Good starting point?

[Acadia]

BrownBear I appreciate the advice.

I am trying to keep the overall weight down on the trailer without compromising strength. here is what I am thinking.

Box will be 4'x6.5' by 30" deep, built with 1.5 x 1.5 1/8" angle iron. I am still trying to decide between aluminum diamond plate and steel sheet for the sides. I am thinkin I will use 3/4" treated plywood for the floor Herculined on both sides.

Lid - don't know what I am going to do with this yet.

3500 # axle with 6 on 5.5 hubs from abctrailerparts.com

Suspension: reusing original springs that came on the trailer. just replacing all the old rubber bushings with new poly bushings. relocating the axle towards the rear 8" to get a better 60/40 split.

Wheels - 15" steel rims off a 90's tacoma. not for sure what I will use for tires yet.

 

[REZARF]

Just a thought, but I decided to go 24" high, so I didn't have to buy a full sheet for each side, a 24" high side can yeild 2 sides from one sheet of steel or aluminum. Now, if you can source 5x10 sheet, then you are clear. Hope it helps.

Rezarf <><

 

[Acadia]

Just a thought, but I decided to go 24" high, so I didn't have to buy a full sheet for each side, a 24" high side can yeild 2 sides from one sheet of steel or aluminum. Now, if you can source 5x10 sheet, then you are clear. Hope it helps.

Rezarf <><

Good call! I had not thought that part through. looks like I will need to rethink the box height and determine if I can live without the extra 6" or build a lid that will provide the extra room.

 

[Acadia]

Trailer Update

well I was able to flip the trailer over and take off the old suspension last weekend.

I recouped some of my expenses on the new axle as I sold the old axle and tires/wheels. As of right now I have about $50 in the new axle and $30 in the wheels.

I had to cut the middle cross member of the trailer out because somehow it had been bent slightly and was tweaking the middle section of the frame rail. After I cut it out the frame rail popped back out the 3/8" it has off. So after a trip to the metal shop I picked up two new 2x4 cross members. I just need to get them cut and welded into place. maybe this weekend.

Then I can get the spring hangers welded on. hopefully by that time I will have the new poly bushings and I can get the springs and axle mounted. Guess I will have to find some tires as well.

 

[brownbear]

you frame is super heavy looking. Be careful not to build it too much.

I also agree the sides at 24 are plenty. But even 20 is good. Think about the height of a cooler etc and how it might be to reach inside for that. 30 is too high. At that height everything will have to be accessed from the back.

I've seen lots of trailers(homebuilts) made out of serious box steel and are just basically over done. Then the springs and axle are just regular.

But your springs and axles might be absolutely fine for a trailer that is pulled by a cruiser. There is absolutely no need to build a 4x7 or smaller 3 ton trailer...

 

[Acadia]

rezarf and brownbear thanks for the input.

After breaking out the tape measure and throwing a cooler up on the trailer frame it looks like 24" is the magic number. 30" was just too high and 20"was a little low for the big cooler, if I wanted to put anything on top of it.

 

[Acadia]

you frame is super heavy looking. Be careful not to build it too much.

I know it looks heavy but the frame is made of 1/8" channel and I can pick it up and move it around pretty easily by myself. so I would really be surprised if the frame weighs more than 150lbs right now without the axle and springs


I've seen lots of trailers(homebuilts) made out of serious box steel and are just basically over done. Then the springs and axle are just regular.

I will be running a 3500lbs axle with 15" toyota wheels. The original springs are a 30" 5 leaf spring with regular rubber bushings (replacing with new poly bushings) which I will be reusing. They seemed a little beefer than the 25" springs that came with the axle. plus I really didn't like the little nylon bushings that came in the new springs.

 

[Acadia]

thought I would post an update on the trailer build.

I was able to get the spring hangers bolted on today. I plan on welding them later.

I was also able to get the cross members cut and notched and slid into place. I haven't welded anything up just yet. I plan on doing that tomorrow if time allows.

threw the springs and axle on it just to see how it was going to look.

 

[Acadia]

well the new poly bushings came in the mail today, yeah!

I can finally get going on the trailer again. I welded the spring hangers up. Then put the new poly bushings in the leaf springs and got them mounted. Threw the new "used" tires and wheels on and flipped it over.

The new axle and bigger tires and wheels added quite a bit of weight to the trailer. I was able to flip it over by myself but it was no where near as easy as when I originally put it up on the jack stands.

 

[Acadia]

Tomorrow I think I will finish welding up the top side and then maybe take the wire wheel to it to get rid of all the old loose paint. If it is warm enough tomorrow I might even throw on some new paint.

I am trying to decide what material to use for the box frame. right now I am leaning towards 1"x2" retangle tubing. probably 16 ga. I had originally thought about using 1.5"x1.5" 1/8" angle but I think that will add to much weight to the trailer.

Any thoughts?

 

[Niner]

Use channel that way moisture doesn't collect inside causing rust.

even completely sealed just warming and cooling will collect moisture in tubing.

 

[Acadia]

didn't get much done yesterday on the trailer. Just finished welding the new supports in.

it was too cold to do any painting, so I will have to wait till it warms up before I can throw any paint on it.

it did give me some time to think about what I was going to do with the box. I think I am going to go with the rectangle tubing for the frame and then skin the inside with aluminum.

the box dimensions will be roughly 6' long x 4' wide and 2' deep. I am planning on putting a tail gate in plus a lid. I would like to make the lid removeable so it can haul some tall stuff if needed. I am still working on the lid design and will probably have to wait till I get the box framed before I can test some ideas.

 

[Acadia]

ordered tubing for box frame today. I pick it up on Friday just in time for the weekend. So I might actually make some progress on this thing this weekend!

 

[Acadia]

I couldn't wait any longer, so I hooked the trailer up behind the 60 and took it for a spin around the extended neighborhood.

It towed great behind the 60, nice and straight! I got lucky and it even sits level with the 60.

I can't say the same for the 4runner though. It might be closer to level once I get the OME lift on the 4runner that is sitting out in the garage, but I will probably still have to get a hitch with a couple inches of rise to it.

pick up the steel tomorrow for the box. I might have to sneak out to the garage early and get started on it!

 

[FlatlandTRD]

Enjoying the write-up and notice your location, cool, which part of the state?

This section is great as I'm searching for a base to start my trailer project, just one question for ya. Is there a benefit to using shorter leaves as opposed to going with a little longer? The reason I ask is because I have some taco leaves taking up space in my garage. Thanks.

 

[Acadia]

Olathe, KS

I get down to the Wichita area 5 or 6 times a year for work.

I am no expert on leaf spring set ups but the info I had suggested that longer is better because they are less likely to fatigue and break. I don't know if this is true or not?

When I orderd my axle I orderd new leaf springs with it (the standard 25" trailer springs), but I really liked the original springs that were on the trailer better. They were longer (30") and accepted a rubber/poly busing and not the plastic/nylon sleeve like the new 25" springs had. So I reused them and replaced the old worn out rubber bushings with new poly bushings.

I had thought about using leaf springs from a taco as well but decided against it, seemed like they where a bit over kill for the size of the trailer and what I was going to be hauling in it.

 

[Acadia]

well I picked up the tubing to start making the box for the trailer. I ended up getting 1.5"x1" 16ga tubing.

The neighbors are going to love me tomorrow when I fire up the chop saw

 

[Acadia]

New Fenders!

Picked up a pair of fenders today while I was in TSC. I think they will work pretty well, just need to rough them up and hit them with some black paint.

 

[Acadia]

The chop saw got a work out today! Started fabbing up the tube frame for the box. one side is done.

 

[Acadia]

got the other side and the front put together. It is actually starting to look like something. not sure what that something is just yet!