Multipurpose Trailer

admin

So I set out to build a trailer that would do everything I needed.  I borrowed  from a couple of designs that I have seen around and came up with the following.  It is 12' long and 6' wide.  Will accomodate 3 four wheelers on top and has 22" of storage space on the inside.  The top opens up and can either lock in the verticle position to be used as a utility trailer for hauling trash/wood/etc, or can open all the way up and accomodate a canvas tent.  The whole thing is sitting on a 5200lb axle and dry weight comes in at about 900lbs.  Let me tell you the hardest part of the whole thing was the tent.  But it sure will beat the nylon tent I have been using come elk season here in Oregon.If anyone has any questions Ill be happy to try to answer them.  I will also try to get some close up shots of the welds although they have all been ground and/or painted
Reply:I have never seen anyting like that. Very nice job and excellent job at planning  I would have never thought of the tent or the flip up top.Donnelly Small Engine & WeldingFoley AlabamaLincoln 225 TigLinoln 215 migHypertherm Powermax 65Ellis 1600 sawEllis 6000 belt grinderJD2 Model 4 tubing benderAtlas  12"X54" metal latheLots of large hammers
Reply:Pretty sweet- any support for the Fold down area?Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:The rails on the top act as a brace.  I have put 500 lbs on the very edge with them open and had no problems.  Think I would end up tipping the trailer over before breaking a wing.
Reply:Looks Awesome! Great work! Any pics of the welds or building process?Millermatic 210
Reply:I didnt take any pictures during the build..... at least not that I can remember.  Ill take a look and see if I did and have just forgotten.
Reply:Weldor + welder + steel + good plan = Cool Stuff!!Ever get kicked outta the house, and you can grin while you're goin' out the door.  Gotta a great standy there. "Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:That's got to be one of the best trailer design's I have seen! Including store bought or mass produced which ever you would call it. Excellent job Martygras!Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:Thank you all..... good to know I am not the only one who thinks so.
Reply:Great idea.  Where abouts in Oregon are you?  I'm close to macminnville.  I wonder if there would be much of a market for a setup like that..Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:i like it. did you make the tent too.
Reply:I am down in Roseburg.  Not sure what the demand would be.  Some of the ones that I have seen that are similar sell for ~5-7k and those are smaller, not as sturdy trailers.  I spent about 2k total in materials (all new stuff and no discounts )  and put about 30hours of labor in the trailer and about 25hours in the tent, which I did make with help from my mother (although it was the first one we have ever made so there was a lot of trial and error).  So even with a decent labor charge you could still probably turn a decent profit.
Reply:Sweet! 30 hours, that's all? I wish I was anywhere near as efficient with my time in the shop.
Reply:That doesnt count the time I spent researching and designing it. I had a lot of the pieces pre cut at the metal yard based off of my plans (nice guys did throw in a bunch of cuts for me) which sped the project up.  Or the time I spent cutting the expanded metal off the sides and welding it back on when I realized the sides wouldnt open up with it on the outside of the rails.  Or the time sitting back with a cold one enjoying my work Last edited by Martygras; 10-28-2008 at 05:51 PM.
Reply:It's the scratchin' yer head time that adds up.  I seem to do more of that than actual workBrewski time don't count.  That's end of day relaxin' time, and ya had good reason to sit back and enjoy such a nice job.When I work, I don't drink.........and when I drink, I don't work."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:That is the coolest trailer ever!! I live in Texas, and hunt in Colorado, so I know how well loved this trailer could be for hunting. The storage area under the four wheelers is genius. My question is how do you load and unload your wheelers. Did I mention this is the greatest trailer ever?
Reply:Isee your ramps on the ground now that I look at the pics! You store the ramps in the floor I guess?
Reply:Those ramps I built are 9' long so I could store them under the quads or between the wheels up on top.  I also put some hooks on the side so they can hang there, nothing fancy just some bent 3/16.  Figure between the weight and a couple ties and they shouldnt go anywhere but I havent tried the hooks out on any dirt roads yet.
Reply:That is the coolest trailer I have seen in a while - DIG the tent!  Very good work there!Have a Jeep Cherokee?  Click Here!
Reply:A Swiss Army Knife of a trailer. I like the security of things in the cage with the quads on top and then it opens to give a nice flat base for a tent. Brilliant. Heck of a lot easier to level a trailer than to find a flat piece of ground for a tent and if it rains you're above it."One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375
Reply:Very cool!I like it, good grief it would take me 4 times as long, mostly the cutting...Enjoy it!Miller 140 w A/SHF Flux Core WelderDewalt Chop SawSmith O/A TorchHarley Electra Glide Classic
Reply:Very resourceful and creative.Thanks for providing the pictures.  If I ever get around to building my own, I will keep your innovations in mind.Later,Jason
Reply:That is a great design.  When I first looked at it looked different seeing a 4 wheeler sitting that high up.  Now it makes great sense.
Reply:Okay...now the non-welding question.  Did you have to have a mega-sewing machine to sew that tent, or was it a typical table-top Singer?I know what my welder can do..I don't know what my wife's machine can do...Excellent job on that trailer.  I've been looking at the $6K models with envy...I have a '72 Jayco pop-up that I now know I'm going to strip to the frame and give it your style of treatment.Thanks for the idea..Roger
Reply:We pounded out the tent with just a heavy duty singer.  Slapped a denim needle in it and took it slow.  Never over heated and went through 6 layers of that heavy canvas with no problems.  To be honest I was worried and had bought a industrial grade one that was refurbished off of ebay for $120 but it took like 33 days to get here from Canada so I never used it.Sewing is my other hobby. Such a tent I'd make out of Polyurethane coated ripstop Nylon, something like 1.9 oz. That can be sewn with almost any household machine. Here is an article of how to sew ripstop: http://www.geocities.com/gengvall/sew/sew.html. If it's out in the sun a lot I'd go with something more UV resistant like a  Sunbrella.
Reply:Nylon is great........ but nothing holds up and holds the heat in like canvas.  IMHO  There might be some stuff out there that would but since weight wasnt an issue for me getting the 25 linear yards of 8' wide #10duck for $250 shipped was hard to pass up.
Reply:Originally Posted by MartygrasNylon is great........ but nothing holds up and holds the heat in like canvas.  IMHO  There might be some stuff out there that would but since weight wasnt an issue for me getting the 25 linear yards of 8' wide #10duck for $250 shipped was hard to pass up.
Reply:Hi - about how much does the trailer weigh and what would you estimate its total capacity?
Reply:awesome. simply awesome.having elk hunted in colorado as a yute i would only add 2 things. cheap material skirt to keep the wind out from under the tentjacks on all four corners to get it stable on uneven ground.but that still rocksinsert thoughtful quote from someone else2000 Thermal Arc 300GTSW 3.5 hours1946 Monarch 20 x 54 Lathe1998 Supermax 10x54 Mill2004 Haco Atlantic 1/2" Capacity Lasernot mine but i get to play with it
Reply:Fantastic design........Talk about covering ALL bases.With those sides in the up position, you could carry a ton or two of leaves. If it had dual axles, and higher rating, it could hold nearly two cords of wood.But the tent is the coolest idea I've seen in a long time...........Good for ya!Roy BDartmouth, Mahttp://www.rvbprecision.comMM 185 MIGDiversion 165Purox W200 O/AGrizzly 9957 MillGrizzly 4030 Metal Band SawGrizzly 1050 Knife Belt SanderJet 1236 Metal LatheCM 14" Metal Band SawTP Blast Cabinet
Reply:Quick update.  Just came off the mountain with half of elk season done..... no elk yet, but the trailer is working great.  A couple of things I did before were to add jacks on all four corners (great minds must think alike chenry!), and added a propane tank to the tongue with a hose running in through a small hole in the trailer and flap in the tent to hook up to a portable heater.  I was nice and toasty with that 10k BTU heater running.  Didnt have to worry about the wind since the tent is fully enclosed (it has a floor) and I built some carpeted benches that sit on the sides with fold out extensions so you have some insulation, padding, and a place to stick two queen size air matresses.I have debated about adding a second axle and might in the future.  Right now I figure I can easily toss a couple thousand pounds on it and still be ok.  We will have to see.
Reply:Since you have had this trailer for a few years, how is it working out? Have you made any changes or additions? From the pictures it looks like it will haul only 2 fourwheelers not 3 as stated in the text. How do you fit 3 on there? The one in the picture looks to take up half the space. I know this is an old post but was kind of wondering if the OP still checks the forum and could give an update, since Thorshammer is interested in using some of the ideas incorporated in the design.
Reply:3 quads would go sideways on the trailer just fine.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Wow that's a nice trailer.
Reply:Hey guys just so you know these trailers already exist, and sold commercially  @ http://www.jumpingjacktrailers.com if your planning to make one and not handy with the sewing just order the tent and your good to go. You can also get good ideas. Cheers.