Covering options for a box trailer
Submitted: Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 16:22
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YoungCampingFamily
We are picking up our new trailer tomorrow - a 7x4 high-sided box trailer that we will use to cart all our camping supplies. The last thing I need to organise is some type of cover to keep everything inside safe and dry. It won't be stored outside (apart from when we are camping) so it is mainly for when we are driving.
I enquired at a local fabricator today for a tonneau cover to be made for it (like the ones on the back of a ute) and he reckoned about $550 for the cover with bungee button tie downs. This was more than I was hoping to spend considering a tradesman type top is around the $700 mark which is not ideal for getting our larger stuff in and out, but at least you could lock the solid types unlike a tarp or tonneau cover.
My online searching has so far shown me tarp trailer covers, canvas trailer covers, tonneau trailer covers, hard pvc plastic lids, and steel/alu/galv solid lids.
Hopefully someone can help me by giving some pointers on what sort of cover will be suitable and perhaps some recommendations (
Melbourne). If we were to go with a tarp type cover are the button tie down thingies (cleats?) hard to install yourself? How else could you secure it so it won't flap and won't let water in?
Thanks.
YCF
Reply By: Member - John - Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 16:52
Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 16:52
G'day, personally I would go for a hard cover, lockable and hopefully waterproof. 13 x 13mm or 19x19mm Steel frame, covered with "sign white" or aluminium sheet, hinged one end, a couple of gas struts. Lots of fabrication
places should be able to do it for you, what cost I have no idea. I can recommend a place in Warrigul, Metal Form Industries, owner is Dallas, 56223884, very good service in the past from him. No affiliation etc, just a happy past customer.
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529004
Reply By: Member - Bruce B5 - Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 18:32
Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 18:32
Good day camping family
I would look at a used fibreglass
canopy of a ute you can take it off once you have finished with it strong & lockable there are cheap to pick up that's what i had on my trailer you can pick them up from $200.00 &
check your local news papers or look at car dealers as the take them of the utes they trade in & they look good.
Happy camping Bruce B
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: YoungCampingFamily - Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 22:15
Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 22:15
How do I know if the canopy will fit the trailer? Are ute canopies a standard size? Most I've seen advertised on fleabay seem too big to fit 1.2 x 2.1m (if they have a measurement for them).
FollowupID:
811684
Follow Up By: Member - Bruce B5 - Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 23:57
Monday, Mar 24, 2014 at 23:57
Young Camping Family
There are all different size ones I had to add some ply board on the sides of mine not hard to do have you looked at twin cab utes
BruceB
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Batt's - Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 12:39
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 12:39
I bought a $100 8 x 5 foot canvas tarp for my ute 4yrs ago at a local camping store pre made size of the shelf. I put extra eyelets in it it's totally waterproof in the heaviest downpour in nth qld. They do attract a little bit of mould but I expect I could have sprayed it with something to have prevented it but I am in the tropics. The canvas does stretch and shrink on dry or wet days about 2 inches I just allowed enough overlap for that.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 12:43
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 12:43
Sorry I can't submit a picture to give you an idea what it looks like only members can do that.
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811712
Follow Up By: Batt's - Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 19:38
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 19:38
Yeah that's a simular sort of tarp. Tray is 1900mm W x 300mm H The tarp is suppose to be 2400 W but it measures at 2330mm which is a good size it hangs down the sides 210mm I put the eyelets 60mm below that. The support bar in the middle I made tapers up to about 300mm in height. I have extra left over from the length so I cut some off and glued it under neath to protect the corners. I can send some pics to help give you some ideas if you like, being a ute mine will be attached differently to the front compared to a trailer.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 19:44
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 19:44
I just noticed the tarp you put the link up for doesn't have a big fold around the edge mine has about 60mm so the new eyelets I put in go thru 3 layers of canvas for strength.
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Follow Up By: Batt's - Wednesday, Mar 26, 2014 at 01:27
Wednesday, Mar 26, 2014 at 01:27
I meant 2 layers
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Reply By: UnderDax - Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 14:46
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 at 14:46
If your load is never going to be higher than the trailer sides, then a fitted tarp or tonneau cover will work
well. However tarps and tonneaus become less suitable when the load is irregular in height. How big do you make it? What do you do with the slack when the load is smaller?
Another option in steel might be the builder's type canopy, with gull-wing doors.
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529078