One of my trailers

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I have built several of these of the past few years.  Its roughly 5x10I use 2x2 12 gauge square tubing for the frame and 1x2 rectangular tubing for the rails.Expanded metal for the bottom and wire mesh for the 48" ramp.3500 lb axle with 14 inch tires and rims.I limit overloading with 1 7/8 ball.I put it up for sale last night and sold it this morning.The worst part of building a trailer like this is painting it.  It'll suck up 3 quarts easy.All of them have been easy to pull and move easily around with one hand.  Most have been sold for small landscaping trailers, 4 wheelers and golf carts. Attached ImagesLast edited by lugweld; 10-03-2009 at 05:37 PM.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:What'd ya get for it?My name's not Jim....
Reply:850.00Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I'd Really like to make something like this....Do you have any plans or photos ?I need to modify mine somewhat so that I can haul metal from the scrapyard (lengths up to 12') without stuff falling out.I too, would also would like to be able to move the odd snowmobile, Quad, etc...Cheers,/Jman...BTW:  AWESOME LOOKING TRAILER !
Reply:No, no "plans".But,  I will tell you, build the rails separately, then weld them on.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmWhat'd ya get for it?
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldNo, no "plans".But,  I will tell you, build the rails separately, then weld them on.
Reply:My math says you don't get more than $200 or so for your efforts after buying materials and parts.  Why bother?  Either that or you got some great hookup on parts, in that case, I'd like to hear about it.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Really nice job Mr Lugg. Real nice.Lincoln SP-170 MigHypertherm powermax 45Lorch T220 AC/DC TigButters FM 215 synergic MigKemppi 180 adaptive mig RULES ARE FOR THE OBEDIENCE OF FOOLS AND THE  GUIDANCE OF WISE MEN.
Reply:Your math is wrong.I live in the trailer building mecca of the South.Plenty of axles, wheels and tires floating around, materials too.My cost before paint and lights...is less than 500.00....for now.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Nice job lugweld, looks very professional to me.Regards to all.Working on cars and bikes is my hobby, learning to weld the pieces together is my quest.
Reply:Originally Posted by jmanSo then,Build Frame and fit Axel First, then Mesh, then build railings to fit frame, and put them together ?What about expanded mesh ?  Is that measured by a Gauge or otherwise ?  How heavy do you recommend ?Paint ?  I've got a lot of Black Enamel Rustoleum.... Will that be OK ?  Is there something I should be using first as a 'Primer' ?Cheers,/Jman...
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldNo, fit mesh to frame first...that way you can premake "kits" to put together when things get slow and it also will make it easier to keep quality control up and when someone comes along needing 5'3"inches of side clearance, you can accomodate a "special" order in no time flat just by fudging the rail dimensions a little wider.  Or if they want 15" inch tires instead of 14"s you can raise the fenders.Black rustoleum is fine.  But I normally use "hammered" black rustoleum.  Its more expensive, but covers well and dries quickly.  Regular red primer is fine.  I sometimes Phospho the metal when I have time first.  This time I used Valspar truck and equipment enamel from TSC on clearance.  20.00 a gallon.  Really good stuff. VM&P Naptha.Mesh is 3/4 x #9.I use similar grating for the rear ramp, except heavier gauge but it gives better loading traction than flat expanded metal.
Reply:I'll second the 3/4" x 9ga raised.You got a cost and time breakdown Lug?  Just curious.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldYour math is wrong.I live in the trailer building mecca of the South.Plenty of axles, wheels and tires floating around, materials too.My cost before paint and lights...is less than 500.00....for now.
Reply:Boostinjim,I buy some of the material precut directly from the steel supplier.  The 5x10 mesh is presized .Axles come preassembled with bearings packed and springsand hubs on. Tires are on rims.The reason I buy some stuff precut is because the steel supplier supplies it this way to major trailer manufacturers.  He cuts large bundles of tubing in one swath to fit.  I buy his excess or overuns when he has it.I figure it takes around 5 pounds of wire and very little gas.When everything is running smooth, it takes a good day to knock one out.  And an hour's worth of time total to paint one as I spray it on with a gun. I keep several paint cups handy, full of paint so all I have to do is drop and swap.It takes very little time more when I build two at a time which I usually do.But,  my time is worth only what I want it to be worth when things are slow.  Right now a lot of guys would like to turn $300.00 -$350.00 for their hard days efforts.Last edited by lugweld; 10-04-2009 at 07:41 AM.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:nice trailer you can get a 5x8 kit fromnorthern tool on sale for $509.00 free shipingpn#125692 it may save you some timeand you get a title Attached Images
Reply:I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'D PAINT THAT THING ON YOUR DRIVEWAY!!!????I suppose you mean an hour total SPRAY time for the paint, not including the dry time for the primer coat (overnite).Your paint would go farther if you used mineral spirits instead of naptha.  Naptha never worked for me when working outside.  It flashes too fast in the breeze, and you really have to lay the paint on thick to get good flow out and build a nice gloss.  The fast flash time makes it a booger to paint larger panels, it causes overspray bandsAt what point does the law require you to get a dealers license?And at what point do you have to provide a DOT compliance "plate" (I'm not sure what they're called..........the metal plate/sticker that shows weight ratings etc.)  I would imagine at some point you're considered a manufacturer."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Ed,That kit trailer isn't anywhere close to being finished, nor is it big enough, nor is it as heavily built...plus its already more than what I have in it.Trailer manufacturers manufacturing trailers in my state only need provide an MSO to get a title.  Anyone can be a dealer btw.   Trailers over 4000lbs dry weight only need a title here.Here,  you can get a homemade trailer serial number simply by having an inspection done by the local sheriffs dept.  Take the certificate to the tag office and they give you a homemade serial number plate to affix "permanently in a prominent location" to the trailer, even trailers over 4000 pounds if they are privately made.Samm,Last time I painted on the grass.  But it killed my nice centipede.  This time, I figure the pressure washer and a little M/A is all I need to clean it up. It was need of cleaning anyway.  I normally suspend the trailer high enough over the drive via a hoist so that very little paint gets sprayed on the drive when I have painted there.  I just consider the paint good sealer.I use fast flash off primer when it is called for.  VMandP naptha is what is called for the paint I had.  I actually dried slower than I like.  The hammered rustoleum that I use dries suitable within a couple of hours with xylene. Other paints I have used use acetone as a thinner. This was more than 24 hours before it started to harden up.  But it did leave a gloss, at least where the bugs didn't land on the paint.Last edited by lugweld; 10-04-2009 at 11:35 AM.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:I never worry too much about some bugs sticking to the paint.They die, and rot away, in about a week or so.I suppose if you'd look real close with a magnifying glass you'd see their lil' feet still stickin' in the paintAny paint that is an oil base alkyd can be thinned with naptha as recommended, or thinned with mineral spirits.A great deal of the Naptha flashes on its way to the surface and doesn't allow for good wetting.  Shooting "dry" is a PITA.For S&G's give the mineral spirits a try on a piece of scrap.  I think you'll be pleased.  The gloss is phenominal.Thin way beyond recomended rate, almost like milk, then shoot around 4 coats, first coat a mist coat for "tack", then the other three for build, waiting 10-15 min between coats or unitl it's tacky.AND WEAR A RESPIRATOR"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nice build Lug!You must have it somewhat like I do here, I just did a quick figure of what it would cost me here in the trailer manufacturing area of Indiana, and I come up with just about $400.00 for a build like yours!One way to combat the paint sticking to the driveway is just before you go to paint, spray the area down with water, roll the frame over onto the watered down area and spray away with your paint, the water keeps the over spray from sticking to the concrete, work fast though if the sun is beating down, the water will evaporate pretty quick, so this works best on overcast days!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Ken,Especially with so many plant closures...same companies mfg here as in ohio and indiana, leave a lot of extra parts on the market.  Even a bigger local supply company is glad to see me walk in.  I have sprayed down before,  But I live in S. GA.   Water evaporates faster than a cold beer on a hot day.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:looks a lot like mine, mine was a little more heavy duty though. what made you decide to put expanded metal floor in instead of wood?
Reply:A 5x10 trailer won't be carrying a tank.  The expanded metal is lighter and easier pulling,and it won't rot out.  Most customers load zero turns, 4 wheelers, plywood, motorcycles, and golf carts on them. Expanded metal is more than enough to handle it.  A lot of angle iron trailers with wood floors rely upon the wood to add strength to a trailer.  Square tubing is much stronger than the equivalent angle iron normally used in trailers this size (3x2 x 3/16) and more rigid.  A lot of my buyers are women who appreciate being able to easily wheel the trailer around by hand..Quite frankly, a lot of the men do to.  I tell everyone to keep it under 2000 lbs as that is what the coupler is rated for.  I have seen them loaded with tool boxes and landscaping equipment.  No one has complained one time about them being too light or any problems since I began building them.  I always encourage my customer to come back to me if they have any problem at all.What do you make your trailers out of?Boostinjim,As a note of comparison today:  I bought diamond plate steel dual axle fenders today at a discount price of 16 dollars and a few cents each.  The inner skirts were about 11.00 each.Last edited by lugweld; 10-07-2009 at 08:45 PM.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:i see. i constructed a 6x10 a yr or two ago to haul around my polaris ranger. i made seats over the fenders and steps infront and behind the wheel wells. welded horseshoes for tie down points and add character. this was my first project and my uncle coached me along, he has taught ag mechanics for forever so he had all the tools and had built a ton of trailers just like this before. he said we should use wood because if anything ever happens and the trailer gets torqued, the metal floor will likely stick in that place wheres wood will bend when torqued but bend right back to normal shape. i polyurethaned the boards real well to help them last a long time. i got this computer to take to school so i dont have any pics with me or i would post them for youhere i found this pic i posted on another website. this is not the final product. i had just welded in the back steps and sprayed it john deer green. my highschool colors were red and white and i wanted to pull it in a school parade behind a farmall cub so i had it painted bright red at a local body shop and then polyurethaned the floor. i designed it to be just big enough to hold the ranger but small enough to be pulled by the ranger if that makes sense. i reinforced the tailgate too. i hauled that farmall cub i mentioned in it before and without those reinforcements by tailgate would have bent. seats over fenders are for ppl to sit on, like if im hauling stuff out to the duck blind or something and hunters are in the trailer etc. also keeps the fenders from getting bent because they are pretty light.all the corners are rounded and i had planned (still do plan) on getting a toolbox to go in the tongue area to hold things like tie downs etcyours are plenty of trailer for what they are used for and they look to be of excellent craftsmanship. just thought id show you mine maybe to bounce ideas off of since theyre similar in size etc.Last edited by jackh; 10-08-2009 at 12:42 AM.
Reply:Mid sized trailers will always sell. I reckon it's very clever of a small business to be able to knock them out when things get a bit slow - beats sitting round waiting for jobs to walk in the door.Yeah, I carry.House keys, wallet, some change, usually a newspaper, maybe a pen.