77 Hilux pick up bed trailer build

[joebattle1]

Last batch… I threw in a pic of the trailer that chopperbob built from scratch. It’s pretty killer.

 

[joebattle1]

I’ve finally begun the new frame build.

First step is cutting the tail light wires and removing the wiring harness. I took a tail light out but I really didn’t need to.

I’d soaked the bolts in PB Blaster a few times before removal. The bed came off the frame pretty easy. We then flipped the trailer over on the tent rack so we could start mocking up the new frame. We’ll build that out with 2x2.

That’s as far as I got on day one. I’ll update as we go.

 

[joebattle1]

Sold the original frame for $100 bucks to make some room. Could have parted out the rear end and the spare tire chain but I just needed it gone. Making more slow progress.

Frame work…

Water tank mock up

 

[ntsqd]

The thing about trailer frames that no one seems to understand or talk about is that the greatest bending moment in the frame is right at the bed's front bulkhead. This is why everything from car haulers & travel trailers down to the little M416's have the tongue parts go under the rest of the frame rather than being butted onto the front of the frame.
Being 2" tall will help you, having 3 points welded on will help you, but better would be for the diagonals to be under the rest of the frame and extend back a ways to tie into a main rail or a cross-member some distance back from the front edge of the bed.