Multi New Utility Trailer Build

[SuperYeti]

I built a new utility trailer over the winter, and finally got to put it through it's paces this weekend, overall it worked awesome! I'll be following up later with build photos and stuff, but here's a pic of it finished hauling brush and debris this weekend as a teaser.

 

[knuckledeep]

Would like to see build pics

 

[SuperYeti]

Sorry for the delay getting back to this, been a busy summer.

So the story started with me finding a free trailer on one of the hunting forums I hang out on close to me, I went to pick it up, and discovered it wasn't functional, but I had wanted to build a trailer for a while, and it gave me enough of a starting point to get the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) to acceptable levels, so off I went.

 

[SuperYeti]

Got it home, realized i couldn't get it into my garage to my winch with the existing axle on, and it was pretty pooched, and was a drop axle that I didn't want anyways, so I cut it off, and backed into the garage and hoisted off.

The existing "frame" for the axle and draw bars were pretty hokey, and all bent anyways, so it all came off, ready to start stripping all the crap off the frame, and get it ready to weld the new sub frame in.

 

[SuperYeti]

I decided I wanted the trailer to be axle under deck to give me more clearance, and better support my idea to have walking beam axles that could mount to the new axle spindles so I started building a frame with enough lift to get the tires and axle from a salvaged boat trailer I had kicking around underneath and clearanced.

I also decided I wanted to make it a removable draw bar design for storage and transport, and also to allow for different rise drawbars to be used when towing behind the truck, behind the trailer, with a high rise drawbar to better clear obstacles. I used receiver tube for this, adding to the overall strength as well.

 

[moparornocar]

Here's a little trailer I built to tow camping supplies behind the Pioneer. We will also use it for road trips as extra storage space for the kids crap.

 

[SuperYeti]

Here I've finished welding up the triangle for the draw bar. Whoever built the original trailer cut and bent the angle in the corners, and then never welded it, so the new frame picked up everything, and tied it all together with some fat flux core welds to burn through all the old rust

Mocking up the new spring hangers

 

[SuperYeti]

Laying out the axle, and squaring everything up before welding in the spring hangersand cut down the axle

Out came the light saber and carved off the existing spindles and mounts for shortening the axle, I decided to do it this way, instead of trying to piss around with shortening the axle in the center, that and I flipped the spindles to get more lift.

 

[SuperYeti]

Once the spindles were free, pulled them apart to check, and start grinding and preparing to weld. When I opened them up I found this...


Once I cleaned them up, the races needed replacing, but the spindles were fine, so onwards.


I leveled the axle and clamped it to the trailer and then proceeded to level and square everything against that reference plane. It worked pretty well, and got the axle almost perfect. Ended up getting a bit of shrinkage that pulled the camber in too much, so a little heat straightening and ready to rock

 

[SuperYeti]

First time on the wheels, looking good

Primed, then painted flat black shooting a tremclad mix out of my gun


Went with 3/4" plywood for decking, attached tailgate, and added in chains and latches.



Here it is just about done lights mounted and wired, and ready for final paint and sealing

 

[SuperYeti]

A 1/2 gallon of tremclad black later, everything is sealed, painted, and ready to sit outside.

 

[Neohio]

Looks good!
For those that are wondering what Tremclad is, It is Canada's version of Rustoleum.

 

[moparornocar]

Nice! Job well done. I do wonder though, it looks like there isn't much clearance between the wheel and the deck, any issues with it rubbing when loaded down?

 

[SuperYeti]

Nice! Job well done. I do wonder though, it looks like there isn't much clearance between the wheel and the deck, any issues with it rubbing when loaded down?

Not yet. It's a 3500lb axle, and 2000lb springs per side, I haven't been able to load it up enough to get it to move at all so far. It's a little rough riding as a result. If it does, I'll go with a smaller wheel/tire combo, or just bite the bullet and build the walking beams.