The "free" trailer

[Toolhunter]

I told a friend I could use a small trailer to haul my quad and my dirtbike around. Well the friend is moving and says I got one you can have...Im always up for a challenge lol

This is the trailer I have taken the axle off in this pic, old fire gloves work great for welding

Rear shackle mount other side was off the frame, The rust is not that bad pic makes it look worse, I gave my friend some **** for his flux core popcorn he made lol all are going to be ground down and re welded, I have a vintage sears arc welder that I bought for $30 built a home made rod dryer box and have been practicing.

heres some 1/8" 6011 at about the 95 amp setting

Ok so heres the plan The dimensions right now are 4' wide and 5' long and the tongue is about 5' from where it meets the trailer to make the 60/40 I would like to add 2' to the rear and 3' to the front and also add 1' to each side of the trailer and put a railing all the way around drive over fenders would be on the inside of the railing. I called a local steel place and they wanted $130 for a 24' 2x2x3/16 I know a local place that builds signs for the highway will be checking to see if i cant buy some of their scrap stock. but until i source my metal grinding down the old welds and re welding and repacking bearings, replacing and yes this is all fun to me lol.

 

[koditten]

First off, why would you use 3/16? You can do everything you want using 14 gauge.

Secondly, those springs are not trailer springs.

Can we see a picture of the axle and tires? I'll be honest with you, you are going to have as much in rebuilding this thing as the cost of building a new frame. There are many things that can be recycled when taking on this kind of challenge.

I come across trailers like this a couple times a year. I do everything to push the owner towards a new trailer. The time involved revamping old **** can out weigh the cost of just starting new.

On the plus side, i like your welds. If you get a chance, take a look at my 5 x 10 trailer build thread.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143895&highlight=trailer+build

I love that you are trying to rebuild something and make it usefull. I wish I had the resources of the internest when I was starting out.

Ask any questions, I'm on this site constantly.

Later

KO

Kirk

 

[Toolhunter]

I read two of your threads on building trailers great stuff. The 3/16 idea was from gathering info from other sites. Ill get some pics up of the axle when I get out of work here. Wonder what the springs are out of? I can tell you its a square axle with 5 bolt hubs I think they are 5 on 5. If my possible source for steel is good I will start over, hopefully i can use the springs they seem stout.

Thank you for the comment on the welds though haha

 

[Toolhunter]

as you can see the axle is short

I flipped the axle to see how it would work when I got it the axle was under the spring

 

[Spareparts]

Pay attention to koditten he is offering some good advice, if you are using a wire machine to weld with 14ga is ample but as you stated you are using a stick, so I would go with 11ga, less burn thru. Make it as wide as whatever you are going to pull it with, lot easier to back up if you can see it in your mirrors. Have fun with and I'am subscribed.

 

[refried]

Looks like a good start but I'd listen to kodittens advice, those springs look much too heavy for a small trailer, nothing worse than a empty trailer bouncing down the road. Here's my free trailer, It came with my boat when I bought it but it was nothing more than a pile of parts from a snowmobile trailer when I first saw it. The seller said he'd have his son build build a nice raft trailer from the parts but I didn't expect much (I got a great deal on the boat and all his rafting gear he had so the trailer was a bonus). After several weeks of him not completing it, I wired it up and towed it home to finish

It has an 11x8 deck over a 5x9 box and It still tilts for launching at a ramp and the deck opens for easy loading. The only changes I would have made is to make the box deeper to fit a cooler inside.

 

[Toolhunter]

Im taking his advice found a local steel supply was able to get 60' of 2x2x1/8 for $50 trailer is about to become parts haha working as we speak.

 

[Spareparts]

Widen that axle out for a little wider deck, the springs look like maybe out from an old straight axle truck, they can get bouncy without some type of shocks. I just got back from Orschlin Farm Supply where I got some 22" 1750lb springs for $22.68 ea for a option. 3" tongue so you can get a good quality coupler and have fun putting it all together. Opt for real trailer tires, they handle the load far better than cat tires.

 

[volaredon]

First off, why would you use 3/16? You can do everything you want using 14 gauge.

Secondly, those springs are not trailer springs.

Can we see a picture of the axle and tires? I'll be honest with you, you are going to have as much in rebuilding this thing as the cost of building a new frame. There are many things that can be recycled when taking on this kind of challenge.

I come across trailers like this a couple times a year. I do everything to push the owner towards a new trailer. The time involved revamping old **** can out weigh the cost of just starting new.


Later

KO

Kirk

yeah but when I built mine it was such a PITA to get it licensed and titled so no matter what a POS it may well be (Im not saying it is) if it has a title he may be better off to build it into what he wants, with what he does have; I wont build one from scratch again and go thru that hassle; (unless Illinois' laws go back to how things used to be before 2010 or I get a trailer that comes with one that I can "rebuild" into whatever suits my needs;
I know the laws because I went thru the mess in late 2010/early 2011. and was told by the Sec of State when they changed things.
Money wise, wound up with 1/3 what the closest comparable new trailer would have cost me to just go and buy, and "closest to" is relative because that one for 3X what I spent, is a tin can by comparison... so if you don't mind a hassle and governmental red tape OR you get something with a title so you can avoid the mess, it may well be well worth building one...

and the red tape hassle is not in the name of safety on the road, near as much as them thinking if you don't have a bill of sale or reciept they assume it's stolen... get reciepts for everything.... lights wire, coupler, scrap metal, tires, etc.... if you use a minivan axle gotten from a junkyard (not what I did but seen many posts on thoise that have) make sure you get that reciept too. They want copies of all of them.
so don't think youre gonna pull that 1970s popup with rotten canvas out of the weeds and strip it to the deck, put new plywood on it and then title it home made any more; not here anyway.
THERE IS a way to "recflassify" a trailer from say a camper to a utility trailer IF you have title to the camper that they said wasn't very difficult or complicated, at all.... but again, you have to have some kind of title to do that with.
My aggravation and consternation was in having a useless yard ornament for several months while waiting for the process to take its path... and no you cant legally use that yard ornament on the roadways, til you get the title and temp registraion, either....

If you get something with a title already then all you gotta do is transfer it into your name. no inspections no sending pictures or reciepts in, no inspection just gotta do the transfer. (again safety isnt their motive there--if it were the hassle would be much more understandable and bearable)

Even if titled as a "home made" its OK as long as there is a previous title on it.
1 more suggestion; Whether you have to go thru the process of the State to create a new title or whetehr whatever skeleton you start with comes with one, whatever the "VIN number" is take that welder and "write" it on the frame, in weld bead.
Before they went thru this new "process" they would give you a sticker like a license plate renewal sticker when a home made title was applied for, and whether thru the years it got painted over, fell off, new tongue welded on/covered it up or what ever, the sicker disappears.
Now a days when you go thru the process the inspector will pop rivet a State issued VIN tag onto the frame. Still a good idea to write the VIN on it in weld bead somewhere; even underneath on the back side of the frame so if it ever does "walk" you have some kind of ID marks that YOU know, will ID YOUR trailer.

 

[volaredon]

I read two of your threads on building trailers great stuff. The 3/16 idea was from gathering info from other sites. Ill get some pics up of the axle when I get out of work here. Wonder what the springs are out of? I can tell you its a square axle with 5 bolt hubs I think they are 5 on 5. If my possible source for steel is good I will start over, hopefully i can use the springs they seem stout.

Thank you for the comment on the welds though haha

if they ARE trailer hubs probably 5 on 4-1/2.

1 more thing; figure out what you wanna do before you dig too deep into working on this as they say sometimes the price of "free" can be too expensive.

 

[Toolhunter]

Michigan is not bad about getting a title atleast my SOS office isn't

My plan is much the same as stated earlier trailer will be 4x10 between the tires and 6' on the outside of them plan on a being able to hold the quad dirtbike and maybe a diamond plate truck box. Taking a break right now make a run to tractor supply to check out the springs the place where i bought the steel had a snowmobile trailer axle with springs and tires in a pile. Might se what he would want for it.

 

[Spareparts]

Sometimes in Ks. they can get picky, when I built my 20' gooseneck and took it to the inspection stationed, after getting it weighed it came in at 1960lb. with no deck (in Ks. anything under 2,000lb doesn't have to be registered). Well the first thing he said it needs a temp tag to be inspected, that is when I showed him the weight ticket, so on with the inspection. I had all the receipts for steel, axles tires wheels hitch lights wiring, everything but the jack. He said no receipt no ID TAG. Give me a minute and that will be taken care of, turned the tanks on and torch unrapped he said what are you going to do. cut it off I said, he looked at me kinda funny and said I'll put the tag on,

 

[koditten]

Thanks for the pics.

Looks to me like the axle may have started its life as a small boat trailer axle. I have seen many made out of the 1 1/2 tube. They are usually 2500lbs axles at best. Should be good enough for what you want. Just don't go loading the thing up with green oak fire wood.

Those springs really have to go. You can by brand new springs from Tractor supply for less than 60 bucks. A spring hanger kit will run you 20 bucks.

The tires/wheels look good enough to use. If they hold air, you are in pretty good shape. Just watch the trailer the first time you tow it. I have come across old tire/wheel combose that were so out of round, it made the trailer shake uncontrolebly. tires had to be replaced. Hopefully you get lucky.

I have no problem using car tires for trailers. I have not come across a decent light duty trailer yet. I tell all my customers when it comes time to get new tires to just use light duty truck tires.

As you mentioned, it is stupid easy to get a registration and plate here in Michigan. Looking forward to more pics as you make progress.

There are a lot of smart people here. You are in the right church.

KO

 

[brownbagg]

there nothing wrong with those spring, dont let these boys bully you, if they are too stiff just take out a leaf

 

[Toolhunter]

there nothing wrong with those spring, dont let these boys bully you, if they are too stiff just take out a leaf

I was thinking the same, They are heavy tho seems most 1750 springs have 3-4 leafs these have 7 haha.

Well here's what I got for $50 the guy i bought it from was awesome and his shop was my dream huge with tons of tools and steel

I put together a jig so My little pieces could become straight long pieces, Worked well.

Starting to look like something

 

[Toolhunter]

When I stopped at tractor supply I took at look at the ramps they had for sale. This set was $179.99 and stated it was rated for 1800lbs

I have never welded Alum. but check these out

I think I will have to learn how to weld aluminum

 

[Toolhunter]

The "free trailer" is now a organ donor

Thinking this could be the rear gate?

Seeing where it might sit before going in for the night. As you can see my 18'x18' is getting cramped I blame it on Craigslist that pool table was in the free section for godsakes lol.

 

[Daddy454]

Dude,you are working in some tight quarters.Can't wait to see how it goes as it grows.

 

[Packard V8]

The tires/wheels look good enough to use. If they hold air, you are in pretty good shape. Just watch the trailer the first time you tow it. I have come across old tire/wheel combose that were so out of round, it made the trailer shake uncontrolebly. tires had to be replaced. Hopefully you get lucky.

I learned long ago not to put any tires on a trailer I wouldn't put on the front axle of the tow rig. I was driving through North Idaho on I-90 the first Sunday after hunting season opened. In front of me was a pickup towing a small camper trailer. A tire on the trailer blew and the trailer started swinging wildly; then, as they say, the pickup driver got behind on his steering and the pickup and the trailer were barrel-rolling down the interstate, shedding sheet metal and debris. For a few seconds, I was like Luke in that scene from Star Wars flying his tie-fighter through the asteroid belt.

I stopped to see if they were OK; just cuts and bruises. The remaining tire on the trailer still had plenty of tread but was completely dry rotted. I pointed this out and one hunter asked the other, "How old you figger them tars wuz, Jed?" "Dunno. They come on the trailer when my uncle bought it used fifteen years ago." Your results may vary.

jack vines

 

[Toolhunter]

Stopped by the metal guy today I think I made a friend, he gave me some more good deals including the expanded metal. I took a couple leafs out of the pack and will be using them for now, I also plan to add shocks to the works to help the ride as well. He did not have any 1/8 2x2 angle so I used 3/16 for the last two cross braces, at this point its is still easy enough to move with two guys. Took some pics of the progress but its dark so kinda crappy axle is not tighten up yet so not square.

 

[racingtadpole]

Please put some reinforcing plate over the welds on the long sides of the chassis.
The spring spans one of the joins in the tube, eventually the spring working will break either the weld or the area right next to it.

 

[koditten]

Looking good, TH.

I know you are using the original springs, thats fine. My question is what happens when you break a spring? You will not find another spring that has those dimensions. If you are doing all this work, would it be good to use something more conventional and available?

I hope those springs can handle the extra flex now that you have removed some layers. Time will tell.

Regardless, the trailer build is coming along wonderfully. Looking forward to future progress and pics.

Later

KO

 

[bgarrett]

you are going to have as much in rebuilding this thing as the cost of building a new frame. There are many things that can be recycled when taking on this kind of challenge.

The time involved revamping old **** can out weigh the cost of just starting new.
Kirk

I made a deal with a guy. He gave me something I wanted and I remade his trailer from 4X6 to 5X10 and he supplied the metal.

It took me 48 hours of work. That 6 days, 8 hours a day.
When I finished, I admitted that I sold myself cheap

 

[koditten]

I made a deal with a guy. He gave me something I wanted and I remade his trailer from 4X6 to 5X10 and he supplied the metal.

It took me 48 hours of work. That 6 days, 8 hours a day.
When I finished, I admitted that I sold myself cheap

I can't count the times that I was working for 3 bucks an hour. The only thing that makes it worth it is the benifits. I.E. drink all the beer I want and I am exactly were I want to be and I am the boss.

Hate to admit it, but my welds look the best after my second beer. Just wish I could stop at 2. Who am I kidding...no I don't

KO

 

[ilovevocs]

I am exactly were I want to be and I am the boss.

Allot of truth in this statement.

 

[Toolhunter]

Looking good, TH.

I know you are using the original springs, thats fine. My question is what happens when you break a spring? You will not find another spring that has those dimensions. If you are doing all this work, would it be good to use something more conventional and available?

I hope those springs can handle the extra flex now that you have removed some layers. Time will tell.

Regardless, the trailer build is coming along wonderfully. Looking forward to future progress and pics.

Later

KO

The springs have the same dimensions as any other trailer spring only difference is the length so only a new shackle would be required.

Getting the tongue lined up

working on the kickers

and then i ran out of rod haha more to come soon

 

[Toolhunter]

just a little more from today

getting the tongue all set

These are the cut pieces from the angle gotta love it when things work out

Well that's all for today

 

[koditten]

Nice progress, TH. Thanks for the pics.

Are you going to make a pedistal to mount a hand crank boat winch? The extra 40 bucks will not even be noticed the first time you need to crank up a dead toy. My customers are always calling me and thanking me for suggesting it. Cranking up a dead mower or quad is not an issue using the winch.

As for the springs, I was just thinking it is alot easier welding on spring brackets when the trailer is upside down, but I think you will be fine with what you got. You will only have to weld in the front or rear brackets. Hopefully a new spring does not change the location of the axle.

Anyways, looking good.

Later

KO

 

[Toolhunter]

A spot for a winch will be there as I tend to "find" things that don't move under their own power haha ...

also a tongue jack would be great as well.

so far I have
axle U bolts $8 x 2
steel $115
shackle kit $20
grinding equip. $20
Welding rods $13

So about $184

going to shoot for about $250 for total cost but will probably hit $300

but I figure hard to find what you want for $300 and if its from the snow belt hard to find one that's not rotted out

 

[Zelatore]

I'm interested to see how you finish it, or are you just going to leave it bare and rusty figuring it'll take a beating anyway?

I've done a couple of trailers, and stripping/painting was always the worst part.

 

[Lippyp]

I learned long ago not to put any tires on a trailer I wouldn't put on the front axle of the tow rig. I was driving through North Idaho on I-90 the first Sunday after hunting season opened. In front of me was a pickup towing a small camper trailer. A tire on the trailer blew and the trailer started swinging wildly; then, as they say, the pickup driver got behind on his steering and the pickup and the trailer were barrel-rolling down the interstate, shedding sheet metal and debris. For a few seconds, I was like Luke in that scene from Star Wars flying his tie-fighter through the asteroid belt.

I stopped to see if they were OK; just cuts and bruises. The remaining tire on the trailer still had plenty of tread but was completely dry rotted. I pointed this out and one hunter asked the other, "How old you figger them tars wuz, Jed?" "Dunno. They come on the trailer when my uncle bought it used fifteen years ago." Your results may vary.

jack vines

Good advice, people tend to neglect trailer tyres, especially on one that doesn't get used every day. I changed mine last year, they still had plenty of tread left but both were starting to show some cracking on the sidewalls and the tyres had to be over ten years old as I've had the trailer for about seven or eight years and I bought it used when it was a few years old. I don't use it every week but we do drag it 800 odd miles to our holiday home in France at freeway speeds so good tyres are essential, a blowout on a loaded 6'x4' trailer at 80mph is going to spoil your day!

 

[Toolhunter]

I plan on getting come tires, there is a great junk yard that has a U-pull lot by me. They sell wheels and tires for great prices i will have to hunt around there to find some nice ones for it. Of course the spring time is about the worst time to be out there muddy as heck but considering the savings its worth it.

I dont know how I will finish it as of yet lol too many other ideas floating around right now.

 

[Toolhunter]

Still working on it but last week got a bit busy.

working on side extensions

As you can see I found some 1x2 c channel with holes this stuff seems to be perfect for ratchet strap hooks

Working on a Rebar tongue handle, I'm thinking of having a small gate on the side for the dirt bike and the main on the back, Fenders I plan to make out of steel diamond plate, Plan on a winch mount and a trailer jack mount on tongue and on both sides near the wheels to use a jack if I ever do blow a tire. I already had the quad on it for a test, fit like a glove haha.

Today was the warmest day so far this year 59 degrees So as most Michigan people do stayed outside all day and was sweating in a sweatshirt. They called for rain but it never came other than a few drops it was perfect. have a free day tomorrow hope i can dodge the rain again

TH

 

[Toolhunter]

The weather has not been great here over the past week or so, progress was delayed but I made some changes over the past couple of days. I did not like the how the springs looked with the quad on the trailer....way too flat for me. I bought new springs and moved the hangers and the side extensions, All but three of the side posts are welded up and the expanded metal is welded down, I plated where I had welded the main rails up as racingtadpole had suggested. I also picked up a jack from the metal man for $5, it makes life alot easier. Ill get some pics ups tomorrow.

Yes KO you can say I told you so haha

 

[koditten]

No problem, TH. I've been prescribed a little something to keep my head from swelling.

Thanks for the update.

Over and out

KO

 

[Hghgrad]

Good work. I'm looking forward to more of those nice days so I can get some stuff accomplished. It's amazing how nice those 50 degree days are and how much they can motivate me to get out to the garage and get working.

 

[Toolhunter]

current state of my trailer

New springs!

Is this configuration satisfactory for reinforcement on the rails?

Ok my question is how would you load this trailer? My plan is to put a ramp on the side and a hoop/wheel chock for the dirtbike. I feel its best in this position where as the quads weight is more towards the front and the bike is also "shielded" from road grime a bit better, The tongue can be lifted but with some force.

In this position the Tongue is easily lifted with one hand but I'm not sure which way to go.

 

[Toolhunter]

Good work. I'm looking forward to more of those nice days so I can get some stuff accomplished. It's amazing how nice those 50 degree days are and how much they can motivate me to get out to the garage and get working.

Heck yes! If the sun comes out it makes a world of difference, I get sick of buying kerosene at 4.59 a gal and heating up the garage. Right now the sun is shining and and its snowing but its nice out haha, I sure miss last year other than most of the fruit not making it, that 70-80 degree march was perfect, was a nice long summer.

 

[CNGsaves]

As for loading trailer, gotta go with the 2nd one with ATV over the axle and motorcycle in front. Just put ATV engine slightly forward of axle. Don't overload the tail with too much weight so that tongue is always pulling up trying to disconnect.

Don't show what vehicle you're using to pull trailer, but that 1st option with heavy tongue weight would be hard on vehicle.

Also, don't forget to weld on safety chains. Gotta have those to be legal.

 

[Toolhunter]

Please put some reinforcing plate over the welds on the long sides of the chassis.
The spring spans one of the joins in the tube, eventually the spring working will break either the weld or the area right next to it.

As for loading trailer, gotta go with the 2nd one with ATV over the axle and motorcycle in front. Just put ATV engine slightly forward of axle. Don't overload the tail with too much weight so that tongue is always pulling up trying to disconnect.

Don't show what vehicle you're using to pull trailer, but that 1st option with heavy tongue weight would be hard on vehicle.

Also, don't forget to weld on safety chains. Gotta have those to be legal.

If the weight should be over the axle the first pic would be correct, the quad is heaviest in the rear.

The vehicle I will be using is a 1/2 ton chevy

Safety chains is a must but my question is based on building a side ramp so I can figure positioning, not on the road yet.

Thank you for your reply