"Cheap" Garden Tractor Trailer

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Well, I got an axle given to me, with rims and shot tires. They were gonna throw it away. What else to do but build a trailer to fit?  So I built a 3x5 dumping with a 20" side wall.  I bought some tubing from work for next to nothing, with a bunch of scrap metal and rectangular rods, for .35 cents a pound, and $2 for the rods, respectively.  I paid $2 for the end gate, the sheet metal for the sides and bottom they never charged me for. New bolts, nuts, washers and such. So, all in all, this trailer still cost me between $120-$135, and I still need to put tubes in the tires, or buy tires. I guess it is bigger, better, and stronger and still cheaper than what you buy in the store, but still, it ends up costing quite a bit yet. Kids can't wait to jump in!   Attached Images
Reply:Hey tilt trailer too ! Looks plenty fine."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Thanks. Tilt is better to get the kids out! lol
Reply:Nice!!!Springs too.
Reply:Looks good.  How much paint did the lids get on them?
Reply:They actually stayed fairly clean,lol. My wife was sure impressed with me for suggesting the kids could help me paint! Ahaha.   If I ever have a chance at a used axle again, might not take it lol. One side springs are wore out more than the other, and nothing was square from anything, lol. It was a PITA to try to get it to sit straight. After enough measuring, rechecking,swearing,blood, beer, and more rechecking, finally got it pretty close.  Still curious what kind a car it came from though...
Reply:Very nice job!Wow..and the nice to see kids are part of it all. (fellow Manitoban..from Headingley,Mb)
Reply:Thanks metal burner!  The kids love crafts and drawing,painting... figured they would like this too. Keep them out of the old lady's hair, at least until they needed cleaning,haha.Hope the coast is treating you well!Last edited by yammyman; 09-21-2010 at 11:05 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by RancherBillNice!!!Springs too.
Reply:Now see how much that "free" axle really cost you? Great project and nice painting by the "crew".MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I shoulda known free is never free!!!  I bet he is laughing his head off at me, he knew I had a welder at home!
Reply:Nice job on the trailer.  But watch out, don't want to get caught for child labor law violations Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Originally Posted by MonicaNice job on the trailer.  But watch out, don't want to get caught for child labor law violations
Reply:Here's to the guys who take an ol' axle and some steel from somewhere, and in only 30-40 hours of work and another 30-40 hours of pondering turn that pile into a useable piece of nice hardware to use around the placeMy trailer is smaller, but yours dumps... we would make a good design team huh? keen li'l trailer  and I especially liked the looks of your "staff"  I'm sure they are very helpful at timesLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Originally Posted by PapaLionHere's to the guys who take an ol' axle and some steel from somewhere, and in only 30-40 hours of work and another 30-40 hours of pondering turn that pile into a useable piece of nice hardware to use around the placeMy trailer is smaller, but yours dumps... we would make a good design team huh? keen li'l trailer  and I especially liked the looks of your "staff"  I'm sure they are very helpful at times
Reply:Originally Posted by yammymanThe things us rednecks can do with scraps... Good times for sure, love getting the kids involved!  Now if only they stay this helpful once they are older...
Reply:Originally Posted by RugarOh they will be helpfull when they get older alright. They wont want to do any of the work, but as teens they sure will know how to do it all!
Reply:Handy trailer Very nice weld in pic #3 Also think that great to involve the whole family.                                         Vernon
Reply:Thanks Vernon. Family is what it is all about, and it is hard to remember that with everything going on sometimes. As for the welds, it is hard to make a bad weld with this mm252!
Reply:What did you use to weld? That bead looks flat and even (nice travel speed and steady hand), kinda looks like what we got using dual shield.Andrew
Reply:Originally Posted by DieselWarriorWhat did you use to weld? That bead looks flat and even (nice travel speed and steady hand), kinda looks like what we got using dual shield.Andrew
Reply:Originally Posted by Smith09It is very good topic for discussion, every one can share their thoughts about it. According to me i think that Cheap seems to be the operative word here. My suggestion is to look for an old Deere or IH Cub Cadet garden tractor from the 1970s to early 1980s