new home made trailer design?

[registeroot]

hi folks, i am currently restoring a 14 ft ski/pleasure boat, see thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=443341

i am planning on cutting up the trailer it sits on and rebuilding it , as currently it is about 3 ft short!

i am planning on rebuilding it with keel rollers and bunks.

i have a general idea of design for how i am going to do it. i am going to use the existing axle and re-use a lot of the box section.

anyway, i was wondering if any of you guys have any example of home made trailer designs just to give me a little idea or two?

many thanks, look forward to sharing my work with yall!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

If it is already 3 feet short, what do you plan to use to add the 3 additional feet? You should only need to cut off the spring and trailing arm attachements, move them back and add three feet to the frame. But why bother. Unless you have a love affair with that old trailer, why not sell it and buy a "modern" unit.

 

[registeroot]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

its simple enough. trailers are hard too come by where i live. i have plan i will draw up which will clarify . just wondered what other peoples creations looked like?

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

I learned everything I know form this guy next door to me. When I was 14, I used to spend hours in his home shop. He'd buy an old car that was crashed in the front and another crashed in the back. Two days later he'd have one whole car. See if you can find a scrap with a beam measurement close to yours and cut out the feet you need. Use a saws-all. Make accurate measurements. Weld it in. And tow. It's not complicated. Good luck.

 

[registeroot]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

thanks gun dog. i have a fair idea of what im going to do, i just wondered if anyone else wan ted to show off their work is all!

 

[JB]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

I would expect to be able to get plans for home-builts from www.championtrailers.com. Of course they also offer all of the parts, too.

 

[Bondo]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

thanks gun dog. i have a fair idea of what im going to do, i just wondered if anyone else wan ted to show off their work is all!

Ayuh,... Do a search,... Oops stretched the trailer for his stretched hull....
Not the way I'da done it, but it came out very Nice...

I stretched my trailer that normally carries my 21' Starcraft, to haul canoes,...
Got 50 of 'em on this load....

'ell,... I threw this wagon together with some junk I had layin' around the yard a few years ago...
From scratch...

Do yer sketch, 'n We'll see what ya got goin' on...

Ya Do weld,..?? Right,..??

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

Cool stuff bond-o. Looks like you have fun.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

when you weld on an extension, you have a weak spot that is prone to rust at the weld from the inside, yet there is a lot of weight and a lot of bounce on the back end. I'd think about your trailering conditions: long hauls, frequent use, salt water/salt roads, bumpy roads.
For a "yard dog" you can do it; for the road, I wouldn't risk it. We had a frame break (rust) and welded it back on, got a couple more years, but it was purely a "yard dog."

Also, remember that your supports do not need to go all the way to the end of the boat. While it may be easier to add to the tongue, you have to worry about balance, too.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

To add on what Home Cookin' has brought up, a good way to deal with that weak spot is to sleave the extension(Square/rectangle/round tube). You will need to either go a little bigger or a little smaller(more Common) on this I would go smaller as in my opinion it looks better, and probably go with 6" to 1' sleaves to add strength to your extension, your sleaves should be pretty snug when sliding them into your extension the tighter the sleaves the better the bond between them and your trailer. Drill several 1/2" or 3/4" holes in the trailer/trailer extension to weld to the sleave probably two each side of the main weld on each side of the frame. I have no data to suggest that this method is as good as a solid piece of steel but I know this is how we repair the chassis on our late model and is NASCAR approved at our level so it has to be pretty strong but were using round tube so take that for what it is.

I will add that you can't build a trailer to the same quality, fit and finish as a Manufacturer can for the price, there is a reason why they build them, they have a very efficient process in place and they build ALOT of trailers so unless you just like to build things as I do don't put it in your head that your going to do it and save money that's simply not possible. But if your into doing this then go for it, there is no reason why you can't build one on your own and be happy with it,Like I said I love playing with steel, welding, bending, the feeling that you did it yourself is very rewarding but when you add the costs up and your time your not going to be very happy so don't go there LOL!!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: new home made trailler design?

Re: new home made trailler design?

Old, serviceable boat trailers are a dime a dozen, with so many boats being salvaged from year to year.

I've done so many dumb things with trailers over the years, that it's just not worth the piece of mind to save a few bucks. Factory made trailers for specialized use (like boats) just work better in the real world.

But remember to immediately change out all bearings and bearing races on any used boat trailer (or any other kind of trailer). There's nothing worse than being stranded with burned out bearings/hubs.