How a cargo trailer is constructed.

[edcasey]

This thread, in the link below, is an excellent opportunity to see the structure of a cargo trailer. Unfortunately, it might bring a tear to a few peoples eyes. http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34786

[BC Dave]

Waow!



Amazing what this guy has done with a welding tourch!

[NathanL]

I think he could have sold the cargo trailer and bought a new utility trailer and been money ahead - by a good bit.

[waterboybueche]

what an idiot....

He could had saved alot of time and money by selling the enclosed and purchasing a used flat trailer....

PLUS, he had to haul all the old sheetmetal and studs to the dump and pay them too!!!!

He has the right to do what he wants with his stuff, but, it makes me cringe....

[S. Heisley]

He has a really nice shop built into his garage. ...Gotta admire his welding skills.

It looks like that fellow knew what he was doing and got exactly what he wanted in the end. (Final build and camp set-up is on page 10.) Take note of the grubb box that he built, too.

Thanks for the enlightenment.

[eamarquardt]

He scrapped the entire body and is going to scrap the axle (If I read correctly).

So, essentially he'll end up using only the frame. He could have built what he had left for a couple of hundred bucks worth of steel and I don't think it would have been that much more work than disassembling the trailer he ruined.

I dunno what the trailer was worth before he cut it apart but it had to be worth more than the cost of the steel he salvaged. I'd have given him a thousand for it.

I agree he has a nice shop and does nice work but he's still NUTS unless there is something he's not sharing with us (like the trailer was hot and couldn't be used as is as it might be recognized, ha).

He must have a phobia about going to the DMV to get a title. Here in Ca. it's not tough just takes an hour or two.

Cheers,

Gus

[edcasey]

When I first found that thread, I thought he was building an off-road CTC. That would have been very interesting with his skills as a fabricator. Scrolling down to the picture where the skin is partially removed I was shocked. I do wonder about the economics of the project as a used trailer frame can easily be bought for a couple hundred dollars or so (at least in my area) and the cargo trailer would be worth over a thousand. But in the end he built a beautifully done off-road trailer with a roof top tent. A nice trailer for off-road use.

[Rickxr2]

Sometimes we take the long way around just for the journey, sometimes by accident. That's a lot of trouble just to get to a bare bones frame! It is impressive though.

[starleen2]

You'd be surpried what one would do to constuct something new




to this

[Cliffmeister2000]

When I first found that thread, I thought he was building an off-road CTC. That would have been very interesting with his skills as a fabricator. Scrolling down to the picture where the skin is partially removed I was shocked. I do wonder about the economics of the project as a used trailer frame can easily be bought for a couple hundred dollars or so (at least in my area) and the cargo trailer would be worth over a thousand. But in the end he built a beautifully done off-road trailer with a roof top tent. A nice trailer for off-road use.

Yup! Not what I would have done, but I ain't him! If I had his welding skill, there's LOTS of things I would do that I don't do now!

[Prem]

edcasey,

Good find. Interesting to see how little structure the factory used on the front end of that cargo trailer, just one stamped curved piece of steel laid horizontally half way up the front wall and no uprights.

I guess it was the trailer he had, so he cannibalized it to get what he wanted. He did get a good, solid chassis. (I would have kept the torsion axle and just lifted it.)

I admire his work.

Prem

[mdvaden]

Sell for six to eight hundred? I could probably sell that for double that much even used. Title would be no problem. Sign and let the buyer take care of the sold item.

Then for a utility trailer, I don't even recall a light utility trailer needed a license. Maybe. Even so, how long would it take, an hour at the motor vehicles office? Seems a lot longer to dismantle than any time to buy a title if even needed.

My guess is that the project came out behind in money and time.

Georgia doesn't have any weird utility trailer laws does it.

My guess it that he is someone who just enjoys his shop and the supply warehouse and the rest is not big deal. I like the look of his finished trailer.

[SteveB]

I agree, just a guy that likes the process. Why do it that way? Because he can.

That is what is cool about the hobby.

[synaps3]

Hmm... I live a couple of miles from him. I wonder if he still has his axle..?

A cargo trailer like that goes for over $1000 in Atlanta. I don't know what he was thinking either -- he was probably just taking the quickest route he could. If you look at the build log, it took him no time at all to build!