my trailer build

[hd44blazer]

So I bought this homemade trailer about a month ago and finally cleaned up the backyard enough to roll it back there and get working on it.

The first question I have is should I stay with 2 axles or go with 3? I've found a supplier that has 2 5200lb axles with brakes right around the
same price as 3 3500lb axles also all with brakes, is more better in this case? I've done some searching and seems like a mixed pot of opinions
on this topic. I've got some of my own opinions formed from reading a bit but wanted to here some outside input as well. Thanks guys.

Here's the trailer in question, it'll eventually be for my truck that weighs about 6000lbs loaded up. The main frame is large I-beam and bracing
is a mixture of 1/4" angle and C-channel.

 

[blazinzuk]

Some trailer house axles have the right bearing size to put a normal bolt pattern wheel on them.

Thats what I would do if they are like that.

Most of those axles were rated at 6k. Or more.

I would do something with the tongue of that thing though. Just looks really crappy, even just some bar in the center would make it look nicer and way beefier.

Don't go to 3 axles on that thing, what a pain it is to have 3 axles on a trailer that size.

Looks like you may have to move the wheels forward some too. Not much room behind the wheelwells for a decent sized tire

 

[hd44blazer]

That's what it currently sits on but the brake hardware is pretty shot.

I've seen some 6 lug conversion hubs on eBay for $45 a piece but didn't know what to do about brakes.

I was thinkin some kind of disc conversion with surge brakes but don't want to put a bunch of effort into a lost cause when new axles are "relatively" reasonable for a bolt in replacement.

I'm with you on keeping it dual axle though, my buddy was just saying "dude go triples" but I had the maneuverability in mind as well.

And what do you mean exactly about the tongue? I am going to cut that tube thing off there and just use a normal crank jack that pivots up and locks with the little spring loaded latch deal.

Still needs a lot of work I know but that's half the fun.

 

[Deuling]

Why are the axles so far back? Don't you want the load balanced on the axles and not on the tongue?

But nice trailer looks beefy, i think the tongue looks good, their is a bar in the middle already

 

[70jimmy]

And what do you mean exactly about the tongue? I am going to cut that tube thing off there and just use a normal crank jack that pivots up and locks with the little spring loaded latch deal.

I thought the same thing initially about the tongue needing work at first glance it looked like where the frame comes together at a point it ends. Had to look at it a second time to realize that is actually a center bar that runs from the point of the frame to the tongue/hitch.

 

[K85 Octane]

if there are any worries about the tongue, just box the main frame and tongue together when adding a place for your winch

other than that, you can see the bar in the first picture.

 

[hd44blazer]

okay I see what Blazinzuk meant, yea the tongue has a 1 piece rectangle tube that runs from just behind it back to the second crossmember it was just kinda hidden in the 1st pic

and as far as the axles being too far back, the useable length of it right now is only 12ft and my truck's WB is just shy of 10ft so I will be extending it at least 2ft if not 3, that should make it more proportional and centered

also more crossmembers are in order adding 1 in between each of the existing 4

 

[gotblazers]

Link to your supplier for the axles if you dont mind. I've been having trouble finding any affordable suppliers in the area.

 

[hd44blazer]

Link to your supplier for the axles if you dont mind. I've been having trouble finding any affordable suppliers in the area.

sent you a PM

 

[shady]

Why are the axles so far back? Don't you want the load balanced on the axles and not on the tongue?

But nice trailer looks beefy, i think the tongue looks good, their is a bar in the middle already

The center of your axle setup has to be at the 60/40 split line of your trailers useable deck. the 60 portion to the front so that you can keep the tounge heavier than the tail. otherwise itll tailwhip and take you for a ride

 

[hd44blazer]

hey might be kinda fun, joking, but i'll definitely keep that in mind when I'm extending the deck.

I do know the front of my truck is much heavier than the rear, I can tell when I'm jacking it up, the front takes some work even when doing 1 side at a time because of the offset diff.

While the rear is much easier even when lifting the entire rear end by the center of the diff.

 

[shady]

being a dedicated truck trailer it could probably be 50/50 split due to the truck all ready being heavier in front. youd have to remember that if you ever hauled anything else though

 

[throttleissues]

being a dedicated truck trailer it could probably be 50/50 split due to the truck all ready being heavier in front. youd have to remember that if you ever hauled anything else though

60/40 is good, but a 50/50 would probably be OK loaded but end up too light on the tongue and wag when empty.

 

[shady]

60/40 is good, but a 50/50 would probably be OK loaded but end up too light on the tongue and wag when empty.

Right you are Good catch

 

[hd44blazer]

got a little done on the trailer this weekend

not pictured are eight D-ring tie down points i got welded on and a few more braces

and I will definitely be moving the axles back with the new length with a 60/40 ratio

these are with the back portion in place and corner gussets

 

[hd44blazer]

got more done this weekend on the trailer

welded on d-rings, the extended portion is nearly finished and started adding supports for where the
truck will be driving on and sitting during transport so it's not just on wood with nothing supporting it

(anybody need a couple kinda worn 39.5 TSLs for 16.5" wheels)

 

[NorCal_Chris]

What you want for em lol? I have some bald 36s for spares, those would be a much better option.



Why just reread you just have 2?

 

[hd44blazer]

I actually have 3 but 1 is unuseable its missing a large section of tread down to the belts, so thats a tire swing or something

& as far as the odd number of leftovers, I bought a set of four with beat up steel rims from a guy near Sac for $300, 2 of which had tons of tread left, the other 2 were so so, but I ran them on my truck just to get it moving & kept looking on CL for more

I then found another set of 4 near Stockton iirc for $350 with some nice Weld Superduty rims, 2 with good tread, 1 with ok, & the 1 garbage 1, I sold the nice wheels for $300 to a guy in Castro Valley

Then I was left with 7 useable tires for $350, picked out the best 5 for myself & am left with these 2 now, they're both down to the wear bars in the center but have good side depth as is usually the case

But if you can make the trip to napa they're yours free of charge, ill be up there this weekend, I could meet you as far as Fairfield, let me know.

 

[hd44blazer]

Got more done on the trailer this passed weekend. Finished up the large supports and just need to maybe add some misc
gussets here and there and also added 2 supports up in the tongue to fill in the large open triangles and prevent any flexing
in that area. Also cut off that tube that was welded to the tongue.

 

[hd44blazer]

I worked on the trailer a bit this weekend and got the new spring mounts all welded up and also a few coats of
primer just to keep the surface rust down, there's been a couple random rainy days in Northern Cali lately then
the next week is 85 degrees again, gotta love it!

the passenger fender is just tacked in right now, I'm trying to reuse the old fenders as much as I can, they're ugly
but they should work

and i just ordered up a bunch of misc parts tonight for next weekend