Viper trailer/display podium.

31 July 2023

As the build finish-line looms ever closer, planning has started for the trailer to store, transport and display the Viper at events.

Considerations have been made, with more decisions to be finalised and approved. Road safety and road-worthiness, registration, engineering and safety, braking and electrical systems, suspension, security, weather-proofing, Australian standards, crowd control at events, towing vehicle considerations and limitations, interactivity and safety at events.

I’ve been in discussion with some reputable people in the industry, who have all given me some good advice, leads etc. I will be constructing it myself in my workshop, then taking it in for inspection at the motor registry.

Below are some concept mock-ups in cardboard, to help plan for dimensions, centre of gravity and materials.

It is by no means an end-design as some things like axle-positions still need to be calculated and moved. The roof will come off in sections and all sides will fold down to a level platform or be removed. One side will be for mount/dismount and cockpit sitting/photos, while the other side will be platform only, (bollards all around), for group photos and uninterrupted views and photography.

The Viper will be side-loaded on it’s dolly trolleys and once in position, they will be removed and it will stay on the trailer permanently.

17 April 2024

I have been working my arse off to make as many knives as I can, to sell and raise the money to buy the suspension, wheels and tyres, plus the steel for the trailer build. My fantastic followers on social media answered the call when I appealed publicly and stated that without the trailer, this seven year projects goes nowhere and will never see the light of day.

Within a few days, I sold a LOT of my forged blades and had enough money to buy what I needed. On Monday morning this week, I purchased a dual axle suspension kit, (torsion suspension) plus five wheels and tyres to fit.

It arrived today. Very soon I will also order the first of the steel profiles I need to build the trailer frame.

12 September 2024

It’s been a mad rush to get the trailer finished before the end of 2024. I’m hoping to have it registered, loaded up and on the road by the end of September.

Funding was a concern, but my friend and  boss Karim, at Tharwa Valley Forge, came up with the brilliant idea of making a run of limited edition collectors coins, to sell and raise funds for the trailer. Another friend of mine, Corin, (Niroc) offered to laser the coins for me with his powerful; fibre laser. After purchasing brass blanks, I spent a day at Corin’s, sandblasting them and etching them in acid to blacken them. Then it was onto the laser and up for grabs on my shop page. They all sold within a couple of weeks and I have the funds to complete the trailer.

Many of my followers over the years have asked me if they can donate, to which I was very clear that I was uncomfortable with that. My knives and prospecting tools provided some revenue, but not everyone wants them, so the coins was a great way for people to contribute, without giving away money for nothing. I feel much better about doing it this way.

So I’ve been cutting and welding for weeks now. The roof goes on in the next couple of days. I had a professional auto electrician instal all the electrics and connect the electric brakes and breakaway system. All I have to do is screw on all the clip lights, clearance lights and reflectors. Hopefully this weekend.