Ye Olde Bed Rails

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I have two pairs of the old style angle iron bed rails.  All four pieces appear to be identical.My next project will probably be a walking beam ATV trailer.  I figure this angle iron will be more than strong enough for the frame of the trailer.Are there any other projects that might be more suitable for this old stuff?  I'd hate to get it cut up and then discover some other common projects that this stuff would have been ideal for.So, what other uses have you all found for old bed rails?"These instructions are at our present level ofknowledge. Legal requirements do not exist.Technical issues subject to change."_________________________________________Lincoln MIG PAK 180Lincoln AC-225
Reply:I've used it for all sorts of things.One good one was to build the base with wheels for stackable crates that held 20 coffee cans each. Good for organizing parts. The crates had like a shelf half down and each shelf section held five cans, ten per side. Made out of plywood. Painted different colors, to match labels that were dedicated to particular type parts. Designed in a cabinet to hold baby food jars in trays. The base was made out those bed angle iron. Crates fit into the base which had no bottom.These crates can be stacked at least 5 or 6 high. I also made a base into a tool rack with peg board on the outside and the crates stack inside. System allows you to move a lot of stuff in a shop, disassemble and move to another location fast, park it out of the way, spin it around. Mobile was the key. Used it on job sites, taking only what was needed for a job.That angle is unique because of the sharp inside corner. Good for the things like I described. Could get a lot of it around colleges on moving day. Con was sometimes it could be a tad bowed over the entire length. Biggy was it was always free for me.
Reply:I'm not sure what those bed rail are made of, but they are generally hard and brittle and prone to breaking when stressed. They will be fine for racks, stands, or anything that just sits there, but I don't think I would use them for trailer frames. That would subject them to strain and stress from the load and the road.
Reply:I agree w/ Trapper, they are very hard and will probably eventually crack right beside the weld.                                   MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:H'mmm why does it always have to be a trailer???? Be kind of small trailer, could be possible.Trying to think were I used it.Beefed up a wheelbarrow for pouring cement. Used the dumber big helper on that one. Built a drywall lift using it and a bumper jack. Eventually broke down and bought a commercial one but that home built one was much more handy in some spots. Great for that type project, strong enough but also light enough. Could be adapted to use on stairs. Had a few plasterers that wanted one. Sold off the commercial one, might think about building another using that angle and a farm jack. Farm jack got like 4" lift. Great thing to have for 1 man projects in drywall and you don't have enough / often demand to justify spending money.Built a rack for hauling pipe, lumber, whatever in a compact pickup. Needed to do stuff longer than the bed. Pipe as the supports, angle for the rack part.They make great shelf bracket supports in sheds, where ever.Made very long wood clamps out of them.Frames for putting window bars on basement windows in challenged neighborhoods.Yeah, they might be a bit hardned but I've never seen one break. Even in very rough bed service with lots of up and down pounding. Probably not affected by moaning / groaning. Might have been the cause of some of them being bowed. Nice to have around. Picked up another set this summer at a yard sale.
Reply:If there's a Freecycle group in your area (check at freecycle.org) you can put up a WANTED request for bed rails.  Last time I did that, I got 3 or 4 sets of rails (a couple still in the box) plus some miscellaneous 1/4" rod decorative fencing.  Most of the time, Freecycle wants you to give something away (OFFER) before you post a WANTED, but most of us have old clothes, old sheets, empty jars, whatever that someone else might find useful.Also check the free section of your local Craig's List or post in the wanted section.John
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusI agree w/ Trapper, they are very hard and will probably eventually crack right beside the weld.                                   Mike
Reply:Originally Posted by CosmicRamblerH'mmm why does it always have to be a trailer???? ...
Reply:The more proper name is probably Havard Bed Frame.Might be others out there but that is probably the ones being discussed here.
Reply:They would make decent push-carts for all sorts of stuff, or shelves. I am fixing a neighbors bbq that his dad made from bed rails and a 55 gal drum. I replaced 2 straight casters and added 2 swivel casters under it and made some other barrel repairs and as I was painting it,  I recognized the metal frame came from bed rails. Last edited by tanglediver; 10-10-2011 at 10:41 PM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Bed rails are nifty for practice and play, but if you are going to put some time into it, spend $30 and get some angle iron.  Your time is worth more than the money you save by using bed rails for something like that.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Good info.  Maybe I'll use this stuff for some storage racks for scrap steel and lumber...The size I'm considering for the ATV trailer means buying new square tubing won't be that expensive so I'll go new and strong for that and be sure it's rugged enough."These instructions are at our present level ofknowledge. Legal requirements do not exist.Technical issues subject to change."_________________________________________Lincoln MIG PAK 180Lincoln AC-225
Reply:Hmmm...would this angle be suitable to build a sheet metal brake?"These instructions are at our present level ofknowledge. Legal requirements do not exist.Technical issues subject to change."_________________________________________Lincoln MIG PAK 180Lincoln AC-225
Reply:I have used bedrail for many small projects such as a table for chopsaw, table for bandsaw, light welding table, brackets for shelving and shop cabinets.  Its free and sometimes in abundance.  I never pass it by when its at the curb!  Bob
Reply:Chop saw table!  Never thought of that and that would be a good project!!!  Thanks!"These instructions are at our present level ofknowledge. Legal requirements do not exist.Technical issues subject to change."_________________________________________Lincoln MIG PAK 180Lincoln AC-225