7° tilt fully-automated trailer

Last crawled date: 1 year, 10 months ago

Very sturdy trailer with 7° tilt angle and automated setup by the use of rear wheels (or pedal cranking if there's a drivetrain failure). The front tire is automatically fastened by mechanical chocks. Surprisingly, the trailer back doesn't even protrude past the rear bumper of the trailed car. When configured for tighter set-up, the trailer can pass a 7-ft-wide garage door. The tilting operation is done with the use of two recycled rubber tracks of an excavator (230x72x42) and synchronizing sprockets. The rear frame is hinged and activated by gear trains connected to the sprocket hub. The synchronizing gears are below the rear tires and slightly held back to allow the tracks to hug the tires. Upon loading completion, the dangling rubber tracks would then be swiveled sidewards as mudguards, or can be unhooked and stored away.

How the 7° tilt is achieved with conventional, yet sturdy, centered trailer wheel axle (a "straight axle" design):
--To tilt and unload, the axle is pushed towards the front while the hinged rear roller ramp is engaged from almost vertical up to 7° gradient. (Just be sure to unlock the hitch if you don't intend to jack up the trailer truck for rear-tire maintenance.)
--To load from 7° tilt, the axle is pulled towards the center while the hinged roller ramp curls inward up to almost vertical. (Also, just be sure that the caster wheel near the hitch is properly set up.)

This is an open trailer with lightweight components that can easily be dismantled and stored away. For multipurpose setup, the owner can simply forsake the fixed axle-length frame in favor of a telescoping one as this functional design can accommodate this minor change easily compared to traditional trailers.

Due to the absence of motors, expensive hydraulic (or pneumatic) actuators or even a cumbersome winch systems, the trailer is very lightweight and cheaper. But the mere fact that the "straight axle" used is very sturdy (meaning, the reinforcing brackets of independent and cantilevered axle designs are done away with) greatly contributes to a lighter setup (without needing expensive materials and intricate production) yet catering to the requirement of lowered sports cars.

With lighter weight and uncompromising suspension system (without flimsy cantilevered set-up, that is) the fishtailing danger is greatly reduced. Moreover, an added brake system can now be considered as an upgrade as it requires only less braking power; thus, smaller and cheaper brakes are adequate enough.

Anyway, if the trailer is dismantled and stored away, the items can reassemble into two-in-one mechanic creeper and stool (the swiveling rear frames), shop table (the rectangular front bracket and flat sheet metal), folding aluminum stair (the hitch frame), front and rear motorcycle chocks (two front chocks of car tires) and bed on wheels (the axle frames) ;)

Advantages compared to other trailer setup that is:
1. connected directly to the car frame: Trailer suspension system is very minimal as the car suspension system is active. (In fact, the trailer shock absorber can be eliminated for towed cars with advanced suspension system.)
2. airbagged, or hydraulically/electrically driven: no external power consumption and added components cost.
3. conventional tilt platform: Trailer rear frame is a stub and uses sturdy straight axle, without requiring very long ramps for lowered cars.
4. requiring detachable wheels: The axle can be of telescoping and/or folded type for easy and compact storage, yet can be manually trailed easily around.
5. requiring power tools: no worry for misplaced items.
6. dedicated as trailers only. The trailer can be dismantled and reassembled as other garage/shop items when not in use.
7. having close bed: Maintenance can be done as if the car is conventionally jacked up.
8. of fixed tire-positioning parameters: This single trailer configuration can accommodate cars of different dimensions.

Updated files coming!!!