I found a great metal source in my neck of the woods. I was getting "Wholesale" prices pluss dropped sales tax because of my fab buisness.
I found a place that will not only beat the "wholesale" prices I was getting on full sticks, but will also sell me anything they have by the foot, and will even cut it for me no charge. Free delivery on top of all that!!! They have saved me so much time, I have been able to lower my Customer's costs and still put a little extra cash (per hour) in my pocket. It's almost like getting a kit trailer, or cattle feeder, or whatever, and just welding it up.
My $.02 on a custom frame:
You can go ANY size you want, you do not have to stick to 5' wide. My frame is 5'2" wide, and tear 5'4". You can also go ANY length you want.
Think about how you want to build, do you want a wood frame under your floor or not? This will determine how many X-Members you will need.
Remember, it is easier to put the goodies on a custom frame, do you want stabalized jacks so the whole thing doesn't move when Fido gets to moving around? Do you want a rear (or side for that matter) reciever hitch?
Do you want anythng on the tongue? A box or a propane tank? Think about the structure for these. You can custom build it however you want it.
Tires, this is my view on wheels and tires. Find your rims FIRST. I personally went junk yarding, and found some rims I liked with a 5x4.5 bolt pattern. Then, slap some tires on 'em, and measure, then you can get your axle custom built to fit your frame and a hub face to hub face to put your wheels exatly where you want them, and your trailer exactly as high off the ground as you want.
IMHO, Dexter is the best way to go on a custom (non off-road) frame. I got a custom built, weight rated to my spec torsion axle with brakes for cheaper than I could get an off the shelf, I guess this one will do, spring axle with breaks. I have built a lot of trailers in my shop, all with springs as I have a hard time putting a torsion axle on a utility trailer, and this is the 1st time I have ever used a torsion axle. It was almost too darn easy. There was no tweek this, oh did that move, hey the axle is off 1/4". I put it on the frame with a cherry picker, tapped it in place, checked for alingment, 4 tack welds, rechecked allignment, and burned it in.
One more, I promise
If you already have another trailer, take the effort to make sure you put the same size hitch on the tear frame. Just because Wall-Mart has one on the shelf that fits your tongue, but it takes a 1-7/8" ball but your other trailer takes a 2" ball, don't do it. Take the effort to make them match. It will save a lot of time and headaches in the future.
ALSO, when do you want your frame built? I'm might do some welding in return for a little labor helping me get my walls up.
by GerryS » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:47 pm 
