Trailer FAQ
What sort of trailer should I assemble my Tail Feather Camper Kit on?
The type of trailer you select to assemble your camper kit on will largely depend on your towing vehicle, your budget and the sort of travel you intend to do.
1. Aluminium Trailer
At the top end of the scale, we would highly recommend the Australian made aluminium trailer that is manufactured by one of our supply partners. It's heavy duty, lightweight, won't rust, comes with plenty of standard features (including brakes, jockey wheel, new sunraysia wheels and tyres including a spare, rear drop down supports, tie-down rings and a heavy duty aluminium floor) and is available in a size to suit all Tail Feather Camper models. It is built to order, takes about three weeks for delivery, but is worth the wait as it will outlast any other trailer on the market. Expect to pay between $4,000 and $5,000
Please note: If you intend to travel long distances on corrugated roads you would be advised to upgrade to the "Off Road Trailer Pack" which includes a heavier axle, stronger suspension, and wheels to match your towing vehicle.
2. Steel Trailer
There are hundreds of steel trailer manufacturers around the country. As with most things, you usually get what you pay for. The cheapest trailers usually come standard with second hand wheels and tyres, no brakes, no jockey wheel, no rear corner supports and no spare wheel. What appears at first glance to be a cheap trailer may set you back between $2,000 and $3,000 by the time you add all the necessary "optional extras".
3. DIY "Easy Trailer"
The "Easy Trailer" is a bolt together, DIY steel trailer that has been manufactured in Taiwan for the past thirty years. It has been available in Australia for the past ten years, is sold in kit form, and can be shipped to all parts of Australia. It complies with Australian Design Rules (ADR), and is easy to register in all states and territories. The "Easy Trailer" 958TC model is 2440 mm x 1525 mm making it a perfect fit for a Tail Feather Camper. By the time you add a jockey wheel and spare wheel, expect to pay $1,330 plus shipping.
Please note: The 958TC "Easy Trailer" is not fitted with brakes, therefore it has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 750 kg. The tare weight of a Tail Feather assembled on an "Easy Trailer" is 450 kg, leaving a further 300 kg for clothing, food, and camping gear.
Can I assemble the camper kit on my own trailer?
Yes, most definitely. Just make sure the trailer is at least 1525 mm wide, and has adequate tie-down points.
Is the Tail Feather Camper a caravan?
No. Because the Camper Kit is not permanently fixed to the trailer, the pod is classified as cargo, and has the same status as a "Slide on Camper".
What about insurance for my Tail Feather Camper?
For insurance purposes, the Tail Feather Camper is classified as a "Slide On Camper", and is identified by its unique VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is situated on the trailer draw bar. We can provide you with the contact details of an Insurance Broker who can assist you with insurance.
Do I have to register my trailer?
Yes, any trailer with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of up to 4.5 tonne must be registered with the relevant State Authority. If you are purchasing a new trailer from a trailer manufacturer, they will be able to provide you with a registered trailer. If you are purchasing a second hand trailer, you may be required to present the trailer for a vehicle inspection.
For further information about trailer registration requirements in each of the states and territories, visit the link below:
http://www.trailerplans.com.au/support/registration/
Can you register the trailer for me?
If you purchase an aluminium trailer through us, and you are a resident of Victoria or NSW with a current drivers license we can arrange registration for your trailer. In other states, the best option is for us to freight the trailer and the Camper Kit to you directly, and for you to obtain the registration for the trailer from the relevant State Roads Authority.
How do I secure the Camper Kit to the trailer?
The Camper Kit is secured to your trailer using a combination of turn-buckles, "D" shackles and chain attached to tie-down rings on your trailer. The Tail Feather 8.0 camper requires four tie-down points, The Tail Feather 10.0 requires six tie-down points. You can purchase a Tie-Down Kit from us.
What dimensions must the trailer be?
Assuming an "Open Trailer" with no sides, the trailer dimensions are as follows:
Length 2440 mm; Width between the mudguards 1525 mm; Distance between corner tie down rings 1630 mm.
Four tie-down points, one in each corner.
Does my trailer need brakes?
Brakes are not required on trailers with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 750 kg or less. as a safety precaution we recommend brakes be fitted to your trailer. The aluminium trailers we recommend comes standard with 9" mechanical drum brakes. Electric brakes are available as an upgrade.
What kind of trailer floor is required?
An 18 mm marine ply floor, or solid metal (steel or aluminium) floor is suitable. The aluminium trailer we recommend comes standard with a heavy duty aluminium floor similar to what is used on ute trays.
Please note: Steel floors can have some flex in them, so may not be suitable if they are made of thin gauge steel.
Does my Tail Feather Camper need to be fitted with a fire extinguisher?
Yes, because the Tail Feather Camper is designed primarily for human occupation whilst stationary, it must be fitted with a fire extinguisher. All of our Drive-Away Campers come with a fire extinguisher as standard.
Can I pull a Tail Feather Camper with my small car?
You vehicle Owner's Manual will state the towing capacity of your vehicle. In some instances, a vehicle will have two towing capacities listed, one for towing a "braked" trailer, and another for towing an "un-braked" trailer.
Please note: Towing a trailer or caravan greater than your vehicle's towing capacity is a serious offence and can result in a hefty fine and loss of demerit points.
What is the ball weight?
The ball weight is the weight the trailer puts on the tow bar of your vehicle. A well designed and loaded trailer should have a ball weight that is approximately 10% of the laden weight. The design and construction of your trailer determines the ball weight. The further back the trailer axle is placed, the heavier the ball weight. If your trailer tongue is difficult to lift when the trailer is empty, it will be very heavy when loaded. The ideal ball weight of an empty camper is between 45 and 55 kg.
What causes a trailer to sway?
The primary cause of a swaying trailer is too little weight on the ball. If you can lift the front of your loaded trailer with little effort, it is probably too light. This can be corrected by shifting the load forward within the trailer or adding weight to the draw bar, such as mounting a spare tyre, gas bottle or tool box.
The type of trailer you select to assemble your camper kit on will largely depend on your towing vehicle, your budget and the sort of travel you intend to do.
1. Aluminium Trailer
At the top end of the scale, we would highly recommend the Australian made aluminium trailer that is manufactured by one of our supply partners. It's heavy duty, lightweight, won't rust, comes with plenty of standard features (including brakes, jockey wheel, new sunraysia wheels and tyres including a spare, rear drop down supports, tie-down rings and a heavy duty aluminium floor) and is available in a size to suit all Tail Feather Camper models. It is built to order, takes about three weeks for delivery, but is worth the wait as it will outlast any other trailer on the market. Expect to pay between $4,000 and $5,000
Please note: If you intend to travel long distances on corrugated roads you would be advised to upgrade to the "Off Road Trailer Pack" which includes a heavier axle, stronger suspension, and wheels to match your towing vehicle.
2. Steel Trailer
There are hundreds of steel trailer manufacturers around the country. As with most things, you usually get what you pay for. The cheapest trailers usually come standard with second hand wheels and tyres, no brakes, no jockey wheel, no rear corner supports and no spare wheel. What appears at first glance to be a cheap trailer may set you back between $2,000 and $3,000 by the time you add all the necessary "optional extras".
3. DIY "Easy Trailer"
The "Easy Trailer" is a bolt together, DIY steel trailer that has been manufactured in Taiwan for the past thirty years. It has been available in Australia for the past ten years, is sold in kit form, and can be shipped to all parts of Australia. It complies with Australian Design Rules (ADR), and is easy to register in all states and territories. The "Easy Trailer" 958TC model is 2440 mm x 1525 mm making it a perfect fit for a Tail Feather Camper. By the time you add a jockey wheel and spare wheel, expect to pay $1,330 plus shipping.
Please note: The 958TC "Easy Trailer" is not fitted with brakes, therefore it has a Gross Vehicle Mass of 750 kg. The tare weight of a Tail Feather assembled on an "Easy Trailer" is 450 kg, leaving a further 300 kg for clothing, food, and camping gear.
Can I assemble the camper kit on my own trailer?
Yes, most definitely. Just make sure the trailer is at least 1525 mm wide, and has adequate tie-down points.
Is the Tail Feather Camper a caravan?
No. Because the Camper Kit is not permanently fixed to the trailer, the pod is classified as cargo, and has the same status as a "Slide on Camper".
What about insurance for my Tail Feather Camper?
For insurance purposes, the Tail Feather Camper is classified as a "Slide On Camper", and is identified by its unique VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) which is situated on the trailer draw bar. We can provide you with the contact details of an Insurance Broker who can assist you with insurance.
Do I have to register my trailer?
Yes, any trailer with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of up to 4.5 tonne must be registered with the relevant State Authority. If you are purchasing a new trailer from a trailer manufacturer, they will be able to provide you with a registered trailer. If you are purchasing a second hand trailer, you may be required to present the trailer for a vehicle inspection.
For further information about trailer registration requirements in each of the states and territories, visit the link below:
http://www.trailerplans.com.au/support/registration/
Can you register the trailer for me?
If you purchase an aluminium trailer through us, and you are a resident of Victoria or NSW with a current drivers license we can arrange registration for your trailer. In other states, the best option is for us to freight the trailer and the Camper Kit to you directly, and for you to obtain the registration for the trailer from the relevant State Roads Authority.
How do I secure the Camper Kit to the trailer?
The Camper Kit is secured to your trailer using a combination of turn-buckles, "D" shackles and chain attached to tie-down rings on your trailer. The Tail Feather 8.0 camper requires four tie-down points, The Tail Feather 10.0 requires six tie-down points. You can purchase a Tie-Down Kit from us.
What dimensions must the trailer be?
Assuming an "Open Trailer" with no sides, the trailer dimensions are as follows:
Length 2440 mm; Width between the mudguards 1525 mm; Distance between corner tie down rings 1630 mm.
Four tie-down points, one in each corner.
Does my trailer need brakes?
Brakes are not required on trailers with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of 750 kg or less. as a safety precaution we recommend brakes be fitted to your trailer. The aluminium trailers we recommend comes standard with 9" mechanical drum brakes. Electric brakes are available as an upgrade.
What kind of trailer floor is required?
An 18 mm marine ply floor, or solid metal (steel or aluminium) floor is suitable. The aluminium trailer we recommend comes standard with a heavy duty aluminium floor similar to what is used on ute trays.
Please note: Steel floors can have some flex in them, so may not be suitable if they are made of thin gauge steel.
Does my Tail Feather Camper need to be fitted with a fire extinguisher?
Yes, because the Tail Feather Camper is designed primarily for human occupation whilst stationary, it must be fitted with a fire extinguisher. All of our Drive-Away Campers come with a fire extinguisher as standard.
Can I pull a Tail Feather Camper with my small car?
You vehicle Owner's Manual will state the towing capacity of your vehicle. In some instances, a vehicle will have two towing capacities listed, one for towing a "braked" trailer, and another for towing an "un-braked" trailer.
Please note: Towing a trailer or caravan greater than your vehicle's towing capacity is a serious offence and can result in a hefty fine and loss of demerit points.
What is the ball weight?
The ball weight is the weight the trailer puts on the tow bar of your vehicle. A well designed and loaded trailer should have a ball weight that is approximately 10% of the laden weight. The design and construction of your trailer determines the ball weight. The further back the trailer axle is placed, the heavier the ball weight. If your trailer tongue is difficult to lift when the trailer is empty, it will be very heavy when loaded. The ideal ball weight of an empty camper is between 45 and 55 kg.
What causes a trailer to sway?
The primary cause of a swaying trailer is too little weight on the ball. If you can lift the front of your loaded trailer with little effort, it is probably too light. This can be corrected by shifting the load forward within the trailer or adding weight to the draw bar, such as mounting a spare tyre, gas bottle or tool box.