Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Ask questions about Harbor Freight trailers, or questions about building your own...

Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby TJinPgh » Mon Jul 09, 2012 12:47 pm

So, I've been looking around for a possible trailer upon which to build something. Placed an ad in CL to that end.

I received an e-mail from an individual who had a small Starcraft pop-up camper that was stripped down to the trailer with what looks to be ply and a 2x4 frame on top of it that looks like it brings it up flush with the top of the fenders.

The trailer is 6'x8'.

So, I asked him if he knew how much it weighed. He responded that the title says it weighs about 800 lbs. I guess he never weighed it by itself.

So, looking around I see that 800 lbs was the stated weight of the small, 6' wide Starcraft pop-up in the mid 80s. So, that was the weight of the complete unit.

For those who have used pop-up trailer frames for their builds before, about how much can I expect the trailer itself to weigh in such a situation.

Whatever build I decide on needs to stay under 1000 lbs so I have to be careful that the trailer itself doesn't take up 600-700 lbs of that.

Any ideas?


Further, is it worth $250?
Image
-TJ
TJinPgh
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 446
Images: 90
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:50 pm

Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby High Desert » Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:09 pm

If it has brakes and a torsion axle that would add quite a bit of value. Seems like those were common on many Starcrafts in that era.
And cash always talks, might get the price down a bit
Shaun

"it's not the years honey, it's the mileage"
High Desert
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 8780
Images: 27
Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:46 pm
Location: SW Washington state

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby parnold » Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:37 pm

My 6.5 x 10ft pop-up frame is easily 350lbs with the wheels. Northern tool 5x8 is 265 lbs. Harbor Freight 4x8 is 165 lbs.
User avatar
parnold
Donating Member
 
Posts: 2344
Images: 302
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2010 4:49 pm
Location: Northwest New Jersey
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby TJinPgh » Mon Jul 09, 2012 1:54 pm

I admit that, having never gone through the contruction process I wouldn't know what kind of axle it had one way or the other on sight.

Brakes would be obvious. However, I seem to think that if the trailer has brakes that PA will require an anual inspection. Something I'm hoping to avoid.

I'll have to e-mail him to see if I can get a little more info.

Parnold,
seems like I'd probably be looking at somewhere a bit over 300 pounds if I had to guess.

Would give me 400-500 pounds to play with for the build itself and another 200-300 that's usable for gear.

Looking at something foamie based so that shouldn't be that hard.
-TJ
TJinPgh
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 446
Images: 90
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:50 pm
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby Irmo Atomics » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:43 am

I just weighed my 1981 Jayco pop-up frame. I've added a little bit of steel to it, but it's still pretty light. The tongue is 40#, the wheels are 91# each for a total weight of 222 pounds - with 5.70 - 8 tires on it.

94996
Bob
User avatar
Irmo Atomics
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 195
Images: 64
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:58 am
Location: South Carolina
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby TJinPgh » Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:46 pm

That's a bit lighter than I expected.

Good to know.

Thanks.
-TJ
TJinPgh
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 446
Images: 90
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:50 pm
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby real550A » Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:05 am

These PUP frames are a little known gem! I have made nice flatbeds out of a couple, and what a nice platform for a TTT build! I just bought this
1981 Starcraft for $50. last Thursday, full of camping equipment!
Image
real550A
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 45
Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2012 11:43 am
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby rowerwet » Tue Jan 29, 2013 7:08 am

see if you can find what the axle rating is, my PUP tear down was also a starcraft the axle is rated for 1600 lbs, the 800 lbs could just be the dry weight of the camper, not total useful load.
User avatar
rowerwet
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 2075
Images: 521
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:52 am
Location: Merrimack River Valley
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby rustytoolss » Mon May 16, 2016 8:48 pm

:o
Mostly Old Parts And Rust= MOPAR
rustytoolss
500 Club
 
Posts: 557
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 am
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby WizardOfOdds » Tue May 17, 2016 9:53 am

My old Apache used the 6x8 wood floor as an integral part of the “frame” using an “X” of bent sheet metal members. See this link for a picture of the basic idea

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=54379&p=1009322

The design was strong enough that it did not depend on interior cabinets for structural rigidity (it was completely open space inside!).

My point is this: look at the whole original design, not just frame. Going light requires a lot of thought and trades, but the payback is well worth the effort.

You might want to consider going foam and aluminum, see
http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=66101
WizardOfOdds: Chalet shaped rag roof clam shell TIER drop for 4 cylinder tow
Tip Top Tier Drop thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=56232
Unusual Designs thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64495
Tale of 2 Trailers thread http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=61451
User avatar
WizardOfOdds
Teardrop Master
 
Posts: 276
Images: 43
Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:23 pm
Location: Virginia
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby rustytoolss » Tue May 17, 2016 5:50 pm

parnold wrote:My 6.5 x 10ft pop-up frame is easily 350lbs with the wheels. Northern tool 5x8 is 265 lbs. Harbor Freight 4x8 is 165 lbs.

I thought that the Harbor Freight trailer weighed 260 lbs ?
Mostly Old Parts And Rust= MOPAR
rustytoolss
500 Club
 
Posts: 557
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 am
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby NateDogg » Tue Nov 08, 2016 11:30 am

I'm considering this also, I have access to a decent popup I may use for another season or two, but eventually may tear it down to build my own. I'm wanting something hard sided instead of the vinyl and was considering building my own trailer. Yesterday this heck of a deal on a popup fell in my lap and now I'm considering my options.
NateDogg
Teardrop Inspector
 
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 6:54 am
Location: Forney, TX
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby rustytoolss » Tue Nov 08, 2016 8:30 pm

I bought a used 6x7 popup frame this summer that has a torsion axle. Bare frame with out any wood at all weighed 220 lbs. I have extended it to be 9'6"x 6'2" figure That I added about 45 lbs.
Mostly Old Parts And Rust= MOPAR
rustytoolss
500 Club
 
Posts: 557
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 19, 2016 3:50 am
Top

Re: Pop-up Trailer Frame Weight

Postby swoody126 » Wed Nov 09, 2016 8:31 am

an interesting point that many do not factor in is that the steel in these frames is not the same as that which most folks have available to them @ the local metal yards

it is of greater strength and lighter weight

i forget what they call it, maybe someone here will be able to enlighten us

it is thinner and many of the frames will have holes stamped thru the sections to reduce the weight even more

some folks see this type of frame and are puzzled at it's strength

just pondering out loud...

sw
"we are the people our parents warned us about" jb
swoody126
500 Club
 
Posts: 769
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:11 pm
Location: north of Ft Worth
Top


Return to Trailer and Chassis Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests