Modifying a utlity lawn trailer

[gjz30075]

I've been thinking of getting one of those little trailers with the rails around it, usually angle iron, about a foot high with a full width ramp. I was going to then cut the rails down to the platform so it can be use for a small car.

I was told that those rails actually support and hold together the platform of the trailer. I'm not certain that is really true. I can't see where the extensions of a foot or so, every foot and a half around the trailer, makes for support.

Anyone else cut these rails (with their 'posts') off to better utilize this type of trailer?

 

[Spareparts]

If it is an angle iron frame then the top rails are a supporting member, if square or rectangular tubing for the frame then the rails were for side boards of tie downs.

 

[koditten]

No angle iron trailer without its side will work very good for a car hauler. I've repaired a bunch of them that were overloaded. They are good trailers if used for what they are intended for.

Without the sides they will be useless. Please do not remove them.

 

[rsanter]

Those rails offer a lot of support
Inhale even seen some of the square tube trailers with that rail that I would not recommend removing the rail from

Bob

 

[HMCFab9]

No angle iron trailer without its side will work very good for a car hauler.

Without the sides they will be useless. Please do not remove them.

^^^^What he said. Very bad idea! Many of those things are very poorly built in the first place without cutting structural parts out of them.

 

[gjz30075]

Good to hear. I'll rethink my intentions.
Thanks everyone!

 

[kerrynzl]

No angle iron trailer without its side will work very good for a car hauler. I've repaired a bunch of them that were overloaded. They are good trailers if used for what they are intended for.

Without the sides they will be useless. Please do not remove them.

Not quite true, while the upper rail can provide some beaming strength but for it to really contribute to strength it needs to be triangulated like a truss [ most trailers I see aren’t triangulated ]

I have seen a 16 ft car hauler trailer made from 3”x 2”x 1/4” uneven angle rails [ with the 3” flange facing up ], It had 2” x 1/8” angle crossmembers at 16” intervals [ flange facing down ]
This trailer could haul a Jap SUV easily.
The beaming strength came from full length 8” x 1-1/4” shiplap timber deck that was locked and glued together. Timber has incredible strength for its weight and is approx 10:1 weight / volume of steel.

So a 8”wide strip if steel at 1/8” thickness has the same weight as a 8”wide piece if timber at 1-1/4” thickness.
You can bend the 8”strip of steel around your knee but you cannot bend the timber.

If I was modifying a trailer, I wouldn’t hesitate using angle. But for building from scratch I would rather use 1/8”wall rectangular tubing instead of 1/4”wall angle [ you have 2 vertical “blades” for beaming strength ]
Steel is sold by weight so it would be cost effective

 

[JHunter]

Take a look at your subject line - Its a utility / lawn trailer - please don't try to make it in to a car hauler. Aside from the fact that most states require trailer axle brakes on car haulers, a utility trailer probably won't have tie downs hefty enough to keep a car in place if you should be hit by another car. Sorry to chime in or kick a possibly dead horse, but it drives me crazy when I see people hauling trailers overloaded or with unsafe/unsecured loads, it's putting the rest of us at risk.

 

[ibedayank]

Most smaller ""utility "" trailers are rated for under 3000 pounds this includes the weight of the trailer. Most do not have trailer brakes on both axles. Use the right tool for the Job!

 

[gjz30075]

Ok, I get it . The car in question is a Lotus Elan, 1500 lbs. I've towed one before with the Elan on it but with the rails (5' x 10') , but it was very 'inconvienent' with the rails.

I agree, a better choice of trailer would simply be....a better choice.

Thanks all.

 

[kerrynzl]

Ok, I get it . The car in question is a Lotus Elan, 1500 lbs. I've towed one before with the Elan on it but with the rails (5' x 10') , but it was very 'inconvienent' with the rails.

I agree, a better choice of trailer would simply be....a better choice.

Thanks all.

Cool car mate!
I used to tow a MK 1 Lotus Cortina on a Lightweight trailer.

The Cortina weighed 1584 lbs [ gutted race car ]
I built a 12ft car hauler trailer from folded sheet metal , which weighed 880 lbs

The trailer was strong enough for me to tow a dead Mitsubishi Pajero at 4364 lbs.

With engineering SHAPE is more important than SIZE.
There are a lot of "Cowshed Engineers" out there that just add more and more steel to something until it "looks strong enough"

You never hear an aircraft engineer say "that's a good strong heavy airplane"