Tired of junk production car haulers/ equipment trailers- this is a build

[twoslo4five0]

I recently decided that my 26 foot goose was to big to hauler around town and I was limited to 1 vehicle to tow it, my 10 foot utility is to small to pick up long lengths of steel and wood. I needed another trailer anyway because We are building a new trail rig and I already have 2 tow rigs so It was cheaper to go this route than sell my goose and buy another goose, plus I would be limited to 1 tow rig all the time anyway (2nd tow rig is a 2003 yukon 2500 xl quadrasteer with a 6.0)

I started looking around and seeing some very over priced nice trailers and very over priced cheaply built trailers. Then I wanted add ons which hiked the price way up. Credentials I wanted in a trailer

1.LOW COG
2. full 101-102" width
3. drive over fenders
4. bull dog hitch
5. Led lights
6. side crank jack
7. Short ramps
8. LT tires, not trailer tires (trailer tires suck)
9.Wood deck
10. As light as possible


I decided with the cost of steel down, I would build this my self. I started last weekend. Main frame is
5' channel (lightest available) with a wrapped tongue, 3" channel for crossmemebers @16" centers. Fenders will be 10" junior channel tieing into the frame extentions for full width. Deck will be around 99" wide with stake pockets bumping it out to 101-102". Will have a rub rail down the sides and back. Rub rail will also be used a ramp holder.

I went with 2 7k 4" drop axles, 1 braking, 1 idler (weight). Here are some pictures

Pile of steel, last friday

24 stake pockets, don't know if all will be used but I would rather have to many than not enough

Gussets, these are cheap, lite and add strength. These are like .20 cents a piece from AA

So I bought 100

This is frustrating, put to much heat in the frame and having to straighten it out

Tongue going in, finding the angle took a while but we got everything with in 1/8 of being square. Only took 3 hours lol

Axles! I can carry the idler around, its like 60 pounds. 3" .250 wall tube

Here is where I left it yesterday, tongue done, stacked frame and suspension tacked in.

I have a little girl that was due yesterday so this could slow down a bit but I figured id go ahead and post up now. As of right now it weighs 919 pounds.

 

[blazinzuk]

Very nice. If some one would buy my trailer for 1500 I would build one. I really need to spruce it up a bit and see if I can.

Using some stuff I already have I think I can do one real similar for that amount. But that was just an add it up in my head estimate

 

[brans87]

Damn you whip shit up quick! Do you do fab work for living or what? Hope birth of you daughter goes well there man!!!!

 

[twoslo4five0]

Very nice. If some one would buy my trailer for 1500 I would build one. I really need to spruce it up a bit and see if I can.

Using some stuff I already have I think I can do one real similar for that amount. But that was just an add it up in my head estimate

I have more than that in mine. I wanted new steel (hate dealing with used, painted rusty steel) and all new parts. And I wanted up graded parts. I should have less than 3k in it when done. I figure a trailer like this around here with all the options in north of 5k, closer to 6k.

Lots of measuring and squaring up in building one, $hit is heavy and requires a little more patience. Working solo makes it even tougher.

Damn you whip shit up quick! Do you do fab work for living or what? Hope birth of you daughter goes well there man!!!!

LOL, im in sales for living. Its all in having the right tools. I used a hand grinder and a chinese 220v welder for years till I got my home shop, now I have all the correct tools I need to get work done quickly. Honestly if I had a bigger shop and a second set of hands this trailer could be finished in less than a week steel, paint and wood.

Thanks for the wishes!

 

[brans87]

Damn man wish closer could both help each other out. YES things will slow down with first child/daughter but enjoy it that first year flies by on first one!!!

 

[twoslo4five0]

My father in law works with me when he can and he is really the only person I've ever found that I can have turn a wrench with me in my shop. I used to work with everyone and have everyone working on my rig, then theirs but as I've gotten older and much more particular on the way things are, I just simply can't work with others around. I can work on others peoples rigs when they come over if they need something but when I start working on my own it has to be still and quiet for me to get in my own zone. My job is high stress so my release is to go out in the shop, turn on some music and start building. It all just comes to me on the fly as I'm going, and I can't really do that with others around

There are tons of inspirational people I watch that get stuff done faster and more efficiently than me. Ryan moore (spidr on pirate) is one I have looked up to for years. He works with used parts which most would consider junk and puts his own spin on things, quick. Watch his treads over there if you really want to see progression.

 

[brans87]

Same when working on cars found very few people I can do a motor swap etc without crossing paths. I had one guy we did it with a breeze others seem to get in the way. Extra hands can be nice but extra person can be a burden sometime when there wasting time or taking space you need up. I wish I could find a zone when I went out in my shop!!!!

 

[brans87]

I need more room Which can't have anytime soon to work,more time but have work and 2 kids plus wife. AND to Find this zone you speak of hard to find at home but can find it at work.

 

[sweetk30]

does your state / area you run require brakes on both axles ?

if I recall I know ny does over specific weight class its brakes on all axles.

 

[twoslo4five0]

Nope and being a homemade trailer I can register it for any weight Id like. Registering a trailer is easy in va. Go to the DMV, get a vin and paperwork, put vin in correct spot on trailer, call police to come verify vin is in right spot, go back to dmv and get title made. Then go get your trailer inspected like normal (brakes, lights, tires) thats it.

NY has all sorts of dumb laws/taxes

 

[blazinzuk]

Gonna be a cool trailer. I probably forgot alot of stuff in my in head estimate lol.

Round here though 3500 will get a very very nice trailer. Might have to drive a couple hours, but I have seen a couple PJ buggy haulers for around 3k used

 

[twoslo4five0]

Bull dog coupler, led lighting, side crank jack, full width and drop axles drive the price way up. I've never been hip on the idea of spending 3k or better just to sink another 1000 in. Most trailers are built terribly. Thin paint, crappy welds, don't enough tie downs and cheap lights. I'd rather build it myself and have it done right the first time compared to fixing someone else's mistakes. PJ trailers are nice trailers. 6k for a fully custom PJ buggy hauler was the number I heard tossed around on pirate

 

[blazinzuk]

I haven't seen one for sale for a while.

I really wanna do a trailer like yours though. It's gonna be awesome.

One of the reasons I haven't messed around with mine much. I have nice wiring, led lights, more tie downs and a new coupler but I just really wanna build my own so who knows.

I'm glad you started this thread though git me thinking.

 

[twoslo4five0]

I was the same, Mnorby inspired me to do so over on pirate

 

[jekquistk5]

Id like to upgrade the axles on mine, but I want to sell it and get a 35' goose. I only really tow with my dmax so why not.

 

[twoslo4five0]

I have a 30 footer and it makes trips to the steel depot hardware store and in town stuff a real PITA. And should you ever be in need of using a smaller tow rig (like my father in laws f150) forget it. My goose is nice for over the road ventures but a major PITA for just about everything else.

 

[jekquistk5]

What length are you building this to? I see width but not length. 18' ?

 

[twoslo4five0]

Sorry 16' bed, 5.5' foot tongue from the coupler back. 13.5 % tongue weight with a 63/37 split. Numbers might not be 100 % but somewhere close to that. I wanted a little more weight on the tongue as they tend to pull better and I have a weight dist and sway control hitch, this one

http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Equal-i-zer/EQ37040ET.html

 

[twoslo4five0]

Didn't get as much done today as id like, I bent the wrong way and my back didn't appreciate it. Work continues on though.

Got the tongue 90* cut and cut a 3/8s plate for the coupler bracket. I drilled 2 5/8s hole in the bracket and the plate so when/if the brakes wears out its easily replaceable. I still have to gusset up the top side after I flip it over.

Then got to making the "wings" widen the trailer. Welded the extension in, then added a fish plate and braces on the back. Finished it up with stake pocket on the corner. Also added a 3/8s gusset where the tongue meets the bed On both sides. This will be done on top as well.

I also got the whole trailer up on my axles stands so I can move it around as its getting big and got the spring hangers welded in.

 

[sreidmx]

This is great, im in a similar predicament, my truck is 90 wide so finding a trailer it will fit on is really hard.. most are 83 and change inside the fender..