Home made trailer

[77crewcab]

I am in the need of a heavy duty 4x8 flat bed trailer with sides that can be put on as needed. I have looked at the ones from harbor freight, northern tool, tractor supply and none seem very good construction. I am thinking of doing something that is a cross between a pickup bed trailer and a flat bed for a truck. Basically take a burb frame, cut it i.e pickup bed trailer, and build a heavyduty flatbed on it that I can also add sides to on occasion.

Plans so far include a 2x6 or 2x8 plank deck and a craigslist pickup tool box mounted on the toungue and maybe some truck boxes on the sides under the bed. Any other input as to construction would be helpful. I have the removable sides figured out, and maybe the frame for the boards but nothing else. Really need suggestions and ideas on attaching the frame for the flatbed to the chassis.

Plans will be for hauling lumber, bags of concrete, engines, axles and other various items.

 

[Avery4jc]

A guy that comes by our shop from time to time built his own trailer...

He bought a SRW 1 ton chevy that was a disaster... cut the frame apart behind the cab but in front of the bed then ditched the bed in favor of a wood deck...
He welded a tongue on it and called it good.

Heck it still has the 14ff, stock rear spring packs and everything...

Other than the fact that it's kind of tall for a trailer it works and was cheap...

 

[77crewcab]

Any other input guys? I am thinking of trying to just use thebody mounts as a way to mount the flatbed. It will probably be wider than 4ft enough to cover the wheels and give room to mount one of the pickup bed cranes for lifting engines and such onto the trailer.

One big question is should I stick with a wood deck or try to do diamond plate?

 

[chevysmithz71]

Wood is way cheaper and if you build it up with braces it should hold up fine. my .2

 

[Avery4jc]

x2 on wood... aluminum diamond plate will bend so you're stuck with steel stamped diamond plate which is $$$
We did the floor of our big work truck in diamond plate and we spent near $500 on materials alone...

 

[77crewcab]

Wood is probably the best choice anyway. Something that will last a good while, but also easy to replace.

 

[77crewcab]

Okay the plan is to make the frame of the deck with steel and have a 2x6 or 2x8 plank deck. What thickness of steel whould I use. I was thinking of using some 2x6 tube pieces for the outside edge ofthe deck frame and for the mounts to the frame. The some 2x2 tube for the under deck frame work, and to build the frames for the removeable side panels. What thickness should I use for the different sizes? Guess I should go "trailer shopping" to figure out what thickness is being used for the various pieces my major trailor builders.

 

[cybrfire]

This may sound sick and wrong but you could do a "spring under" conversion on a pickup box trailer.

 

[77crewcab]

Not too worried about heigth, just want the flat deck so it will be more versatile. and want it to have removeable side to carry stuff for camping. Mostly it will be used for hauling parts, engines, construction materials. For those things the flatbed would work better for me.

I realized that a lot of the trailers are made with simple c-channel so will probably go that route as opposed to the tube. Thinking 3/16" thick C should be okay. Any opinions? Will also be using wood for the side so only need help deciding thickness of the c-channel for the exterior square and the under deck crossmembers.

 

[4X4HIGH]

I personally would use 3/16" C channel for your outer frame work.

 

[77crewcab]

That sounds better, don't know what I was thinking.