 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Sankey Trailer conversion to overland trailer. |
 
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888   
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I think you may be missing the point of the Sankey and your modifications to the chassis are in danger of destroying some of the key design elements.
Not saying you shouldn't do it, just making sure you are aware of it. I'm in the process of converting my own Sankey to an overland/camping trailer although I'm doing mine in two stages, the first stage is a simple one to integrate the tent, electric and fridge. Anyway, back to my original point ! The real beauty of the Sankey is that it's geometry is optimised to suit the characteristics of the target towing vehicle (Defender 90). In practice this means that the trailer wheels follow the rear wheels of the Defender almost mm perfect regardless of the radius of the turn. This is primarily down to the distance between the hitch and the axle. As a result the Sankey is really well behaved off road as it follows the same line that the towing vehicle uses and, on road, manoeuvring it in tight spaces is very easy. One of the possible target areas for our next adventure will be the Pyrenees and having a trailer that "cuts the corner" on you would be a liability on tight mountain tracks. The width of the Sankey tub matches the width of the tow vehicles tub and that makes it very easy to reverse using just your mirrors. When you look back you can see the line of the Defender bodywork and the line of the Sankey tub and it's very easy to see how it's sitting. Like all small trailers you need to use small steering inputs though. Pam has always struggled to reverse our caravan, for example, but can reverse the Sankey with very little problem. I'd suggest if you want to take it easier to reverse, make sure the sides of your trailer body is visible in both mirrors with some sort of reference points front and rear so you know when it's central and can react quickly to any deviation. If towing with a 110 regularly you should lengthen the hitch to axle length to compensate for the longer overhang of the 110 so maybe your design changes will tie in with that a bit ? http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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1st Feb 2016 12:29am |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888
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Well I remember, as you are an engineer and might have more success than I have so far !
The MkIII Sankey has really impressive brakes (Granada Scorpio IIRC) and as a result the lack of an auto reverse on the overrun brakes has caused me some grief in the past. You simply cannot reverse these trailers up even the slightest incline without the brakes locking up solid and when the pintle has any weight on it you cannot engage the manual lockout. It's not unusual for me to have to get out, put the trailer handbrake on, get back in and pull forward against the handbrake (to unload the pintle), get out and engage the override, release the hand brake and then, finally, get back in and start reversing ! A method for engaging the override from a switch on the dash would remove the only criticism I have when it comes to living with this trailer ! I've been playing with using a solenoid to activate the existing override and a couple of microswitches to give an engaged/disengaged signal on the dashboard. It could be linked into the reversing lights but if you're travelling down an incline you need to operate it while driving forward still to avoid any weight on the pintle. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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1st Feb 2016 12:45am |
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| xpertoftheseas Member Since: 05 Jan 2016 Location: Salisbury, Wilts Posts: 164  
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Thanks for the comments and advice.
Firstly, you are right about the increased turning circle. The increased length will increase the trailer turning circle and cause it to cut corners. However this is a small price to pay in my eyes for increased capacity of the trailer. The thing I did not mention is that I am not intending this to be used on hardcore offroad, but to tow to the campsites and some wild camping. I am still working on the 3D mock ups of how the trailer will look, so when these are done I will post and you will get a better picture of what I am trying to achieve. The distance between the trailer axle and the hitch is increased by 600mm, making more controllable when reversing. I found that the original wheel base was more of a challenge, and also spare wheel on the back of the 110 was perilously close to the front of the trailer when reversing and turning. This was the main driver in increasing the drawn length, The brakes - I know what you mean. The solution i am doing is pretty much what you describe. There will be a 12v solenoid between the master cylinder and the calipers which will be activated when the reverse lights come on. This will stop the wheels locking when reversing. The brakes will return to normal when the reverse lights are off of course, allowing the brakes to do their job when travelling forward. I may change the spring loading in the overrun damper to suit the weight of the new trailer, as this will give better brake operation during normal use and loads. My 10th Land Rover, but my first Defender. |
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2nd Feb 2016 3:15pm |
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| Boyd Member Since: 11 May 2014 Location: Le Saint Posts: 172  
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Have a look on Disco3.co.uk there are loads of rather amazing Sankey builds, particularly the like of Wiggs' and RLD's.
In fact, here's a couple of links.... Wiggs first; http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic47201.html?highlight=wiggs Wiggs second; http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic108880.html RLD's recent one; http://www.disco3.co.uk/forum/topic73463.html 2003 Zambezi Silver TD5 110 XS SW overland prepped.... 2004 Santorini Black TD5 110 XS SW left hooker for sale! 2004 Alpine White TD5 110 left hooker (work in progress) |
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2nd Feb 2016 3:41pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7873 
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Thanks for sharing build thread. I will be following with interest and envy!!
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2nd Feb 2016 10:10pm |
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| xpertoftheseas Member Since: 05 Jan 2016 Location: Salisbury, Wilts Posts: 164
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Can anybody advise me on where to get suitable aluminium extrusions etc? Struggling to find a vendor who has various angles and extrusions to hold 11mm or 14mm GRP board.
Anybody? My 10th Land Rover, but my first Defender. Last edited by xpertoftheseas on 5th Feb 2016 9:18am. Edited 1 time in total |
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5th Feb 2016 12:04am |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109 
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 Click image to enlarge
Was going to say give uncle Ray a call (RLD) or Wiggs they are the trailer wizards and Ray is a SH!!! Hot welder & Ade is the man for electronics and gadgets the latest being a electronic optics  |
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5th Feb 2016 12:12am |
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| RLD Member Since: 29 Jun 2007 Location: Lancs Posts: 858
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http://www.simmal.com/ they may have what you need
 RLD fabricator of Hidden Winch Mount for D3/4 roof racks jerry can holders CB aerial mounts and much more and agent for Helsport Tents and gear |
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5th Feb 2016 9:36am |
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| Penguin Member Since: 08 Dec 2014 Location: Tienen Posts: 247  
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This is what I made of one:
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge 28/02 - Loss of a good friend...
In a time of chimpanzees, I was a penguin. |
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5th Feb 2016 10:36am |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10358
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Have a look. On ExPo, there's months of reading to be done on here...
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/foru...n-Trailers Search 'commercial trailer builders' for extrusions.there's plenty in the uk. Good luck, keep the pictures coming. |
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5th Feb 2016 10:55am |
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| RLD Member Since: 29 Jun 2007 Location: Lancs Posts: 858
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good site
RLD fabricator of Hidden Winch Mount for D3/4 roof racks jerry can holders CB aerial mounts and much more and agent for Helsport Tents and gear |
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5th Feb 2016 11:01am |
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| davew Member Since: 02 Jan 2012 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 888
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I was thinking of utilising the existing mechanical override and using a solenoid to operate it, I think the idea of using a solenoid in the brake circuit is a much better one though, now you've mentioned it. Have ordered a suitable solenoid from the US, couldn't find a UK supplier for some reason. http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net/ |
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5th Feb 2016 8:12pm |
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| alwoodley72 Member Since: 14 Mar 2010 Location: salisbury, wilts Posts: 714 
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Hiya, try Wessex Vehicle Services, down the road from me at Compton Chamberlayne, quite a big concern so I'm sure they'll help you out?..
Cheers. Alex 98 300 tdi 90 project 94 Range Rover vogue 4.2 lse 79 911 sc 08 130 double cab utility |
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5th Feb 2016 9:00pm |
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| xpertoftheseas Member Since: 05 Jan 2016 Location: Salisbury, Wilts Posts: 164
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This is great stuff!! Thank you all
 , please keep it coming. After trawling the expeditionportal website, I am drooling over the amount of ideas I got from there. Its going to take a night or two to digest but already I have changed the chassis design to accommodate some new bits and pieces I want.
Overview... Click image to enlarge Rear with door down Click image to enlarge Chassis Mods.. Click image to enlarge Prepping the chassis this weekend (removing lights, brake lines etc) ready for cutting and welding, then blasting and painting. New discs and pads arrived, need to get new shocks and wheel bearings (I don't suppose anybody knows the bearing type and/or number for the MK3?) The guy who purchased the tub was very helpful as he had refurbished his MK3 chassis years ago (Thanks Colin!) - big help! Need to start clearing the garage for when the chassis comes back so I can really get my teeth into it. Thanks again to all who are posting. I really do appreciate any and all ideas and advice. Simon My 10th Land Rover, but my first Defender. |
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5th Feb 2016 9:25pm |
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