General Panda Trailers

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

When we bought our nearly-new Panda 4x4, it already had a detachable 'Thule' towbar and electrics fitted. So when someone kindly offered us an old 400kg camping trailer that was solid (it had a galvanised frame) but in need of some TLC, I thought it could make a useful addition to the Panda. I refurbished it throughout - new bearings, tubes, tyres, 12v LED electrics and a thorough strip-down, clean and repaint. As we had gloss white paint in the shed, we matched the whole thing to the Antarctica paint scheme, including sourcing some of the love-em-or-hate-em penguin decals.

It's just a bit of fun - but makes for a smart outfit and is handy for trips to the DIY shop, recycling centre and hopefully some camping this summer!

Anyone else towing? What do you pull behind your Panda? I have to say - the TwinAir makes light-work of it. Even though we've only had it lightly loaded so far, the generous pull and low 4x4 gearing mean I'm constantly checking the mirrors to check it's still there!
Can't get these to show here, so link to the Flickr shared photo set:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neil_haslam/shares/EKL995

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Looks great - love that you matched the orange hub covers too!

 

[oyumurtaci]

That looks pretty neat, certainly looks like plenty of elbow grease went into it.

 

[gar074]

That's hilarious - love the penguin decals!

 

[MickG]

Circumstances have changed so it's no longer a goer but we were seriously looking at getting a towbar fitted to get one of these bad-boys....
http://www.go-pods.co.uk

Gutted.

M

 

[illy]

That looks ace mate, I to have a small trailer of a similar size which also needs some TLC, not got a tow bar yet though

illy

 

[Goudrons]

Here's my bike trailer.
http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii212/discovery007/IMAG0001_zpsrxi7rkmw.jpg

It started life as a jetski trailer which I shortened and moved the axle up the chassis.

I wanted the trailer to store out of the way, so it stands up on it's end with the wheels just off the ground (saves them flat spotting when stored).
On it's end I can pick it up with one hand and carry it around the back of the house.

The axle comes off with four bolts, it only takes these four plus removing the wheels and it'll go in the back of an estate car quite easily.

Under the paint job it's fully galvanized, so no rust.

It handles really well with a bike on it, but it's hard to see without.

The first bike above is a 2007 Beta Rev3 250cc.
But it's been replaced with a 2014 Beta Evo 300cc

This bike I'm restoring (this pic is pre resto)
http://s265.photobucket.com/user/discovery007/media/IMAG0002_zpshrsah4xj.jpg.html?sort=3&o=8
It's a 1977 Ossa MAR 250cc.

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Thanks - it was a bit of fun, but it's very handy (some garden waste went to the tip yesterday!

MickG - I've seen these before, Mick. Nicely finished, low-drag and crucially - lightweight. Lots to like about those for a Panda owner tired of canvas camping options.

Illy - get one fitted and give that trailer some TLC! Everything on a trailer can be cheaply and easily replaced, especially if you use eBay for most of it, as I did.

Goudrons - a fine trailer. Smart to use a jet-ski trailer as galvanised and weather proofed so they can be dunked to launch. My father is just in the process of creating a bike trailer from his old box trailer (which had been rotting behind his shed). Stripped to a simple cross-beam structure. We'll add a channel and strap-outriggers. This'll be for a heavier machine than your trials bike - building to carry ~200kg road machines. That scrambler is nice - I could fancy a classic trials machine!

 

[Goudrons]

I built a heavier trailer for my Triumph Daytona a few years ago.
Used an old Mini rear subframe with a pivot on the neck.
You just hooked it on the towball, pulled a pin out and it tilted so you just ran the bike on until the weight tilted it back straight.

It was good apart from the weight!

I don't really ride the classic trials anymore, though I've built a good few.
Pre 65 stuff is just silly money these days, you can easily throw 6k on a little Tiger Cub, some of the '70's twinshocks are going the same way.

I usually tinker with a dog for a while and sell it, they return better money than a high interest account and you've no MOT or road worthness worries.

That Ossa is quite an old ball, one of the last MARs made and it's had some rare, engine mods, though it's still pretty worthless at the moment, but it's time will come!

 

[AusPanda]

What haven't I towed with my Panda

 

[oyumurtaci]

That teardrop looks fantastic, and is probably the most aerodynamic, but least practical as far as campervans go.

At some point I was convinced I could build one of those folding ones myself (the ones that fold down to about door height, then pop up and out to be quite large), but reality set in once I started doing the necessary research.

 

[PandaMTB]

I love Pandas and Penguins.

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Goudrons - lovely OSSA - just the right type of machine - usable, but with a bit of history!

AusPanda - full credits for your towing efforts! Is that middle pic a 'Freedom' caravan? That must be right up on the weight limit? How did it tow? Are you running a diesel, twinair or 1.2?

Oyumurtaci - a friend of mine built a teardrop van and towed it behind his 2CV-based three-wheeler! Needless to say, cruising was limited to 50-mph max, but it still returned about 45+mpg!

Good to see a few Pandas with tails!

 

[theshootist]

Seeing this thread prompted me to order a teardrop caravan

 

[R1NGA]

Seeing this thread prompted me to order a teardrop caravan

Where from - do you have a URL? I'm becoming moved by the idea of a teardrop myself!

 

[theshootist]

I found a guy on ebay who hand builds them to order.

Had looked at diy but once you buy a decent chassis and marine plywood, its just as cheap to let this guy do it for you.

And he does it to your requirements - I dont need the read lid and cooking area - prefer one simple main sleeping compartment. The most simple and basic sleeping pod I can get - there is a toilet and shower room where I regularly stay overnight and I will be eating out ( apart from my essential filter coffee on the camping stove in the mornings ) so I dont need a cooking compartment - and its exclusion means more legroom

And he knocked off a hefty amount for not needing the rear compartment too - bonus !

I can add the ebay item number here if it is allowed.

 

[theshootist]

This is what I am getting ( without the opening rear lid )

Just one side door and a porthole on the other side.

He vinyl wraps them usually in white but I will have green to match the Panda.

 

[AusPanda]

AusPanda - full credits for your towing efforts! Is that middle pic a 'Freedom' caravan? That must be right up on the weight limit? How did it tow? Are you running a diesel, twinair or 1.2?

Good to see a few Pandas with tails!

It's a TA manual. The caravan is a Polish brand, the name of which I forget. Sold here as a Euro Caravan

http://www.euro-caravans.com.au

It weighs 550kg, the Panda TA's tow capacity max is 800kg.
The Panda did feel the weight getting off the line. I'd worry about clutch wear towing something this heavy long-term. Yet once on the move, it was fine.