My 5x10 trailer

[toofart]

My new trailer did great on its maiden voyage -- 2000 mile round trip from Quebec to Kentucky. Pulled real great.

It did have an "oscillating vibration", kinda like a harmonic to it around 70mph, but the tires and wheels aren't balanced, so I'm guessing that contributed.

 

[zmotorsports]

Glad to hear everything towed nicely. Great looking trailer.

Mike.

 

[toofart]

I sold my 5x10 2 days after posting it up. Buyer seemed really happy with it.

So I started on the 6x10 for my friend. Here are some of the highlights so far:

0. The frame is pretty much the same as my 5x10, except I'm using smaller material for the sides. No double top rail.

1. I used a piece of 2x1 tube for the center post, as that is where I will mount the spare. I have some scrap 2" tube that I'll use for that.

2. The front frame piece is a 2" .125 instead of a 2x1 .125. Miscalculations, so I had to pick from my scrap. This adds about 6 lbs to the front.

3. I made the tongue a bit longer since the trailer is wider.

I know Kerry will call me out on those two welds across the front of the A frame but a friend of mine who works on heavy machinery said those welds are better off being there than not when using channel. He welds on heavy trailers that haul heavy equipment, so I'm going based on that.

 

[toofart]

I'm definitely getting better with vertical uphill, since more and more of my uphill welds look acceptable instead of big snot balls. I should take more time to prep the surface though, and I do when the welds are more critical.

On test pieces these uphills passed the BFH and press tests. I reduced heat and reduced wire speed compared to flat surface welds of the same material, used the inverted V motion across the center for penetration and pauses on each side. I'm happy with the results.

Did a much better job with the pie cuts this time. Practice makes perfect. These joints were fully cleaned before being welded up.

 

[koditten]

I hardly ever weld up. All my mig welds are top to bottom. With thinner iron, it's not a big deal. More of a preference thing.

 

[toofart]

I hardly ever weld up. All my mig welds are top to bottom. With thinner iron, it's not a big deal. More of a preference thing.

My buddy agrees with you -- when they MIG they go downhill and crank up the heat. I guess I'm just trying to prove to myself that I can.

 

[zmotorsports]

Lookin good.

Mike.

 

[kerrynzl]

Did a much better job with the pie cuts this time. Practice makes perfect. These joints were fully cleaned before being welded up.

Well done!

It is symetrical

 

[toofart]

I've decided that a carhauler is only handy a few times a year, so I built some 26" sides that I can bolt on for a 15x7 trailer

I used 1.5" x .250" angle and 3/4" pressure treated plywood. Mounting those 15' sides is a 2-man job. I may cut them at the center post and make 6 removable parts instead.

I'll have to load carefully, as the load will be biased to the front. Maybe later I'll make the tail part of the cargo area.

Rear gate has a hinge on both sides to open either side, or remove the gate. I'll be using a trailer clip to retain the hinge pin in place.

 

[volleyball]

1/2" would have been a lot lighter and strong enough.
You could build an extension to extend the back so that your load may be more centered.

 

[toofart]

No kidding

 

[bmxdad]

Yes, old thread ...

But, how much did the first 5x10 weigh when done? Good looking trailer!!

 

[toofart]

Thanks! If I remember the 5x10 weighed about 400 lbs. I built a 6x10 afterwards that weighed 600.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

I've decided that a carhauler is only handy a few times a year, so I built some 26" sides that I can bolt on for a 15x7 trailer

I used 1.5" x .250" angle and 3/4" pressure treated plywood. Mounting those 15' sides is a 2-man job. I may cut them at the center post and make 6 removable parts instead.

I'll have to load carefully, as the load will be biased to the front. Maybe later I'll make the tail part of the cargo area.

Rear gate has a hinge on both sides to open either side, or remove the gate. I'll be using a trailer clip to retain the hinge pin in place.

Good work!

I want to do something like that to my equipment trailer.

 

[bmxdad]

What dimensions are on the tongue? How far from the coupler to the front of the boxed frame? Ready to do the tongue on my 5x10.

 

[zmotorsports]

What dimensions are on the tongue? How far from the coupler to the front of the boxed frame? Ready to do the tongue on my 5x10.

From my experience I generally use the formula of half the width of the tow vehicle and then add between 6-10 inches for overall tongue length. This is measured from the front of the box itself to the center of the ball.

Not sure how others set theirs up but that is the formula I have used for many years now. Hope that helps.

Mike.

 

[kerrynzl]

What dimensions are on the tongue? How far from the coupler to the front of the boxed frame? Ready to do the tongue on my 5x10.

1.5 x the overall width should be the distance from the axle to the Towball centre.
Overall width is determined at the outer edge of the tyre sidewall.

a 5' [or 60"] wide trailer with 8" fenders =76" [assuming the tyres go to the outer edge]

76" x 1.5 = 114" [this is the measurement needed]
If the 10' [120"] deck is 60/40 to the front , there is 72" of deck in front of the axle.
114"- 72" = 42" long tongue [minimum]
If the deck is closer to 50/50 the tongue will appear longer

 

[toofart]

On my 5x10 I believe the tongue was between 42 and 45 inches. On the 6x10 I put it at 48". On my car hauler it is 53" if memory serves me correctly.

 

[bmxdad]

Mine is 43", so that works out good ... Thanks.