frame build

[donnie99]

building my own frame for 5x8 is the 2x2 16gauge strong enough for the main frame. what would be recomended for tounge material. i see a lot of land scaping trailers built out of 2in 1/8 angle with a 2x3 angle aframe tounge what would be best.

[Robbie]

I am building my trailer frame out of 16 ga. 2x2's. I do have some hefty 1/8" thick corner brackets that will be welded in the corners for added strength but for lightweight trailer builds w/o heavy galleys the 16 ga. will be fine. There are quite a few builds on here that have 16 ga. frame material thicknesses. Having the trailer body bolted to the frame to help keep it rigid will give it alot more support and take some stress off the frame.

For the tongue I am planning on using an 8' long, 1/8" thick piece of 2x2 that goes back to the center cross member. So it will be welded to the front frame member as well as the 2nd and 3rd cross members. I'll be adding some diagonal supports from the side of the tongue back underneath the frame as well. Should be plenty strong to support a tongue box and a lighter weight trailer like mine.

[doug hodder]

I've done a number of frames with the 16ga. tubing. I did use 2x2 1/8" material on the tongue however, use at least an A type tongue. I'm not a big fan on single tube tongues. Doug