Graves' not-so-cheap trailer build.

[Gravy]

So almost everyone knows I had my old trailer stolen.
([url]http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?88623-PLEASE-HELP!-STOLEN-CAR-TRAILER!)[/URL]
And while I still hope that with everyone's help I'll find it, I had to get something to tow my Jeep,
so I sold my hoarded KP HP Dana 60 front to fund the start of a my Not-So-Cheap Cheap trailer build.

My goals were:
Bigger capacity.
Higher load rated (tough tires)
16 foot and at least 84" wide (since my Jeep is 83" inches)
No deckover.
Narrower track width (my old one was 102" outside of tire which made towing through Utah county a little hairy).

I looked at new trailers and couldn't afford them. So I picked up this old heap as a starting point.
8'x16'. about 19' or 20' total length. Dual 6k axles with brakes on all 4. 2 5/16" ball. Less than 78" track width.

And I immediately tore it all apart: tore the deck off, all the wiring, etc...

Deck was old and cracking up. So off it came

Quality deck.

 

[Gravy]

The old hitch had no spot for a pin, and a stupid hitch mount jack that gets in the way of opening the tailgate on the truck.

so off it came.

New one.

and welded it on. Double pass.

 

[Gravy]

Time for a new tilt style jack.

pull the clip off.

Grind the nubs off the back so it sits flush.

Weld it up and reassemble.

 

[Gravy]

Wheels and tires are kinda interesting. 7-14.5 bias ply Maxxis, mounted on 7"x14.5" 5x5.5" rims.

I thought I'd have a hard time finding tires, but found new Samson 12ply load range "F" (3000lb) tires are quite reasonably priced when these wear out.

Took them to bare metal, Rustoleum primer.

and paint

 

[Gravy]

This gal has big big bearings.
I pulled them to inspect and replace.

Outer Koyo LM67048 are about $7 a piece

Inner Timken 25577 are $30 a piece.

Spindles are huge. I'm told these axles are 6,000 lbs load rated.

cleaned up stuff

boring stuff here:
and Seals 5M HADCO 9069 5M

And dust caps: HADCO ENG. 316 L.A. CAL.

Big brake magnets:

I need one new one because the wires were pulled out. It has brakes on all 4.

 

[Gravy]

Then my wife and I took it down to bare steel. And brushed on Rustoleum rusty metal primer. Used a whole gallon.

Borrowed my friend's airless sprayer and put down two gallons of Rustoleum gloss black enamel... what a mess, I got overspray everywhere.

Then I rewired: new Bargman 7 blade plug: soldered and heat shrink on all the connections. New LED lights from my new favorite lighting source: Industrial Lighting on 3rd W. and about 13th S. http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?90284-Where-to-get-cheap-trailer-lights-(Fleet-lite-closed)

They are SUPER bright. These are during the middle of the day.

Added something you don't see much on trailers: a reverse light.

 

[Gravy]

Paint turned out great.

Then I redecked her. 2"x8"x16'. I Chose Douglass Fir for cost vs. durability
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?89696-Lumber-for-Trailer-Decking&highlight=decking

First I cut and mocked up all the boards

And at the recommendation of the smarter members of RME, I chose to coat the decking with boiled linseed oil. (Thanks Carl, BCGPER, etc).

and left them outside to dry for a few days.

Slapped the deck back on with a bunch of 1/4" carriage head bolts.

and she's all done.

Now I just need one more wheel for a second spare.

Where can I get a 5x5.5" bolt pattern 14.5" wheel?
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=14364537&posted=1#post14364537

I'll likely weld up a few mounts for my spares, build a box on the tongue for straps, and build some new ramps (mine are dang near 180 lbs each & 7ft long).

Now I have a brand-new trailer at the cost of.... lots of parts and even more labor... boy I'm glad to have my garage back.

 

[SUPERFLY]

^like!

 

[skippy]

I noticed when I built my trailer after a few years the wood will try to twist and curl a bit so I put 2 bolts side by side instead of one carriage bolt in the middle and it has kept my deck much flatter by doing so......if that makes sense

 

[I Lean]

Look here: http://www.harborfreight.com/steel-trailer-tongue-box-65439.html Use a 20% off coupon and you might be where you need to be vs. building one?

They have a cheaper/lighter duty version, but it's cheaper/lighter duty.

 

[jmaxj]

I noticed when I built my trailer after a few years the wood will try to twist and curl a bit so I put 2 bolts side by side instead of one carriage bolt in the middle and it has kept my deck much flatter by doing so......if that makes sense

That's the way mine is, I've noticed that the two bolts are much better than just the one in the middle.

 

[Chevycrew]

I used decking screws and the wood trying to twist is popping them. So I have to swap to carriage bolts, 2 per board to stop the twist. I used linseed oil as well, but it needs done at least every year.

 

[benjy]

Looks great!

 

[skippy]

I also use linseed oil every year in a weed sprayer the same time i do my back yard fence makes it quick and painless

 

[Gravy]

^like!

Thanks! Maybe Creighton will give me a hundred bucks if I win a comp and have Maxxis Tires on my trailer lol.

I noticed when I built my trailer after a few years the wood will try to twist and curl a bit so I put 2 bolts side by side instead of one carriage bolt in the middle and it has kept my deck much flatter by doing so......if that makes sense

Makes sense. Wish I had thought of that earlier
I will add carriage bolts on another crossmember, problem is: every other crossmember is fully boxed so drilling them is a pain.

Angle iron captures the front and rear of each board and holds it flat, hopefully that will help also.

I used decking screws and the wood trying to twist is popping them. So I have to swap to carriage bolts, 2 per board to stop the twist. I used linseed oil as well, but it needs done at least every year.

10-4
I've got a 20 gallon drum of the stuff. It came with the house... I assume they used to use it for the wood floors back in the old days.

Looks great!

Thanks! I spent a ton of time on it.

I also added a pack of reflective red and white markers to it.

 

[skippy]

How much would you say you have into this trailer???

 

[Gravy]

blegh.... I just added it up. Lots.

Primer $27
Paint $54
Tongue $28
Lights $130
Deck $150
Wiring $35
Hardware $20
Bearings $37
2 Tires resealed $26

------------------------------
$513 + the cost of the trailer + approx 50+ hrs labor
For a brand new and fully custom 12k lb trailer.
Entirely worth it.
I certainly wouldn't want to pay the money to buy something like this new: I figure it's worth maybe $3500 to me.
I was quoted $4600-$5000 +Tax/title/reg. for a new Big Tex with similar specs.

I checked a lot of places and even the best I could find for a new 7'x16' car hauler is $2500+tax/title/reg.

 

[skippy]

Thats awesome when I built my trailer I built it plenty heavy enough to be a 10k trailer but ran out of funds before I was done and just bought 2 3500lb axles when and if I upgrade I will go to 2 5k axles for sure I built mine from scratch and am into it about 1300-1400 bucks and I have 82.5 inches between the fenders I also built 1/4 inch fenders so I could drive on them.

 

[Gravy]

Width between the fenders is only 66.5", but the fenders are only 4" tall, so any car can drive on them (and I'm going to taper the ends).
Picked up the Jeep yesterday.

 

[Herzog]

Get that dirty jeep off that clean trailer.

Looks good Stratton! That trailer cleaned up nicely with all that work.