Where to buy trailer parts? (Axle, Etc) And V8Tractor Update

Lanse

Well-known Member
Hey guys!

So, I'm planning to build a car/equipment trailer within the next six months or so... I'm going with the following qualifications:

>Must be a Bumper Pull Trailer (Need to be able to pull it with my F150, too)
>Must Be Twin Axle
>Must Have (Good) Brakes
>Must Be Able to Carry 10,000 pounds (This would then be able to move either of my trucks, anything I might haul, and any equipment I might buy in the foreseeable future)
>Must have a front-mounted winch for loading dead machinery

I guess thats about it... So, I seem to be in the market for a couple of good, heavy axles, some brake parts, and various smaller items (jack, coupler, etc). I was just wondering if anyone knows of a good mail order trailer parts supplier, or a good company to buy from in Central Texas?

I want to build something like this ONCE. I'm okay with building a gooseneck or something, someday if needed, but I'm not looking to cheap out on stuff and constantly be replacing things on this as time goes by. I want to build something nice.

Also, anyone who HAS... Would you be willing to share an estimate/rough number of what something like this would cost to put together? I know that I need to set some money aside and plan on this, but I need to know if I'm looking at $1K in materials or $5K...

ALSO: V8 Tractor thread update... Yes, I plan on restarting this project, and completing it, within the next year... I know some of y'all remember the videos I made about the homemade tractor build about a year and a half ago... To make a long story short, the project got side tracked... The engine in the donor truck was a different engine than what the seller thought was in it... So, most of the parts I bought didnt fit... I was in school at the time, and one thing lead to another and things got sidetracked...

Now, I'm debating on building another tractor from a truck (like I originally planned), or if I should rebuild an old tractor from a fence line with a more modern probably V8 engine... I'm going back and forth on this. I want to incorporate a gin pole to the finished product, which would be easier to do with the truck. The tractor offers a specially built axle/transmission/final drive which would be heavier duty than almost anything from a pickup, *I think*... Haha... I've brought down most of the left over parts from that build from my moms farm, to my new shop :)

So, I just wanted to thank y'all for all the wonderful, and helpful replies to that thread... That's exactly what I needed to know...
 
Redneck Trailer has everything you need. They have a catalog online. A word of warning, don't use mobile home axles and wheels, they are hard to get parts for and they won't hold up. Spend a little extra and do it right.
 
I think pulling a trailer with 10,000 lbs. on it will exceed the towing capacity rating for an F150. Better check that out before you get too far along.
 
If you've got a Northern Tool local to you, they can supply everything you need to build your trailer. Think about it like this, there are a million places out there selling axels, but only a few places that actually make them unless you count the custom builders.

Too, trailer parts, such as axels, hitches, etc are all parts that carry a huge liability with them. The result is that they all have to be made to a certain specification/quality, in order to protect the makers from lawsuits due to faulty parts. That's part of the reason that what I mentioned first comes into play with these parts.

The end result is that your best bet will be to try places like Northern, Redneck Trailer, Kaufman Trailers etc, etc and simply get the best prices on the parts you need. Ultimately, beyond cost, all of them are going to be pretty much equivalent to each other in every way but the price (ie a 10,000 lb axel is going to be a 10,000 lb axel, a 2 5/16 ball hitch is a 2 5/16 ball hitch, and so forth)

That all said, I've built a few trailers over the years. For the most part, unless you want something truly custom, your best bet will be to find yourself a good, used one. Typically they can be had, and refurbished, for less than the cost to actually build one. Things my be different in your state, but having one with a title makes it so much easier to get it registered rather than having to get a new VIN number issued, and going through all the BS to get it inspected, and legal.
 
x2 on redneck. Mobile home axles are OK if you change out brakes and hubs. I've used mobile home axles with aftermarket 6 or 8 lug drums and aftermarket brakes. NEVER found a mobile home axle that didn't use common automotive bearings. Don't use MH single leaf springs. redneck will treat you right.
 
Lance. After pricing materials and considering the time to build one plus the liability of building an on the road trailer, I just went out and bought a basic heavy trailer. There are several good trailer builders in Texas. Then I spent my time and money modifying it to do what I wanted. Added a removable winch, a crane and modified my tie downs and ramps, etc.
This way I had it to use right away for nearly the same money I would have spent building from scratch plus having a trailer with a factory paperwork/ title/ etc. and still ended up with the custom trailer I wanted.
Good to see you posting again!
 
I buy all my trailer stuff from Redneck. Unless you just want to do it yourself, buying is the better deal. I do get some discount at Redneck, and would order the parts for you if you decide to build. I also suggest that you use a slipper spring suspension, they are a few dollars more, but worth every penny. If you pm me I will also help you through the ordering of steel to get the most efficient use of material. Lot's of ways to build a trailer and lot's of ways to save money.
 
Out of curiosity I got a quote from Redneck on that stuff, came in at $1420.00 with 8 bolt wheels. Could save a bit on 6 bolt hubs. Redneck has 2 locations in Texas that you can pickup at.
 
Hi Lanse I the would not use a bumper hitch. The best would be a hitch build for your trucks. That way the hitch manufacture is liable if it breaks. this is the company I use to work for they do build good products and do extensive testing as well.
Ypop
poke here
 
On the V8 tractor build...I started to do a similar project awhile back, before I got broke enough I had to sell my "raw material." Had a Farmall H, and I had an old International pickup with a 6 in it. The reasons I thought it'd work is (a) the H has frame rails...and the 460 and up Farmalls do, too, and they came from the factory with a similar six; and (b) since I was going to do away with the hydraulic "belly pump," my plan was to find an old S10/Isuzu pickup transmission to stick in the middle, and mate the clutch disc to the transmission splines there.

The reason that the Isuzu transmission was important is that (a) the IH six, with a 3600 rpm redline, is about twice the redline of the stock H motor, and (b) by inserting a bolt with the head cut off into the shift rails on the transmission, I could "lock" the Isuzu transmission in 2nd gear. Why 2nd gear? Because the gear ratio is right at 2:1...which means that the ground speed in all the gears on the H transmission wouldn't change much, if at all.

As swaps go, it seemed like the fabrication would be somewhat minimal...except I'd have to "stretch" the H hood and steering shaft, and then I'd have to find a way to mount the Isuzu trans solidly in the center housing...and then fab up a short shaft from the Isuzu trans to the H tranny input shaft.

But time and money got in the way, so I sold my "raw materials." [I may still have the locked-in-2nd-gear Isuzu tranny around here somewhere...] However, I kept the idea of the "H-06".
 
On the trailer build...a buddy of mine decided he was going to build a trailer a few years back. He had a couple of mobile home axles [one with brakes], and he decided to build his frame out of 2x4 rectangular steel tube.

He ended up with a nice-looking trailer that was "hell for stout," as he put it, but "if you needed to move it by hand, it took two men and a boy." I wouldn't recommend the mobile home axles, but there are trailer supply places that can provide what you'll need.

Personal bumper hitch preference: one of those Bulldog hitches that have the locking collar, and then some means to make sure it doesn't unlock until YOU want it to.
 

Good to hear from you again, Lanse.

Basically I'll second what NCWayne said. I've built trailers and my opinion is that if you don't have most of the materials free or cheap, you're better off buying new. Do the math on the materials. If you buy new material you will be paying for the priviledge of building the trailer.

On the 10,000 pound load: I agree with the other post that that's too much for a f 150.

On axles: A common size axle is a 7,000 pound axle with 8 lug wheels carrying 7.50 x 16 tires or equivalent. That size would cover tour 10,000 pound load.

KEH
 
Lanse, i know that you are wanting to BUILD a good and nice trailer for hauling 10k lbs if need be. Im sure youve got the knowhow also. BUT, its A LOT BETTER to BUY and CHEAPER because of steel prices are through the ROOF now. I would ask around your area and see how much money it actually takes to build a trailer verses buying. I bet it takes atleast a third MORE MONEY to BUILD your trailer then going somewhere and buying the same weight hauling capability trsiler.. For trailer parts i have bought a lot of trailer parts from Red Neck grailer supply. Good luck.
 
Yeah but Lanse is a "celebrity" welder and needs content for his Youtube channel. A big trailer build would be a heck of a series.

Keep in mind that when you see a weight number on the trailer, that is the GVWR, ***NOT*** its payload capacity. The weight of the trailer counts against the GVWR.

A "10,000lb" trailer actually only has 6500-7500lbs of actual payload capacity depending on what the empty trailer weighs.

If you want to haul 10,000lbs of actual payload, you need to build the trailer to the specifications of a 14,000lb GVWR trailer. Even then the trailer will be right maxxed out.
 
I use Redneck Trailer Supply or AgriSupply.

As for the mobile home axles, avoid them like the plague! I had an old trailer with a MH axle/tires. Guess I overloaded it (but the manure was FREE!!!) and blew a tire. (The ex SIL replacing my real trailer tire with a 4 ply probably didn't help but I didn't know it'd been switched at the time of loading)

About 6 hours later (after borrowing a battery powered Sawzall & a couple of wrecking bars from a good guy) and another stranger helping I got back on the road.

When those tires blow, the "donut" rim wraps itself around the hub. Simple fix in a shop with tools or just a torch but it ain't happening on the side of the road.

If it had carried a conventional wheel rim would have been no big problem.
 
I'd just buy one. There are lots of trailer manufacturers down there, and they offer a discount for pickup from factory. Or look for used. I stumbled on a 10K GVW 20' Maclander car hauler used from the original owner for dirt cheap. Great condition, still had original tires on it. Less than 1/3 of what they go for new.
 
I have to agree on the cost. Just a little cart to set a 60 gallon spot sprayer on, to pull behind a 4-wheller, by the time I bought 2 (marginally rated) torsion springs (with hubs), and 2 tires, I can go to Orshlen's and buy a 4X5 complete with lights for a few dollars more. And I would have been raiding the scrap pile for the rest of the materials.
 

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