Was given an 4 x 8 trailer with rails... any suggestions?

[BigDean]

Hi all... I have been wanting to build a teardrop for quite some time. I was just given an old 4 x 8 trailer, but it has rails around it. It does have fenders over the tires, any suggestions on how to deal with the rails?

Any suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks, Dean.

[tinksdad]

Cut them off???

[Jst83]

Saws-All (as he lets out a big Tim the tool man grunt)

[bobhenry]

THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO MY NEW ONE...

[CPnthrfan]

thats just what i need

[tinksdad]

Just a thought... but if you want to extend past the frame, you could cut the side rails off flush with the top of the frame. It would leave pockets that you could use to bolt your floor to the frame without drilling holes in the frame. A steel plate with a corresponding hole underneath and some longer bolts to connect it all together. Like I said.... just a thought.

[BigDean]

tinksdad Just a thought... but if you want to extend past the frame, you could cut the side rails off flush with the top of the frame. It would leave pockets that you could use to bolt your floor to the frame without drilling holes in the frame. A steel plate with a corresponding hole underneath and some longer bolts to connect it all together. Like I said.... just a thought.

That is a heck of an idea! I really like that... I am going to look into this!

[Joanne]

Just a thought... but if you want to extend past the frame, you could cut the side rails off flush with the top of the frame. It would leave pockets that you could use to bolt your floor to the frame without drilling holes in the frame. A steel plate with a corresponding hole underneath and some longer bolts to connect it all together. Like I said.... just a thought.

That's one of the most innovative ideas I've seen in a long time!



Joanne

[George G.]

I got this pic off Gage's web site.

[Mark McD]

You could leave the rails on and build "pony walls" on top of them, bolt through the wall and rail. Or do as others have suggested, take 'em off with a sawzall or grinder.

[Miriam C.]

to the playground Dean. Free trailers are wonderful and worth the work. Decide what you want first then modify or not as needed. Be sure to they come in handy.

[mary and bob]

The rails probably add strength to the trailer frame, like a truss. I'd try to leave them and just cover them with the outside skin. Bob

[BigDean]

mary and bob Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 1:16 am Post subject:

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The rails probably add strength to the trailer frame, like a truss. I'd try to leave them and just cover them with the outside skin. Bob

That is what I keep coming back to thinking in the back of my mind. I have an idea I am working on.

I will post some preliminary plans once I get a rough copy completed.

[mary and bob]

We camped with someone that had built a teardrop on a similar trailer, and had it made so it could be removed from the trailer, kind of like a slide in truck camper. I think it also overhung the side rails a little, like a pickup camper does. If you do remove the rails, maybe you should reinforce the remaining frame. That may be a better option than designing around the rails, mainly the door area issue. Bob

[tinksdad]

Without actually seeing what your trailer looks like, it's hard to say what modifications can be done to it. I was just assuming that if you removed the existing decking and the rails you would end up with something similar to the TSC trailer http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_33977_-1______14297|14337|14342|33977?listingPage=true&Special=false , in which case the floor and walls of your tear become part of the strength of the whole thing. It's just a personal opinion; but I think without triangulation, the side rails don't really add a lot of strength to the frame judging from some of the rolling wrecks I see the landscape crews down here using.