5x10 on a 4x8 trailer?

[Cliffmeister2000]

I've been toying with this design. I'm tallish (6'4"), so the best length for me is a 10' trailer. I also like the added width a 5' wide would give me. In fact, my Weekender is 5x10, and I like it very much. But it is built on a 4.6 x 8 frame, and so our bed is only 52" wide in reality. I want those extra inches.

Also, I also like the rounded teardrop shape.

So, I thought, what if I made a 5 wide, and kind of built it over the wheels, so he bottom was flat. Or at least appeared flat. Under the raised bed would be lots of storage, or perhaps it could act as a drop-floor for daytime applications.





I really like this profile.

So. while playing with this, I realized to maintain the structural integrity of a torsion box, I should just build around the wheels with internal wheel wells, then out a false floor in.

Does this look like a do-able design? Does it look like one that has already been done?

[Rigsby]

How about making the frame wider?

[Ageless]

Looks proper, but slide it back on the frame so that the bottom radius is even with the rear of the frame. It's not supporting anything and is a great opportunity to scrape yer shins

[Cliffmeister2000]

Looks proper, but slide it back on the frame so that the bottom radius is even with the rear of the frame. It's not supporting anything and is a great opportunity to scrape yer shins

You can't tell from this downsized picture, but the last foot that looks like a frame is a bumper. I'm thinking of hinging it and supporting it with lynch pins. Pull the pins, it will drop straight down and out of my shin-reach.

[Ageless]

If you made that bumper to telescope out of the frame rails, pull (2) ballock pins and just push it in.

[Cliffmeister2000]

If you made that bumper to telescope out of the frame rails, pull (2) ballock pins and just push it in.

That's great idea!

I know bumpers are not much good, but they give me a very nice false sense of security. Might protect the back of the trailer if I get rear-ended by a bicycle!

[wannabefree]

Something to keep in mind when building out over the wheels is that you can't drop the frame as low as a normal tear without having the wheel wells stick up in the cabin. For me that wasn't an issue, but I can't sit in the doorway and have my feet on the ground.

[Cliffmeister2000]

How about making the frame wider?

Making the frame wider is certainly an option, however the 4x8 trailer is readily available and cheap.

[brewwagon]

As for your bumper, I had similar thoughts of having step bumper receivers mounted on each side of the rear of the trailer, then a buddy at work was going to help me weld a couple ears on the end of a 2x2 piece of square tubing. I could then have a few short extension coming out of the recievers and then bolt/hinge the ears onto one of them. Allowing it to swing out and mount a cooker or table on it.
then you could make a small set of telescoping legs to support the end that extends out away.
I would also drill some hole in the ears to allow you to put a locking pin in to keep it from moving.

Here's a quick pencilcad drawing. The lower part of the drawing was just a thought as to mounting something permanent on it I think it would rack the bumper to much if there was any weight on it though.


<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rqrVb0P-r_M/S6dok6GA_CI/AAAAAAAACpw/t78m9HvCifo/s288/rearbumper.JPG" />