Frame questions- what to remove

[RogHodge]

Here we go… starting from the back of the trailer there are 6 cross members- check. The one in front of the former u-haul portion is aftermarket Right? Good. Lets call that #1- check. The next one back #2 so on so forth- the rear most cross piece #6- check.
Now, Can I cut out #2, #3, and #5 (especially #3) to make room for drop floor also remove the “interior” former tongue pieces? Provided the welds are good on the “outside” tongue.
The leaf springs do not attach to the cross piece- all cross pieces are angle- not flat.




My “build” link http://tnttt.com/viewto ... sc&start=0

[brian_bp]

Rog, you start with "starting from the back of the trailer", but then number the crossmembers with #1 being the one at the front... right?

I don't see any point to the two darker diagonal bits which end at the front-most crossmember and which may be part of some shorter and earlier tongue, and if those were removed then crossmember #1 seems to become pointless... although I realize that's not one which is in the way.

Since the full-width portion of the frame ends at #2, it seems strange that would be part of the drop floor, but then I assume that the body will continue forward beyond that position, overhanging some of the A-frame portion of the tongue.

[RogHodge]

Brian… Okay, good point, not the best description on my part
Yes cross member #1 is the front most and the two ‘inner’ dark bits are from an earlier tongue.
So here is the question…
Can I remove cross member #3 and the two inner dark bits? I know that I CAN do whatever I want- but will I one day look in my mirror at half a trailer dragging along behind me?
I will be building over the tires and onto the tongue in a quazi cabin car style.

I believe that the week point will be will be directly in front of the leaf spring perch- the ONLY thing holding the front and back halves together is a short section of angle
I want to avoid adding anything.

Thoughts anyone?

[Steve_Cox]

Honestly, I would do some major modification to the tongue, and I don't think just removing parts would do it. Seems the way it is cobbled together gives it some inherent strength that would be lost without the old tongue parts. But there is enough channel iron there to build a really nice tongue, and clean up all that mess. Also looks like you might do away with the cross member above the axle, but leave the rest. Just my opinion, and not what you were exactly looking for. But you are about to spend a fair amount of money on materials, put them on a good foundation.

[RogHodge]

I know you are right Steve-
This line drawing might help…
The faint red line defines the outside limit of my ‘build.’ The offending bits would be removed for weight and a space for potential drop floor. Perhaps the drop floor is a luxury I don’t need- or I could use the spaces that are there? Above the axel could go but I wouldn’t gain much. Maybe I should just leave it and build away
The next questions you all will find me asking will be about floor and sub floor

[Steve_Cox]

Gottcha, with the drawing it makes more sense to me...... It seems you know more about where you are going than anyone. Now all we need is some pictures of sparks flying as you cut and grind.

[brian_bp]

The drawing helps a lot - thanks. The location of the dropped floor section makes a lot more sense now.

I do think that the old tongue sections can go away, since they don't do much other than add weight and get in the way.

I agree with Steve that some well-planned reworking would be appropriate and worthwhile.

My impression is that there is are subtantial tongue members attached to minimal frame members, and that tying them together more optimally would remove both concerns about strength (other than concerns about the main rails themselves) and stuff in the way of a dropped floor. The current design is almost approaching a "frameless" configuration, in which the trailer body will be expected to tie everything together.

I don't know how to suggest this delicately, but could the existing trailer be considered only as a stock of components (axle, suspension, coupler, steel) from which to build a chassis more suitable for the teardrop?