The Kayak Trailer

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06-05-2018, 06:25 PM
gadgetman

1 Attachment(s)

The Kayak Trailer

After giving up on using the roof racks on the hunting wagon, where the racks are 2m above the road, I decided a kayak trailer would be the go. So I costed up the materials to build a trailer and when out and bought an old '97 Subaru Forester which worked out cheaper. Also a hell of a lot more manoeuvrable and useful.

I went and had a look. The thing had over 341,000km on the clock and wasn't going that well, with an engine warning light that came on on the dash at regular intervals and reduced ferformance, but I bought it anyway after negotiating a discount. Jumped online and found the fault codes and hooked up the test wires under the dash to get the fault code. "Knock Sensor" error. Jump back online and find out the main error is due to a faulty sensor, NZ new $200-$300, China new $14. New sensor installed on top of the engine block and back to full power and better fuel economy.

The clutch was very heavy to operate too so I grabbed a new slave cylinder from the parts store on my way past during the week. I replaced the one on the hunting wagon a couple of years ago and it made a huge difference to that. So this afternoon I jacked the front up and crawled underneath, bugger, looks like they forgot to put one on the side of the gearbox like the Toyotas and Isuzus I've done. Grab the headlamp and start shining it around, not on this side, all I could see on this side was a couple of sensors. It wasn't on the other side if the gearbox, all I could see there was bugger all.

All right it was a favourite story of mine as a little tacker and one if the first I bought when TR was on the way. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poky_Little_Puppy

So I eventually spotted the tell-tale rubber bellows/boot from underneath sitting on top. Typical, got to have a quirky difference. Note it's position relative to a few other components and head topside. Found Ya. That's the hard part done.

Attachment 87009

Drop the front back down, remove the air box, swap parts, clean up and grease the contact point, drain hydraulic fluid, hook up banjo, refill with and a bit of assistance from a gadgette to work the pedal bleed the system. Now probably 1/3 the force to work the pedal so the gadgettes can probably drive it too.
06-05-2018, 07:08 PM
Tommy

You would have tripped over it doing the knock sensor :P
06-05-2018, 07:51 PM
gadgetman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

You would have tripped over it doing the knock sensor :P

Pretty much, if I'd been looking. Quirky Subbies. Even the V4 engine is so lazy it's lying flat.

Doing the sums rego worked out at an extra $40 and WOF's an extra $60 a year over the trailer but a lot more useful. Would love to have a crack at spray painting to personalise it.
06-05-2018, 07:53 PM
veitnamcam

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Pretty much, if I'd been looking. Quirky Subbies. Even the V4 engine is so lazy it's lying flat.

Doing the sums rego worked out at an extra $40 and WOF's an extra $60 a year over the trailer but a lot more useful. Would love to have a crack at spray painting to personalise it.

matt black it badly with spraycans then sell it to a boyracer wannabe for a massive profit.
06-05-2018, 08:00 PM
Tommy

Quote:

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

matt black it badly with spraycans then sell it to a boyracer wannabe for a massive profit.

Kid at uni had one, put a chinese bonnet scoop on the roof (went nowhere). Riiiiiiight
06-05-2018, 08:10 PM
gadgetman

Good thing with this is it has no hair driers, no air con, no power,... and shovel loads of character and plenty of rattles. By the size and shape of the patch of missing paint I'd say it was used by a Coast to Coast competitor. About a perfect match for one of their stickers.
06-05-2018, 08:20 PM
Tommy

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetman

Good thing with this is it has no hair driers, no air con, no power,... and shovel loads of character and plenty of rattles. By the size and shape of the patch of missing paint I'd say it was used by a Coast to Coast competitor. About a perfect match for one of their stickers.

Just keep an eye on coolant levels, they are head gasket fiends. Apart from that indomitable
06-05-2018, 09:55 PM
gadgetman

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy

Just keep an eye on coolant levels, they are head gasket fiends. Apart from that indomitable

Yeah, I always keep an eye on all fluids, water, oils, and the gauges associated with them. Can't understand people that notice temperatures rise or pressures change and don't do something, like pull over and wait, or top up, or call for help. Instead they keep going till it's completely knackered.
06-05-2018, 10:09 PM
Blisters

Pic of your new trailer plz
08-05-2018, 07:25 PM
gadgetman

2 Attachment(s)

The good side

Attachment 87143

The ugly side

Attachment 87144
08-05-2018, 07:30 PM
gadgetman

2 Attachment(s)

Took it for a WOF this arvo. I like this place and have been going there for over 24 years now. They don't give anything a warrant. Pulled up on a screw in one tyre and anti-sway bars incorrectly installed.
Yup, that doesn't look quite right. The bushes were obviously replaced not too long ago.

Attachment 87146

That looks better.

Attachment 87147
08-05-2018, 07:33 PM
longrange308

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadgetman

The good side

Attachment 87143

The ugly side

Attachment 87144

Mow the road edge would ya
08-05-2018, 07:52 PM
gadgetman

Quote:

Originally Posted by longrange308

Mow the road edge would ya

I told the council that if they put trees back that they would be mowing it. Getting around the previous ones was not good on my crook back and had me out of action a few times.