weight weight weight

[cgray]

I think i am going with the 5x10 redtrailer. It has awesome construction with boxed tube frame, but it weighs 418 lbs.

My Honda CRV can pull 1000 lbs. So that does not leave a whole lot of room for construction materials.

Now i do plan on using a combination of wood 1x2 / foam / fiberglass construction on the shell. I think this type of fiberglass shell will be ligther and more water tight then ply/foam/1x2 construction.

Do you think i can start with a 418lb trailer and build on top of it in less then 400lbs (leave me 200 lbs in 'stuff' that goes into the trailer).

I think it is going to be REALLY tight....

[asianflava]

I built a custom frame for my 5X10 trailer. The frame was just shy of 300lbs the finished trailer was 1150lbs. The 1150 weight was ready to use with the exception of clothing and food (empty cooler).

You can get a lightweight tear in a 5X10. A few places where I could have shaved weight. Lighter mattress (memory foam is heavy) no microwave, no airconditioner, a smaller battery, less complicated cabinetry. i think the aluminum added a lot of weight but it also provides a good seal against the weather.

The weight is 281lbs

[Esteban]

The trailer frame seems to be a good place save weight. Somewhere around 80 lbs. could be shaved off with a custom built trailer frame.

I estimate a custom 5'x10' trailer built with 2"x2"x1/8" square tubing will take about 62' of tubing for the whole build. 2 10" sides, 6 5' cross pieces spaced 2' apart, and 2 6' pieces for an A frame tongue. 2"x2"x1/8" tubing weighs 3.05 lbs/ft. according to Andrew's figures in the design library for tongue strength. In round numbers the steel in the frame would weigh about 190 lbs. Add about 65 lbs. for a torsion axle. Maybe 10 lbs. for a coupler. About 54 lbs. for two 13" wheels and tires (same size as a 5x10 Red Trailer). Lights/wiring maybe 5 lbs. Fenders about 12 lbs.

190 lbs. steel frame and tongue (could be lighter)
65 lbs. axle
10 lbs. coupler
54 lbs. 13" wheels and tires
12 lbs. fenders
5 lbs. lights
_____________________
336 lbs. total (est.) weight for a custom built 5'x10' trailer frame with 13" wheels

That's about 82 lbs. less that a 5'x10' Red Trailer.


edited, weight est. for steel in frame corrected

[asianflava]

I had to look for the breakdown, I found it and realized that I had posted the wrong weight above (I've edited the post)

Dexter axle 77lbs
Wheels 14" & tires 175/75-14 70lbs
Tongue Jack
Coupler
Tongue Handle 20lbs
Estimated weight of steel (37.23ft X 3.05 lbs/ft) 113lbs

Grand total= 280lbs!

[cgray]

Thanks for all of the information!

I could drop down to a 5x8 trailer and save the 100 lbs. This is probably what i should do if you guys think i will not be able to do a completed trailer under 1000lbs if i start with a 400lb trailer.

Or maybe i go ahead and do the build with the 5x10. Build as lightly as possible and if i go over 1000lbs i find a new tow vehicle.

I dont want to weld up my own trailer. I dont have the resources and i just dont want to mess with it.

Thanks again!

[Esteban]

I'm not going to weld a trailer frame myself. I've talked to two local welders who can do it for $40-50/hour. They can buy the steel for considerably less than I can helping offset their labor.

The 5x10 Red Trailer costs $609.95 plus $95-130 for shipping (CA costs) so it's final cost is either $704.95 delivered to a business or $739.95 delivered to a residence in CA. There'd be sales tax on the trailer, too.

It seems to me that a custom trailer is cost competitive with a 5x10 Red Trailer. A custom trailer can have a softer riding axle. The Red Trailer uses an axle with leaf springs and 13" wheels. I prefer to use a torsion axle, Dexter's Flexride #9, and I'd use 14" wheels. For you, where weight is crucial, you could save weight by using smaller 12" or 13" wheels.

[Laredo]

if you can get by with the 4x8 trailer and build your floor frame to the 5x size, you can save some weight (in general a torsion-box floor (1/4'' ply, insulation in voids of 3/4 x 2 3/4 (aka 1x3), 1/4'' ply) for 5x8 will run 50 to 70 lb, *but* you'll already have a substantial part of your tear built.

[Kens]

Look at a Tractor Supply frame their welded and ready to go.

[cgray]

I look at the tractor supply trailer and think the tongue design looks weak.