Cargo Conversion Questions Before I Start

[Josh41]

Sold our FWC and thinking of buying a small cargo trailer to set up as a base camp and be able to use the truck to explore, carry bikes, and kayaks. The plan is a 4x6 cargo trailer that is about 48" tall inside (for sale locally, great price). Then add an awning and Oz Tent, RV3,4,or 5.

This will travel New England and the West. Needs to be able to go down dirt and rocky roads but not over passes with switchbacks.

Trailer specs:
2000lb axle
2 leaf springs
13 inch wheels (175/80/13)
Bolt pattern 5 x 4.5
The trailer weight 400# empty, I plan on about 500# to 700# of gear

OK, here are my questions:

1. Can I put LT tires on the trailer, I want to match my Nissan Frontier 265/75/16s. I know I will need adapters and to deal withe the fenders. Etrailer says that car tires can't be used on trailers. My BFG KO2s are D rated with a much higher load rating than the original trailer tires.
2. Home Welding: I only have standard 110, and I do have a 20 amp plug. Can I run one of those $100 dollar welders off of that? I wanted to add a few cross members and gussets to the trailer frame.
3. What am I not thinking about?

Thanks in advance for the help.
Josh

 

[old_CWO]

1. Yes you can certainly use LT tires if you want. Trailer places give the generic advice of only using trailer tires so knuckleheads don't slap a used set of chinesium whitewalls on a loaded car hauler and have an accident. LT tires on single axle purpose built trailers are the opposite - way more load capacity than needed. Don't worry a whit about it. Aggressive treads sway on grooved pavement a little more than highway tires but I have been using them for many years without issue. Given the relatively similar cost, I strongly prefer replacing the axle to adapters. In your case, the tire size you are after will be really hard on the 2K axle spindles and bearings. A 3.5K is generally a minimum for trailers taken off pavement with big tires.
2. Ah, the old 110V welder conundrum... My OPINION is that a 110V wire feed welder on gas and a 20A outlet is fine for tinkering like gussets and cross members. I have one and it's really good for non-critical projects like custom brackets or sheet metal repair. Using it for anything structural or safety related gets into a gray area, especially for the occasional welder/hobby guy. Others may have different views of course, so I recommend you study the subject a bit and make your decision wisely.
3. Big tires and wheels are wide, heavy and take some work to fit properly. If all you're after is ground clearance to the axle, you might be surprised at how much you already have compared to the truck. 13's and a spring over axle conversion is actually really tall for a trailer and probably more than sufficient for your needs. Cargo boxes have a lot of sail area and can be sensitive to cross wind on the highway. Making it taller and less sway stable doesn't help with that situation. Not a show stopper, just something to consider.

Now if it has to look cool, stock just ain't cool and big meats are where it's at!?

 

[Josh41]

Thanks for the info old_CWO. That was my thought on the tires too. Good point on the larger axle. I checked out the trailer yesterday, my over all feeling was that the tongue was too sort at just about 18 inches. Took on a pass and that one, I'll keep looking.
Josh