question about lowering my donor trailer & tounge lenth

[Jimmy_C]

Hello

I hope I am posting theis question in the right area. I have a trailer that was built from a 1957 Chevy pick up truck. I removed the box. I want to lower it. it seems really high of the ground (see my gallory link) for pickes of the trailer. The picture are not great but you can see that the leaf srpings are on top on the axle. I was thinkig if I flipped the axle so that the axle was on top of the leaf srpings I would in effect lower the lower the trailer I sizable amount. I have never done it so I would have researh the set it seem that it might be just a matter of getting some bolts loose and flippin them. I am think there may be a small amount of welding but I can stick weld pretty good.
Also if you look at the pictures it seems the tounge is a but short, seems it could have about 6 inchs added to it. right now it so short that backing it up to anything is a pain in the...... I cant seem to find the math to check tounge lenght I remeber something about the distance from the axle to the front of the trailer then there is more but I cant remember it. Can some one help or shart it with me please.

Thank you

[bobhenry]

Jimmy

I have a very similar 65 ford pickup trailer and I never even gave it a thought as a chassis for a teardrop trailer. They are just to damn heavy ! Do yourself a favor and get in the car and drive around town even the alley ways and look for a light cargo type trailer. You can tell if it hasn't moved in eyons and simply knock and ask if it's for sale. I have bought 4 this way the best two deals were an apache tent trailer frame for $60.00 and a a 4x8 HF for $75.00 and they both have made wonderful light tiny trailers and only 15" +/- off the ground.

Just my thoughts............................ Bob

[angib]

Just from eyeballing your photos, it doesn't look to me like there is enough clearance between the leaf spring and the frame to take the axle tube and leave some clearance for suspension movement - it looks like on even small bumps, the axle tube will hit the underside of the frame.

[CarlLaFong]

The worst projects that I have ever seen were, often, a result of someone using what they had on hand rather than using what was prudent and practical. That trailer is way too heavy, funky, ugly, etc. to use as a base for a small travel/camping trailer. Sell it and buy/build/procure something a bit lighter. You will never be happy with the finished product if you build on that trailer.

[wagondude]

As others have said, way more frame than needed. But to answer your question about lowering, Search for a lowering kit for the year, make and model of the truck. It will most likely have everything to relocate the axle over the springs as well as the reinforcement for the sectoin of the frame rails that will require notching for clearance. Once you find that kit, you will find that it will probably just be cheaper to buy/build a lighter trailer.

Bill