Any home made car trailers here?

[Imacarguytoo]

Did you build it? What materials did you use. What size axles? Im thinking of building one.

[Tx Firefighter]

I've built a bunch of trailers over the years.

For a car hauler, I use 4 inch channel for the tongue and 2x3x1/4 inch angle iron for the rest. Wood for the floor.

My local trailer parts place sells axle packages really reasonably priced. I use two 3500 pound axles with electric brakes on one. Fifteen inch tires and 5 on 5 pattern wheels.

Oh, Bulldog coupler is the way to go.

[SCOTI]

Food for thought . . .... A guy I work with used to build them for a living before working w/me. Several months ago he showed up @ work w/the new trailer he just bought. I was curious why someone who built them for a living would go & buy one already done & he told me there's no way he could buy all the materials needed (steel, flooring, coupler, axles, brakes, wheels, tires, lighting) & build just one for what he can purchase one already done.

He said one @ a time is expensive & it was cheaper to buy.

[thirdstreettito]

I'll build one after I buy a welder, I'll use mobile home axles. and 2x6 square tubing.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Food for thought . . .... A guy I work with used to build them for a living before working w/me. Several months ago he showed up @ work w/the new trailer he just bought. I was curious why someone who built them for a living would go & buy one already done & he told me there's no way he could buy all the materials needed (steel, flooring, coupler, axles, brakes, wheels, tires, lighting) & build just one for what he can purchase one already done.

He said one @ a time is expensive & it was cheaper to buy.

Absolutely !

The last trailer I built, I maybe saved 100 bucks over buying it. My final product was painted to match my truck though, and factory trailers don't do that.

Mainly, I try to build my stuff better than production trailers. As an example, I weld a run of 1/2 inch EMT conduit along the underside of the trailer to run my wiring through front to back. Plus, I use LED lights, and have better and more tie down spots.

In the end, the money is a wash, but I wind up with a better trailer.

[Imacarguytoo]

I want to build one for the fact i can say i "Built That" and well ive never done anything that big before so i think it would be fun. Oh and i can get the steel at a killer discount. Plus i scrap cars on the side and the home made trailer i had was very heavy...strong and just not wide enough. Whoever built it went WAY overboard. Lol plus it was butt ugly, nasty welds.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

I'll build one after I buy a welder, I'll use mobile home axles. and 2x6 square tubing.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't run mobile home axles even if they were free.

They are too wide, use those weird ugly wheels, and the goofy tires that no tire store carries.

My local trailer supply house (Quality Trailer parts, they're nationwide, website, etc..) sells a 3500 pound axle kit.

It includes :

• pair of leaf springs
• axle
• four u bolts with nuts
• front spring hangers
• rear spring hangers and shackles
• all spring harware
• spring plates
• lugnuts
• bearings, seals, and hardware
• hubs

All that for less than 100 dollars total. You can't beat that anywhere. It's everything you need from the frame out, plus you can choose from any bolt pattern you want for the hubs. That way you can use a wheel that matches whatever your truck pattern is. Makes spare tires easy.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

In the end, the money is a wash, but I wind up with a better trailer.

I disagree completely, in the end when you wind up with that better trailer, how much money would it cost you to buy that trailer from a dealer, after you have custom ordered it that way?

I am actually working on drawing a trailer right now. Going to get prices tomorrow on the steel, mine is going to be a hydraulic tilt deck using a ram for a cherry picker from harbor freight.

[Imacarguytoo]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't run mobile home axles even if they were free.

They are too wide, use those weird ugly wheels, and the goofy tires that no tire store carries.

My local trailer supply house (Quality Trailer parts, they're nationwide, website, etc..) sells a 3500 pound axle kit.

It includes :

• pair of leaf springs
• axle
• four u bolts with nuts
• front spring hangers
• rear spring hangers and shackles
• all spring harware
• spring plates
• lugnuts
• bearings, seals, and hardware
• hubs

All that for less than 100 dollars total. You can't beat that anywhere. It's everything you need from the frame out, plus you can choose from any bolt pattern you want for the hubs. That way you can use a wheel that matches whatever your truck pattern is. Makes spare tires easy.

WOW are you serious??? lol i called my local trailer supply store redneck trailer supply, They want 280 per axle for a 3500 at 85 wide. Im going to call your place tomorrow and see what i can get. I was thinkin of using the axles i have, cutting them up, making them wider...i found a place online with the spindle and the plate for the brakes and hub. I know it sounds like a lot of work BUT its a money thing....

[thirdstreettito]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't run mobile home axles even if they were free.

They are too wide, use those weird ugly wheels, and the goofy tires that no tire store carries.

My local trailer supply house (Quality Trailer parts, they're nationwide, website, etc..) sells a 3500 pound axle kit.

It includes :

• pair of leaf springs
• axle
• four u bolts with nuts
• front spring hangers
• rear spring hangers and shackles
• all spring harware
• spring plates
• lugnuts
• bearings, seals, and hardware
• hubs

All that for less than 100 dollars total. You can't beat that anywhere. It's everything you need from the frame out, plus you can choose from any bolt pattern you want for the hubs. That way you can use a wheel that matches whatever your truck pattern is. Makes spare tires easy.

Wow is that a deal! Do they ship? Can you get them as wide as you want? The reason I am going with mobile home axles is because a dually will fit between the wheels.

[67'sgota4541]

I also wouldn't use house trailer axle's.Be sure to find out what your total width is in N.C. In Indiana it's 8' 6'' overall width.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by 67'sgota454

I also wouldn't use house trailer axle's.Be sure to find out what your total width is in N.C. In Indiana it's 8' 6'' overall width.

Standard maximum width for a vehicle is 102" this is nation wide. The only part of a vehicle that does not have to adhere to this is the mirrors. Anything over 102" will require an oversize permit.

[Tx Firefighter]

Here is a link to their location finder. Choose the one closest to you.

http://www.polartank.com/lg.php?bg=qtploc

Keep in mind, the price I quoted was for a non brake axle. I used that reference because we were talking non brake mobile home axles at the time.

[67'sgota4541]

mrbeast, thank you I did not know 102'' was a nationwide width.

[MrBeast]

I am working on this trailer design right now. It is a 16' tilt deck.





As you can see from the tilted view the trailer on level ground can load a car with 4" ground clearance that has a distance of 14 1/16" from the centerline of the tire to the front of the car.

With 5" ground clearance you can have 18 1/16" from the wheel centerline to the front of the car.

The nice thing about this setup is that you can have a winch on the front of the deck, and use it to pull your vehicle up onto the trailer, this will be really handy if I am going to get a non runner.

[MrBeast]

Originally Posted by 67'sgota454

mrbeast, thank you I did not know 102'' was a nationwide width.

Also if you need any more regs on vehicles, look up your states DOT site online, and you can usually find any of that information there, like length limits, and weather or not you can pull double and triple trailers.

[67'sgota4541]

will do mrbeast,Thank's

[caminokid]

Originally Posted by 67'sgota454

I also wouldn't use house trailer axle's.Be sure to find out what your total width is in N.C. In Indiana it's 8' 6'' overall width.

Your right. I was born and raised there...and I had a mobile home frame hauling it home and I was pulled over and was told it was too wide to haul it with an escort.

[thirdstreettito]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Here is a link to their location finder. Choose the one closest to you.

http://www.polartank.com/lg.php?bg=qtploc

Keep in mind, the price I quoted was for a non brake axle. I used that reference because we were talking non brake mobile home axles at the time.

I asked if they ship because I dont want to drive 2+ hours to Charlotte...

[jritt72]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

I'll build one after I buy a welder, I'll use mobile home axles. and 2x6 square tubing.

you do not want to use tubing, it will flex too much, I did mine with tubing first, now i have angle on it.

[8mpg]

Well, just my $.02...my buddy owns a custom trailer shop. They started doing small trailers but now they do 18 wheeler trailers and custom hydraulic trailers around to 30'+ range.

Unless you have a good place for steal...you probably wont save any money. Steel prices are high and without an account, you are going to pay big time.

Dont bother with 3500lb axles. Go with 5000lb axles. The axles are rated for load + trailer weight. When you have a 1500-1800lb trailer + a car, you will max out pretty darn quick.

It's better to overbuild than underbuild. Id go with 5" C channel for a 18' trailer.

Bullydog hitches in my opinion is overrated. I have seen a couple stories about them coming off the truck. I have seen one personally. I would go with a larger ball hitch than a 2". Get a 2 5/8" or something like that. It will help cut down on possible trailer theft. You could do a pintle hitch and throw everyone for a loop.

[MrBeast]

That and pintle's are just that much cooler.

[chevy29267truck]

i have not made any trailers yet if i need too used one its one of my friends trailers i used im not sure if i make one or get a used one

[454_72_4X4]

Originally Posted by MrBeast

I am working on this trailer design right now. It is a 16' tilt deck.

As you can see from the tilted view the trailer on level ground can load a car with 4" ground clearance that has a distance of 14 1/16" from the centerline of the tire to the front of the car.

With 5" ground clearance you can have 18 1/16" from the wheel centerline to the front of the car.

The nice thing about this setup is that you can have a winch on the front of the deck, and use it to pull your vehicle up onto the trailer, this will be really handy if I am going to get a non runner.

Nice looking design.
Somethin to think about though. 14-1/16" from the centerline of the tire/wheel isn't much. Your average car tire is probably 26-28 inches tall. That puts your 4" ground clearance about 1-1/16 to 1/16 inch in front of the tire itself.
Of course the tire will start to "climb" the trailer quite a bit before it's centerline reaches the edge of the ramp/trailer.

A tiltbed would be sweet and a winch is a necessity IMO.
I've been consiring building myself a car trailer for a number of years now. Just never have gotten around to it.
I've got the winch, now I just need the remainder of the parts! Hahaha
Another advantage of building your own is ya don't have to come up with the big lump sum of money! Buy the steel and axles, lights, etc a little at a time.

I like the drawings. That's the way to plan out things! What software did ya use to make those?

[pumpkin]

I built mine 20 years ago. Its 2x3 and 2x4 tubing. It tows like a dream, no sway controls, or equalizers, and its dead straight up to 110 mph.