welding trailer bed

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yes I know many posts on welding trailers. I have searched many of them and have yet to find my answer, so it is with much dread that I simply ask. I have bought a m1101 military trailer with a busted bed, the idea is to pull the bed and build a new one to make it a welding trailer. The question I have is what to make the sub frame out of? I was thinking 1.5 inch square tubing 1/8 wall, but my gut says 1/4 wall. Yes I have a thing for way over building. on the deck will be a ranger 8, tool boxes, 2 vices, o/a torch, and what ever else i think i need around the farm. the decking on this will be 1/8 diamond plate. why you ask, because I've got a bunch around the house. the whole idea will be stick. any ideas or thoughts are welcome, but i really don't want to start a pissing contest. just a bit about me ive been welding on the farm for a decade, then because i wanted to i have started welding school( poor instructors they have to fix all my self taught bad habits), that being said i will readily admit that i am not near as good as the pics i have seen some of yall post. as for the trailer its a farm trailer never going to see road use.  thankyou in advance for the input,  matt
Reply:Are you asking what size square tubing to use? May be these will help you. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I would use flat strap, probably 1/8" tp 1/4". I use it on all the truck beds and welding trailers that I build and have never had a problem. Once welded to the decking and frame rails, it can't move and leaves a space between them where you can put drawers. I have it like this on my welding truck. You can put a lot of stuff in those drawers. Attached Images
Reply:That's a great idea Bob! I really like that! Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:CEP where do you come up with this info?   Off the web, or are there books that can be bought?   This type of info might help my bad habit of overbuilding everything.   LolMiller BobcatHarris cutting outfitMiller spectrum 625 plasmaVariety of shopmade tools
Reply:CEP, you must be an engineer. or a man with a library larger and better than mine. the actual question was one of wall thickness. but it seems either way you answered it mathematically, that being said which would you build out of? 1/4 or 1/8? now BOB, first and foremost that right there is why I read these boards. Just like Ive always been told if you want to know an easy answer to a complex question go ask a old man in that field( not that you are old, I don't know, but my guess is this isn't your first year at welding). now enough with the smoke, I assume that its a large piano hinge on the side of the flat bed? next and more importantly since I hate dirty tools, how do you keep road grime and dirt out of those drawers?thanks again matt
Reply:Originally Posted by jw3CEP where do you come up with this info?   Off the web, or are there books that can be bought?   This type of info might help my bad habit of overbuilding everything.  Lol
Reply:Originally Posted by why165CEP, you must be an engineer.
Reply:Bob good looking truck bed. Cep thanks for the post on tubing spec. Why165 good luck on trailer
Reply:well for my library does one of six books count as good? forgive me I am truly new to collecting welding books, heck I am really new to doing this welding correctly and not gorilla. seems its all fitment first. but like I said I'm in school for this trade and learing every day. I will go get those books, read them, and add them to the library. as for the build, it will start wed, that's when I pick up the trailers I bought. I will start a new thread when I get started, but please keep the good structural info coming.matt
Reply:If your in the rust belt 1/8" anything is not good, it rusts away too quick. 1/4" is usually overkill. I usually use 3/16" as a good compromise. 1 1/2" tube is not likely tall enough, and I don't usually like tube for trailers anyway, especially snowbelt trailers.  But 1 1/2 x 3 x 3/16 tube would make a good light weight trailer. But 3" channel will likely cost you less than the tube, be easier to use, and be less of a rust out problem. A drawing of what your working ideas are would really help allow folks to give advice that suits your needs better.Last edited by welderj; 12-15-2014 at 10:18 PM.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Ok I apologise for the lack of details.  First off I live in Louisiana. Rust really isn't our thing, but mud let's talk mud. As for plans or drawings there really aren't any, only an idea. Here is the pic that started this idea...well hell technology gets me again. I don't know how to do this off a phone. But just think basic welder tools and what not. Nothing fancy . I'm just doing pipe fences and storm repair kinda stuff. Sorry I just haven't caught up with the times. Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPThat's a great idea Bob! I really like that!
Reply:There is No Way... NO WAY that CEP is an engineer... He has WAY TOO MUCH common sense and skill to be an engineer.  Most engineers are educated beyond their intelligence...-------------------------Chemetron AC/DC 300 HFSnap-On MM300L Lincoln SP140 Lincoln AC/DC 225g Lincoln SA200 Lincoln SA200 Miller Bobcat 225GVictor torchesH&M and Mathey beveling machinesMcElroy Plastic pipe fusion
Reply:Easy now. I understand your comments way to well. I always enjoy the company of those who are under book educated and overly knowlegdable in their trade.
Reply:That is a great idea Bob.  And I can't believe I havn't thought of it.  I use 2" and 3" x 1/4" strap for all kinds of things.  Close to 20 years ago, I bought 3 "baskets" of it, all 8' drops.  When I say "basket", they were in these skid type things the company and built, that had lifting eyes on the sides, and also were raised off the ground where you could fork it with a forklift.  I don't know how much of it I bought, but I know a "basket" of it was ALL a Case 580 Super L would pick up when I bought them.  And I've picked up 6,000 pounds with it before... Bought all of that, about a half dozen 4'x8'x1/4" sheets, some smaller strips of 1/4" sheets (shear drops I think), some heat treated solid bar, short pieces (2' to 6') of really heavy wall 6" and 8" pipe... And some other various scraps (all new material, just excess from jobs).  There was some heavy 12" channel and I think some I beam also... Close to 30,000 pounds of steel all totaled.  For... $300.00... I really miss those days...But I hadn't thought about using some strap for part of the framing on my welding bed.  That will save me some money for sure.  I'll still have to buy some steel, but every bit counts these days...-------------------------Chemetron AC/DC 300 HFSnap-On MM300L Lincoln SP140 Lincoln AC/DC 225g Lincoln SA200 Lincoln SA200 Miller Bobcat 225GVictor torchesH&M and Mathey beveling machinesMcElroy Plastic pipe fusion
Reply:Originally Posted by handtpipelineThere is No Way... NO WAY that CEP is an engineer... He has WAY TOO MUCH common sense and skill to be an engineer.  Most engineers are educated beyond their intelligence...
Reply:I think I miss understood what you are doing, when you said sub-frame I originally thought you were keeping the axle and building the frame. Now think you are keeping the main frame and just scrapping the box. Is that more acurate? If so what are the dimensions going to be? I still stand by me recomendations for material for the most part, but 1 1/2" would be ok depending on the bed size. What is the frame your starting with made of? What kind of springs are on the axle? Don't those army trailers have springs that will carry a tank? If so they will be hard on the trailer and welders. You could probly take out some leafs to get a better ride.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:Originally Posted by why165well for my library does one of six books count as good? forgive me I am truly new to collecting welding books, heck I am really new to doing this welding correctly and not gorilla. seems its all fitment first. but like I said I'm in school for this trade and learing every day. I will go get those books, read them, and add them to the library. as for the build, it will start wed, that's when I pick up the trailers I bought. I will start a new thread when I get started, but please keep the good structural info coming.matt
Reply:Google play books app will allow preview of most books.  They have good selection of welding books.   Also kindle,   used books on Amazon adds eBay of courseTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Here's a picture of a welding trailer for a young weldor I met. We built it in my shop as he didn't have a shop yet. It has 3"x1/8" flat strap across the frame. There is 2"x1/8" flat strap welded on the bottom of them for drawer slides. We used 8" C purlines for drawers. Attached Images
Reply:Well as promised finally brought home the being of this idea. Here is a crappy pic of the trailer before I start.
Reply:The only picture of the frame on one of these was this If the frame actually looks like that, and it's still solid, I'd just deck it again with steel.  If the frame is shot, I'd just replicate it as close as possible, then deck it.  You got a bad deal if the tube frame is shot."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:all is well with the frame and axles, it was in some sort of stupid private wreck. the top of the bed is bend in and that is all the damage. thankgod.
Reply:What is the "strap" you guys are referring to?  Is that flat bar stock?  I haven't heard that term yet.Originally Posted by why165all is well with the frame and axles, it was in some sort of stupid private wreck. the top of the bed is bend in and that is all the damage. thankgod.
Reply:The idea is that frame a deck and fenders with the tube, weld or bolt this to the trailer frame, then cover it all with diamond plate decking. Mainly use tube to strengthen all areas that will need it, for vices and other high stress things.
Reply:Originally Posted by why165The idea is that frame a deck and fenders with the tube, weld or bolt this to the trailer frame, then cover it all with diamond plate decking. Mainly use tube to strengthen all areas that will need it, for vices and other high stress things.
Reply:here is the pic that started this idea. I was thinking full width ( to outside of tires) on the back side. In front of tires full width as far as possible and still be a turnable. Need full size rear for work area, lots of pipe fence corners and what not on a farm. I would draw a picture for you, but to be honest I'm still working on the full picture myself.
Reply:Now it's making sense. I thought at first you were starting almost from scratch, then I didn't understand why you wanted a sub frame. Now I see the plan. You going to stay  close to the pic or do you have something diffdrent in mind? There is a lot of stuff on that small trailer.Yeah, I know, but it'll be ok!Lincoln Square wave 255Miller Vintage mig30a spoolgunThermal Dynamics Pacmaster 100xl plasmaSmith mc torchEllis 1600 band saw
Reply:I'm thinking close as I can. While I love this guys idea and his design its to busy with no room that I can see for a work area. I think, and I stress think that I can add a foot to the rear of this pic, for a work area and vices, fit my ranger between the tires, and still have space for the bottels , a small job box, and all the cables and hoses I carry. I don't have a air compressor, So I don't have to give space to that.I still haven't pulled the bed off my trailer test so I haven't put a tape measure to see if anything fits were I think it should. If you have a different idea I'm all ears. As I look more at the picture if the welder it turned I may not need the extra foot.
Reply:Hey W',good luck with your build, but I'd like to ask that you keep all the accrued into in this thread for simplicity's sake (for the next reader studying trailers, not that it really matters).My dad had a fondness for welding trailers, mostly because our family car was a CJ5.  He built 2, and out of necessity, both had compressors and both had overhead racks. He did mostly on site fab, railings, and some trailer repair and food service stuff.  You'd be surprised at how many landing legs get ripped off trailers!I look forward to your build, but think you should consider the compressor. I don't know your tow vehicle, so a rack may be useless, but Bob's underbed toolboxs are the cats meow! That's one area dad's trailers suffered, not enough storage.Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....
Reply:An air compressor would be great, but my gas compressor is attracted to the goose neck and they just cost to much to buy another. As for tow trucks, I've got two at this time. One is a 08 single wheel f350 4x4, with drag up tank and tool box she sit at about 10k. The other is a 03 f150 4x4. I will update this thread as I go along, but it's going to be very slow. Between my real job, my dirt business, oh and its hunting season, I'm a little behind on time.  Oh and as for landing gear getting ripped off, yes I fully understand, I was a on road mechanic for a few years and I have seen the damage.Thanks for the input I do appreciate it,   Matt
Reply:Originally Posted by why165I'm thinking close as I can. While I love this guys idea and his design its to busy with no room that I can see for a work area. I think, and I stress think that I can add a foot to the rear of this pic, for a work area and vices, fit my ranger between the tires, and still have space for the bottels , a small job box, and all the cables and hoses I carry. I don't have a air compressor, So I don't have to give space to that.I still haven't pulled the bed off my trailer test so I haven't put a tape measure to see if anything fits were I think it should. If you have a different idea I'm all ears. As I look more at the picture if the welder it turned I may not need the extra foot.
Reply:That ryerson book is a pain in my azz.  My staff P.E. has one and it list some super obscure rare sizes that are pretty much unavailable.   He refuses to take the new PDM book too.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieThat ryerson book is a pain in my azz.  My staff P.E. has one and it list some super obscure rare sizes that are pretty much unavailable.