Trailer Ideas

[TXLX100]

I was at my dad's shop the other day and found this old trailer behind the building. The base measures about 4x10. It looks pretty solid, only light surface rust in spots.



I've been thinking about getting rid of my pickup, but will need a trailer if I do so. I will need it to hold the same weight as a pickup, up to 2k pounds. If I decide to take it, it will need a metal floor, strip and paint, spring over (maybe new springs), light shocks. I would also likely add vertical supports to the rear so that I could make a top rack. I might want to use it for camping duty on dirt/gravel roads, but no serious off road use.

Any thoughts on if this would be an okay trailer to start with for the stated purposes?

 

[titanpat57]

I think it would a good start.

Maybe throw some Aluminum diamond plate flooring and sides in and finish off the ladder rack and your good to go.

Nowadays you can almost all big deliveries quickly, and placed exactly where you need them.

 

[TXLX100]

Good idea on the diamond plate. Any suggestion on thickness of diamond plate for a floor and sides?

 

[cruiserpilot]

1/8" flat steel for floor and sides would work, be cheaper than alum. Flat paints better, easier to maintain. Checker plate holds dirt and crap to the floor, hard to keep clean. With steel you can weld in cleats, tiedowns, footman loops easy. My opinion. I also think that trailer has enormous potential, great find!

 

[titanpat57]

You may have to add additional support...but my guess would at least 3/16"...also maybe look at some composites. Wood would definitely be cheapest.

Steel would probably add quite a bit of weight

 

[ntsqd]

The utility trailer that my grandfather built in 1959, that I now have, used 1/2 plywood that wasn't too securely fastened in place. The idea was to enable easy replacement of the trailer floor when it got too beat up. Since they also used the trailer for "Overlanding" if the floor was too beat up for Grandmother's taste, it got replaced prior to a trip.

Same grandfather built a 1950 Ford F1 for general use & driving to work. He used 1/8" steel tread plate for the bed floor and we both cursed that floor every time we wanted something to slide on it or were trying (& failing) to sweep it out.

 

[TXLX100]

Thanks for the suggestions, definitely something to consider. I'll look at the weight difference of plate steel for the floor v diamond plate. My first thought for tie downs is that I would like to use an airline track down each side. I think I'll go take another look at it today, take a look at some trailer builds, and put a pen to it to see how much money I'd be spending to get it done. Also, I could have the frame galvanized cheaply. I may do this, but not sure if it's worth the trouble, weight increase, and it looks like there is a lot of prep work if I want to paint over the galvanize. I'm leaning towards painting the whole trailer in flat black and diamond plate the floor & sides.

 

[TXLX100]

I went and took a second look at this trailer today. The finish on it actually looks like primer, so I think it only needs to be cleaned up and sprayed. The tounge portion of the trailer is the only part that is constructed with C-channel, but it looks pretty sturdy.

After looking at some metal prices, I'm leaning towards a wood floor and diamond plate sides. Unless someone talks me out of it, I will bolt the sides on (on the inside) and it shouldn't be a problem to add a metal floor later if I decide. Any suggestions on coating a pressure treated wood floor, or just leave it as is? (monstaliner will probably kill the price saving of using wood for the floor). I'm thinking a black stain so the wood doesn't stand out too much.

The rear end needs some vertical angle iron welded on the corners in order to form the rear posts to complete a rack. I have no clue if I will ever own a RTT, but going back and adding extra cross members for support should be easy. Also, I'd like to fab a ramp style tailgate (again, unless there is good reason I shouldn't).

The trailer springs looked a little small to me, but I have no idea how much weight they will hold. My plan is to do the build, add some larger tires and new wheels, and upgrade the springs as needed. And add 2-96" airline L-track down each side of the floor for securing cargo.

All of that and I'd like to add some expanded metal to the front tongue area for a little additional storage. I don't think I'll plan on adding a box to the tongue, as those two 8' toolboxes have a ton of space. Plenty of room for a 20lb propane bottle and a deep cell battery. I told my dad about the plan and he seems eager to be involved, so I think this will be a fun project for the both if us.