trailer advise

[eaglesdare]

http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-t ... wr-1090943

http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-t ... wr-1000215

http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-t ... wr-1000231


i am wondering if one of these trailers would be ok to do a small build on.
any input will be appreciated. if i can find the right price, i am hoping to finally buy one (this has been in the thinking stage for a couple years now).

or if anyone knows of a cheap trailer in these size trailers that would be better, please let me know.

hoping my refund will be deposited next friday and would like to be prepared.

[eaglesdare]

oh and i should mention, that i will want a trailer to be good as is. as i am not going to be welding or anything like that, i just want to start building right on the trailer.

[synaps3]

The first one and third one are unnecessary in terms of cost and features that it comes with. You want a kit like #2.

Most plans (see design library at the top of the page) call for a 4x8 or 5x8 trailer, so your second selection is perfect.

They also have good, cheap 4x8 trailers at Harbor Freight, they usually go on sale for less than $300.

Many people use this: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=42709

This: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=90154

or This: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94564

I'm using the third trailer I linked to for my build. I got it on sale for $279, if my memory serves me correctly.

[eaglesdare]

the difference between the first 2 you posted is the load capacity? just curious.

and these come in kits, so i have to put it together? again, just curious, i know my hubby could do that, but just making sure i understand.

thanks for those links. prices are better than what i was looking at. unless shipping cost bring it up.

[len19070]

I like this frame.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-t ... wr-1000215



For a few reasons.

If your building a 4X8, you don't even need the trailer to get started.

My customers show up weeks later with the frame.

Just build a 4X8 box and it will fit on the frame and just through bolt it with 8 or 10 carriage bolts and your done, no trailer lights, license plate bracket or anything.



http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/ ... ?start=all

And if you want to go wider (it would have to be an over the wheel build) all you would have to do is line inside the metal (there 2X2 angle iron) w/2X's, build a 2X4 (Upright) frame, any width up to 78" attach it to the 2X's on the frame, sheath it and you've got a semi flat deck with little or no wheels protruding into the cabin.

There is a little more to it than that but its very basic.

Yes there's some wasted space in the 5" floor...but that's what foot wells and under deck storage was invented for.

This frame also comes w/5 lug wheels...lots of room for snappy or bigger wheels.

I live in Pennsylvania...the land of "you can't get a title for that" this is a completed frame and you can get a title and registration when you leave.

Meaning you don't have to show any receipts for materials, get it inspected, weighed nothing, no documents/statements/photos flying back and forth to your DMV.

Just get a tag and go.

Happy Trails

Len

[synaps3]

the difference between the first 2 you posted is the load capacity? just curious.

and these come in kits, so i have to put it together? again, just curious, i know my hubby could do that, but just making sure i understand.

thanks for those links. prices are better than what i was looking at. unless shipping cost bring it up.

Load capacity and tire size. The larger tires will perform much better at highway speed, and offer you the option of upgrading to more stylish rims later on.

Yes, they're kits. They bolt together, but it's not too hard. When I bought my kit, I took a day off from work, thinking it would be difficult. I dropped my fiancee off at class at 10am, then bought the kit at the Harbor Freight near her school (and had lunch) before noon. I read the instructions, knew it would be simple, and proceeded to build the entire trailer while I was waiting for her to get out of class. I drove to the top of a parking garage, and built the whole thing using a ratchet set and a vice grip in under 4 hours.

Needless to say, she was shocked (perhaps embarrassed is a better word) when I picked her up towing a trailer.

[eaglesdare]

I like this frame.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-t ... wr-1000215



For a few reasons.

If your building a 4X8, you don't even need the trailer to get started.

My customers show up weeks later with the frame.

Just build a 4X8 box and it will fit on the frame and just through bolt it with 8 or 10 carriage bolts and your done, no trailer lights, license plate bracket or anything.



http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/ ... ?start=all

And if you want to go wider (it would have to be an over the wheel build) all you would have to do is line inside the metal (there 2X2 angle iron) w/2X's, build a 2X4 (Upright) frame, any width up to 78" attach it to the 2X's on the frame, sheath it and you've got a semi flat deck with little or no wheels protruding into the cabin.

There is a little more to it than that but its very basic.

Yes there's some wasted space in the 5" floor...but that's what foot wells and under deck storage was invented for.

This frame also comes w/5 lug wheels...lots of room for snappy or bigger wheels.

I live in Pennsylvania...the land of "you can't get a title for that" this is a completed frame and you can get a title and registration when you leave.

Meaning you don't have to show any receipts for materials, get it inspected, weighed nothing, no documents/statements/photos flying back and forth to your DMV.

Just get a tag and go.

Happy Trails

Len

hello len, good to see you here. sorry we never quite connected on the phone!

i am still reading everything again, i have no idea how many times i have read these threads. not sure i get more confused or not.

i forgot that i had posted and asked pretty much some of these same questions a long time ago. sorry everyone for a repeat question.

my major concern is the weight factor over price factor. so i suppose my priority is weight, then space (size) then price.

i seem to recall that i asked one time if i had a 4 foot trailer i could build over to 5 foot, am i correct?

i know my first priority at this moment for me is the trailer.

thanks for the link.(s)

[synaps3]

Building past the chassis is no problem, as long as you use thick enough wood or a substructure. My base is 6'6" on a 4' wide chassis. Not finished, but no problems so far.

[eaglesdare]

great, thank you. now to decide on which trailer to buy.

now to decide on which trailer, the tt or the hf, is my second on above is basically the same as the hf's, then i will probable go with hf because of price.

[angib]

The Carry-On trailer from Tractor Supply is the one that has caused problems with weak tongue mounts to one or two forum members - the tongue itself is strong enough but the two angle cross-members it's bolted to are too close together and they can be bent by high tongue loads - in one case by the builder standing on the tongue.

Andrew

[Cliffmeister2000]

I'm planning a second trailer, somewhat similar to the Basic Benroy. I would like to use this trailer http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94564
but I want it 5 ft wide. I have a friend and he has a welder. Could I cut that axle and extend it, if I built brackets to move the springs out 6" on either side and avoid building over the wheels?

[Lou Park]

I'm planning a second trailer, somewhat similar to the Basic Benroy. I would like to use this trailer http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94564
but I want it 5 ft wide. I have a friend and he has a welder. Could I cut that axle and extend it, if I built brackets to move the springs out 6" on either side and avoid building over the wheels?

How much (if any) would it cost to modify the trailer?
Lou

[len19070]

The Carry-On trailer from Tractor Supply is the one that has caused problems with weak tongue mounts to one or two forum members - the tongue itself is strong enough but the two angle cross-members it's bolted to are too close together and they can be bent by high tongue loads - in one case by the builder standing on the tongue.

Andrew

Andrew is correct.

I generally correct this problem by doing 2 things.

First is I install 2 angle iron struts from the 2 outside rails just behind where the second cross member begins and run it up to the 2X2 square stock, these can be bolted and I usually use "Bed Rail"

This shortens the unsupported span on the second cross member by about a foot.

It makes the tongue look like a "Peace Sign".

Then when I build the platform I make sure that there is a full 2X4 on the flat directly over the 1st and 2ed metal cross member.

And that these 2X4s are bolted (5 each) to the cross members.

Then just "because" when building the box the first front rafter that attaches to the deck is a full 2X4.

The problem is at the second Cross member. By installing the Bed Rail it decreases the cross members span from 4' to 3' and with 4 mounts (2 factory welds and your 2 bolts) instead of just the 2 welds.

Make sure that the 2ed cross member is reinforced. Even another piece of bed rail underneath wouldn't hurt.

And don't jump on it until it is!

Crude drawing, red dots = bolts



Happy Trails

Len

[Cliffmeister2000]

I'm planning a second trailer, somewhat similar to the Basic Benroy. I would like to use this trailer http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=94564
but I want it 5 ft wide. I have a friend and he has a welder. Could I cut that axle and extend it, if I built brackets to move the springs out 6" on either side and avoid building over the wheels?

How much (if any) would it cost to modify the trailer?
Lou

Not that much. about 6' of steel for the spring mounts, a piece of steel about 12 - 16" ling to span the added length, and some careful labor.

[eaglesdare]

one more question:

either with 7 or 8 foot trailers, they seem pretty long, so is that actually the measurements for the space being used? or total lenght on the outside?

lets just say a mattress inside is 5 foot long, that still leaves 2 or 3 feet in the lenght (depending on what size trailer) ? or am i completely off on this?

if i am even close to being on the right track that extra 2 or 3 feet, is that the space you use for the gallery?