Utility Trailer Conversion

I'm cheap and my wife won't let me buy a new trailer right now. I have a 5x8 utility trailer right now that I can only fit one ATV on and I'm wanting to build a platform similar to this out of wood. Bad idea? Center of gravity too high? What problems will I run into?



I want to build a wood platform to trailer 2 four wheelers on this

 

I don't like the looks of the 1,300$ one pictured. I'm pretty sure I won't like whay you end up with from wood. Why not put one machine in your truck, the other in the trailer? Or build a ramp in the front of the trailer to evevate the front of quad #1, mount quad one with quad 2 so the front wheels of one are over the front rail of the trailer, the front wheels of quad 2 are over the seat of quad 1.. I had a bud who did this regularly without issue.. The quads fit front to back therefore keeping the center of gravity rather low..
Just my thoughts, good luck..

 

That is a bad idea. I don't see safety in that at all. I built a trailer out of an old pull-behind camper. Check out some of my pictures. It will fit 3 ATVs comma if you drive them on Sideways

 

If I were you I'd look into building a platform on the 5x8 trailer you already have. Side load via ramps so the ATV's are on there sideways and you'd maybe only have to extend the width out over the wheel fenders. This would also keep the center of gravity much lower than above the bed of your truck. That bed pladform thing looks like a really bad idea.

I used to have a catamaran sailboat. The trailer axle was only 4 ft wide between the wheels but the 8 ft wide boat sat on cross bars. I'd just build a deck above the wheel fenders to the dimensions you need. Maybe 6-7 ft wide to accomodate the length of the ATV and 10 ft long to fit 2 ATV's side by side. That's only about a foot overhang on all sides.

 

Also, since you are able to spend $1300 on that truck bed thing, I bet you could find a used trailer to suit your needs for < $1300. Or build on the existing trailer for half that price.

 

Show that picture to your wife. She'll reconsider the trailer.


Seriously, that contraption is one lane-change away from a death roll.

 

That picture is of a full size truck. Your Tacoma is much narrower.

Do not attempt this project. Even out metal it would dangerous.

 

It is a bad bad idea. The high center of gravity with the weight of 2 quads will make it easy way way easy to roll your truck. Swerve at 50 mph and you’ll see what I mean. Also loading and off loading the quads would not be fun as would climbing up too or down from.
You have a trailer , so modify it. Dozens of ways to fairly cheaply modify it so you can hall 2 quads.

 

I have a feeling from the thread's TITLE, that OP's intention is to put the platform on the trailer instead of the truck.

Determining how the trailer can or should be modified really involves assessing the structure and balance of that particular trailer in order to figure out how best to modify it without compromising structure or making it impossible to control. If the trailer does NOT need its sides for structure, then it may be possible to remove the sides and possibly extend the platform (if needed). Maybe put the 4-wheelers on the now-flatbed trailer perpendicular to the direction of travel. A standard sized 4-wheeler is about 6.5 feet long and 4 feet wide, so removal of the sides may be all it takes to be able to fit 2 of them on a 5x8.