 ones.Top work, Sir.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think you should put in an aluminium-framed window, and fit a tiny 'bed' with a camping stove and chemical chod bin perched on it, lash in a bit of 1mm thick plywood panelling and some swirly carpet; Bobs your uncle, an autoshite caravan.

[Minimad5]

Great work !Keep us updated, can't wait to see the finished product

[Lankytim]

I think you should put in an aluminium-framed window, and fit a tiny 'bed' with a camping stove and chemical chod bin perched on it, lash in a bit of 1mm thick plywood panelling and some swirly carpet; Bobs your uncle, an autoshite caravan.

This has already been discussed as Jon has approx 2 million caravan windows, doors and bogs in his yard that hes trying to get rid of. It was a tempting proposition to say the least, but we decided against it.

[bigstraight6]

Nice one Tim, that will be a useful trailer when it's done. The van doesn't look too bad in the pics, just goes too show how misleading pics can be!

[Lankytim]

The van was dog rough, patches on patches and rust everywhere. It was mechanically shagged too. I would have loved to have got a gen ex-BT van on the road but this was purely frag feed. If anyones wants the wire mesh bulkhead ive still got it. Its very rare to find one that hasnt been cut down, free to collector! Surely someone is restoring one of these and and needs some proper BT bits? Maybe not...Im on the lookout for a drivers side rear door as mine is completely rotten and full of filler. I managed to score a mint passenger side one for 99p on ebay!

[Rocket88]

I suppose the windscreen is in mint condition [i hope not, because I've just spent £130 on a brand new one] please tell me it had a sodding great crack in it........................

[Lankytim]

It had several sodding great cracks in it!I bought the steel to make the A frame today.. I say A, its going to have a 4x2 inch "spine" down the centre that attaches to the chassis cross members and has the hitch on the end, im then using a pair or 2x2 box sections to go from the hitch back onto the front spring hangers. So not much of an A at all really.£52 quid for the metalwork. I thought it was going to be about 25!

[Dukestar25]

Here's a car to tow your trailer with once you've finished it..

http://autoshite.commlm/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7778

[Captain Mainwaring]

That'll be far too fast!

[Rod/b]

Tim, just a thought. How difficult will it be to chop off the sloped bit of roof from the windcreen back from the scrap bit and graft that into the roof oof the trailer? Might make it that ever-so-tiny bit more "finished" looking.

[Lankytim]

Tim, just a thought. How difficult will it be to chop off the sloped bit of roof from the windcreen back from the scrap bit and graft that into the roof oof the trailer? Might make it that ever-so-tiny bit more "finished" looking.

We did consider that but theres a "former" underneath the line of the cut with would have to be removed/moved, plus theres a box section either side which would intrude into the sloped section and would have to be chopped about. It would look much better I think but the extra work doesnt warrant it really. Its just a cheap and cheerful trailer!

[Lankytim]

Today was spent up JC's gaff welding.. Well, I did the chopping and the grinding and Jon did most of the welding.

 

The main drawbar forms a "spine down the centre of the trailer, and is attatched via angle iron to three main crossmembers that form part of the vans chassis. Hopefully the drawbar wont be going anywhere!

 

The corner box sections of the vans body have also been boxed in, A stack of welding was needed to the sills as they really were hanging. It all looks lovely now though.

 

Stiffeners have been welded into the front "former" to give the open end strength. The stiffeners also serve to hold the roof in place, it was quite weak previously.

 

A hitch has been salvaged from a scrap caravan and cut down and modified to fit, so its actually towable now! The exisiting handbrake mechanism has been modded and welded the the drawbar so the thing can be parked up without rolling away.

 

The A frame needs finishing off, with 2" box section forming the sides of the "A". After that the open end will be blanked off with fibreglass sheet and a plywood bulkhead constructed at the end of the load bed. Cant wait, its all finally coming together.

 

 

 

[Minimad5]

Its starting to look decent Can't wait to see the finished article !Might have been mentioned before ..But what colour are you doin it ?(Think i read you wanted to keep it the same... i also could be wrong)Good luck with it

[Lankytim]

I wouldnt mind keeping it yellow, but then ill probably do it whatever colour I have to hand. i.e paint I dont have to buy.

[ashmicro]

GR8 work, that looks ace.

[Lankytim]

Its getting there. The A frame is completed as are the electrics. Not pictured is the fibreglass front end which is fitted but needs finishing.

 

 

 

 

Work had to stop when these two arrived.

 

 

 

What a glorious sight they are! Atleast one is being fully restored for an overseas customer. They adore shite in Norway.

 

 

More to come!

[Cavcraft]

Don't know if I ever seen a convertable Allegro Tim, any more gen on them? They look fantastic.Van/trailer coming along very well I see, will it be bale to hold quite a weight if required?

[dollywobbler]

Crayford did 'em I think? Amazing to see two!!As for the trailer - is it not a bit nose heavy with the wheels being so far back? Just a thought, sorry!

[Lankytim]

They are crayford Allegros, two of 12 ever built. Every one was different apparently, some had concrete in the sills to make the shells stiffer. The guy who owns them is from Norway and bought one on ebay and one via the club. He wants the best one restored in the U.K and sent over to him. I cant see it being very cheap!Wobbler, you are not the first one to comment on the trailer bering nose-heavy. Fear not, the weight distribution is just about spot on with a bit of nose weight. The load bed will be a bit shorter than the overall length of the van body, meaning that it should be easy to keep the weight distributuon in the correct range.Hopefully the payload should be around 400kilos, il have to take the trailer to a weigh bridge and get its empty weight. It isnt braked so the max overall weight shouldnt be over 750 kilos.

[joethornton1986]

excellent work Tim, and those Allegro's are lovely

[fordnut]

Amazing, I was going to start a thread to say that I'd seen an Burgundy Allegro Convertible on a transporter that was towing a trailer and low and behold!!

[Minimad5]

Them welds are really neat and tidy Are you welding it all up ?Them All-Aggro's look quite a project

[Lankytim]

I have to confess, my mate Jon offered to "help out" with the build, seeing as he has all the right facilities and id be building the thing at home on my drive but hes ended up doing most of it. I did all the cutting and 00.1% of the welding, plus of course I supplied the metalwork and the Van, but Jon has ended up doung pretty much everything. His welds and fab skillORZ are second to none and what would take me an hour takes Jon 5 mins. Its been very educational for me though!The guy who delivered the Aggros started in Norwich (or thereabouts), travelled to a place near Southampton for the Burgandy one, then up to Northampton for the satsuma Agg, then over to Shrewsbury to deliver them. Amazing!

[VWPowered]

that trailers looking pretty shit hot