Trailer building question

[Mr.N]

Any use steel pipe?

I've some sticks of 4", 5" & 6" pipe available.
Trailer to haul a jeep about 4,000 lbs, 17' long.
3,500 lbs axles or greater if find a deal.





This isn't a roll cage, for that I use DOM.

 

[NordicSaab]

I think that pipe for a frame would be fine, but the trailer can only be as strong as your welds.

From a cost stand point you would likely be better served to buy a trailer, but I'm all for fabricating if you have the time and resources

 

[Mr.N]

Pipe is free, welding is not an issue. (Unless the beer is flowing to well...)

Looking at a latter frame where the main runners are skinner than the wheels on the jeep, then jetting out for where the axle leaf springs mount. This would keep the jeep / trail rider / rock crawler lower... And still have a deck in the center of 48" x 17' for when not hauling the 4x4.




.

 

[kerrynzl]

My dad built one in the early 70's when he was dirt racing.

It was an open centre trailer and the deck [runners] were also pieces of tubing like a ladder.

The trailer cleaned itself coming back from the track.

Invest in a "Tube Notcher"

 

[koditten]

I was just going to that. Tube notcher will be a must or real handy with plasma cutter.

 

[CitadelBlue]

what do you do about titling a home made trailer?

 

[IOWNJUNK]

what do you do about titling a home made trailer?

I'm sure some places are different but Ga its as simple as paying $12 for a homemade trailer tag and using a rivet gun to put your issued VIN# on the tongue. You don't even need to have the trailer.

 

[APEowner]

It varies from state to state but the info should be on your state's website.

 

[Mr.N]

In Minnesota you don't even have to have it inspected, just pay the bill.
I am actually not happy with that...

 

[kerrynzl]

In Minnesota you don't even have to have it inspected, just pay the bill.
I am actually not happy with that...

Same with NZ, you don't actually need proof the trailer even exists.

1; Borrow some ID from an inmate [ he'll have an alibi to his whereabouts ]
2; Register a non-existent trailer at the post office
3; 6-12months later steal a trailer
4; fit the plate to the trailer and claim you've owned it for 6 months prior to the alleged theft.

 

[A_Pmech]

Bale trailers are often made with pipe.

However, it's not the most efficient structural shape for the job.

 

[J.A.Varela]

I'd never even consider it. Sell the pipe and buy some 4-5" channel.
Every single thing you do messing with that tube requires fitting instead of square or simple mitered cuts.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I'd never even consider it. Sell the pipe and buy some 4-5" channel.
Every single thing you do messing with that tube requires fitting instead of square or simple mitered cuts.

All you need to do to the tube is 2 miters on the end to make a fish mount. Even roll bar tubing I do this way. Way easier then using a hole saw.

Also if you cut the tube with miters its already got a bevel on it for welding.

 

[Mr.N]

Bale trailers are often made with pipe.

However, it's not the most efficient structural shape for the job.

Yeah, but have you seen the cost of steel lately?
Not that time is free... But it's also nice to do something different.

Thanks for the input.

 

[Mr.N]

I'd never even consider it. Sell the pipe and buy some 4-5" channel.
Every single thing you do messing with that tube requires fitting instead of square or simple mitered cuts.

You're going to have to show me your math that 4" channel is stronger than 4" schedule 40 pipe.


Really, please share what you know, because I'm not following you...

 

[1969]

I have built a number of single axle trailers, only one out of pipe. I honestly wouldn't do it again, unless I had NO other choices. JMHO.

 

[Mr.N]

I have built a number of single axle trailers, only one out of pipe. I honestly wouldn't do it again, unless I had NO other choices. JMHO.

Can you explain why?

Too much work to build it, or how the trailer acts when in use?

 

[Elvenhome21]

Can you explain why?

Too much work to build it, or how the trailer acts when in use?

Probably because of all the fish mouths and no flat surface to attach the decking to.

 

[Mr.N]

Probably because of all the fish mouths and no flat surface to attach the decking to.

Thanks for the input.

I've found a site to print off the fish mouths and a simple cut with the torch should be easy enough. Then just use some small angle for attaching the wood deck.

 

[1969]

Can you explain why?

Too much work to build it, or how the trailer acts when in use?

As others have mentioned, there was more work involved in the build because of the metal being round vs square or rectangular. In my case, I found the pipe during the build would droop more easily that channel or square. This might not happen in your case as you are using larger pipe. I found I was doing more grinding for fitment and also more welding. When completed, I just wasn't that pleased with the results. As far as the roadability of the trailer, it was just fine. I had an opportunity to sell it and I did. Built another with angle and sq tubing. This was my case, you may find your build to be trouble free. Best of luck, keep us posted.

 

[PCO6]

All you need to do to the tube is 2 miters on the end to make a fish mount. Even roll bar tubing I do this way. Way easier then using a hole saw.

Also if you cut the tube with miters its already got a bevel on it for welding.

I've built several race car chassis / roll bars and we weren't allowed to use square tubing - round only. Fish cuts is how we did it and it worked fine.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I've built several race car chassis / roll bars and we weren't allowed to use square tubing - round only. Fish cuts is how we did it and it worked fine.

Im not sure if your agreeing with me or miss understood. Round tubing you can make easy fish mouth by making to angle cuts at the end of the tubing. normally with 1 3/4 tube its like a 35* angle on both sides of the tube. If I remember correctly theres 3/4" in the center of the tube thats "not cut"

 

[Elvenhome21]

Like this but not so extreme of an angle and not so deep

 

[PCO6]

Im not sure if your agreeing with me or miss understood. Round tubing you can make easy fish mouth by making to angle cuts at the end of the tubing. normally with 1 3/4 tube its like a 35* angle on both sides of the tube. If I remember correctly theres 3/4" in the center of the tube thats "not cut"

I agree and your picture above is what we did. Works great.

We used steel though ... not bamboo.

 

[Elvenhome21]

I agree and your picture above is what we did. Works great.

We used steel though ... not bamboo.

I did a google search and came up with nothing but hole saw cuts and all them fancy smanchy hi tech dodads for all the offroaders that go stupid overkill with all the tubes they have come together in one spot.

The dumb thing is that bamboo pictures is what a guy is making a bike frame out of.

 

[slip knot]

I've built a few trailer out of pipe and wouldn't do it again. My biggest issue was weight. A 16 ft car hauler built out of 2" pipe weighs a ton. My current 16' trailer is out of 2" angle and channel and pulls a lot easier. I never weighed it but you could really tell that pipe trailer was behind you.

 

[PCO6]

I did a google search and came up with nothing but hole saw cuts and all them fancy smanchy hi tech dodads for all the offroaders that go stupid overkill with all the tubes they have come together in one spot.

The dumb thing is that bamboo pictures is what a guy is making a bike frame out of.

Here are a few You Tube videos on fish mouth cuts but I think your bamboo photo shows the end result nicely. It appears to have been done with a miter saw. I would just cut off the points, do a bit of filing or grinding and then weld it.

 

[bczygan]

Thanks for the input.

I've found a site to print off the fish mouths and a simple cut with the torch should be easy enough. Then just use some small angle for attaching the wood deck.

Sounds like you have some pipe and can't think of anything to do with it and the idea of a trailer stuck in your head and you can't get it out.

The only thing worse than pipe, would be that piece of bamboo a few posts back.

Not that trailers haven't been made of pipe, they have been!

Just not the most efficient material.

If you just have to build something, why not use those pieces of pipe and some old rims to make some grinder stands or vise stands.

Then look around for some C channel or Rectangular tubing or even some angle.

Or pick up a HF trailer off CL for $90, like I just did.

Bill

 

[ar2stp48]

I have owned a trailer made with pipe; it is gone now. Much of the strength of the structural shape is in the corner. Angle is better than pipe and channel is better than angle.

Know anyone with a trailer the size you want that is constructed of pipe? Ask them to pull it and you follow. Watch the trailer flex.

My suggestion would be sell the pipe and buy some channel or larger size angle iron.

 

[sfckiddo]

even 4 inch pipe as free as it is for you, a 17ft trailer out of it is gonna be very heavy and the correct term for fish cut is a saddle

 

[Mr.N]

Sounds like you have some pipe and can't think of anything to do with it and the idea of a trailer stuck in your head and you can't get it out.

The only thing worse than pipe, would be that piece of bamboo a few posts back.

Not that trailers haven't been made of pipe, they have been!

Just not the most efficient material.

If you just have to build something, why not use those pieces of pipe and some old rims to make some grinder stands or vise stands.

Then look around for some C channel or Rectangular tubing or even some angle.

Or pick up a HF trailer off CL for $90, like I just did.

Bill

Actually, need a car trailer.

Not worried about the work involved in creating a trailer, more worried about the strength of the trailer.

Sounds like the type of work you do only needs a HF trailer, I need something a lot bigger.

 

[Mr.N]

Found some 7,000 axles new for great deal.
Just need to lengthen them.

 

[koditten]

Please tell me they are not mobile home axles.

Lengthening is easy. Get some sleeves welded in. I do it all the time.

 

[Mr.N]

Please tell me they are not mobile home axles.

Lengthening is easy. Get some sleeves welded in. I do it all the time.

They are not mobile home axles. Looked into that option and didn't end up liking it.


Yeah, I've seen you results on widening axles. Any wear issues?

 

[koditten]

None. My own personal car hauler has sleeved axles. I've had it for 10 years and have no tire wear issues.

KO