Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Making a trailer out of a pickup

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Fawteen

05-03-2008 17:08:12




Report to Moderator

I've got an '88 Dodge Dakota that is no longer roadworthy. I plan to cut the frame just ahead of the box and make a trailer out of it. It'll be used over the road at 55+ but won't be carrying much weight.

I have two questions in that regard:

1. Should I pull the gears out of the differential? If so, do I need to do anything to make sure the axles stay in and get lubed properly?

2. The trailer will probably never haul over 500 pounds. Should I take a leaf or two out of the spring pack?

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
KEH

05-04-2008 13:53:21




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  

I think that model Dakota still had the regular bearings and race pressed on to the axle. Some Dakotas made in the 90s had the balls in the bearings resting directly onto the axle. Bearing and axle would get worn requiring replacement of the whole axle(referring to the axle stub, not the whole rear end)

Agree with others on not taking leaf out of spring.

KEH



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Fawteen

05-04-2008 03:11:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
Thanks, folks. Good info here as usual.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
old

05-03-2008 19:27:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
#1 only pull the spider gears out nothing more. #2 take the cab off and cut it off about 4-5 foot ahead of the bed so you have metal to make the tongue. BTDT and have made a good many of them



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jimlll

05-03-2008 18:24:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
I think the ring gear is necessary to pick up lubricant and transfer it to the axles that move the lube to the outboard bearings.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
RWK in WI

05-03-2008 17:45:15




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
Check that more than half of the pickup box is in front of the axle center so you have enough tongue weight. An option is to keep more of the truck frame and mount a tool box to the frame in front of the box. Taking the spare tire from under the back of the pickup and putting it on the frame in front can help with weight transfer. I hope this gives you some ideas.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jose bagge

05-03-2008 17:22:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
I'd leave the ring and pinion in it- it won't hurt anything with it all in there (assuming it's an open "single track" rear). No sense making more work for yourself. Same with the springs.
Before you cut it, consider making the cut farther up under the cab- get as much framerail as you can. You can knotch this back near the bed and pull it together to give you a good start on your tongue. You may want to weld in a cross member at the front of the bed before you cust it just to keep everything square.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Fawteen

05-03-2008 17:26:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to jose bagge, 05-03-2008 17:22:45  
That makes sense, weight isn't going to be a problem. I can just drop the driveshaft, the pinion yoke will be well covered and won't grab anybody.

See my comment below on the frame cut.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
jose bagge

05-04-2008 05:53:08




Report to Moderator
 Use spinning pinion as ground drive? in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:26:17  
I think the kick up is back over the rear wheels, so you should be able to use the frame rail material- weld in a good cross member right behind the knotch. I've always though about using the spinning pinion on trailers like this as some kind of ground drive PTO- rotate it 90' and make a ground drive mower?



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
onefarmer

05-03-2008 17:18:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
If you don"t want the pinion to turn. Just remove the ring gear. Then the dif will still be there to hold the axles and sling oil.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Gerald J.

05-03-2008 17:18:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:08:12  
Cut the frame rails long enough to reach the hitch, notch them and bend them together.

I don't know how the axles are retained. But if they have a c or snap ring at their inside end you should be able to take out all the gears (ring gear and differential gears at least, the pinion closes that front hole good) and put the carrier assembly back in to anchor and support the inner ends of the axles.

Fewer leaves in the springs might make it ride smoother. But will limit its maximum load.

Gerald J.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Fawteen

05-03-2008 17:24:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Gerald J., 05-03-2008 17:18:41  
I'll have to look at the frame. If I can cut, notch and bend it, that'll save me a lot of material, but I'm thinking there's a kickup in there that'll get in the way.

My thinking on the springs is that with the cab, engine and drivetrain gone, there's gonna be a whole lot less static weight and if I don't take a leaf or two out, that thing's gonna ride stiffer than a June groom.

Main use for it will be hauling lambs to market, don't wanna rattle their little innards too hard...

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
fixerupper

05-04-2008 06:11:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Making a trailer out of a pickup in reply to Fawteen, 05-03-2008 17:24:19  
I used to haul a lot of hogs in a pickup trailer made from a '70 chevy 3/4 ton. I could haul twelve or thirteen 230 pounders. It worked great, but I had to be careful going around corners because of lean and sway. Livestock standing in there will get to swinging just a little bit, even the short legged ones, so I kind of question whether you would want to make the suspension any softer.
It might seem like you're wasting money, but putting new shocks on it will help.Jim

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy