noseoil wrote:...Wondering about a "target" weight on this build. Mine gained weight even though I tried to keep it light (1,660# when done). I erred on the side of caution with fastenings, adhesives & materials to do a strong box, but it was worth it in terms of durability & no trouble later on while on the road.
mhnudi wrote:The target weight with everything said and done is ~2,200lb. We have been doing a weight audit as things go in to the trailer, and I think based on what’s currently installed and what’s left we should be in the 2000lb range or so with some wiggle room. There’s a bit of uncertainty with some of the wood materials going in but time will tell as I can finally drive it off and get it weighed.
My goal for my 4x8 was to be 1000 lbs loaded (the tow rating for my wife's Cobalt & my HHR Panel), but using 3/4" plywood, steel brackets and heavy-duty hardware everywhere (double latches, extra hinges, etc.), made it too heavy. I figured it would be too heavy, as soon as I weighed the frame (after extending it to 96" with tubular steel additions, a 3" square tube tongue, and a central double spine), added larger 14" wheels (with spacers, hubs and bearings to match, converting it from 8"), and double the adhesive that other trailers get. It was 400 lbs at that point, with just the floor and fenders mounted.
I tried a smaller tongue box than I had planned for, on the day I weighed it again, but not only was it 1280 lbs empty (over my goal), but the tongue weight was only 40 lbs (I used a Weight Distributing hitch to compensate, with 150 lbs of gear sitting all the way forward inside the cabin, on my first trip). After that trip, I added an aluminum tonguebox and slider assembly, and stuffed it full of battery, spare parts and extension cords and such, to give more tongue weight, but still carried two 7-gallon Aquatainers & my largest cooler strapped between the doors, just for added tongue weigh... which brought my second trip weight to 1600 lbs.
Within six months othat trip, I reinforced the frame, changed the overworked original frame (probably rated for 1000 lbs) to a 3500 lb, braked axle and 3000 lb springs. I rearranged some items, discarded others, so my weight became about 1660 lbs, like
noseoils. Eventually, after many revisions over 9 years, my 4x8 trailer is right at 2225 lbs (loaded). Sturdy as a rock, with great tires, a good suspension (glad I overbuilt it!), it will definitely outlast me.
P.S. I do have to tow it with a bigger vehicle than intended...I use a beefed up Chevy 2500HD (tow capacity over 10k), but also have a beefed up GMC Sierra 1500 (tow capacity 8k), or can use (if needed)my rebuilt '01 BMW X5 3.0i (tow capacity 5000 lbs, but I need the tow module first).