Trailer Decision

[Traveling Man]

After much lurking on the forum and thought I've decided on the type of trailer frame I need to build our popup standy. Exterior dimensions will be 66" wide and 120" long. I want to build inside the wheels/fenders. I want a tongue long enough for some manuvering room, and I want it to be an Y-frame tongue with the center support going back to the first or second cross member. I want to have a box on the tongue for propane bottle,etc. I also want to have 15" 5-bolt wheels. I think I can keep the total weight to around 1,500-1,700 lbs. I am not a welder and don't have a lot of metal working experience.

Is there a trailer I can buy that meets these specs, or will I have to have one made?

[Nitetimes]

I'm gonna venture to say you will most likely need to have one built. I'd build you one but it's a long drive out there. I know, I've done it.

[RichAFix]

I am not a welder and don't have a lot of metal working experience.

Okay, I did have some welding experience (high school, 25 years ago), but I was still amazed by how easy building the frame was. Not as easy as working with wood, and the metal slivers are way worse than the wood slivers, but it wasn't that difficult. Go rent a metal chop saw, or buy a cheapo from Harbor Freight and cut up the metal. You can also rent a welder (I borrowed one from my brother, you must know someone that would lend one to you) or there are plenty of people that own them that can take care of the welding if you are too intimidated by that part. Put something on Craigslist that you will trade welding for anything and you will find a taker. Although I haven't posted any pictures of the frame yet (waiting till I get a little more progress on the body), my frame turned out better than anything you are going to buy and the satisfaction of doing it myself has made me a believer that there isn't much I can't do with a little research and patience.

If you are qualified to build the rest of the trailer, you are more than qualified to build the frame. Best thing about metal, if it doesn't look good, grind it down and try again. I did a lot of grinding.

[doug hodder]

If you are qualified to build the rest of the trailer, you are more than qualified to build the frame.

Not to start a big thing, but I think that might be pushing the envelope. In the words of H Ross Perot. "that's where the rubber meets the road" A leaky tear or ill fitting cabin work isn't going to potentially endanger other motorists. A critical cold lapped weld just might. Just my opinion, others may vary. Doug

[Nitetimes]

If you are qualified to build the rest of the trailer, you are more than qualified to build the frame.

Not to start a big thing, but I think that might be pushing the envelope. In the words of H Ross Perot. "that's where the rubber meets the road" A leaky tear or ill fitting cabin work isn't going to potentially endanger other motorists. A critical cold lapped weld just might. Just my opinion, others may vary. Doug

I agree. Just because a weld looks good doesn't always mean it's a strong joint. Somethings are better left to those that know how to do the job properly.

[Mike Angeles]

Opps, Misposted

[RichAFix]

doug hodder wrote:
RichAFix wrote:

If you are qualified to build the rest of the trailer, you are more than qualified to build the frame.


Not to start a big thing, but I think that might be pushing the envelope. In the words of H Ross Perot. "that's where the rubber meets the road" A leaky tear or ill fitting cabin work isn't going to potentially endanger other motorists. A critical cold lapped weld just might. Just my opinion, others may vary. Doug

Okay, I agree my original statement may be a little bit of a stretch, but I will not retract it all. I did say that one needs to do some research and have a little patience. I did make some assumptions based on the original statement. I think that (and I am no engineer or welder) a poor design is way more dangerous than a poor weld. There is no one or even two welds on my frame that if it fails or wasn't even there would cause failure. I assume that he has good design/engineering. I also assume that one knows when one is in over there head.

I obviously wouldn't encourage someone to do something dangerous. But I don't think that one will ever know that they can't if they don't first try.

I do respect the opinion of others that say use caution though. I guess another one of my assumptions was these assumptions were assumed. Yes, I know what they say about assuming.