DIY Bolt-Together Frame?

[HandyAtLeast]

I'm not a welder so I am looking into designing a 5x8 frame with 935lb adjustable half axles using a bolt-together method of construction. The TD would need to be light-weight for pulling behind a small car.

I've been looking at the Ultralight Chassis in the design library. Anyone have any strong feelings for/against it aside from the fact that its not bullet proof? I would be fine building the wood floor structure to sit on top of the frame. Any drawbacks or special design considerations?

I'm not against sourcing the material, cutting the pieces, and having someone weld it for me, but for kicks I'm entertaining the concept of a K.I.S.S. bolt-together design. I have access to metal cutting bandsaws, drill presses, etc. and I will someday learn to weld. For now: bolt-together.

I'd like to model some designs up and make dimensional drawings after I get some feedback. I'd be happy to share when I can put them together.

[Yota Bill]

I would suggest getting it welded after you built it as a bolt togethor, as the bolts will more then likely loosen up and turn the holes into an oval shape, along with wearing large grooves in the bolts. If you do just bolt it togethor, make sure the holes are not excessively large for the size of the bolt, are drilled square, and do something to lock the nuts in place (nylock, double nuts, lock washers, lock-tite, etc)
Also make sure the bolts are properly torques (thats a science in itself).

I would suggest using nylock nuts. They wont damge the base material or flat washers as lock washers will, will allow you to loosen or re-torque as needed without heating the bolts or nuts (which will weaken them and the surounding metal), and arent all that expensive.

Keep in mind, if it is just bolted togethor, every bolt should periodically be re-torqued and/or replaced.

[StandUpGuy]

Are not a ton of people on this site using bolt together trailer frames?

[Steve_Cox]

I'm not a welder so I am looking into designing a 5x8 frame with 935lb adjustable half axles using a bolt-together method of construction. The TD would need to be light-weight for pulling behind a small car.

I've been looking at the Ultralight Chassis in the design library. Anyone have any strong feelings for/against it aside from the fact that its not bullet proof? I would be fine building the wood floor structure to sit on top of the frame. Any drawbacks or special design considerations?

I'm not against sourcing the material, cutting the pieces, and having someone weld it for me, but for kicks I'm entertaining the concept of a K.I.S.S. bolt-together design. I have access to metal cutting bandsaws, drill presses, etc. and I will someday learn to weld. For now: bolt-together.

I'd like to model some designs up and make dimensional drawings after I get some feedback. I'd be happy to share when I can put them together.

Bolt together frames work just fine. I used quite a few nylock nuts when I made the frame for the foot well on the gypsy trailer, it was made of bed frame angle iron, all bolted together in a Harbor Freight bolt together frame.

[doug hodder]

I know that Jerome has scratch built frames and bolted his up with no problems. Proper washers, hole size and some loc-tite all make for a better job on it. Doug

[dguff]

I have built three tears with bolt together frames. All three have completed crosscountry trips from 7000 to 9000 miles with no problems. Properly drilled holes with lock washers and loctite and proper torque settings will give you a strong, fairly lightweight frame with the satisfaction of having done it yourself.

Jerome