Finally Graduated=Trailer Build Time

Most recent Pic - California Gulch, Silverton, CO - 8-3-2015


Well since I finally have some free time I figured I would treat myself with a good off-road trailer. This trailer will address two needs for me, 1. carry all of our camping gear and my RTT while on trips and 2. carry my 4-wheeler from time to time.

I did a ton of research on this and Box Rockets trailer build has by far been the biggest help in what direction I want to take mine so I thank you for that @Box Rocket


This is really just a bare minimum start to a not so extravagant trailer, I don't really need that many bells and whistles, just something that can haul stuff in off-road situations.. I have the trailer axle ordered, the multi-axis hitch built, some tires and rims for it and some barrel hinges for my doors and such. The axle is a 3500 lb axle with a 63" hub-to-hub width and 6x5.5 lug pattern to match my wheels. I got the axle from a company in Dallas called SouthWest Wheel Company and they had a package deal on the axle and all mounting hardware needed for a good price.

The trailer frame and tongue will be made form 2.5" x 3/16th square tube. The floor will be 11 gauge steel, overkill for camping but my 4-wheeler is a fat pig so better to be safe. The wall with be skinned with 16 gauge steel and the wall "studs" and rails will be 1.5" x .120 square tube. I will post pictures as I make my way through this adventure.

 

Looking forward to seeing the build, how are you going to mount your 4-wheeler?

 

The trailer will be 4x6 which is the perfect amount of room to get the 4-wheeler in there. I am also working on a plan to be able to keep my RTT mounted on the trailer even with the 4-wheeler in there. I have a hard time drawing things out otherwise I'd have a sketch posted.

Also my axle will be here today

 

subbed love trailer builds can't wait to see it

 

I can't wait to get started! I just checked out your trailer build and you did an awesome job man. How do you like the Dee Zee box? I was looking at one to put on the tongue of my trailer as well

 

sub'd

 

Thanks man! I like that box it was only like 130$ I believe, I say it's worth it, it's light good for the money doesn't weight nothing. Bads IMO is I had to put weather stripping around the lid so dust water exc.. Wouldn't get in because there was a gap other then that it's great!

 

Awesome, thanks for the feed back on it, I'll have to remember that about the weather stripping. I just found it on Amazon for 105 shipped so I might go ahead and pick it up.

 

I set up my trailer to hold 2 motorcycles, 2 kayaks and all my camping gear with the RTT on top all the time. It works really good, I did have to add brakes. But mine is a big pig 5 x 8 cargo area 12 x 7.6 total @ 1500 lbs.

 

So it begins

 

^^
X2

nice

 

Well I finally had some time to get some work done on the trailer. Made some decent progress but I still have a ways to go. As a forenote, I'm using my 110v hobart for all of my tack welding and then my 220v stick welder to fully weld everything.

All the metal for it


Cut my pieces just to get a rough idea on the size of it.


I decided to cope the ends rather than cut angles on them. Not sure the pros&cons between the two but I have built alot of stuff using that method so I stuck with it.




I tacked it all together and welded it up fully, had to have my inspector make sure it was up to par.


Not to shabby..I think, I'm no pro at this stuff. I did a root pass with 6011, two passes over that with 6013 and capped it with some 7024. Should do the trick.


Then I added in my corssmembers



And the last thing I got accomplished was getting my suspension laid out and my front hangers fully welded.



I think they say you know it was a good weld when the slag peels off?



More pictures to come tomorrow as I should be finishing up the suspension and axle this evening.

 

Looking good!!

 

Thanks! I had a bit of a hiccup lastnight with the springs, I mounted the rear hanger to far outward instead of inward had to cut the damn things off and make new ones.

 

Haha ouch. I almost had to redo all of mine to because I had placed them front of center instead of behind center. Good thing they where only tacked. How are you planing on skinning every thing? I'm planing on fully welding every thing but find that might make it a long process.

 

Haha man, lucky, I didn't realize till I had already fully welded it, that was a PITA to get off. I plan to just stitch weld everything and then go back with seam sealer. That would be a whole lot of welding.

 

Got the rear hangers fully welded in, dont mind the ugly semi-gloss paint, just trying to keep it all from rusting for now.



The angle looks good to me, any experts see anything wrong with this before I start hauling it down the road please? I think its at about 12 degrees.



Got the spring perches welded on the axle and bolted it all just to test fit. Next step is the tongue

 

Very nice it's coming along very well!

 

subd