E30 Trailer

[bimmer630]

I don't understand the point of lugging all that extra weight of the chassis around just for novelty when you can just pull a purpose-built trailer that weighs much less. Not to mention the space savings...

Are you talking about a bmw trailer or a range rover trailer? I haven't weighed mine but its actually very light, and its just gonna look cool, I wouldn't wanna pull some rickety landscape trailer behind my car. Actually I don't even NEED a trailer, this was just a fun project I always wanted to do, now I'm trying to find reasons to have a trailer

[DEV0 E30]

Auto-X, Trackdays - Wheels, Tools, Floor Jack, etc

Cross Country Journeys (Bimmerfest... West aka the original) - Storage, stuff you're selling, etc.

Grillin/Tailgating - I've had a tasty burger from Matt's trailer

[bimmer630]

^yes exactly what I've been thinking, its just my point is that I've been forcing myself to plan out activities like this to justify having the trailer. I do play drums in a band and I can fit the kit in the car but have to put a few things on the pass seat (would rather have my gf in seat) and I'm sick of fucking my gear up trying to shove it on my backseat

[bimmer630]

More progress

Got some metal yesterday... 3x2 Rail goes through driveshaft tunnel and is bolted to subframe where the diff used to be.. then I plated the front of the tunnel..

Next will be running two triangular sections from the main "beam" back to the front of the "body"



I put some heat on the coils in an attempt to lower the ride height and only gained a small drop before the coils started to look all messed up... I might have to pick up a set of drop springs (anybody have a spare set for sale?)

[bimmer630]

Well I gained some momentum on the build... sorta unexpected but I bought an S50 from my friend in Ohio (I live on long island).. I was planning on driving out there this weekend with my dads Dodge Durango but he busted the rear window out and plus that things a gas pig so I got the trailer at least usable in a utility sense. She aint pretty but Its all I got to get to ohio and bring back that engine....

I installed the Curt hitch last night (and after it was on I noticed the factory welded it together crooked)

tonight I fabbed up the triangular supports for the tongue.. just 2x2 stock cut at 45 degree angles.. welded to the section of the "car" where the rear floor ends and the rear seat support/top of gas tank area begins.. then I plasma cut some 1/8" plate into these supports to beef up the connection (otherwise it would just be welded to thin sheetmetal floor material.. no strength)


everything feels real sturdy sofar.. I bolted the ball hitch and towed her up and down the street to check it out... its all good

[MattAvino]

has that square tubing been sittin in salt water?

[bimmer630]

The steel company stores every thing outside ... I'm gonna have to douche it with that rust dissolver or por 15

[bimmer630]

So I made a mad dash to get the trailer wired, weighed, and registered.. got a plate on it and drove to Cleveland. Besides the fact that its aerodynamically like pulling a parachute(still has no front bulkhead or top) , the ride is surprisingly smooth with no sway. I got an hour away from my destination and heard a big pop under my car. All my gears including reverse were gone, except for 4th. I drove theres of the way there in 4th, found a guy with a tranny( name is doug.. had a really cool shop with e30 and e36 racecars all around the place)

Friend who sold me s50 (reason for towing trailer) let me install trans on his lift... all went good till next day when I blew a radiator (!!!). Got radiator in, pulled trailer back to ny with engine a d blown trans ... got better fuel mileage than going there empty since the cover over the engine deflected air. a bit.... rode great the whole way, got home and as most of you know there was a wicked hurricane here... u have no power but our area lucked out compared to NYC and Jersey .

Now to start my s50 swap....

[Roysneon]

Haha nice, man. Always interesting taking trips in an e30. I've been thinking more and more how I could use an e30 mini trailer.

[harv]

Ha! I live just off I90 in Willoughby OH.

Would have loved to see that roll by!

John

[bimmer630]

I was in willouby ... we stopped at a harbor freight to get tie Downs ..or was it willowick...

[bimmer630]

Harv... do you know this guy Doug? he lives in North Ridgeville... he does racing with e36s
. bunch of racked up M 3 bodies in his yard and a cool shop where he was rebuilding a BMW Isetta

[bimmer630]

Not much of any progress on the trailer, but I did tow it to Ohio and bring back the S50 In it. since then its just been sitting, waiting to be finished