I seem to be sunk before the build even begins.

[Skruddgemire]

As I mentioned in another post in Trailer and Chassis Secrets, Carry-On Trailers (the supplier that TSC buys from) is no longer selling or custom building trailers that do not have the side rails.

It seems that they have been getting people using the trailers and through some use/misuse, they're getting warped and so they are no longer building them that way. They're even getting rid of the ever popular 4'x8' rig that a lot of TnTTT'ers have been using.

And since finding a cheap trailer in my area seems to be harder to find than a fart in a Jacuzzi, I find myself looking at having to build one from scratch. It certainly beats buying an expensive trailer and cutting off the lift gate and the rails.

Does anyone have any resources for trailer plans? I have a someone who can weld, I just need the trailer.

[unicknn]

I could help out if you want. I could draw it up in inventor for you. Trailers are pretty simple.

[Lgboro]

I used the 4 x 8 TSC trailer and I spent enough on modifications to have paid a local welder to build a custom. Lots of info on trailer specs and builds on the forum archives if you do a search.

[asianflava]

You don't need a "trailer" you just need a frame. The frame just provides the tongue, coupler, and axle a solid place to mount to. This is all you need, rent a saw and cut the pieces out and have a person weld it up for you. You'll get exactly what you need and it'll probably be similar in cost.

[unicknn]

I decided to just build a custom and its a very off the wall design so I have to use stronger materials but just the metal alone will be less then $200. then I have to buy an axle and Im planning on running breaks so thats gonna be in the $400 range. So $600 or so and Ill have a completely custom air bagged frame. If you are just going for a simple frame like the TSC one it could be built for 2-300$

[unicknn]

I decided to just build a custom and its a very off the wall design so I have to use stronger materials but just the metal alone will be less then $200. then I have to buy an axle and Im planning on running breaks so thats gonna be in the $400 range. So $600 or so and Ill have a completely custom air bagged frame. If you are just going for a simple frame like the TSC one it could be built for 2-300$

[Dale M.]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... s+trailers

Dale

[Forrest747]

Ok what type of camping are you planning. I went with 2x2 1/4 inch framing with 2x3 1/4 inch for the tongue. i went with an aframe tonge and i now would of done just a straight tonge with angled supports.

Crunching numbers for a new frame looking like 1/8 inch box of 1-1/4 or 1-1/4 by 2 is the way i will go next time. bumper or rear crossmember was also 2x3.

you really just need a frame like stated above. it will help keep the weight down as long as you build the part rear of the axle strong.
Has far as plans go have the front and back members be the width you want then add teh side rails and about every 2 feet a crossmember for lateral support.
Have your tongue go back at least to the first crossmemeber

Also you can look at http://www.teardroptrailers.us/tbuild.pdf
http://www.richardflake.com/trailerchassisbuild.htm I like this one as well

[Doug S]

SKruddgemire,

This past spring I had the same decision to make. My choice was the Northern Tool 5 x 8 trailer because it was the cheapest trailer that met my needs; a trailer frame ready to go for a 5 x 8 teardrop. Dale M gave a link to this trailer a few posts up.

I paid $530.00 for this trailer, currently it is selling for $449.00. It takes about 5 hours to assemble, at which time can be registered and titled. That is a very hard price to beat.

The cargo capacity of the finished trailer is about 1,700 lbs.

I don’t know about this site, but else where I have seen complaints about it being a flimsy trailer. I don’t agree, particularly after a teardrop trailer is bolted to it.

Unless you have design goals the Northern Tool 5 x 8 (or 4 x , will not accommodate, why wouldn’t you use this trailer?

Good luck,
Doug S

[les45]

What Doug said +++! I also bought the NT 5X8 for my weekender and have been very pleased. It is strong enough to start with but your teardrop construction will make it even stronger. It is a steal at the current sale price ($449.99 shipped) for what you get. I doubt that you will ever approach the GVW of nearly 2,000 pounds with a conventional teardrop. FWIW I've had the 1,100 pound HF 4X8 folding trailer for many years and it is basically the same frame as the NT (same channels, same axle, same wheels, same coupler frame) and I have used it as a utility trailer hauling all kinds of stuff for thousands of miles. I've loaded it to the max moving furniture and construction materials and I've never had a problem.

[Skruddgemire]

Unless you have design goals the Northern Tool 5 x 8 (or 4 x , will not accommodate, why wouldn’t you use this trailer?

Because at the time of this posting I was looking at taking the 5x8 design and stretching it out to a 5x10 one giving me extra room in the Teardrop for cargo. The 8-foot design do not give the room needed to store a cooler unless I were willing to shrink down the mattress from a Queen to a Full (dropping from 80 inches to 75).

Something I can't do as I'm a pretty tall bloke.

I wanted to go with a 10-footer design which gives me serious room, gives room for nice storage in the crew compartment as well as the storage under the back hatch. And any of the 10-foot trailers have floors, heavy rails, life-gates...and cost more money than I want to spend on something I'm going to have to attack with a Recip-Saw.

I saw the NT trailer a week ago and I decided to scale back my plans a bit. I'm opting for the middle of the road and going with a 9-foot design sitting on an 8-foot trailer. I can safely extend out 6 inches in the front and in the back since there is no real load there and I can beef up the flooring frame with 10"-wide stock to maintain strength.



I'm using OpenOffice Draw and so I'm drawing the plans down to the quarter inch...I haven't put in the dimension markings yet but at full size, one inch equals one foot.

So thanks for the advice, the NT 5x8 is the way I'm going to go here. I do have one question about it though. The NT's tires are only rated for 45MPH. Any suggestions on tires to replace them with so it can handle highway speeds?

Bollocks. Looks like the image is being cut off. But imagine it's symmetrical.

[rowerwet]

get an old pop up trailer, tear it down to the frame, save all the good bits like the sink, latches, etc. sand any rust, paint the frame with rust conversion paint. I got two pop ups given to me last year, one I tore down for a utility trailer, the frame is built strong enough to walk on with a sheet of OSB for a deck, it will be plenty strong for a TD.
PUP frames almost always come 5' wide, save the wheel well liners also.