Has anyone started a TD with one of these?

[DJBear]

Greetings all,
I've been drawing, planning, scrapping sketches, starting over, and everything in between, mainly because I tend to obsess over perfection on the first try. I've started to learn to use SketchUp, so that may help my planning progress. I just wanted to run something by you all and get a feel for what you think...

I obtained this trailer from a local guy via Craigslist recently. It began life as a platform to tote around a heavy duty construction site generator. It's equipped with a 3500lb rated torsion axle, but still needs wiring, lights and registration for towing . The deck area is approximately 43"W x 70"L, with the trailer having an overall length of 13ft. I believe I have a good idea on how to make the TD itself 6ft 6in wide x 9ft to 10ft long, overall.





My questions are; Have any of you clever builders started with a trailer like this?

If so, what mods (if any) did you make before moving forward with your TD construction?
and...

What opinions do you all have regarding keeping the Pintel hitch, over converting to a 2" ball?

Thanks for your time with this. This is my first real post since coming on board as a "newbie"

[asianflava]

Can you say overkill? That probably weighs the same as my entire teardrop.

There are many who have adapted trailers for use as a tear, I'm just not a fan of it. By the time all the changes have been done to suit a teardrop, all the savings have been evaporated. If you build what you need from the beginnin, you won't have to make any compromises.

Since you already have it, I would start cutting. You could cut off everything that is not needed. You could also cut the tonue back and change the pintle over to a regular a-frame coupler. It will ride pretty rough with a 3500lb axle though.

[t-vicky]

Sell that for scrap metal prices & get enough to half build a TD

[Wimperdink]

DJ what do you intend to pull this with? If your always pulling w/ a truck that has that style hitch and weight is not an issue then go for it with what you have... If you ever intend to pull with a car or smaller vehicle that is going to be extremely heavy.

Most people that pull tears, use smaller vehicles which would make resale if you ever intend to sell, near impossible with this style hitch or this heavy of a trailer.

[satch]

I would reuse the axle, and build another frame. That frame seems too much overkill to me. Just my opinion.

[madjack]

...lets see...the expression I am thinking is "too much sugar for your dime"...you could cut the frame in half(or thirds) and it would still be adequate and for reuse, the axle rating is about twice what you need...however it will be yours and if you wish to pay the gas penalty for towing that weight, then goforit...oh yeah, the hitch...unless you are intending to go serious offroad, I would change it out...real nice HD trailer though(I really mean that)............
madjack

[signs]

What part of the country are you in?

I have a pop up frame I will trade you out for, that frame would be great for a lift project I am working on, but for a TD I think it is MAJOR overkill

Jay

[brian_bp]

I agree that this trailer is more substantially constructed than is suitable for the project, leading to unnecessary weight.

The proportions don't seem right, meaning that there will be more floor structure required than if the frame was optimal for the body. The length might be okay for a 10-foot teardrop body (since that deck area is only 6' long and centred on the axle, the TD body would extend well up the tongue).

The axle would be more than strong enough, but is not very wide... again, likely a good part, but not right for the job.

It also looks like it has a hinge point ahead of the equipment platform, at the base of the A-frame. Does it fold or detach there? I assume that in use it must be rigid.

I would not use a pintle-and-ring hitch for normal road towing with a light (under several tons) tug, since it has some play which would be annoying in the tug. The ring in this example is bolted on, and could likely be swapped for a bracket holding a coupler for a ball.

It seems likely to me that this trailer doesn't have brakes, which may be desired and are not likely reasonable to add to the existing axle.

[caseydog]

Can you say overkill?

Rocky, you read my mind.

That is a solid trailer, for sure, but wow, is it more than you need.

I really hate to discourage anyone, so don't let me stop you, but this is a build I gotta' see. You could build one outrageous TD on that frame.

CD

[Juneaudave]

DJBear...How are your drawings coming along??? I'd like to see what you have in mind!!!
Still thinkin!!!!

[halfdome, Danny]

I think I'd start with studying The Trailer Frame Tutorial and then figure out if there's anything worth the time and effort to salvage from that beast. If it were me, and it isn't, I'd sell it for scrap or to someone who can use it as is. Good luck in your build. Danny

[DJBear]

WOW! Thanks for all the replies, gang.

Although I have to agree that the heavy duty capabilities of this trailer frame are above and beyond what I've seen used so far, I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel just yet.

I'll try to answer everyone's questions.
I intend to tow it with a Ford F-150 2WD pickup.
I do intend to take it off road, but not into anything that the truck can't handle.
The A-frame of the tongue does, indeed, unbolt and can be removed from the platform, but it does not pivot at that point and is very solid.
I'm not married to the idea of the pintle hitch, just wondering if anyone else used one. The bolt-on pintle ring is easly replaced by a standard 2" hitch coupler, and I will probably change that out before towing it in for registration.
The axle can be relocated towards the back by about 6", making it a bit more stable towards the rear.
Jay - I'm in Southern California; San Diego County. PM me if you think a swap would benefit us both.
Juneaudave - The drawings are coming along, just not on SketchUp, or any other software that I can post them here with - yet! PM me for my email address, and maybe I can describe it to you without taking up forum space.
Everyone - Thanks so much for the input and encouragement. I do love a challenge, and, who knows? Maybe I'll surprise us all. The trailer frame is beefy, but is surprisingly lightweight - relatively speaking. I'm no Hulk Hogan, but I can lift the back end of it without fear of a hernia. The tongue is large rectangular tubing, but the gauge must be such that the geometry of it all makes it stronger than it would appear. (Did that make sense?)
Finally, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I look forward to gaining loads of knowledge from the nice folks on this forum.

By the way... This is the last trailer I purchased (not for TD construction) but it was a project of which "visions of granduer" only begins to describe where my mind can go! Cheers, all!

[madprinter]

DJBear, I'd have to agree with Madjack, that is a nice looking trailer.It probly looks heavier than it is. It would possibly make a good base for a dump trailer. And I'm sure someone is looking for something that heavy. It possibly could be traded for a lighter more sutable trailer for your build. I'm not thru with mine yet and think I have overbuilt and my trailer is 2x2 14 Ga. Run anoughter Craigeslist ad looking for a trade and see what your offered. You may come out way ahead.
Good luck and happy building. William

[Alphacarina]

I would reuse the axle, and build another frame. That frame seems too much overkill to me. Just my opinion.

I wouldn't want any part of a 3500 pound teardrop, so I wouldn't even use the axle

There are more than enough 'compromises' when building something from scratch - It's a shame to start out with two major compromises . . . . the axle and the frame - I would buy something suitable for what you want to build and that sure ain't it

Don

[DJBear]

I never said I was planning on building a 3500lb teardrop.

The axle was installed by the seller when he assembled the trailer, as that is what he had on hand at the time.

I wanted to start out with something durable, as I do plan to go off road occassionally when camping with my motorcycle buddies. Okay, so I overestimated what "durable" means and purchased something on a whim, with visions of what could be. I guess I didn't do enough homework.

Thanks for your input.