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What are you using for a frame?

PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:11 pm
by doug hodder
Recently in another thread the comment was made that "most builders are using either an HF frame or a Northern Equip." frame. I searched back to 05 in the polls and didn't see this one ever polled. It might be interesting to see what the results are. Unfortunately, it depends on the number of current active posting members...but what the heck....let's see how it all shakes out. Doug

PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:23 pm
by Juneaudave
Homebuilt...but maybe a stretch given my farmboy welding skills. Regardless, I enjoyed fussing with building a frame and nothing has cracked, bent, fallen off, or exploded....yet!!!
:oops: :roll: :roll: :roll:

PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:57 pm
by doug hodder
Dave....as 1 "farmboy" to another....ya dun gud!....

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:02 am
by madjack
I'm not much of a weldor so I just cut up the steel, get it jigged and then have one of my friends(who is a good weldor) come over and knock it out in half a day and then it's on to Miller Time(or some version or other)
madjack 8)

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:50 am
by grant whipp
While I'll admit that Harbor Freight, Red Trailers, Northern Tools, and other similar trailers have been a boon to the home-built teardrop community, I will always put my teardrops and other trailers on custom-built chassis. Nothing will ever beat the longevity, safety, & security of a quality, purpose-built, to-your-specs, welded-steel frame (unless you get a lousy paint job on it and allow it to rust all to hell ... but, then, that's why I powder-coat 'em, too) ... IMHO ... :thumbsup: ...!

Bottom line, though, really, is to build the best you can afford and to the best of your abilities, keeping safety foremost in your mind, and you can always be justifiably proud of your efforts ... :applause: ...!

Get 'em Rollin', and as always ...

CHEERS!

Grant

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 3:46 am
by len19070
On my Basic trailer "The Bare Bones" I use a Customer supplied Tractor Supply 4X8.

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But for every thing else I fabricate my own.

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Happy Trails

Len

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:46 am
by planovet
Custom built here. I wanted something a little more solid than a bolt up and I have no steel working or welding skills at all.

http://www.diamondctrailers.com/

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:52 am
by halfdome, Danny
My first one was custom built by a trailer manufacturer. The rest I custom welded myself, the best way to go in my opinion. Doug & Rich have a Trailer Frame Tutorial at the top of the page for those who may want to build their own. :D Danny
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:20 am
by Shadow Catcher
Ours is the Mega-Mini and it is all aluminum, trailer and framing. The aluminum was one of the things I was looking at when contemplating building a tear my self. And looking at manufacturers, I was serousluy considering a Wazat, (aluminum frame)
I had found a number of of makers that could have built an aluminum trailer, (horse and boat)
This use of aluminum is the prime reason that while the MM has more features and is far larger than virtually all of the tears I have seen. It is as lite as it is, dimensions are 6' by 11' (14' over all)and is 1170 Lbs
The urge to make it HEAVY duty seems to overcome most builders, with out necessarily making it any stronger. The side walls and floor are part of the structure and add strength as long as they are fastened properly.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:28 pm
by asianflava
I cut the tubes and laid them out on the floor. Then my buddy welded them together. So, I built it, but I didn't weld it.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:36 pm
by Wolfgang92025
Same as above.

I cut and set out the frame. My Neighbor welded it for me. :thumbsup:

Wolfgang

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:20 pm
by caseydog
My frame started life as a 1971 Dilly boat trailer. Spinnernut helped me cut it up and weld it together for it's second life as a TD frame.

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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:27 pm
by caseydog
Len, I seriously considered that Tractor Supply frame. It seemed to be a pretty good base for a lightweight TD.

Hey SnoopDoug, can you add that to the Poll choices? :thinking:

CD

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:14 pm
by Miriam C.
Got mine from my brother. Cleaned it up, straightened it out- - - mostly, and the rest is almost history.......... :D
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When I do another it will be custom for the purpose. :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 5:27 pm
by chorizon
asianflava wrote:I cut the tubes and laid them out on the floor. Then my buddy welded them together. So, I built it, but I didn't weld it.


That's what I did!