Custom aluminum trailer

admin

Hey guys, first time posting and have some custom questions! I'm looking to build a custom 26' aluminum trailer. the deck of the trailer will look like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-2...c#ht_673wt_862So basically I just want this deck and then tandem axel wheel set up underneath it. The max load capacity on the trailer will need to be only 1500 lbs. I know this sounds odd but I cant tell you what I'm going to do with it just yet. How difficult would putting this trailer together be? How much do you think it will cost me? Do I still need tandem axel if the whole set up is going to be really light? Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by mobileSo basically I just want this deck and then tandem axel wheel set up underneath it. The max load capacity on the trailer will need to be only 1500 lbs. I know this sounds odd but I cant tell you what I'm going to do with it just yet. How difficult would putting this trailer together be? How much do you think it will cost me? Do I still need tandem axel if the whole set up is going to be really light? Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWNot really enough info to give you any useful answers to your questions. As far as cost, figure  "expensive" ranging to "Oh my God" . Alum just isn't "cheap". With no idea what sort of use, it's hard to get any idea what materials you plan to use and make any guess at costs.As far as how "hard" it will be to build, again we'd need some sort of idea on design, and what sort of experience and equipment you have. Trailers in general aren't "learning" projects. You need to be able to do code quality welding in all positions every time before you even begin to think about something like this. Also alum is much harder to weld than steel and usually requires more expensive equipment and a lot more experience.  Base budget for just the equipment to do a project like this is probably close to $3-4K minimum, if not closer to $5-6K. If you can't already weld alum, don't expect to just buy a machine and go for it. Also trailer design isn't something you should do by the seat of your pants, especially with a material like alum. You are also taking on a huge liability when you build a trailer and even more so when you design one from scratch. Alum has a lot of design issues that make it a poor choice for trailers. You won't find all that many 100% alum trailers out there for a number of reasons, cost and fatigue issues being the 2 biggest ones. Usually if anything you see alum bodies on steel frames on big trailers. The added material needed with alum frames to get enough strength to match steel frames, sort of defeats the weight savings and the added cost usually breaks the deal.As far as single vs tandem, with that light a weight, you can probably get away with only a single axle, but tandems usually track better. Single vs tandem will really change the structural design of something like this as well. If you are serious, I'd strongly suggest looking at places like Northern tool for their engineered trailer plans. You can probably find a design that's fairly close to what you want. I know they have some plans for alum units. If you are trying to do this to "save" money... Forget it. There's no way you can compete on price with the major builders that buy in bulk. Especially if you have to add the cost of the equipment to the price tag. The only way these things ever even begin to become financially viable is if the person who wants the trailer is willing to shell out big bucks for a custom unit, or the builder has most of the materials already paid for. Best bet is to find an existing trailer and maybe make minor mods on it, or use it as is.
Reply:Originally Posted by mobileCan you bolt together an entire trailer?
Reply:Properly designed you can "bolt" most of it together. The catch is that you really need to use stainless huck bolts or similar. Standard bolts are likely to work loose. It's a LOT of work to do right. See the following thread to get a idea.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=53731Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:The catch is that you really need to use stainless huck bolts or similar
Reply:Oh yeah. Be sure you're sitting down when you price a huck bolt gun.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitThe catch is that you really need to use stainless huck bolts or similar.
Reply:ok this trailer is perfect! But I need to add 6' to it somehow? http://greatwesttrailers.com/trailer_details.asp?id=623I was thinking about having a folding 6' piece that folds out when the trailer is parked.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhireStainless and aluminum is subject to galvanic corrosion if subjected to any type of electrolyte like salt water. Cadmium and aluminum are very close on the galvanic series. Are these available with cadmium plating?
Reply:adding 6' for what purpose? loading/unloading or for over the road use carrying a load? i am sure there is a ramp located under the trailer that you put on/off when needed....if its for load carrying your axels will be too far forward and cause it to whip too much IMHO....GOOD LUCK!
Reply:Originally Posted by mobileHey guys, first time posting and have some custom questions! I'm looking to build a custom 26' aluminum trailer. the deck of the trailer will look like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-2...c#ht_673wt_862So basically I just want this deck and then tandem axel wheel set up underneath it. The max load capacity on the trailer will need to be only 1500 lbs. I know this sounds odd but I cant tell you what I'm going to do with it just yet. How difficult would putting this trailer together be? How much do you think it will cost me? Do I still need tandem axel if the whole set up is going to be really light? Thanks
Reply:Don't know what part of the country you are in but find a place that sell snowmobile trailers and buy an aluminium 4 place sled trailer.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"