4x8 stretched

[egjacks]

I have an 4x8 1800# HF trailer, but I want a 5x10 trailer. (I am 6 foot 7 inches tall and somehow I have set my heart on the smallest trailer type possible, go figure.) I saw in another post how Steve_Cox stretched his frame and I think that I want to do the same.

Here's a HF 1,725# frame that was stretched to 10 feet by using a couple of the cross members for extending the side rails. I built out over the frame for the gypsy trailer.

have many people gone this route? Does anyone have more detailed pictures that show how to do this? has anyone done a modification like this and regretted it?

[LDK]

You could just extend the floor out past the frame. Alot of people have done that.

[egjacks]

I thought about building over the sides, and in fact I am planning on going out sideways to make it five feet. I don't remember what post it was but some people expressed concerns about cantilevering out in all four directions. also I worry about not having adequate support under the galley, where a lot of weight will be sitting.

[wannabefree]

I built 5x10 on a 4x8 HF frame. I went up over the wheels, which necessited a 3.5" high torsion box to clear the wheels. It's plenty sturdy, but makes for a high trailer. See my gallery.

[bobhenry]

Mine is 5'7" wide out to out and 10' nose to tail.

The frame is semi custom only because the trailer was squashed by loading a giant bolder on it by the previous idiot owner.

I bought it as a basket case for $75.00 and used the tongue and axle cradle and tossed the frame.

I used this

to make this

You may want to look way back in my album at some of the other build pics.

P.S. Do yourself a big favor and reinforce and extend the tongue NOW

A 5x10 will probably come in at 1100-1300 pounds and the flex in the tongue made me quite nervous and by extending the tongue 15 to 18 inches the handling will greatly improve.

[StandUpGuy]

I built 5x10 on a 4x8 HF frame. I went up over the wheels, which necessited a 3.5" high torsion box to clear the wheels. It's plenty sturdy, but makes for a high trailer. See my gallery.

I am building next to the frame rather than on top of the frame as a means to support and extend. There is no added height this way. In fact mine will have a lower floor than most people have here.



By justoneman at 2011-04-22

[egjacks]

Extending the tongue sounds like a GOOD idea, I have already been looking around for some 2 1/2 square tube to reinforce and lengthen the tongue, I got the idea from looking at what Nobody did with his trailer:


Standupguy:
I like the way you are extending the frame. I might steal the idea. are you planning on putting the floor directly on that or having some cross strips or lengthwise strips under the floor for support.

I am having trouble fighting the urge to over build and tankify (is that a word?) this trailer. Intellectually I know that there won't be much weight on the trailer but it kind of feels wrong to build to be so lightweight.

[StandUpGuy]

Extending the tongue sounds like a GOOD idea, I have already been looking around for some 2 1/2 square tube to reinforce and lengthen the tongue, I got the idea from looking at what Nobody did with his trailer:


Standupguy:
I like the way you are extending the frame. I might steal the idea. are you planning on putting the floor directly on that or having some cross strips or lengthwise strips under the floor for support.

I am having trouble fighting the urge to over build and tankify (is that a word?) this trailer. Intellectually I know that there won't be much weight on the trailer but it kind of feels wrong to build to be so lightweight.

I am going directly onto the frame with the floor skin. I am shooting for the most height I can get under my garage door.

Yes I think you would be smart to build it like it was an airplane rather than like it was a house.

[bobhenry]

I built 5x10 on a 4x8 HF frame. I went up over the wheels, which necessited a 3.5" high torsion box to clear the wheels. It's plenty sturdy, but makes for a high trailer. See my gallery.

I am building next to the frame rather than on top of the frame as a means to support and extend. There is no added height this way. In fact mine will have a lower floor than most people have here.



By justoneman at 2011-04-22

I to placed the osb floor material directly on the frame. I added a 2x4 halo around the edge to attach my walls to.

[egjacks]

There are so many good ideas on this forum, it is hard to pick and choose.

I like the idea of the "halo" around the edge, it should give a nice anchor point to attach everything else to.

[StandUpGuy]

I built 5x10 on a 4x8 HF frame. I went up over the wheels, which necessited a 3.5" high torsion box to clear the wheels. It's plenty sturdy, but makes for a high trailer. See my gallery.

I am building next to the frame rather than on top of the frame as a means to support and extend. There is no added height this way. In fact mine will have a lower floor than most people have here.



By justoneman at 2011-04-22

I to placed the osb floor material directly on the frame. I added a 2x4 halo around the edge to attach my walls to.

If you are going for maximum width at a pretty light weight and at a reasonable price, you have pretty much nailed it.