Owning an inflatable boat often faces transportation challenges: heavy floorboards, a bulky cylinder and the need for constant assembly on the shore make a marathon outdoors. Ready-made specialized trailers are expensive, and standard onboard pigs or Scythians do not have the right profile for PVC tubes, which is why car trailer redesign is becoming a popular solution for those who value time and comfort.
The idea behind the upgrade is to change the geometry of the cargo area to replicate the contours of the boat, so that you can load the boat in a assembled form with the engine, saving you time and effort to prepare for the descent. lay-frame distributes the weight evenly, protecting the bottom from sagging and damage when driving on the highway.
You don’t have to be a professional welder to implement this project, but basic metal and power tools skills will be required. In this article, we will discuss all the steps in transforming a conventional trailer into a full-fledged ramp for your boat, focusing on structural strength and corrosion protection.
Design analysis and selection of type of improvement
The first step is to carefully assess the current condition of your trailer, and most often, the redesigns are made using models like Skif, VSW, or their Chinese counterparts, which have a simple profile tube frame, and you have to measure the dimensions of your boat inflated and compare them with the usable area of the site, and if the dimensions are the same, you can start designing.
There are two main ways to upgrade: installing removable lozenges or welding a fixed frame; the removable version is convenient because it allows the use of a trailer for the transport of goods during the rest of the year. However, the stationary structure is more rigid and reliable, which is critical for transporting a heavy motorized boat over long distances.
Notice the condition of the frame and chassis, and if the metal is already rusted, welding can finally finish the body, which would require a complete stripping and reinforcement of the load-bearing elements before starting the pads. load-bearing capacity The trailer must be equal to the weight of the boat with the equipment.
⚠️ Warning: Before welding, be sure to remove rubber bumpers, wiring and lighting fixtures. Sparks can easily burn through the wiring or melt the plastic, leading to short circuits.
It is also important to consider the type of suspension. If you have springs, they may require reinforcement or replacement with stiffer ones, since the center of gravity of the boat is higher than that of the bag of potatoes.
Design and calculation of materials
Design starts with a drawing or at least a detailed sketch. You have to figure out the number of reference points. For PVC boats up to 3.5 meters long, two crossbars are usually enough, but for longer models, you need 3-4 supports to avoid sagging cylinders between the seams. Distance between supports shall not exceed 80-100 cm.
For the manufacture of the frame most often use a profile pipe square or rectangular cross-section. The optimal size is 20x20 mm or 25x25 mm with a wall thickness of 1.5-2 mm. The use of thinner metal is inexpedient, since it quickly rusts, and thicker unnecessarily weights the structure.
Special attention is paid to the choice of material for the pawns themselves: these can be wooden bars, lined with carpet, or ready-made plastic supports, fixed on brackets; wood is cheaper and easier to process, but requires regular impregnation and replacement; plastic is longer-lasting, but more expensive.
When calculating, be sure to have a safety margin. The dynamic loads of the primer can be several times the static weight of the boat, so all connections must be made with a margin.
Essential tools and supplies
The quality of the work is directly dependent on the availability of a suitable tool. Metal cutting requires a Bulgarian with disks of 1.0-1.2 mm thick metal. Thin disks allow you to make more accurate cuts and leave fewer burrs. You also need a welding machine, preferably a semi-automatic, which gives a more accurate seam when working with thin metal.
Protecting the structure from corrosion will require primer and paint. It is best to use special compounds for cars or metal structures that are resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. Don't skimp on anticort, since the trailer is in constant contact with water.
The list of necessary materials also includes:
- 🛠️ Profile pipe 20x20 mm or 40x20 mm for the frame.
- 🎨 Soil enamel on rust (3 in 1) and finishing paint.
- 🔩 Fixing elements: bolts, nuts, washers (strength class not lower than 8.8).
- 🪵 Wooden bars or ready-made beds for laying the boat.
If you're planning to install a winch, make sure the front of the frame is reinforced. The winch attachment site is most stressful when the cable is tensed. Often, a separate cross of a larger pipe is used to do this.
Manufacture and installation of the bed-frame
The fabrication process starts with cutting the blanks according to the drawing, first boiling the main rectangle, which lies on the trailer's spars, then welding crossbars to it, and it's important to keep symmetry with respect to the center axis of the trailer, otherwise the boat will be squashed.
The height of the racks is calculated individually. Boat cylinders should not touch the metal parts of the frame or the side of the trailer. The minimum gap should be 5-7 cm To adjust the height, you can use threaded connections or simply select pipes of different cross-sections (telescopic effect).
When welding, try to put the seams with minimal heat application, so as not to drive thin metal. Use the grippers at the corners, check the geometry of the diagonals, and only after that boil the joints with a solid seam. Quality of welding It determines the durability of the entire structure.
Once the frame is assembled, you need to try it on the trailer, the boat should be placed on the supports with the entire surface of the cylinders, without voids. If there are sagging, the height of the supports should be adjusted by welding additional plates or pipe trimmings.
Protection against corrosion and painting
The metal trailer is constantly being aggressively exposed to water, salt (if you're driving at sea) and rocks, so the painting phase can't be ignored. Even if you've used stainless steel or galvanized profiles, welds are still a vulnerability.
The first thing you need to do is to clean all the seams and burrs. Sharp edges can break the cylinders of the boat when they're not loaded, so the surface should be smooth. Then the metal is degreased and covered with a primer. Pay special attention to the inner cavities of the pipes, if they're not muffled.
The best paint is hammer enamel or polyurethane compounds, which create a durable film that is resistant to scratches, and you should apply the paint in 2-3 layers, allowing each layer to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions.
| Type of coating | Resistance to water | Resistance to impact | Difficulty of application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil paint | Low. | Low. | Low. |
| nitroemal | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Grunt enamel 3 at 1 | High. | High. | Low. |
| Polyurethane | Very high. | Very high. | High. |
Keep in mind that quality paint is not just about aesthetics, it's about protecting your investment in equipment, and rust, which comes in the first season, can destroy a thin metal in a couple of years.
Installation of the winch and additional equipment
For easy loading of the boat on the trailer, you need a winch, it can be mechanical (manual) or electric. For light PVC boats, a manual winch with a traction force of 500-800 kg is enough. It fastens on the front end of the trailer.
It's important to get the cable right, and it has to run exactly parallel to the bottom of the boat, without touching the sharp corners, often with an extra roller or bracket that takes the cable forward. A guide roller It greatly simplifies the process of winding.
And you also have to think about the motor bracket, and if you're driving a boat assembled, you have to have the motor firmly fixed upright, and you have to weld or screw a special stop that keeps the motor from hanging on the transom.
⚠️ Warning: Never leave the boat attached to the bow only when transported. Be sure to use additional belts or slings that lock the boat to the sides of the trailer to prevent displacement during sharp braking.
You can also put a gearbox between the spars, if the trailer design allows it, and that will free up space in the trunk of the car for other things.
Final assembly and readiness check
Once the paint is dry, the final assembly is made, wooden bars or plastic pads are placed on the pads, and the tree is better coated with varnish or olive in several layers, so that it does not rot from moisture.
Check the lights. Welding often damages the wiring, so testing the lights before you first go is a must, and make sure the wheels are pumped to the right pressure and the hub bearings are lubricated.
The first loading of the boat should be done in a calm mode, check how the trailer behaves on the road, whether there is a beating of the wheels, whether the load is moving, if all is successful, your new trailer-boat is ready for operation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to register a converted trailer in the traffic police?
Yes, if you changed the design of the trailer (welding a new frame, changing the dimensions), by law, this is considered to be a change in the design of the vehicle. However, in practice, if the dimensions remained within the factory, and the weight is not exceeded, traffic police officers rarely ask questions if the trailer is serviceable and has numbers.
What is the maximum weight of a boat that can be carried on a converted trailer?
You need to focus on the permitted maximum mass of the trailer specified in the PTS. Usually for passenger trailers it is 750 kg. The weight of the boat with the engine, gasoline and equipment should not exceed this figure. For heavy boats, the strengthening of the axle and braking system.
Is it better to fasten the pads: welding or bolts?
Welding provides monolithicity and no backlashes, which is better for durability. Bolt connection allows you to adjust the height and replace the elements, but requires constant monitoring of tightening of the bolts, as they can weaken from vibration.
Can I use a trailer in winter to transport a snowmobile?
Yes, a trailer that's made for beds is great for snowmobiles and quad bikes, and the main thing is that the dimensions of the vehicle are the same as the width of the track, and the logs distribute the weight of the tracks better than the flat floor.