New project

[sharpshooter]

Well I just wheeled this POS in the garage over the weekend. It looks like hammered hell but hauls like a dream, My step dad has had this trailer for a pretty good while and my mother has been on him to get rid of it for a new one so I acquired it for free... I plan on ripping everything off it, sandblasting it, adding some fenders and a light kit on it. Im also thinking of putting a gate on it just so I can see the dang thing backing up lol... It also tilts so its a pretty functional trailer... its just ugly as all get out...

 

[930dreamer]

That should keep you busy for a bit. I have a hard time buying stuff new so I see the same project in my future.

 

[KEH]

Nice. With all due respect to your mother, she is not showing good judgement here. if she had been after her husband to fix up and paint the trailer I would say fine, but not just discard that one, even to a deserving guy like you. I suspect the husband is going to feel free to spend for a deluxe trailer.

KEH

 

[sharpshooter]

Ha Ha... she thought it was hideous... she wanted it out of the yard... The sad thing is he bought a new trailer and he said it pulls terrible compared to this here "ugly" one....

 

[Travis E.]

What are those tires and wheels originally off of?

 

[KEH]

Well, I haven't had much experience with my homemade trailers pulling bad, but my first guess is poor weight distribution. More than 50 % of the weight should be ahead of the axle. Some commercial trailers look like they are balanced so there is not enough weoght on the hitch.

I guess it's possible the axle and tougue are not in proper alignment, but a little checking with a tape measure should settle that question.

KEH

 

[HOTFR8]

Should be a good project.

 

[milner351]

If you plan on any highway duty or any distance with that trailer - I'd replace the tires.

 

[just1more]

Do the tires have DOT numbers on them? look kinda like an impliment tire. Are there springs on the axle? Should be a good project.

 

[clkimmel]

That looks like a great project, let us know it's going.

 

[sharpshooter]

the new trailer pulls bad empty.. Im thinkin it might be the tires though.. The ugly trailer does have tractor tires on it but I will be going over everthing and replacing it.. It also has leaf springs on it... Not really sure as to the wheels that are on it...

 

[just1more]

When you say it pulls bad empty, does the back end sway side to side? Like KEH said, axle location too far forward creates a light tongue weight = problems.

they will also do it with a load thats not placed correctly.

 

[bczygan]

Looks pretty to me! (Of course I've got 20 some odd trailers). I like the steel truss structure on each side that gives more support for the sides and allows the platform framing to be thinner. Be interesting to see the framing. Gonna re-deck with plywood?

 

[just1more]

Speaking of the axle, do you know what it came from? You might want to pull it apart to see if it has high speed bearings? With the wheels/tires on it, maybe it was built from an implement , not meant for highway speeds?

 

[sharpshooter]

Not sure on the decking yet... Gonna have to replace axle bearings soon

 

[stonewellmark]

I'd scrap that, take the $ and build myself a nice little trailer, hell ya mite even find one cheap enough.