Building a trailer

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mountain

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 23, 2011
Messages
109
Location
Pennsylvania
so I am going to build a trailer to haul home more projects. I have a great start, it is a duel axel trailer that was a 1976 Ford camper in its former glory. I already have it totally stripped down to the frame and it looks really good. It already is all set up for electric brakes. I am looking for tips from those who have gone down this road already. I am going to want to use it for moving around my cars, tractor, maybe some hay, etc. What type of ramps do I want on this trailer (sliding, folding, gate?) What are the benefits of removable fenders? Side rails or no side rail? I think I am going g with a treated deck, but how thick should I get the wood? What should I not do when building a trailer? Thanks for any advice you can give me!
 
Forget the ramps, they are a pain in the tookus. It doesn't take that much more to make it a tilt. Removable fenders, at least on the driver's side, are nice but really only gain you a couple inches of space to get a car door open or closed. Wood deck should be 2" (1 1/2 finished lumber) and I would go at least 2x8 or 2x10. It basically costs the same so wide boards are better than narrower. You don't really need treated and it really warps bad anyway. Just use regular lumber and pour a bunch of linseed oil thinned about half with paint thinner. On the rear where you have the flat bar or angle iron to hold the ends down, go ahead and cut a piece of plate to cover the whole back up to the first stringer. Otherwise every car you load bellys down and tears up that strap that's welded on to hold the boards. That always happens when you use ramps. As far as sides go, most car haulers don't have them, they are more for utility trailers but I have also hauled a lot of cars on trailers with the frame work sides as high as the fenders. It is just a different method of construction and makes them a little stoger if you don't want a real heavy frame underneath. For multi purpose it might be best, but consider that it will be really hard to ever load anything with a forklift, like if you want to buy a bunk of lumber.
In my old age I am of the thinking that I really need many trailers and one with the wheels under the deck would really be nice sometimes too. The trailer I use the most is a 12 foot single axle with the angle iron side frame. It is a dropped axle, nice and low and is what I haul lawnmowers ect but also gets used a lot for hay, iron, hauling the buggys for my sister's horsedrawn stuff when we go to parades. It is so much easier if I am just hauling a truck cab, engine ect.
I have one in the works that is going to be a steel decked tilt and I am going to bite the bullet and buy a winch for it too. I have been borrowing one from a friend and it has really spoiled me. It only takes minutes to load anything, whether it has wheels or not.
I have a set of travel trailer torsion axles to start with but hope to upgrade it to 7000# drop axles someday.
BTW, I didn't know Ford made a travel trailer, tell us more about that.
 
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Don't take any of this wrong, I'm all for saving $$ when ya can..

Most travel trailer axles aren't real wide,which makes for a very narrow floor between the fenders..and their frames are thin,they depend on the structure of the camper to help support the weight..Honestly they don't make a very good trailer..might be OK for a 10 or 12' utility type, but i wouldn't use one for more than that..
maybe buy some C-Channel and use the old trailer frame for crossmembers or something..rob the axles and lengthen them to fit an 82" wide frame..
I'm somewhat of a trailer junkie, think I need a different one for every job:D but I've seen lots of people put alot of time and money into a trailer house framed trailer that was almost worthless when it was done..

I've built quite a few from scratch and would be happy to help any way I can..

Tim
 
Sort of why I was asking about pics, there are many different types of trailor frames out there!! Some would be suitable some not!!
 
I've got extensive experience building trailers, too. I also wonder what a 1976 Ford camper is. Do you have a Ford truck chassis with dual wheels on a single axle, or dual (tandem) axles on a trailer frame? [S

Post some pics and talk back to us mountain man, you have a crew here waiting to help!
 
Ford camper

I have never seen or heard of a Ford built camper. Pics would help alot,but like others have said travel or camper trailers frames can't handle the weight,especially a tractor or a load of 60 lb hay bales would kill it. Heck around here you can pickup equipment trailers for around $800 and they will haul anything,cars,trucks,tractors,hay,even 16 fat ugly girls and one pretty one.:cool:
 

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