Anyone converted a boat trailer into a utility trailer?

[moneyisflying]

I started a previous thread that got sidetracked, so I thought this one might be more to the point.

What all is involved with converting an aluminum boat trailer into a utility trailer? Anyone done it before? Any tips or how to threads?

 

[01-7700]

Buy some channel - attach channel to frame to make triangle a rectangle - apply decking.

 

[atch]

Well; I didn't but a buddy did. His was a steel frame but method should be the same.

One at a time he welded in a straight rectangular tube close to one of the "V" shaped crossmembers and then cut out the "V". He left the front pointed and didn't square it off. He has other trailers to use whenever that is problematic. Then he welded in diamond plate flooring. The last thing he did was permanently weld in one of those lift mechanisms on the back right corner. You know, the ones they sell to lift unsplit firewood into pickups and trailers. I don't know the capacity of that lift, but I was there when it lifted a 394 Oldsmobile engine with trans attached. Then it just swivels around to set the load down in the middle of the trailer.

It became his go-to trailer for any load less than a whole car.

I'd attach pix but (1) it's not mine and (2) it's 2 hours away and it's not important enough for me to go and take pix.

 

[moneyisflying]

Sweet! Do you happen to know what size his was? Was it a single axel or dual axel? Any idea on how much it weighed?

 

[atch]

I'm just saying this from memory and I could be wrong, but I believe it was a double axle trailer. It was an older narrower style, though. It wasn't one of these newfangled wide bass boat trailers.

 

[moneyisflying]

I need it to be 6ft wide minimum. I would prefer 2 axles. Honestly, weight is the big thing. If I could do this under 800lbs that's my goal. I don't know if I can do this out of steel and still make it or not. That's why aluminum came to mind, but steel is a lot easier and cheaper to work with.

 

[Bretny]

A 6.5x12ft steel trailer weighs about 1,000lbs. With aluminum and dual axles i dont think you will be under your weight u want. Axles, tires and springs are heavy.

 

[moneyisflying]

Gotcha. Well, hopefully a 6x10 would.

Some people have used snowmobile trailers for this and that sounds ideal but with the single axel and very small tires on the underneath portion, some think it may not be wise.

Maybe a single axel would work if it was a larger one with a normal sized trailer tire?

 

[Voi]

Gotcha. Well, hopefully a 6x10 would.

Triton makes a narrow 10' deck-over aluminum/wood trailer that is under 400 pounds for the single axle version. I don't know if they make a double axle version at 10' long.

I agree with a reply in your other thread suggesting converting an aluminum snowmobile deck-over trailer. Good bang for your buck at a light weight.

Most of the snowmobile trailers are 8' wide which will make them heavier. Aluma and Bear Track make narrower aluminum deck overs with double axles as I recall. Will be more difficult to find used, however. Aluminum deck over snowmobile trailers seem much easier to come by in my area.

 

[redmondjp]

Gotcha. Well, hopefully a 6x10 would.

Some people have used snowmobile trailers for this and that sounds ideal but with the single axel and very small tires on the underneath portion, some think it may not be wise.

Maybe a single axel would work if it was a larger one with a normal sized trailer tire?

How much weight do you want to be able to carry with this trailer? Go and look at the weight ratings of ST (trailer) tires and you'll get an approximate gross weight limit based upon your tire choice.

 

[moneyisflying]

Triton makes a narrow 10' deck-over aluminum/wood trailer that is under 400 pounds for the single axle version. I don't know if they make a double axle version at 10' long.

I agree with a reply in your other thread suggesting converting an aluminum snowmobile deck-over trailer. Good bang for your buck at a light weight.

Most of the snowmobile trailers are 8' wide which will make them heavier. Aluma and Bear Track make narrower aluminum deck overs with double axles as I recall. Will be more difficult to find used, however. Aluminum deck over snowmobile trailers seem much easier to come by in my area.

Yeah you can find the aluminum snowmobile trailers in my area also. Some are a pretty good deal! Thanks for the input!

How much weight do you want to be able to carry with this trailer? Go and look at the weight ratings of ST (trailer) tires and you'll get an approximate gross weight limit based upon your tire choice.

Do you have a link to them? I want to carry somewhere in the neighborhood of 1500 lbs (payload, not including the weight of the trailer). I want to keep the trailer with the side by side I want to haul on it under 2500 lbs. 2200-2300 would be ideal (or lighter).

 

[redmondjp]

For your load, you can definitely go with a single axle.

For the tire ratings, just google "trailer tires" and pick a place that carries them. For example, try www.trailertires.com

Trailer tires with start with the letters "ST" and are different from automotive tires as follows (this copied from the above website):

"These Nylon Bias-Ply 'Special Trailer' (ST) tires have been constructed for better high speed durability and bruise resistance under heavy loads. Trailer tire construction varies substantially from automotive tires, therefore it is essential to choose the correct tire for your towing application. Please refer to your "Gross Vehicle Weight" (weight of load and trailer combined) when choosing the correct load range for your trailer."

 

[moneyisflying]

Thanks for the info! Looks like I'll need some 14" tires to get the job done safely. I need to look into where I can get axels now.

 

[850xpeps]

My dad’s 6x12 aluminum single axle trailer weighs about 500lbs. There is nothing to it. You need a 2500lb axle min. Most boat trailers are bolted together and garbage. If you haven’t welded aluminum you have no business making a trailer to support a sxs behind a golf cart. I’m a redneck and save money when I can I will suggest you don’t attempt an aluminum trailer. Do you know how much strength an aluminum weld losses to an in welded spot?

Your gonna spend $1200 plus building a trailer when you can buy a brand new one for $2k that’s made properly and fits what you need and is new.

If you think one person is an ******* you might be right...if you think all people are assholes you best look in the mirror. No ones trying to hold you back just give their opinion on what’s safe or not. Ask for help on a public forum ...this is what you get. If your asking how to make a trailer...you shouldn’t be making one lol


If your dead set on aluminum I’d suggest bolting lots of it together in addition to the welding


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Voi]

For your load, you can definitely go with a single axle.

I live in side by side country and most of the ones I see being hauled are on single axle trailers. I recently saw two smaller Polaris UTV's side loaded on a single axle snowmobile trailer. That looked really sketchy and the guy was pulled over to the side of the road so he may have been having trouble. Not something I would have tried.

 

[moneyisflying]

I live in side by side country and most of the ones I see being hauled are on single axle trailers. I recently saw two smaller Polaris UTV's side loaded on a single axle snowmobile trailer. That looked really sketchy and the guy was pulled over to the side of the road so he may have been having trouble. Not something I would have tried.

Holy smokes! 2 UTV's on one snowmobile trailer! That does sound sketchy!

Yeah the more I research the more I think you are right and a single axel trailer may work out fine. This opens a lot more possibilities. I think the single smaller axel snowmobile trailers wouldn't do it and that the axel needs to be larger and have larger wheels and tires. I've been looking and it seems a lot of the trailers that are built on boat trailers although cheap are in the 1,000 lb range and brings me back to the weight issue.

I'm seeing now what it would take to mount a larger axel on a snowmobile trailer. This seems like it might be the perfect fit for what I am looking for.