60-66 Trailer made from a 60-66 bed

[1963c-10]

Has anyone here done this kind of modification? I want to use the bed and rear frame from a 64 to make a matching trailer for my 63. I have found a few pics to help, but would like to know what wieghted parts were used for the tounge of the trailer. Also, any pointers, things to do or not to do. If not, I guess I'll wing it, take pics and document. Any help is as always appreciated.

[1963c-10]

Seems to me that from the few I've found pics of they went about two foot in front of the rear cab mount to make the front cut.

[T2vigil]

That is exactly what my donner truck will end up being.

[1963c-10]

very cool. Im looking forward to a mini-build for once. I plan to gut the brakes and the rest will stay as is. Should be alot easier only being half a truck. (or at least I hope). I want to paint it to match the final color (pepsi blue) and run the same hubcaps/tires to match the truck. The only upgrade (still undecided) may be a forward bed panel that has the bowtie embossed since its visible from both sides. Mar -K has them, and all of the stuff i've got from them fits and looks great. And I want a steel floor w/rhino lined sides.

[1963c-10]

Have found a few more and only one fleetside so theres no discrimination

[1963c-10]

Ok fabricaters...which style coupler is best? It seems to me the one on the left (black) would be easier. Cut the frame, bend the rails in....bolt/weld and fairly easy. Seems the other would require alot more fabrication.

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Ok fabricaters...which style coupler is best? It seems to me the one on the left (black) would be easier. Cut the frame, bend the rails in....bolt/weld and fairly easy. Seems the other would require alot more fabrication.

Use the black one. You are correct, cut the rails to length, pie cut the flange top and bottom, bend toward the center to match the angle of the coupler and weld it all together. Most of the ones that I have seen done just left the stock suspension and rear axle under them...

[Clyde65]

That fleet looks like my trailer. mine is a long bed with toast for the bed sides, I have a short fleet im putting on there and will paint to match my truck.

[1963c-10]

I want mine to be used as intended, but I want the exterior to match the finish of the truck pulling it. Be fun to take to shows, camping, etc...but still fully functional when I need it. I have oak/stainless in my 63, and I use a horse stall mat which is about 1" thick rubber to protect the wood, but its heavy and a real PITA to get in/out of the truck, and you still get damage.

[spacedebris]

I hope this helps with your setup. My grandfather made this one 28 years ago.

Front... I personally think its too long. Its 4 feet. I would have gone somewhere closer to 3.


Close up of tongue..





Here his what he did from the frame

[spacedebris]

here is from underneath




Just a simple straight axle



Whole trailer




Yeah I know. its a F**D but he was an anti-chevy guy. But we have been using this trailer HARD for nearly 30 years and it should give some ideas on how to make one of your own

[markeb01]

My suggestion is to measure commercial trailers of similar size to determine the preferred distance from the hitch ball to the axle centerline. I inherited a yard trailer made from the back half of a Ford Courier. It tracks fine, but the tongue is too short which makes backing up in close quarters very challenging.

[1963c-10]

My parents have a 12" trailor, I want to go take some measurements and also get some from the local dealership. The shortbeds are only 6 1/2" long and I think around 36" is what im looking for on the tounge.

Spacedebris....the pics are great, thanks for sharing them. It does help generate some ideas. Im sure either way, I'll find a way to overengineer it and dump alot of money into a trailer, but it'll be a good looking trailer when complete.

And thanks to Sharps....Ol John Lee will still in a small part be on the road.

[6066gmcguy]

I have built a few of these from GM & Ford trucks, of differant years, I cut the frame at about the front of the cab, fold then to the middle and add tonge with a 2" coupler.

For Some reason i have not taken a photo of the trailer after it was done.

Now don't every one get to upset, this truck was offered for sale but had no takes, it was too rusted out and had been rebuilt once before, really bad job of it, and no title, so I so off its parts, and built a trailer out of the back half.

[1963c-10]

Very cool, thanks for the tips. Im sure I'll have some questions when I start into it.

[1963c-10]

CC69Rat did this for me in the Photoshop section to give a general idea of what it'll look like. He only spent a few minutes on it, scales a little off, but just an idea of what it'll look like. Be much cooler when all the same color

[1963c-10]

thanks aggie91, thats my plan. im going to tow the rolling frame w/the car dolly and cut/weld here at my house. easier than cutting and moving in my opinion
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[Captainfab]

Here is another thread on this subject where I posted a few pics of one of mine.......

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=529857

[1963c-10]

ill definitely check out your thread
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[aerotruk63]

I made a new frame for this bed and have a single removable drawbar. When not in use I wanted to make the trailer as compact as possible. You guys are lucky, were not allowed to make a trailer from a pickup frame.



This is the frame from my shortened Airstream. Dad made a die for his hydraulic pipe bender and we bent the main 2X4x .100 rectangular tubings.

[Clyde65]

Aerotruck, that's the look I'm going for
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[aerotruk63]

I made the draw bar long enough to be able to jack knife the trailer 90 degrees before it touches the truck. Plan is to spray the trailer interior with LineX.

[1963c-10]

that looks great
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[ChiefRocka]

I built one of these before, using an 8' F@rd bed I got for free.

I didn't have the cab back chassis of the truck, so I built one out of 2x3 tubing.

One thing I can add, to keep in mind is tongue weight in relation to axle location.

You dont want too light of a tongue as this will give you an unsafe 'dog-tail' on the road, when empty or not loaded properly.

Typically a bed trailer like this will tip back and sit on its rear end with the tongue up in the air. Although it's light to lift onto the hitch, its not the best weight distribution.

[1963c-10]

so your suggesting longer tounge better for weight dist
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