converting HF four-lug hubs to a 5 lug 4 3/4" pattern

[len19070]

Chartle,


The Tractor Supply trailer Len mentioned seems like a good option. Certainly easier to register. Although, from everything I've been reading it requires a mod to the tongue.

Given that I don't have a welder, I'm not sure how that would work, let alone the additional expense.

The mod really isn't that big of a deal and can all be done without welding.

I used "Bed Rail" (which I trash picked) on a few of mine, 4 bolts and a 2" square "U" bolt. (total $5-6)

The problem is that, and only in my opinion that the tongue doesn't extend back far enough into the frame. i.e. only to the first cross member.

I corrected this by installing 2 pieces of bed rail attached to the outer side rail just ahead of the first cross member to the tongue with the "U" bolt about 18" away from the frame.

It spread the load out a little more evenly instead of only 2 points its spread out over 7.

Again, I never had a problem, nor heard of a problem with the frames in there original condition...just didn't like the way it looked and saw room for improvement.

Not the best drawing, but....



Happy Trails

Len

[TJinPgh]

I think I see what you're saying there.

Still have to wonder, though. Given that one can routinely get the HF 94564 for under $300, the only advantage to going with the TSC at over $100 more seems the ease of titling.

Zach used the Maine titling method on his latest build and it seemed to go through w/o a hitch.

[chartle]

Chartle,
Which HF were you at in Pittsburgh?

I was at the one in Robinson 2 days ago. Their display was gone as well. I spoke to the cashier about them. I didn't ask about the 90154 but they had three of the 94564 in stock. On sale for $349 at the moment. Think it ends n the 30th, though.

Thats the one.

They did day they could sell me one and then brought up the sale. I wasn't buying one so I did ask about any in stock.

[angib]

The problem is that, and only in my opinion that the tongue doesn't extend back far enough into the frame. i.e. only to the first cross member.

The way I see it, they put that first cross-member much too far forwards - but the result is the same.

Probably cost-cutting to make the tongue a bit shorter and get one more tongue cut out of each stock tube.

Recently I've seen photos here of Tractor Supply trailers with the first cross-member made of two angles, back to back, and not the single angle shown here. But that may be a difference between the 4x8 and 5x8 trailers.

Another idea used by one forum member for strengthening the tongue, when the trailer is under a teardrop, is to bolt through the floor to clamp the centre of the first cross-member to the floor. If the floor is 3/4" plywood as many folks use, that would about double the strength of the cross-member.

But Len's modification also increases the side-to-side stiffness of the tongue which is good to have.

[len19070]

Exactly Andrew

I always build the floor using 2 by's on the flat so I could insulate and just over that first cross member would put a full 2X4 and bolt it to the cross member. I felt that helped a lot too.

Either way both solutions are easy and inexpensive.

And as I've said, I've never seen or heard of it being a Problem. Just in my "Opinion" it looked like it could do for a little more improvement.

Happy Trails

Len

[angib]

And as I've said, I've never seen or heard of it being a Problem. Just in my "Opinion" it looked like it could do for a little more improvement.

Either one or two forum members have had a problem from exactly this 'weakness' - one of them wrote that what caused the first cross-member to bend was him standing on the tongue to climb over it, so it wasn't that big a load.

[len19070]

And as I've said, I've never seen or heard of it being a Problem. Just in my "Opinion" it looked like it could do for a little more improvement.

Either one or two forum members have had a problem from exactly this 'weakness' - one of them wrote that what caused the first cross-member to bend was him standing on the tongue to climb over it, so it wasn't that big a load.

I stand corrected.

Happy Trails

Len

[cop1406]

The Tractor Supply trailer is not in stock anywhere in Central California and they told me that they didn't even know if they could get them anymore. I bought the Harbor Freight Version.

[rowerwet]

The problem is that, and only in my opinion that the tongue doesn't extend back far enough into the frame. i.e. only to the first cross member.

The way I see it, they put that first cross-member much too far forwards - but the result is the same.

Probably cost-cutting to make the tongue a bit shorter and get one more tongue cut out of each stock tube.

Recently I've seen photos here of Tractor Supply trailers with the first cross-member made of two angles, back to back, and not the single angle shown here. But that may be a difference between the 4x8 and 5x8 trailers.

Another idea used by one forum member for strengthening the tongue, when the trailer is under a teardrop, is to bolt through the floor to clamp the centre of the first cross-member to the floor. If the floor is 3/4" plywood as many folks use, that would about double the strength of the cross-member.

But Len's modification also increases the side-to-side stiffness of the tongue which is good to have.

my TS trailer has the double frame member, but just to add some strength I put a heavy 2x4 flat in my floor and bolted through the floor, 2x4 and inner flanges to make the floor part of the frame pulling up on the aft end of the tongue. I also added the angled members to the front but haven't gotten around to tying them to the tongue, eithe way the will support the tongue box.