Seeking Trailer Building Advice

The frame is tubular sheet metal, not over 1/8" thick if that. The main frame rails are boxed, and the crossmembers are 2x4 C-channels made of the same material. The original trailer home was constructed by attaching wooden 2x2's or 2x4's to the crossmembers, and then building up from there.

I'd guess that the best bet might be to take some 4x4's [I'm thinking maybe oak or a similar hardwood], and then building the flatbed on top of that. The outer edges of the frame are 53-1/2" apart, and the measurement between the brake backing plates is 62-1/2". Rather than deal with fenders, I'm considering building the platform for the flatbed to ride above the wheels; second option is to build a set of fenders out of 3/16" steel [diamond-plate ?] and then just build the main section of the bed between the fenders. The frame has extensions out to the sides, made of the same bent-sheet metal channel, that add 21" to each side beyond the 53" frame rail width...for a total of 95", or a nominal 8-foot dimension.

So I'll end up with a trailer that's 8 feet wide, and the frame is 25 feet, 3 inches overall length [13'9" from the front crossmember to the center of the axles, and 11'6" to the rear]. I'm thinking about building the deck out of some sort of expanded metal, like they do with landscape trailers...but with a pair of 1/8" x 18" wide "tracks" [dimensions taken from an alignment rack] in case we need to haul a vehicle on the trailer. I'm also thinking that a dovetail on the back would ease loading and unloading of a vehicle...anyone know what the recommended angle on that might be?

I'd appreciate any and all input. I'm estimating the trailer capacity not to exceed 7,000 pounds, based upon the one axle with brakes. It has 5-lug wheels, so that's another clue that the capacity isn't gonna be eye-popping. I'm open to suggestions, ideas and corrections to my assumptions, and all comments will be appreciated.

Good luck,

Bill

A Farmall Cub will not be a significant load. You might consider making long ramps instead of going to the trouble to make a dovetail.

KEH

I recently finished bringing a old (1981) trailer back to life and commented to the wife "for what I have in it I could have bought one". Of course I know exactly how it's built.

Maybe if you build a trailer to haul it on, it will work.

Thanks for your comments anyway.

Thanks for your comments.

You did not say what size tires you will be using. If you are using the 8.00 x 14.5 lowboy tires they will carry the hay you are likely to put on it.
When I was hauling square bales, I wanted the trailer to be as close to the ground as possible. If you build an 8 ft. wide bed above the wheels it will be higher to throw the bales up but if you have 2 people working it won't be as much of a problem and the extra capacity will make up for the inconvenience.
I think if you add a dovetail to the back it will take too much weight off the tongue making it pull badly. When hauling hay on rough ground a dovetail might drag the ground also. I have this problem on a gooseneck trailer. The axle spacing is ok for the trailer as is.
I don't think you gave the depth of the frame members, but they probably are plenty strong. If the strength worries you, weld a flat plate on one side of the rails the length of the trailer. 1/8 x 4 inches should be more than enough.
Was this a travel trailer or a mobile home? The width between the wheels sounds narrow for a mobile home. The last trailer I made had 6 1/2 feet between the wheels. That barely wide enough for a medium sized tractor. However, you have to go with what you have.
Don't forget lights and safety chains if you are going to run it on the road.
Hope this helps.

KEH

The wheels are 5-lug, and I plan to use load range C or D tires [old 6/8 ply rating]. Plans are to install a Bulldog-style hitch in place of that old original, and a decent SIDE-winding jack [too many memories of busted knuckles with the top winders on the old 2-horse trailers].

The idea of being able to haul a vehicle is only for occasional use, and not a regular function. Mom's Farmall Cub with a belly mower will be the primary tractor hauled on it. So it's primary for light-duty use, and won't usually see anything as heavy as most landscape trailers get.

Thanks for your comments.