Newbie with free boat trailer

[gwhunter]

Hello all,
I've a few basic questions about building my first.

Is this trailer suitable for a build? It appears to be a small Dilly. The axle has been removed if it ever had one and spindles for 15" wheels welded to the channel that serves as an axle now, which looks like 2"X1 1/4" or so.

The build I'm wanting to do is a 5'X8' simple ( I believe it is called) with a rounded front. This will be used at hunting camp for primative camping. Will have a sit down shower in back corner with sleeping for only one and no galley. Only shelves where available space is.

The trailer is 42" on the wide part of the frame. And the hubs are only 26" from the rear of frame.

Question. Will welding channel or angle with butt welds to the existing frame be strong enough since it will have to be widened and lengthened? Or will I need to sit a frame of square tubing etc. on top to the proper dimensions?

I have been also given an old slide-in truck camper I intend to salvage sink and siding for underneath floor and etc.

As you can see I hate to not use this stuff, but if it is not worth the effort (I know everything is relative) or will I run into problems I'm not envisioning down the road I would like to know.

I've enjoyed reading here but so far haven't found enough answers for my particular situation in my searches, so I thank you in advance for your reply.



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[Wimperdink]

If its still sound, I would go for it. It hurts to see that 20hp just laying there all helpless.

[angib]

If that frame is 42" wide and you want to build the body at 48" wide, then I don't think any extension of the frame is needed - just lay 2x4s on their side under the floor at each of the two cross-members and under the front edge of the body. If you want to go to a 60" wide body, then some extensions will be needed.

I think you are saying that trailer has no suspension at present - in which case you have to add suspension, or beat the new body to bits in a short distance, or tow under 10-20mph. Adding suspension to that frame may prove more expensive than starting with a more suitable trailer.

Even a sit-down shower is hard to fit into a 48" high body - I would say you would need at least 54" to do that.

Andrew

[gwhunter]

Sorry for not explaining my intentions well enough. The trailer does have leaf spring suspension that will need the rubber replaced in the shackles. My preliminary plan is to build 5' wide and 5' high still haven't decided on 8' or 9' length.

To my limited knowledge here, it looks like the easiest thing is to lay a complete frame of angle with small cut-outs for the wheels and weld it to the existing frame at contact points. If the angle is laid open side up, the wood frame of the floor would be seperated from the trailer frame only by the thickness of the angle.

With the 8' length the front of the frame would cross the boat trailer frame at the short cross in the a-frame. This placement would make the overhang in the back about 15". If 9' long I assume the placement would be a little more tricky.

Hope I didn't confuse by trying to explain further but any help on materials to use or placement etc. will greatly appreciated.