Trailer Restoration Help

[ghostknife]

I recently picked up this trailer and im stuck on what to do with it. I have two sleds that i will be hauling with me if i go up north. The trailer is 6ft x 9.5ft and is only large enough to fit one sled on the trailer and one in the bed of the truck. This isnt that big of a deal except I would like this trailer to hold the sleds in the summer, both of them. Since it wouldnt cost me anything in material to widen it and i already have the Marine Grade plywood to go to a 8ft x 9.5ft. Going the larger of the two just has me nervous being its a small rusty axle under the trailer but have to imagine its a 2k rated axle. Here is a breakdown of the cost of either trailer. I sanded down the trailer and painted it with some black paint i had laying around. The trailer is also a tilt bed.

Leave 6x9.5
Trailer-$150
Wood Decking-$100
Lights and Wiring-$45
Wheels and Tires-$150
Total-$445

Mod to 8x9.5
Trailer-$150
New Springs-$19x2
Wood Decking-$140
Wheels and Tires-$150
Lights and Wiring-$45
Possibly heavier axle for both sleds-$175
Total-$523, $698 with axle

The day i picked it up, you can see the warped deck, the wood was like a sponge:


Taken apart, in the process of sanding and painting. Lift blocks between the leaf and the axle to allow for a larger wheel and tire combo:

 

[Thumper68]

I would make it bigger, loading sleds in and out of a pickup bed *****. I would also make the tongue longer and make a front ramp to drive them straight off.

 

[ghostknife]

Would you also do a heavier duty axle too? 3500lb?

 

[Krodad]

3500lb axle would be overkill on that trailer, and you'd have to go to 15" tires. I would definately upgrade the tires you have there, and get a spare atvthe same time...very bad practice not to have a trailer spare.
If you are goinfg to load the sleds side by side, I'd consider moving the axle back about a foot. If you load that thing up as is and have neutral tongue weight it will be a squirley mess at highway speeds.

A longer tongue would be nice as well to make backing up easier.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[ghostknife]

Ok! I plan on picking up some 20.5x6-10s to replace the 4.8x8's on there now, they are a little dry rotted. With extending the tounge, Im thinking cutting the tounge off and sleeving it with larger piping and welding around all 4 sides on both ends, correct?

 

[ghostknife]

Also, if i move the axle back wont that mess with the tilting operation of the trailer? It tilts at the crossmember just infront of the axle. If the tires are moved back it seems the front of the trailer would be too heavy due to the pivot point going back too? Or am i overthinking it? lol. I was looking at other 2 place tilt trailers and they look to have the axle about center on the trailer.

 

[kerrynzl]

How are you going to widen it. You really should move the springs outward to help it's handling. So widen the trailer in the centre.

Just re-tube the existing axle [ especially if it's rusty ]

If you do move the axle rearward, use a gas strut to help it tilt on it's own.
But I would leave it alone lengthways.

 

[Krodad]

Also, if i move the axle back wont that mess with the tilting operation of the trailer? It tilts at the crossmember just infront of the axle. If the tires are moved back it seems the front of the trailer would be too heavy due to the pivot point going back too? Or am i overthinking it? lol. I was looking at other 2 place tilt trailers and they look to have the axle about center on the trailer.

Whoops! Sorry, didn't know it was a tilt. You are correct. You could get around that if you used a jack to tilt the trailer, but the angle would change (steeper) and you'd have to have the room to get a jack mounted up front. Probably not worth it. Just make sure you keep more weight ahead of the axle because those little trailers are finicky if not nose heavy.

When you extend the tongue, find a way to add a couple gussets back where it meets what I assume will be a front crossmember on the sub-frame. You'll be increasing the moment load there with a longer tongue, but it will be worth it. You might even be able to add a little deck space over the tongue itself and effectively add to the overall deck length.

 

[Krodad]

This is a silly question maybe, but how are you going to load two sleds side by side on the tilt? OR are you going to load one tilted, then ramps for the other?

 

[ghostknife]

I have ramps that i can use to load them without tilting it, or just tie off the front of the sled once its on the trailer and re-tilt for the other sled. As far as the widening, I have 1/4" angle iron that i will add on each "leg" that comes out from the center. From the center to the current edge is 1ft, i will weld a 2ft piece of angle in and double the length of the "leg". that will add 2 feet to the width of the trailer. The Yellow lines are what im talking about

The picture is pre sand/paint, just got the rotting wood off the trailer...

 

[koditten]

You need to widen that axle.

You will be further ahead starting over and welding up a new frame to the dimensions you require.

I m sure the axle is fine, new bearings and you have a good axle, which is a large part of the price of a trailer.

Im glad you are refurbishing the trailer, but there things you need to do to make it a quality sled hauler.

I've built many sled trailers,give me a call and I can help you do it the best way.

Im on my tablet and I hate typing with it.

Kirk

989/239/9919

 

[Outlander]

That first picture made me think you were in my yard and helped yourself to my trailer that is in need of restoration! Subscribed as I want to see this done. I suspect mine will need reinforcing of the frame and replacement of the spring hangers.

Please continue on with the descriptions of the painting process in case you have tricks I don't.

Koditten - nice of you to extend yourself to that point to help a fellow-GJ guy out. Best of the season to you!

 

[hedhunter9]

That axle doesnt look like a 2k axle to me..

 

[jhelrey]

With 2 place trailer prices around $750-900 for aluminum. Why bother?

PS: I am a die hard snowmobiler!

 

[Lkdelta]

That axle doesnt look like a 2k axle to me..

It does look like the old 2 place trailer for when sleds were about 30" wide, like the one I have now. It is fully loaded with 1200-1400 on it

 

[Lkdelta]

I recently picked up this trailer and im stuck on what to do with it. I have two sleds that i will be hauling with me if i go up north. The trailer is 6ft x 9.5ft and is only large enough to fit one sled on the trailer and one in the bed of the truck.

This isnt that big of a deal except I would like this trailer to hold the sleds in the summer, both of them. Since it wouldnt cost me anything in material to widen it and i already have the Marine Grade plywood to go to a 8ft x 9.5ft. Going the larger of the two just has me nervous being its a small rusty axle under the trailer but have to imagine its a 2k rated axle.

It might be a real handy general purpose trailer, but maybe find a cheap way to put 1600-1800Lbs on it now (about half a yard of sand) and see how it does, before you try it in the lousy weather?

 

[ghostknife]

Decided to go with route 1 and leave it as a 6x9.5ft. It will fit both of my quads on it and if i need to take both sleds ill throw one on the truck. The Ol' lady doesnt care much for the cold so it wont be often. I still plan on fixing it the way it is just dont feel its worth the hassle of cutting the mounts and moving the axle. Plus in the process of saving for a big ol barn...