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Customer wants a Irrigation trailer built that will have bins and pipe racks and haul his trencher. I picked up his 16' flat bed yesterday. It's heavy duty. Most of his requests are pretty simple. However he did ask if I could make a rack similar to a pickup rack. A few concerns come to mind but nothing that can't be figured out. However I'm still concerned that I never see a trailer done this way and there may be a reason I havn't thought of.As long as it's stable, not too high but high enough to get the trencher on board?Any thought on this type of setup.
Reply:I am certain that some other guys will have better suggestions, but if you can build the truck rack off the top of the bins keeping the "legs" of the rack short as possible it will be pretty sturdy.I see guys that around here put racks on their trailers and the support runs from the trailer bed about 6' to the rack.  They use 1 x 1 tubing!  Usually there are no diagonal supports either and they are vibrating to beat the band.I am sure you already know this though!ECAVE
Reply:TPMy trailer rack came off my truck.  From the floor of my trailer it is about 48 inches tall.  I built it of 1.5"sq with 1/8' wall.  The post are not straight up, I originally broke them to match the contour of my truck cab.  The break adds to the ridgity.  The two sets of rails are tied with 1.5"sq.  My trailer is 10 feet.  The rack spans  8'.  I set it off center, more toward the truck so I can put more weight toward the front.  It keeps the trailer form tipping up when unhitched.  I primarily carry stock 20 foot metal. Also, by off centering there is only 3 feet of over hand in the rear. I have carried more than  1000 lbs on it with no noticible deformation. I would think you can to higher over a 16 foot trailer, though I'd stay close to he necessary height required for the trencher.  My wheels are about 7 feet apart. At 48" I've felt absolutely no tipping or swaying action.  It is very convient for loading and unloading and climbing (as a ladder) onto, however not convient if you need to work under it.
Reply:I'M thinking of something like this.e.I got a bunch of 1/2 sq tube left over I can use.....not really I was going to quote is using 2" for the legs. Of couse there would be the expanded metal bins on the side and braces to study it up.Last edited by TPnTX; 01-19-2006 at 11:46 AM.
Reply:That is how mine looks.  I attached (welded) the leg to the angle at the floor and the upper angle.
Reply:well good then I'm not off my rocker considering doing that. I didn't ask him yet about the trencher. I don't know if it's a rider or a walk behind which will determine which way this project goes.I don't even know yet what to charge for this. He didn't even ask, he just called and ask if I could do it. He's got several other minor repairs on his other trailers like where the equipment has torn up the metal ramps.So I'm going to do a take off on the materials and start from there. Since this trailer is so HD, I want to make this something that will be hard as hell to tear up. That 1 1/2 with 1/8" walls is prolly the way to go.
Reply:scratch that. He saw a trailer on the road that he liked. It only has the two racks on each side.
Reply:Oky doke, here's what I have to work with now 'cept it's on both sides. I've got to get a material list and figure out what to charge. The box will be expanded metal and angle iron with a flip-up lid. I figure the lid will be out of 1"x 2" tube.
Reply:oops we need a delete button!
Reply:dang it! did it again
Reply:There is super stress where the post attach.  Just from normal movement of the trailer and weight of the the rack.  I have repaired several of this style.  I would run the post to the deck and support the box with a couple of gussets.
Reply:good catch. I didn't draw right it'll be secured.something like thisLast edited by TPnTX; 01-19-2006 at 06:46 PM.
Reply:Here's the final design at least based on the clients request.http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/tpntx/trailer/trailerspecs.jpgLast edited by TPnTX; 01-20-2006 at 03:34 PM.
Reply:I'm up to about $700.00 on parts so far.Box frame and racks are 2x2x1/8 angleLid is made of 1" x  2" tube 14gaugeexpanded metal (im not sure yet.) 1 1/2 x 9lb.  that appears to be the best they got.Now I just have to figure out what to charge for the project. I'm going to give him the parts at cost because he gives me a lot of work.Last edited by TPnTX; 01-20-2006 at 03:41 PM.