tandem axle utility trailer progress

[Jon Jacobs]

Worked away this weekend on my new trailer. Heres a few pics. Still needs floor installed.

 

[jimgood]

Nice work!

 

[zoominomad]

Nicely done! What made you decide to go tandem on such a small trailer?

 

[bullnerd]

As usual, very nicely done!

 

[fastleft]

Looks great. Can you possibly show more detail about the tailgate latches? Look nicely done. I just made a gate for my trailer and I hate the latch I made, would like to upgrade it a bit.

Thanks
Tommy

 

[nahfwt]

That's a sweet trailer! What gauge steel did you use for the sides?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Nicely done! What made you decide to go tandem on such a small trailer?

Hi, That's a good question, actually I have been paying out so much for machinery movers to haul machinery to my shop, I decided to build my own. The foot print is 5' x 10 ' but its a tandem so it can take the weight. Space is also at a premium so I didn't want it taking up too much room in the driveway.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

That's a sweet trailer! What gauge steel did you use for the sides?

Hi, thank you. 3/16 hot rolled. Had it sheared to size by the supplier.

 

[Whiskeymike]

Are you planning to put 3/16 down on the floor or something else?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Looks great. Can you possibly show more detail about the tailgate latches? Look nicely done. I just made a gate for my trailer and I hate the latch I made, would like to upgrade it a bit.

Thanks
Tommy

Hi, Thank you. I made a linkage which pivots on the trailer side and a channel which is welded to the tailgate side. The linkage at rest sits in the channel and a nut is tightened to keep tailgate closed. Some people use a simple pin but the noise of a tailgate rattling on long trips gets on your nerves. This keeps everything tight. Please see cad dwg. Hope this helps.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Are you planning to put 3/16 down on the floor or something else?

Hi, yes. Its about $300.00 for the piece, so Im waiting till pay day. I will put 8 anchor points on the floor. Welded plates ( on the underside ) with 1/2-13 threaded holes around the perimeter to accommodate eye bolts. On occasion I have had to secure loads close to the floor.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

As usual, very nicely done!

Thank you

 

[vekster]

nice job!
Mind me asking what you have into it for materials?
What are the axles rated at?

 

[kerrynzl]

Looks great. Can you possibly show more detail about the tailgate latches? Look nicely done. I just made a gate for my trailer and I hate the latch I made, would like to upgrade it a bit.

Thanks
Tommy

Use drop-locks and an eye-plate. similar to what farmers have on gates.
They don't rattle and are fool proof

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...YlLQuVY2l7MGf_xgeahQkc7J0Wz0wm23pskplWSiybw5g

 

[kerrynzl]

Hi, That's a good question, actually I have been paying out so much for machinery movers to haul machinery to my shop, I decided to build my own. The foot print is 5' x 10 ' but its a tandem so it can take the weight. Space is also at a premium so I didn't want it taking up too much room in the driveway.

With single axle, you need expensive load rated tyres.
with a tandem you can get away with cheaper tyres x 4 and there is not much difference in the overall costs [when it is all added together]

The pay off is a tandem trailer is worth more to sell.

I never build single axle trailers because the public try to price shop me against cheap Chinese imports.

By the way. "Outstanding workmanship Jon" you put manufacturers to shame!

 

[longlivepunk]

Another great job, Jon! I've started collecting materials in the hopes of building a solid tandem axle trailer before I start buying machinery. Luckily at my last shop (I'm an apprentice machinist) we got a new machine on a large-footprint steel pallet that I cut into 4 pieces and brought home in 3 loads in my little 2.3L inline 4 Ford Ranger. It's ****** steel, but it'll be good enough for what I'm doing.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

nice job!
Mind me asking what you have into it for materials?
What are the axles rated at?

Hi, thank you. The axles are 3500lbs each. I would estimate around $2700.00 for material.

I know you could probably buy this type of thing for close to that amount but not as robust.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Another great job, Jon! I've started collecting materials in the hopes of building a solid tandem axle trailer before I start buying machinery. Luckily at my last shop (I'm an apprentice machinist) we got a new machine on a large-footprint steel pallet that I cut into 4 pieces and brought home in 3 loads in my little 2.3L inline 4 Ford Ranger. It's ****** steel, but it'll be good enough for what I'm doing.

Awesome, good luck. If I can assist in anyway, let me know. Good luck with your apprenticeship.

Its a great project to chip away at, if you have a P/A close by, they're a great resource.

I bought an old sign shop, and slowly rebuilt it. Its where I started up.

 

[bullnerd]

LOL, Jon, I just noticed your avatar? It doesn't seem to fit your personality? You must have a dark side?

 

[Jon Jacobs]

With single axle, you need expensive load rated tyres.
with a tandem you can get away with cheaper tyres x 4 and there is not much difference in the overall costs [when it is all added together]

The pay off is a tandem trailer is worth more to sell.

I never build single axle trailers because the public try to price shop me against cheap Chinese imports.

By the way. "Outstanding workmanship Jon" you put manufacturers to shame!

Thank you, I try to put out the best work I can. Trying to teach a few thing to my son who is distracted by todays technology.

Youre right, fiscally its hard to rationalize building something you can buy cheaper, but on closer inspection you will find the workmanship and material quality are poor.

Personally I like the challenge. Plus I think its good for business.

I like your stuff also, excellent workmanship.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

LOL, Jon, I just noticed your avatar? It doesn't seem to fit your personality? You must have a dark side?

funny, I guess youre right. Not sure why I picked that. I think I picked it by mistake when I first joined. Oh well, sok for now.

 

[drivesitfar]

JJ: nice to see you are finishing up your trailer project. did you make room to park it inside the shop. you do amazing work and wish i lived closer so i could see it first hand.

can you take a few more pictures of the gate latch you installed because your nice CAD drawing doesn't have the locking mechanism on it? did you make the entire thing, remodel it or just buy it and install it? i don't like the latch on mine and would like to upgrade it or have yours built into a new trailer if i go that route.

I hope the new business is doing well.

good luck

 

[fastleft]

Nice design on the latch. Thanks for the info. Will have to do something like that as well.... I can't stand rattling either!

 

[Jon Jacobs]

JJ: nice to see you are finishing up your trailer project. did you make room to park it inside the shop. you do amazing work and wish i lived closer so i could see it first hand.

can you take a few more pictures of the gate latch you installed because your nice CAD drawing doesn't have the locking mechanism on it? did you make the entire thing, remodel it or just buy it and install it? i don't like the latch on mine and would like to upgrade it or have yours built into a new trailer if i go that route.

I hope the new business is doing well.

good luck

Will do, Probably be back there tonite, will take a few, Best Jon.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Nice design on the latch. Thanks for the info. Will have to do something like that as well.... I can't stand rattling either!

Thanks, I will post a few more detailed pic, Jon.

 

[toofart]

Very nice work!

 

[volleyball]

Nice strong looking trailer. I am looking at an older trailer on CL in Ma. that is very similar in design. Trying to figure if rebuilding or starting fresh as a better way to go.

 

[zoominomad]

Hi, That's a good question, actually I have been paying out so much for machinery movers to haul machinery to my shop, I decided to build my own. The foot print is 5' x 10 ' but its a tandem so it can take the weight. Space is also at a premium so I didn't want it taking up too much room in the driveway.

Gotcha, makes perfect sense. Looks great!

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Worked on the floor this weekend. I machined up 6 stainless anchor pads which get welded on the underside to accommodate eye bolts.

 

[drivesitfar]

JJ: i always enjoy watching your threads and your builds. looks like your trailer is almost finished once you put it back together except for maybe the lighting?

not to bother you but can you take a few more pictures of your latch you installed to hold the back gate shut? also it looks like you installed some nice hold downs on your new steel bed and care to take any pictures of them and maybe let us know why you chose those instead of the floor mounted ones?'

good luck on finishing your trailer and i hope your new business is doing well.

 

[Bruce4310TX]

Very nice indeed

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Did a little work on my trailer this weekend. Here's a few pics.

 

[kerrynzl]

Nice Trailer Jon.

 

[bullnerd]

Yup, very nice!

I can tell you what the next post is going to be......"can we see close up pics of the tailgate latches?"

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Yup, very nice!

I can tell you what the next post is going to be......"can we see close up pics of the tailgate latches?"

Hi, tomorrow I will take a few close up images of some of the more detailed components, I was beat by the end of the day, it was getting dark too.

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Nice Trailer Jon.

Thanks, I made afew mistakes along the way, but it will get the job done. Whenever you start and stop projects its easy to make errors. I give it a B plus.

 

[drivesitfar]

JJ: I wish i lived closer because i'd consider buying your B+ trailer build so you could build a nicer one. very nice job.

I'd like to see a few pictures of the latch and also the hold downs that you made. or did you buy them and where?

Best

 

[RogueFab]

Wow. 3/16? That is a tank! Cool blend of equipment hauler and utility trailer

 

[Jon Jacobs]

JJ: I wish i lived closer because i'd consider buying your B+ trailer build so you could build a nicer one. very nice job.

I'd like to see a few pictures of the latch and also the hold downs that you made. or did you buy them and where?

Best

Hi, no I made everything on the lathe or milling machine. I still haven't had a chance to take a few pics but I will this weekend. Thank you btw, Jon

 

[Jon Jacobs]

Wow. 3/16? That is a tank! Cool blend of equipment hauler and utility trailer

Better too heavy than not enough I guess. Ive seen machinery go right through the floor of a landscapers trailer, it left an impression on me I think , Best Jon.