jamorgan3777 wrote:I know there are pros/cons to each choice, but looking for the consensus on what to build my trailer out of.
2"x2" by 0.120 square tube?
2"x3" by 0.065 rectangle tube?
3"x3" by 0.065 C channel?
Beginner welder here. Thanks in advance for any/all insights.
JAM
My thoughts:
0.065" is only 1.6mm
a 3 x 3 C channel in that thickness is too flimsy in my opinion.
2 x3 RHS (rectangular hollow section is what we call tube in Australia) in 1.6mm I would consider JUST strong enough for an on-road camper, BUT only if you are a very competent welder.
Less than good welds on such thin material are a disaster waiting to happen. The other thing I'd worry about is distortion while welding. Don't want your frame to look like the start of a double helix.
That leaves 2" x 2" X .12 (3mm)square tube. That'll work. Plenty of meat for an amateur welder to bite into.
Easily solid enough to directly weld the spring mounts to the frame. You'd be able to through-bolt anything you wanted, and not lose sleep about crushing the tube.
You say you are a beginner welder, so I highly recommend researching how to weld a frame without the welds pulling it all out of shape.
I can stick stuff together with a stick welder, but I still ask for help from qualified welder friends for really important structural stuff.
P.S. my welding improved out of sight when I bought an auto darkening helmet. When you don't have to use one hand to operate the eye protection, you can put on a welding glove and use that hand to steady the rod to get started, etc.
I'm talking stick welding. If you have a MIG things get better they tell me.