o.t. semi trailer

Huskers86 · May 27, 2012

I've been wanting a cheap semi flatbed trailer and can't find much local. I found a great dane box/van trailer in my price range and was wondering if I could take the shell off and have a useable flatbed. I just want to haule water and chemical and maybe oddball things. Has anyone done this before? What do you guys think? Thanks.

oleblu · May 27, 2012

Van trailers use the sides and roof for strength. If you take that away, there's no weight hauling capacity left. Look under this van trailer and you won't find any large beams running the length of the trailer like a real flatbed has.

retired farmer · May 27, 2012

The bed will bend if you take the sides off. Was going to do the same thing years ago and they told me it won't work. Better to just buy an old flatbed. Should be a lot of them around.

Anonymous-0 · May 27, 2012

Most box trailer depend on shell for there strength. Our company ran a lot of Monon and Wabash Nationals that had plywood sides covered with a fiberglass covering. You might find an old trailer that has a heavy frame under it . You could beef one to do what you want but you would more money and time wrapped up it than if you could find a good flat bed.

BushogPapa · May 27, 2012

I have busted a few trailers...

All it would take would be for the rivets to fail at the Side Door..!!!
You end up with the landing Gear dragging on the Road..and the Side reaching out about 8 feet..!
Buy a trailer Meant to be a Flatbed...!!

Ron..

bobs old iron · May 27, 2012

as other have stated, look under a regular box trailer, no frame, the bottom and top of side walls are their strength,,need to find a true flat bed with a frame under the bed..some times trying to do a cheep way, may cost more in the long run when you have to re-do it right

old · May 27, 2012

I have a 45 foot Hayde I would sell and it is a true flat bed. I would take scrap price for it. E-mail is open. Now as far as popping the box off one and trying to turn it into a flat bed better think twice sine they get about 25% or more of there strength from the box

Goose · May 27, 2012

A few years ago, I went to an auction where a Chief Industries plant that built fifth wheel campers was closed and everything auctioned.

They had a whole bunch of bare fifth wheel camper frames set up to auction. They looked great for building a flatbed until you saw how flimsy they were. They depended on the camper structure for rigidity.

I would assume grain hauling trailers would be much the same.

Interesting note. They had 8'X32' sheets of 3/4" particle board on auction. They'd been intended for the floors in campers. Someone said they'd be great for underlay on a barn roof if you could figure out how the heck to get them up there.

Huskers86 · May 27, 2012

Thanks for the offer old. It's a little far for me to travel to you or I probably would take you up on that.

Huskers86 · May 27, 2012

Thanks for the input guys. I didn't realize they get thier strength from the box. I've never looked at one up close. I think I'll keep looking for a flatbed.

old · May 27, 2012

Figured it might be. If I could ever afford to fix my Diamond-T I would then in turn fix this up to haul tractor to tractor shows but I would sure need to have a long ramp so I could load them. You might try the Gov. liquidation web site and see what they might have in your area. Seen a good many things like what you wanting sell off that site

Clodbuster · May 28, 2012

Watch on Govliquidations dot com and look for flatbed trailers on there. They just sold some in IA for $1500 to $2500 or so. I paid retail for one from a dealer that was reselling them and he had repainted it. It is an M872 40' triple axle and weighs 19,000 empty. Very strong trailer and I didn't have time to wait for a sale to offer one. I may have to buy another!

TAZDOG101 · May 28, 2012

eOld Flat are getting harder and harder to find
losts of them are going to oil patchs and never return ! mainly thiers nothing left when they are done.
Where are you ? maybe able to help out have a 99 transcraft with a belly box would make a great sprayer tender tanks on top spray underneath

Mark-Mi · May 28, 2012

Look here. Old flats are cheap.
Truck Paper

HillsofTn · May 28, 2012

Amen to "getting their strength from the box". I have seen loaded semi"s (vans) that broke in half when the roof was removed for replacement, without first unloading the cargo.

old · May 28, 2012

Yep seen many thing where a person has tried to cut off parts and then found that they now have a sag mobile or trailer

Huskers86 · May 28, 2012

That is a sweet set up you have.

Clodbuster · May 28, 2012

Thanks. It is something I have wanted to build for years and this spring I switched to liquid fert. and needed more than one 1,500 gallon tank!
I also used flange fittings for nearly everything and they really worked great and it is all "full port" two inch for the size.

Huskers86 · May 28, 2012

I just started spraying roundup this year after hireing it done for the last several years. I still hire my liquid and pre emerge done but am looking into a self propeled sprayer. I'm looking at trying to get set up with a trailer like you have before I make the leap to one. For now the old 76 f 700 and 1500 gallon tank work fine for my century sprayer.

o.t. semi trailer

Huskers86

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oleblu

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retired farmer

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Anonymous-0

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BushogPapa

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bobs old iron

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old

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