My first Trailer build.

[ntsqd]

The reviews on the Northern Tool site for Vol. 1 weren't too encouraging. I only have Vol. 2 so I've no idea what Vol. 1 might have to say. I wouldn't go so far as saying that Vol. 2 is the end-all, be-all book on trailers, but it sure has helped me on a couple projects.

I think a 60/40 split of the cargo box is the standard, and it seems the tongue should be around half the box length at a minimum for small trailers.

My granddad's Rule of Thumb is that the unladen tongue length should be 1/3 of the total distance from the ball to the axle (or to 1/2 btwn the axles if a tandem). I now have the single axle trailer that he built years ago (pre- 1969) from G.I. 2.5t bed sideboards using this RoT and it tows beautifully!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I think most trailers are inclined to tow well no matter what you do, as long as they are less than half the weight of the tow vehicles. I've only ever had one problem with a trailer, it's when we put 12' lumber in an 8' box, so 4' hanging out the back, towed by a fwd wagon. Other than that, never a problem. Though, I have had many cars suffer the effects of too much tongue weight.

That's why I like to keep the tongue weight low. A 1500lb trailer won't pose any problems for a 3000 lb car. But 200-300lbs of tongue weight can have a modern car on the bumpstops in the back. 100lbs of tongue weight, even though it's under the 10% "minimum" is fine on a 3000lb car.

Now, when you're talking about a big trailer, 5-10,000lbs towed by a 5000lb pickup truck, that's when you need to make sure you have enough tongue weight, and the rear suspension is made for it.

 

[Poorboyota26]

got the tongue holes cut out and inserted the tongue. haha that sounds funny. trying to download pics from friends camera. post em up in a bit.

Also changing to a standard 3500lb trailer axle. The IFS Toyota rear axle just isn't going to work. I was told it would fit and that I would be stupid not to take the free Toyota axle, to save money on an "expensive" custom trailer axle. $175 hub to hub what ever length I need, what ever width spring perches I need, what ever bolt pattern I need. That's super expensive .

 

[Poorboyota26]

 

[Poorboyota26]

Axle will be here on the 18th. two weeks grrrrr. Got some more done on it tonight. but left the camera at the shop.

I welded on the lip for weather/dust proofing, tacked the spring hangers on, tacked one of the diagonal tongue supports, and put a tire up next to it for ride height check. I think it will be ok. I've been struggling with the tail gate. I have to grind quite a bit off of the bottom outside edges to get it to slide nicely. I also need to think of a design for the side boxes. It will be kind of like a utility truck bed. I have a good idea for them I just have to put it down on paper and see how I like it. They were kind of an after thought and I haven't really thought about them too much.

Thanks for watching,
Kevin.

 

[Poorboyota26]

The pics.

how the tongue goes through the frame of the trailer.

mocked up and measuring for the axle. That's a 31" tire.

Metal strip welded to the outside of the lid to help keep the weather/dust out.

 

[Poorboyota26]

I've got about a page and a half of "Doh"

One of them is: Don't weld the floor on until the frame is done.

I can't get to the top of the tongue to weld it to the frame.

I was only able to get 10 of the tie-downs for the trailer so I decided to weld the one's that wont be covered up right away by sheet metal.

Edit: wow that's blurry sorry.

Some pics of those.

Just clears a carabiner

 

[R_Lefebvre]

That will probably be more than enough weld as it is, realistically. Just get the other side and it'll be fine.

 

[Poorboyota26]

I'm thinking it would be enough but i wanted to seal it from the elements more than anything. I don't want water and mud getting in there and rusting from the inside out in 2 years. Probly put some body seam sealer on it.

I'm having a lot of fun with this thing. Just wish the axle would get here already so I can tow it around the block to test it out a bit. I don't want to put all the sheeting on and then figure out that I need to make some changes.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

That's what I was going to suggest, just seal it up with something. I have a few places I couldn't weld and I'm just going to use RTV.

 

[Poorboyota26]

Little bit more done on it. Welded the front box up and tacked sheets on the sides.


Make sure to weld sides and floor of box before welding to the trailer. I have had problems with this little booger and have wished I did it differently for 2 years.

 

[slimtwo]

Looks like your commin along just great! Thank you for posting the pics for those of us drooling on the side lines. :drool:

Happy trails!

 

[R_Lefebvre]

What guage sheet are you using?

 

[Poorboyota26]

I'm using 16ga it's pretty thin and it has warped already on the floor. I wish I would have gone 14 but I need to keep it light. Future trailers will be done in 14. I sort of weighed it and it's already at 300# with the tongue weight at 75#.

Got some more done. Not much but I only work a couple hours at a time. I'm killing time on the little things and what not before the axle comes in. I want to get it on there before I finish some things.

The sheets on the sides are only tacked and the box on the front is just sitting there. I found some diamond plate in a scrap bin that was perfect for the front of the box, that's the only reason I used diamond plate on there.
I also am waiting on some more tiedowns for the inside of the trailer. I was told that they are on backorder. oh well.

 

[Poorboyota26]

Looks like your commin along just great! Thank you for posting the pics for those of us drooling on the side lines. :drool:

Happy trails!

Thanks for the comments. I really didn't think it would be this big of an undertaking. I've been battling warp-age and a hinge design for the tail gate, for weeks now.



Just a word for those of you who are contemplating building your own:

Figure out the width of the box, then order/acquire your axle wheel combo. It makes moving the trailer SOOO much easier.