Horse trailer construction

37chief · May 16, 2013

My brother has a gooseneck trailer he used to haul his cattle. This was a horse trailer to start with.I was thinking of cutting the trailer down to the floor to make a equipment hauling trailer. I was told if I remove the sheet metal the trailer will not be strong, as the sides and top support the floor. What do you think? Stan

keh · May 16, 2013

I think you need to examine it closely before making drastic changes, but it's hard to say without seeing the trailer. I would think seriously about selling the trailer and applying the money to a real equipment trailer, or material to make one. Bear in mind that to build a trailer from scratch, you need most of the material on hand, FREE, or you will spend as much as a new trailer would cost.

KEH

Dick2 · May 16, 2013

The axles and sub frame are probably not heavy enough to be an equipment trailer! Buy or make a trailer that has more strength.

jon f mn · May 16, 2013

If it is any kind of enclosed horse trailer that won't work. The sides of the trailer are the structure and there won't be enough strength to carry any kind of load left if you cut it down. You could cut down and leave about 18" or so and wrap the top with a strong tube or something if the trailer is not rusted around the bottom. Most steel trailers are rusted tho. If you posted a pick I might be able to help more.

Mike (WA) · May 16, 2013

Client got in a real pickle in just such a situation. You've seen railroad flatcars advertised as bridges- they work great. But kind of pricey- so my client buys a cut-down box car, and installs it for a customer. First time a big truck comes up the drive, he sees the situation and won't cross (luckily). So owner gets an engineer, he says not nearly strong enough (because the box provides much of the strength), my guy gets sued from heck to breakfast. Ended up having to put in a new bridge- about 10 grand, before he was all done.

Sell the horse trailer and buy a proper equipment trailer.

caseyc · May 16, 2013

Like the others have said, don't do it. You are correct, the sides and roof provide the strength to carry the load. If you crawl underneath you'll see that there isn't much of a frame.

Casey in SD

Hay hay hay · May 16, 2013

Think of it as removing all the superstructure of a bridge and leaving just the floor. Same in principle.

37chief · May 16, 2013

I was just thinking a gooseneck would be a good idea. I have a good bumper pull, I guess I will just keep using it. Stan

Anonymous-0 · May 16, 2013

Need to see how the trailer is built underneath. If it's in decent shape, sell it and buy a proper equipment trailer. You could probably take the sides and roof off and modify it to be strong enough(if it needs it) but that's a bunch of work too.

mkirsch · May 17, 2013

Usually on stock trailers the undercarriage is the worst part of them. All the manure and road salt just eats them away.

If you cut the superstructure off you would truly have nothing.

Horse trailer construction

37chief

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keh

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Dick2

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jon f mn

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Mike (WA)

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caseyc

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Hay hay hay

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37chief

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Anonymous-0

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mkirsch

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