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Questions on a trailer I'm building?

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unioncreek

02-06-2007 06:14:48




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A friend of mine gave me an old travel trailer that has a 16' deck. Since I don't have a trailer to haul hay on I figured I could build one out of it. The tongue is made out of 2x4 tubing and the frame is 2x4 channel iron. I figure I can haul two ton on it by what the data plate on the trailer said. Is the frame heavy enough for what I want to do? If not I am thinking of adding a piece of 1/4" x 4" piece of flat iron the length of the frame to beef it up. The axles under it are heavy, axle tube is 3 inches and there's 5 leaves to a spring.

Any advise is appreciated.

Bobg

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KEH

02-06-2007 16:16:06




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  

Bobg,

I built a trailer from scratch using 4 in. channel. I welded a 3/8 by 2 piece inside the web of the channel, then closed it with a flat piece of 4 in. flat stock. I think it was 1/8 thick. I have used it to haul tractors with no problems. Building yours as you describe should make it strong enough. I have hauled five 4 x 5 round bales on it, but they were made with an old baler. Newer balers make much denser bales so be cautious if you have a 4 x 5 baler made in the last 10 years.

KEH

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135 Fan

02-06-2007 15:43:09




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  
Boxing in the channel will add strength. Stitch weld so it doesn't warp. Spread your welds apart and after one section cools off, you can go back and weld some more. If you were to weld it continuous from front to back it would start to curl up. Also alternate between top and bottom to even out heat input. Leave a little spot unwelded until everything cools off. I've seen box sections be welded up and split open because all the heated air inside had no where to go. 6 inch welds at a time should be OK. Hope this helps. Dave

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Oldmax

02-06-2007 07:32:25




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  
I friend of mine just finished a trailer that si about the same as that one . You should be able to haul 4000 lbs on one like that easy , just remember with the trailer you will have almost 6000 lbs GVW Make sure this DUDE has brakes on it.



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nballen

02-06-2007 07:20:50




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  
What is the wall thickness of the tubing? What is the web thickenss of the C-iron? These will make a big difference in the strength. Is the channel a structural section or a formed section?

The flat bar will help (a little) but won't really add much strength if laid flat on the existing frame. (You add a lot of weight for marginal strength improvement.)

Nathaniel



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unioncreek

02-06-2007 07:56:46




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to nballen, 02-06-2007 07:20:50  
Nathaniel - The 4 inch channel on the frame is structural not formed. As far as tube thickness are you talking about the hitch or axle tube? I haven't checked on that yet. I'm plannin on boxing the 4 inch channel with the 1/4 flat iron.

OldMax - The trailer has brakes on both axles already and they work good.

Any other advise on making this a strong trailer is greatly appreciated.

Bobg

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Don L C

02-06-2007 13:22:31




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 07:56:46  
---make your plate the same thicknes as your chanel..... now add a piece of 1/4" angel....2"x3 or 4"from under the front spring hanger to just under the rear spring hanger.....now thats a nice trailer.....Don



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nballen

02-06-2007 08:55:55




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 07:56:46  
Bobg

Is the "back" of the C-section ~3/16" or ~5/16"? There's about a 20% difference in strenght between the two.

Ok...that makes more sense on the flat bar. Adding the 1/4" flat bar will add ~35% to the strength of the lighter C-section, ~28% to the heavier C-section.

I think I was asking about the tounge tube...
The axle tube should already be rated, and would not change (unless you cut/weld/grind/damage it). ;-)

Nathaniel

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unioncreek

02-06-2007 09:11:22




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to nballen, 02-06-2007 08:55:55  
Nathaniel,
I think the C-sections is 1/4", but I had better check to make sure, it's heavier than I thought is was going to be. I haven't checked the thickness of the tounge yet, but will tonight. Will it be worth while adding the 1/4" plate to the C-channel for added stength if I'm only going to be hauling hay with it.

Bobg



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unioncreek

02-06-2007 07:19:42




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  
Jim,

I'm planning on putting 2x6 decking on it, so the floor will be plenty strong. Just looking for suggestions about whether the frame will be heavy enough as it is with the 2x4 channel or if I need to add 1/4 plate to box in the channel.

Bobg



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fixerupper

02-06-2007 06:58:52




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 Re: Questions on a trailer I'm building? in reply to unioncreek, 02-06-2007 06:14:48  
Travel trailers are built to have the load spread out over the whole area of the frame without any heavy load centered in any one point, but it should make a good hay hauler if you load it right. How is the hay packaged? If it's small squares you can spread the load out evenly and pile it as high as you think will work, maybe 60 or 70 bales?. It should hold a couple of round bales if the floor is strong enough but I wouldn't haul any more than two of them. Jim

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