tandem axle utility trailer finished

[Jon Jacobs]

Hi guys, I finally had time to put the finishing touches on my machinery trailer and I am fairly pleased. It measures 5'x10' with electric brakes. It tows very nice.

I have attached a few images including the latch configuration which some members were interested in.

I kinda came up with my own ideas for mounting the fenders and I ran all the electrical through the frame to keep it out of the elements.

I also added bumperettes to add additional protection for the tail lights.

There are fixture points in the floor for additional anchorage.

 

[1953mercury]

Looks well built. 3500# axles? Mike

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Looks well built. 3500# axles? Mike

Yup, 3500. 15" rims.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Very nice but just one observation; your trailer looks well built, in fact, some areas look super heavy duty! I have to ask, in your area could you not have bought one cheaper than you built this one considering your time and material? I know it would not have been as nice, just curious?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Very nice but just one observation; your trailer looks well built, in fact, some areas look super heavy duty! I have to ask, in your area could you not have bought one cheaper than you built this one considering your time and material? I know it would not have been as nice, just curious?

Hi, thank you. I own a small machine shop, so it made more sense to build my own.

Its made for hauling machinery, technically it was cheaper, as one such as this would have to have been custom built, Thanks.

 

[kerrynzl]

Exellent job Jon.

I don't think cost should be considered, especially when you do a job this good [that money simply cannot buy]

 

[alpinewhite]

Very nice but just one observation; your trailer looks well built, in fact, some areas look super heavy duty! I have to ask, in your area could you not have bought one cheaper than you built this one considering your time and material? I know it would not have been as nice, just curious?

I had a neighbor who used to ask me these questions when he saw furniture that I built. I'm an avid woodworker. He just doesn't get it.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Exellent job Jon.

I don't think cost should be considered, especially when you do a job this good [that money simply cannot buy]

Thank you! A good question though.

 

[saceone]

Buying stuff.. Where's the fun in that!??
Nice trailer sir

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Buying stuff.. Where's the fun in that!??
Nice trailer sir

Thanks !

 

[Scsmith42]

Very clean design and execution!


Scott

 

[Techie1961]

You did a great job. It feels amazing to finish something like that up. Even when you know you can do it, the end result is so satisfying. Looks really well thought out. I like the way that you did the fenders as well. I did a similar thing. Easy to change when someone eventually hits it.

 

[PCO6]

Nice job Jon. Home built is the way to go when it's done right. The price is usually less for more and you get what you want . The best part is when someone asks you where you "bought" it and you get to tell them!

 

[longlivepunk]

Love it, keep posting your projects! They're always inspiring! How's the shop going? Is your son picking things up?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Very clean design and execution!


Scott

Thanks !

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Love it, keep posting your projects! They're always inspiring! How's the shop going? Is your son picking things up?

Thanks ! Yes hes coming along great. Thanks for asking !

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Nice job Jon. Home built is the way to go when it's done right. The price is usually less for more and you get what you want . The best part is when someone asks you where you "bought" it and you get to tell them!

Thank you very much, I really enjoy the process. Im almost kinda glad someone stole the old one lol

 

[Jon Jacobs]

You did a great job. It feels amazing to finish something like that up. Even when you know you can do it, the end result is so satisfying. Looks really well thought out. I like the way that you did the fenders as well. I did a similar thing. Easy to change when someone eventually hits it.

Thank you. You're right, its almost inevitable. I tried to keep the parts modular in case it gets banged up.

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice trailer build !!

If no one has ever done the removable fenders in that fashion, or the the cool latches, I'd try to patent that method. That way, you can benefit in future for all your ingenuity and hard work on that one. Only improvement I'd recommend is have wider flat surface on both sides of fender attachment, rather than just 2 single bolt holes as shaking stress may break out holes on aluminum fenders.

Also, do whatever you can to smooth down those bolts sticking out, or sharp corners as invariably you WILL walk into those at some point !

 

[toofart]

If no one has ever done the removable fenders in that fashion, I'd try to patent that method.

"Method for attaching two components together using fasteners" ?


OP, great job on that build. It looks very sturdy.

 

[ishiboo]

"Method for attaching two components together using fasteners" ?

Lol yeah.

Half my trailers have the same thing with angle iron.

 

[volleyball]

Buying stuff.. Where's the fun in that!??
Nice trailer sir

Buy trailer - buy
Build trailer - buy fenders, steel, tires, lights, wiring, coupler, paint, and so on.

 

[zmotorsports]

Jon, fantastic job on the trailer.

I too am getting ready to build a one-off for my shop. I do a lot of buying, building, selling motorcycles and sometimes our large 26' Haulmark Edge enclosed race trailer is just too big to run and grab a single bike with.

I had looked at some 6x10 trailers but they seem to be so "cheaply" made and don't represent my shop the way I want so I am going to just fabricate one in house.

I agree many people look at something like that and think, just go buy one. However, they just don't get it.

Also, in my opinion, overkill is under-rated.

Great job.

Mike.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Jon, fantastic job on the trailer.

I too am getting ready to build a one-off for my shop. I do a lot of buying, building, selling motorcycles and sometimes our large 26' Haulmark Edge enclosed race trailer is just too big to run and grab a single bike with.

I had looked at some 6x10 trailers but they seem to be so "cheaply" made and don't represent my shop the way I want so I am going to just fabricate one in house.

I agree many people look at something like that and think, just go buy one. However, they just don't get it.

Also, in my opinion, overkill is under-rated.

Great job.

Mike.

Thank you so much. If I showed up to pick up a mill or a lathe with an off shore cheap trailer people would ask " don't you own a machine shop ? "

Its a pre-cursor that's lets customers know your abilities and installs confidence.

I know what your sayin.

 

[zmotorsports]

Thank you so much. If I showed up to pick up a mill or a lathe with an off shore cheap trailer people would ask " don't you own a machine shop ? "

Its a pre-cursor that's lets customers know your abilities and installs confidence.

I know what your sayin.

Exactly. And if I were to pick up or drop off a bike on a rusted old, scabbed together mass produced trailer the customers would wonder what they got themselves in to.

Mike.

 

[drivesitfar]

JJ: your trailer looks awesome. i'm still not quite sure how your back gate latches work even looking at your pictures, but if others understand and it's just me then i'll just keep trying to figure it out. also i'm looking to add a few tie downs to the floor's frame and not sure how you made yours. i'm guessing you welded yours on instead of bolting them to the frame?

so now you are ready to buy another big machine for the shop?? since you are so close to Buffalo where i hear they have had a couple feet of snow and then rain dumped on them are you ok?

i'm not sure i'd even have my new trailer out in the rain and snow if it looked that nice. hopefully you have security worked out on better for this one and maybe the other one will be found at the bottom of the lake with the scumbag under it that thought he needed it worse than you.

i do like reading your threads and watching you fix or make cool stuff. keep it up if you can.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Exactly. And if I were to pick up or drop off a bike on a rusted old, scabbed together mass produced trailer the customers would wonder what they got themselves in to.

Mike.

agreed Mike.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

JJ: your trailer looks awesome. i'm still not quite sure how your back gate latches work even looking at your pictures, but if others understand and it's just me then i'll just keep trying to figure it out. also i'm looking to add a few tie downs to the floor's frame and not sure how you made yours. i'm guessing you welded yours on instead of bolting them to the frame?

so now you are ready to buy another big machine for the shop?? since you are so close to Buffalo where i hear they have had a couple feet of snow and then rain dumped on them are you ok?

i'm not sure i'd even have my new trailer out in the rain and snow if it looked that nice. hopefully you have security worked out on better for this one and maybe the other one will be found at the bottom of the lake with the scumbag under it that thought he needed it worse than you.

i do like reading your threads and watching you fix or make cool stuff. keep it up if you can.

Hi, thanks for the kind words. We are very close to Buffalo, lots of cross border shopping, especially close to black Friday.

It was 14 degrees here today, and rained like crazy. All the snow is gone.

We didn't get hit hard like Buffalo, but last winter was the worst one I can recall and I'm 48.

What really disappointed me about my old one was my dad and I built it, it was kinda special, but what can you do.

My new ones insured.

Im full to capacity with machinery at my shop and have made a deal to aquire the property next door to expand.

My sons marks are good and I am encouraging him to study engineering at the university I currently teach at.

The tie downs I made up were 2" dia stainless by 1/2" thick. I tig welded them to the underside of the floor before I installed it. Drilled and tapped 1/2-13.

I have attached a few pics.

The latch looks more complicated than it really is. Essentially the bolt pivots on the trailer side and drops into a channel on the tail gate side.

Once it is resting in the channel, you just tighten the nut and it draws the tailgate closed tightly.

I can send a more clearer image if you wish, Cheers

 

[slip knot]

Very nice build. I rebuilt my 16 ft a few years back and made numerous "upgrades" to it.

My only problem with buying versus building is the tax consequences of buy V build.

 

[drivesitfar]

JJ: funny you say it's 14 degrees and raining. usually it's snowing here in Seattle when it's that cold. must be that warm air off the lake that keeps your weather better than Buffalo's.

on your mounting disk you welded to the underside of your floor i'm guessing you put in eye bolts on the top side?

no hurry on the latch pictures and any you have time to take would be great and it looks a million percent better than the design the trailer company built for the aluminum trailer i own.

take care and awesome to hear you are already expanding.

 

[toofart]

JJ: funny you say it's 14 degrees and raining. usually it's snowing here in Seattle when it's that cold.

He meant 14*C, which is 57 on your side of the border.

 

[drivesitfar]

TF: thanks for clarifying.

 

[cbacres]

I also like the latches, looks like you made them out of stainless, along with the gate hinge.
Never have to worry those rusting up!

 

[Jon Jacobs]

He meant 14*C, which is 57 on your side of the border.

true lol

 

[Jon Jacobs]

I also like the latches, looks like you made them out of stainless, along with the gate hinge.
Never have to worry those rusting up!

Yup, I try to use stainless as much as possible. Its not much more money and easier to repair.