Question on size?

[Skruddgemire]

Seeing as how 10 foot trailers in my are are significantly more expensive than an 8-foot option, I was wondering if it was possible to build a 10-foot TD on an 8 foot frame.

Well I know it's possible, but what's the feasibility? I was planning to build one foot forward (sitting on the tongue) and one foot aft. I know it's safe to go forward but I'm concerned about the overhang on the back.

The only thing on the back will be the hatch and cargo (totes of kitchen stuff, camp stove, coolers, etc).

Feasible? Or do I need to either build my own 10-footer with these plans here, or just lump it and flat out buy one?

[angib]

I don't believe overhanging the frame by a foot either end has any structural problems - for example, in many side profiles the front end, and sometimes the back end too, 'curl under' somewhat so that a 10 foot long body may be only 9 foot long at the floor.

However most ready-made trailers do not have a lot of spare tongue length, so overhanging the front of the frame by a foot may bring the front of the body too close for comfort to the tow vehicle in turns.

You may want to relocate the axle of a ready-made trailer further back in order to give the correct balance for a teardrop and that can provide you with the opportunity to overhang the frame more easily - but it does show that a ready-made trailer may not be quite the easy solution you wish for.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I just finished a 5x10 on a 4x8 Harbor Freight kit. The front curve overhangs the trailer frame by about 1'-9" in the front, and the rear overhangs about 3". And it overhangs each side by 6". I opted not to move the axle because of the front overhang. But I did modify the tongue using a 7' length of tube steel to extend the length. Many others have done the same.

[Skruddgemire]

[quote="absolutsnwbrdr"]I just finished a 5x10 on a 4x8 Harbor Freight kit. The front curve overhangs the trailer frame by about 1'-9" in the front, and the rear overhangs about 3". And it overhangs each side by 6". I opted not to move the axle because of the front overhang. But I did modify the tongue using a 7' length of tube steel to extend the length. Many others have done the same.

Did you have to do anything to extend the height of the deck over the tires or is the HF kit already tall enough?

[Lgboro]

I built on a Tractor Supply (CarryOn) trailer but with mods I could have built a homebuilt for the same money. Probably have been easier to built on a custom for the same money.

[jeff0520]

I did something very similer to what you are talking about. Link to the build thread in my sig. Take a peek and see if it's an idea that will work for you.

[asianflava]

In this picture, the black part is the actual bottom of the trailer. The frame sits inside this area, I don't remember how long it is, but the overall outside length of the cabin is 10ft.



This is the template I made to figure out the layout of the cabinets. I edited the photo to mark where the crossmembers fall underneath.