Trailer Building

admin

Hey there y'all.I had a couple questions for all you experienced welders out there. I'm looking at getting into some trailer building because they seem somewhat cheap to assemble and don't take an insane amount of time. I have helped assemble trailers in the past so I do know what I'm doing, but it has been a few years. My question is how much does it usually cost to assemble a trailer? I'm looking at just doing standard 5X8, 5X10, 5X12, 5X14, 6X14, and 6X16. Frame and braces will be made out of angle, the tongue will be channel, then the gate will be expanded metal and an angle frame. I hardly ever buy metal, so I have no idea what it runs for these days. I also know that I will need a jack, lights, coupler, fenders, tires, axle, axle parts, etc. Any help on an approximate pricing guess would be great and if anyone here might have some tips on building trailers that would be greatly appreciated as well.Thanks!Alex
Reply:I've built a fair few trailer here in Australia but never a "standard" trailer, I can buy them ready to go cheaper than I can buy the components and steel.You do know starting a trailer thread here means you are in for a hiding don't youCheers AndrewWIA 270amp Mig Transtig 200 AC/DC Tig/stickHypertherm PM45
Reply:Welding a trailer takes very little time. No more than 10% of it.The other 90% is measuring, cutting, prepping, grinding, surface prep, paint, wiring lights, wood work for the deck, titling.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:All good points here...plus, don't forget the cost of replacing the planet. Because, based on standard trailer thread comments here, Earth as we know it will self-destruct if anybody dares to make one. 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 RefitMiller TB280 w/Spoolmatic 30a2016 AHP AlphaTIG 200XAncient Millermatic 35Zeny Cut50 plasma cutter
Reply:Unless you're gonna buy your steel by the semi truck load, and willing to work for peanuts! I don't see how you can compete. 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:Originally Posted by CEPUnless you're gonna buy your steel by the semi truck load, and willing to work for peanuts! I don't see how you can compete.
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPUnless you're gonna buy your steel by the semi truck load, and willing to work for peanuts! I don't see how you can compete.
Reply:Originally Posted by MotoMan1500Hey there y'all.I had a couple questions for all you experienced welders out there. I'm looking at getting into some trailer building because they seem somewhat cheap to assemble and don't take an insane amount of time. I have helped assemble trailers in the past so I do know what I'm doing, but it has been a few years. My question is how much does it usually cost to assemble a trailer? I'm looking at just doing standard 5X8, 5X10, 5X12, 5X14, 6X14, and 6X16. Frame and braces will be made out of angle, the tongue will be channel, then the gate will be expanded metal and an angle frame. I hardly ever buy metal, so I have no idea what it runs for these days. I also know that I will need a jack, lights, coupler, fenders, tires, axle, axle parts, etc. Any help on an approximate pricing guess would be great and if anyone here might have some tips on building trailers that would be greatly appreciated as well.Thanks!Alex
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderalex; there is a youtube video in which a gentleman claims you can make 3 thousand a day building trailers in your backyard
Reply:Originally Posted by MotoMan1500Hey there y'all.I had a couple questions for all you experienced welders out there. I'm looking at getting into some trailer building because they seem somewhat cheap to assemble and don't take an insane amount of time. I have helped assemble trailers in the past so I do know what I'm doing, but it has been a few years. My question is how much does it usually cost to assemble a trailer? I'm looking at just doing standard 5X8, 5X10, 5X12, 5X14, 6X14, and 6X16. Frame and braces will be made out of angle, the tongue will be channel, then the gate will be expanded metal and an angle frame. I hardly ever buy metal, so I have no idea what it runs for these days. I also know that I will need a jack, lights, coupler, fenders, tires, axle, axle parts, etc. Any help on an approximate pricing guess would be great and if anyone here might have some tips on building trailers that would be greatly appreciated as well.Thanks!Alex
Reply:If you really want to make money you will need to find a niche market so you don't have to compete with the big companies. Find something nooone else is doing in your area, or look at the broken trailers in your area and design one the don't break like that. That way you can claim yours are better and worth more money.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ler&highlight=This is the type I was able to make a little money on. It's a very efficient use of material and very easy to build. It's also stronger than the angle design and easy to convince the customers of it. You can make them 16' long if you want. Here is a pic of a16' 7k.jIf your interested I ca n walk you through the build and explain how to keep costs downYeah, 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 welderjIf you really want to make money you will need to find a niche market so you don't have to compete with the big companies. Find something nooone else is doing in your area, or look at the broken trailers in your area and design one the don't break like that. That way you can claim yours are better and worth more money.
Reply:Originally Posted by mad welder 4No wont work.I offer few product lines on ebay, Cheapest of the cheap, cheap, medium grade and premium.Cheapest of the cheap is made from used, recycled or salvaged materials and clearly labeled as such.My cheap line is made from buying new raw materials in bulk.If I have a cheapest of the cheap equivalent of a cheap item listed together, the slightly more expensive item made from new stock usually will not sell until my cheapest of the cheap spec items have sold out.Cheapest of the cheap sells so well I cant keep it as a regular item, I am always running out of used, recycled and salvaged materials. These are not big items, we are talking like a $5 price difference on almost identical items using used versus new materials, these items that I sell go for between $30 and $55.So my product lines do not break the bank.I have found that 90% to 95% of the time people just go with what is cheapest.At first I started out selling only cheapest of the cheap, items made with used, recycled or salvaged material. I couldn't keep up with demand so I started ordering super huge bulk closeout lots of new materials, I figured with my slightly more expensive new items no one would look twice at my used, salvage and recycled items any more.I was wrong.Oh and sales of my midgrade and premium line, HA. My midgrade line usually only sells when I am out of cheapest of the cheap and cheap items, other wise sales are few and far between. My premium items very rarely sells.
Reply:Lots of miscellaneous time involved right down to sales time. Don't forget to plunk all that in. Acquiring the iron or aluminum, add that into the cost of the material, or charge it off to the build time, either way don't forget. On and on. All the time gathering the miscellaneous materials like couplers, wiring, lights, etc.. Time is time."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:Originally Posted by SandyLots of miscellaneous time involved right down to sales time. Don't forget to plunk all that in. Acquiring the iron or aluminum, add that into the cost of the material, or charge it off to the build time, either way don't forget. On and on. All the time gathering the miscellaneous materials like couplers, wiring, lights, etc.. Time is time.
Reply:Yep, I once built a low boy race bike trailer for a guy at a shop that I worked out of. He contracted the work through the shop and they had me make it.I guarantee that he paid a considerable amount more for that trailer vs a similar sized big box store trailer. It was a lot better built though too as it was mostly built from square tubing of varying sizes. It was something that he felt he needed though, and was willing to pay the $$ for it.-Niche
Reply:Chances are, you won't be able to find/afford insurance anyways  Nobody ever seems to consider that when discussing these big time adventures"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Let me state again YOU can't beat the price of mas produced or imported trailer .You can build a better stronger trailer .. You are going to have a hard time selling some one a landscape trailer for twice the price of the one at the co-op ,unless you have earned the reputation as the go to guy in your area  for trailer repairs ,etc,etc.  There are guys here who have that kind of street cred!
Reply:Originally Posted by gxbxcLet me state again YOU can't beat the price of mas produced or imported trailer .You can build a better stronger trailer .. You are going to have a hard time selling some one a landscape trailer for twice the price of the one at the co-op ,unless you have earned the reputation as the go to guy in your area  for trailer repairs ,etc,etc.  There are guys here who have that kind of street cred!
Reply:Originally Posted by MotoMan1500That's what I'm looking to do. And I'm not looking to do just landscape trailers, once I get good with those, I want to move up to like double axle car haulers and specialized trailers. That's the nice thing about trailers is that you can do so many different things with them.
Reply:Originally Posted by AKweldshopNobody is saying you can't.They are saying it's hard to make money and produce them at a reasonable price.It's your time and money.
Reply:Originally Posted by MotoMan1500Right. I'm just trying to get a general idea of how much they cost to produce. I've built them before, I just don't know how much it generally is to build one.
Reply:Originally Posted by MotoMan1500Right. I'm just trying to get a general idea of how much they cost to produce. I've built them before, I just don't know how much it generally is to build one.
Reply:I'm just thinking here-----I believe in this particular case (trailers) that time might be the most critical element. Starting out for estimating purposes you have to assume you can sell them, only to be positive about the whole venture. That part will be addressed after you come up with a cost. If you can't sell them you won't go, plain and simple. Time = there are only so many hours in a month and you can only work so many of them before you have to stop, eat and sleep. If you can only build one a month then you're gonna die at this. If you can build four (assuming you can sell them) then there might be a chance. Six and you're getting there and so it goes. Figure out how much time it is going to take to build an out of the door generic trailer, figure the materials and consumables costs, guestimate the sales price, come up with a net from there. Can you live with with that $$$ amount?  How many can you build in a month? Can you live with that? Time !!  You might have to get one laid out then hit the button on the stop watch just for your own purposes. If I was serious I'd build one just so I'd know. Spend some money to make some money/spend some money to save my axx. However it comes out.Last edited by Sandy; 12-20-2014 at 04:56 PM."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:Make one then sell it at that point you will know material cost, time involved, and most important how much did you make.  Don't forget to figure in the amount of time your investment sits before making anything.  The threads above offer a wide range of the problems you are going to face and insurance is the most important.  The best of luck in your business and keep us posted.  Cliftonquick rough estimate  cost of material X 2 as a starting point . example $400 dollars for steel and parts{not likely}  $400 labor cost  now divide the labor cost by 40(hourly labor rate in shop) = ten hours . If you can build the trailer ready to roll out the door in 10 hours you make money ,first one maybe 20 hr's while you make set up jigs ,and learn the process.  Not fact but a wild a$$ guess on cost from experience.gxbxc
Reply:Its going to be difficult to compete with the box stores and trailer shops, especially just starting out.  Sure, you can make some money, but how much is enough to make the venture worthwhile?  Yes, it could be a good way to burn some rods and make a little money on the side, but I wouldn't expect it to become a full-time job.  I believe there is a market for specialized car trailers, specifically lightweight geared trailers with open frames...but the issue isn't just being able to build them, but you have to be able to market and warranty them as well.  Also, as its been mentioned, insurance will be a major factor.  Don't be naive and believe you can build a few and not need insurance, all it takes is one failure and you could potentially lose everything.  LLC's are your friend!! I've built a couple small trailers, and there is simply no way you can build them cheaper than Lowe's, Home Depot, etc, can sell them.  Sure, you can build them stronger, but most people buying these types of trailers wouldn't know (or) appreciate the difference.  Plus, building and designing the trailers is just the beginning.  You still have to wire them, and the hardest part for the average welder, paint the contraptions.  A lot of the mass produced trailers are powder coated, and that simply isn't an option for the guy building them in his shop.  Sure, you can sub out the work, but that will significantly cut into the profit.  You need to find a way to not only find a durable paint finish, but be able to apply it without costing too much money or time.  Also, consider how people will pay.  Are you expecting cash only sales, or will you set up a way to pay via a card?  If so, that's also going to cost you.
Reply:Are you qualified to design and spec out these trailers? Will the state you reside in consider you to be a "manufacturer" and require certification of your products?
Reply:You should concentrate on trailer repair.
Reply:Originally Posted by BobYou should concentrate on trailer repair.
Reply:The trailer repair is a good idea, also add trailer modification. I think you will have a hard time selling ready made trailers for a couple reasons. First is that folks almost feel the need to bargin over the price, some hard. If you don't match the other prices they will go there. Also once they find out you made it they will ask for modification. Modifying a trailer after its built is expensive. If I was going to try what you are I would start by building one, but it would be mine. You could put for sale signs on it and use it in your adds, when they come to look tell them that one is your sample trailer and you can't sell it. That way no negotiation and you can explain that you will custom build theirs. Then they can ask for what ever you want and adding to it won't cost much. I've found that folks don't complain as much about price if they are getting a custom built 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