Trailer design, help needed

Ask questions about Harbor Freight trailers, or questions about building your own...

Trailer design, help needed

Postby ptulli » Fri Nov 12, 2021 9:01 pm

Hi guys! I got a design I am working on for a 5x8 off-road square drop. I got the box design ok but I am having a hard time with on how best do get the trailer built. I am only towing with a 2dr Wrangler JK so 2000lb for towing capacity. I'd love to do aluminum but my brother only welds metal. So I am thinking of 2x2 square tube and I will run the tongue all the way back for a recovery point. I am going to go with the Timbren suspension as well and try to make a spot under the trailer for water and a small storage spot for the RVQ. My question is on the design below how should I space the cross members and what to use for the angle to connect to the tongue. Oh and I will also make the end of the tongue removable to swap between the articulating hitch and a regular. Thanks for any and all help!

167648
Tow Rig: 2016 Wrangler 2d, planning overlanding/off-road camper (squaredrop/squareback)
ptulli
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 41
Images: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:01 am
Location: NH

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby JasenC » Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:30 pm

For the crossmembers just divide the space equally, but you should also have one at the Timbrens.

I'm reading your 2nd question 2 ways, but that's just me.

1. For the tongue bracing run it from the outside most point of your 2nd crossmember, that will give you 4 attachment points to the frame.
2. 2x2x.25 angle but I'd stick with the 2x2 sq tube.
I'll be done when I'm finished, if that's not fast enough, take a number.

Build Thread https://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=74269
User avatar
JasenC
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 420
Images: 122
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 2:05 am
Location: Snohomish county Wa

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby tony.latham » Sat Nov 13, 2021 1:52 pm

My question is on the design below how should I space the cross members and what to use for the angle to connect to the tongue.


I agree with Jasen. Just equally space the cross members. I'm not sure what you mean about your second question about the angle and the tongue. But a triangle would really strengthen it up.

Image

:thinking:

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby ptulli » Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:09 pm

tony.latham wrote:
My question is on the design below how should I space the cross members and what to use for the angle to connect to the tongue.


I agree with Jasen. Just equally space the cross members. I'm not sure what you mean about your second question about the angle and the tongue. But a triangle would really strengthen it up.

Image

:thinking:

Tony


The angle of that triangle is what I was referring to, didn't know if it wasn't anything special so make sure the tongue is long enough. I will make sure to have the rear tailgate door be able to open.
Tow Rig: 2016 Wrangler 2d, planning overlanding/off-road camper (squaredrop/squareback)
ptulli
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 41
Images: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:01 am
Location: NH
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby tony.latham » Sat Nov 13, 2021 11:16 pm

The angle of that triangle is what I was referring to


Image

Does that help?

:thinking:

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby mnswamp » Tue Nov 16, 2021 11:16 am

I'm getting ready to weld up my 5x10 frame this coming weekend. 2x2x1/8"(11ga) tubing with Timbren 2000HD suspension.
A couple of thoughts from the layout work I've done so far. (and mind you, I am a complete and total newbie on this process. I learn from guys like Tony, and lots of research).
1. You either have to put a 2x2x1/8 or 1/4 torque/stability bar between the two Timbren units, OR add additional bracing on the inside of the frame above the Timbren plate. I'm choosing to do the latter, using the sketch Timbren provides, and putting a cross bar directly in front of the Timbren units (leaving about 1/4" gap to ensure the Timbren unit isn't sitting on a weld. It's possibly belt&suspenders, but I'm good with that.
2. Be aware that the reinforcement plate, which looks like it's 2" wide - is really 3" wide. I spent last night cutting a piece of 3x3 tube in half on the diagonal and trimming it to get a 2"x3" that I can add the gussets to. Really check the dimensions on the Timbren sheet carefully! (I didn't at first)
3. Make sure you do your math on the cross-beam. The axle needs to be at 35% (or whatever you are using), not the pivot. That needs to be 15" further forward.

My .02 for whatever it's worth - again, I still haven't put torch to metal on the frame yet. I'm still in the measure (3x at least), cut and grind stage!

marsh
Geek by profession, coach by avocation, builder by need, sports hack by obsession.

I found my new calling - ¨Organizational chaos monkey¨
mnswamp
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 60
Images: 16
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 2:37 am
Location: Minnesota
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby mnswamp » Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:02 am

As mentioned in the last post, here's the "Timbren gusset" option instead of relying on the torque tube. I still have to trim the gusset plates, and shine everything up a bit. These will get sandblasted and powdercoated along with the frame.
167704

marsh
Geek by profession, coach by avocation, builder by need, sports hack by obsession.

I found my new calling - ¨Organizational chaos monkey¨
mnswamp
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 60
Images: 16
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 2:37 am
Location: Minnesota
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby swoody126 » Thu Nov 18, 2021 11:44 am

when spacing your cross beams it is wise to consider the standard dimensions of materials available in your area

for using 4' x 8' sheeting the centers of your cross beams need to fall @ increments of 12", 16" 24", 48" w/ a center cross beam @ 48" on center from the ends

sw
"we are the people our parents warned us about" jb
swoody126
500 Club
 
Posts: 769
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2016 6:11 pm
Location: north of Ft Worth
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby ptulli » Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:24 pm

tony.latham wrote:
The angle of that triangle is what I was referring to

Does that help?
:thinking:
Tony


Thanks Tony that does help. The angle I was talking about I circled in the picture.
167705

For mnswamp and swoody126, thanks for the great info on the Timbren. I will be sure to show my brother all of this as he will be doing the welding. Anything helps and I do appreciate it. Trying to get it all planned ahead of time to make things easier when it's time to actually put in the work.
Tow Rig: 2016 Wrangler 2d, planning overlanding/off-road camper (squaredrop/squareback)
ptulli
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 41
Images: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:01 am
Location: NH
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby tony.latham » Thu Nov 18, 2021 10:35 pm

The angle I was talking about I circled in the picture.


Image

How's that?

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby mnswamp » Fri Nov 19, 2021 10:33 am

If you are anything like me, and getting the miter saw to lock on a precise angle is a near impossibility, get it close, mark the tube and 'tune' it with a flap wheel. The exact angle here is less important than having as much contact with both the longitudinal rail and the cross-bar, and that you have good surface-surface contact for the welds.
One other note - one of my shop buddies suggested recessing the end of this support by about 1/8" so that it doesn't come quite level with the outer sidewall of the trailer. His logic is that it will help keep your shin from intersecting with the sharp corner at end of the beam... I plan on taking his advise - and 3D printing end-plugs to further reduce the pain.
Geek by profession, coach by avocation, builder by need, sports hack by obsession.

I found my new calling - ¨Organizational chaos monkey¨
mnswamp
Teardrop Advisor
 
Posts: 60
Images: 16
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 2:37 am
Location: Minnesota
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby QueticoBill » Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:41 am

tony.latham wrote:
The angle I was talking about I circled in the picture.


Image

How's that?

Tony


What am I missing that the 2 angles don't equal 90?
QB
A tear with no name: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=67624
QueticoBill
Silver Donating Member
 
Posts: 1183
Images: 22
Joined: Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:22 am
Location: Clayton NY
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby tony.latham » Sat Nov 20, 2021 10:18 am

What am I missing that the 2 angles don't equal 90?


Well... you're not missing anything. That's the problem here. ;)

It should be 24.4º and 65.6º.

:frightened:

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby ptulli » Sun Nov 21, 2021 7:44 pm

tony.latham wrote: How's that?

Tony


Perfect thanks!!!
Tow Rig: 2016 Wrangler 2d, planning overlanding/off-road camper (squaredrop/squareback)
ptulli
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 41
Images: 13
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2021 2:01 am
Location: NH
Top

Re: Trailer design, help needed

Postby KCStudly » Mon Nov 22, 2021 12:13 pm

Nothing against Tony's design, as it uses the center tongue member to attach a straight tongue coupler; just saying if you plan to use the standard A-frame style coupler with just the two outer members, they are set at 50 degrees included (25/65 each side).
KC
My Build: The Poet Creek Express Hybrid Foamie

Poet Creek Or Bust
Engineering the TLAR way - "That Looks About Right"
TnTTT ORIGINAL 200A LANTERN CLUB = "The 200A Gang"
Green Lantern Corpsmen
User avatar
KCStudly
Donating Member
 
Posts: 9610
Images: 8169
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2012 10:18 pm
Location: Southeastern CT, USA
Top

Next

Return to Trailer and Chassis Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests