Got a trailer for free

[Ira]

My heart is just crying really heavy tears looking at the TD of yours, and looking at this frame at the same time.

OY!!! I VOTE NO!!!

But then again, I say this out of total ignorance, which is nothing new for me.

[Airspeed]

The frame is actualy very solid, straight and well built, I will have to cut off the angles that stick out of each side but other than that I think it will work perfect, I will sand blast it and repaint it and it will look as good as new. What do you not like about it? Thanks ! Aaron

[Airspeed]

I do have one question for you guys, If I mount the tear body to this frame with the axle where it is now, It will line up exactly were I had estimated the axle placement. The tongue will stick out four feet past the base of the body leaving 32" of tongue sticking out past the furthest point on the front radius on the body. Is 32" enough room in your opinions for clearance between the front of the body and the hitch? (if I am making sense ! ) Thanks! Aaron

[Airspeed]

I measured my old camper tounge and it was 36" long and it seemed to work fine,but heck,I am no expert! Thanks again! Aaron

[asianflava]

Cut the outriggers off and you should be fine. Will your body sit on top of the frame? You may want to add a crossmember that the body can sit on.

[Airspeed]

I will have to cut them off. I have some 2X2 angle that I am going to weld between the side rails in front ,mid and rear,then I mount the body on top. I was thinking of laying some 2X4 across the 2X2 steel the width of the floor but I'm not sure it will need it and I want to keep the body as low as I can. I used 3/4 AC for the floor so I may just weld a few 12" long outriggers to the sides of the 4' wide frame to add a little suport.
I cant wait to get started!. Thanks. Aaron

[angib]

If your plan is to widen the axle 6" in total (ie, 3" each side) but leave the springs where they are now, then you are planning to increase the overhang (spring to wheel distance) each side by 3" - this is quite a significant increase.

I would guess that it will be strong enough, most particularly if the new trailer weighs less than the old one (though don't automatically assume that will be true - old trailers were built light), but I would think at 3" per side you are getting near the overhang limit.

Andrew

[Airspeed]

Im not replacing a frame,this will be the first, The frame I got is built pretty well and the springs are at the very end of the axle now so 3" of overhang will be the total overhang. This trailer is built out of some very thick channel,it's 3/8th" thick on the wide edge so I am pretty sure it can take it. Thanks for the advice, I will make sure I pay attention to these points when mounting it and maybe add some steel to the ends as well. Thanks! Aaron

[angib]

No, the overhang is the distance from the spring to the centre of the wheel. It's currently about 6", so you're going to increase it by 50%. That means you increase the bending in the axle at the spring (which is where the worst loading of the axle occurs) by 50%. If it had a safety margin of 2 before, it will now have a safety margin of 1.3, so you may need to drive around bumps in the road, rather than over them.

It is not the strength of the frame that's in question, it's the strength of the axle.

Andrew

[Airspeed]

I see what you mean, If I have to I will add to the frame so I can move the springs out further on the axle after I lengthen it.I have a MIG welder so it should be an easy fix. Thanks again! Aaron