Any trailer builders????

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First off I would like to say hello to everyone that doesent read the (Introduce Yourself) forum....Hope Im not gettin in over my head on my second post but I m lookin for plans for small(8' to 16') utility trailers. I have a small shop and am trying to find something to build to make a little extra income. My wife is expecting and plans to quit her job after the babys born and be a stay at home mom..I have a full time job and would only be doing this in my off time.Is there a web site that I could find what Im lookin for or maybe this is the site???Any help would be great!!!!ss
Reply:http://www.trailerplans.com/trailer_plans.htmhttp://www.synthx.com/btw/trailers.htmhttp://www.tjtrailers.com/store/trai...lueprints.htmlThese are all sites that sell trailer plans.This site has a few plans that are free:  http://www.championtrailers.com/UTIL...AILER_KITS.HTMJust do a Yahoo or Google search for "trailer plans"EdWhen the  drops the  stops!Check out my website at:  Tombstone 180 ACHandler 120Millermatic 210Powermax 380Harris & Victor torchesSawzallChop Saw
Reply:Preciate it BigEd just what I needed..Thanksss
Reply:steel shot- Welcome. Are you planning on doing a lot of trailers? If so, be advised that you may need to get a manufactoring license if its more than so many a year. Don't know your location but where I'm at its 6 max per yr.
Reply:I'm not sure that building trailers is going to be a very lucrative business if you're going to be purchasing new running gear, unless they're custom units.  If you can salvage axles, wheels, and springs off of old trailers and refurbish them to your satisfaction (new wheel bearings, paint, and tires) then you could probably knock off a few trailers a year and make a nice profit.-Heath
Reply:Yea halbritt,I think your right. After lookin at the prices of some of the kits it doesent look to me like there would be much profit left in it. Looks like you would have to be mass producing and buying in major bulk to come out ahead..ss
Reply:ShotWhile there is not much profit in building standard trailers, as stated above you can make money in modification.  Repairs work on trailers is also fairly easy to come by.  I used to chase landscape trailers to tack expanded metal deck and ramp repairs.  Also, installation of racks is an options.  After a few repairs you will know where many improvements can be made in those mass produce trailer.  TPnTx on this forum recently posted some pictures of an irrigation trailer he modified.  Check it out.Don't overlook repairs as a source of income.  I would suggest getting some cards printed then passing them out anywhere and everywhere, then choosing the jobs you can handle with short turnaround  rather than the pressure of a deadline.  With a new edition on the way I would think time would be limited, so look for small repairs.  Small-- repairs trailers, handrails, antique dealers etc.    Congratulations on the new baby.  Is this your first?
Reply:Not that this suggestion will generate a great deal of income, but...might be some good practice for only a little investment of money.You might want to cruise through the agricultural areas of your part of the planet and see if you spot any rusted metal trailers under large bales of hay or rusting into the ground in the farm yard.  When I was in high school I used to hit up my dad's farming friends for their worn out trailers.  Sometimes for a few bucks I would get only the axles and a broken frame.  I fixed up a dozen or more while I was still in school.  My dad still uses a couple.  I have one...but my dad uses it too.Also, old burned up or dilapidated mobile homes make a good foundation for a heavy duty flatbed.  Made a couple from a singlewide once.Mobile home axles are not supposed to be used for utility trailers in most states, but...there are hub kits that convert to regular rims and tires.Finally, annual sales from utility companies...I go to GA Power sales and they always have a pile or 5 of metal.  I think the steel is usually from big old power doohickies that carry high voltage power from the generating facilities.  I never bid on any, mainly becasue it was way too much for me to keep around.Make sure to check your state laws and liabilities on homebuilt trailer sales.All just suggestions.  Congrats, and make time for that new young'un between welds.Last edited by smithboy; 02-14-2006 at 10:11 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I'm pretty sure that mobile home axles are made in such a way that they're difficult to reuse for a standard utility trailer.  I do know that the bearings are one-shot things, so building a trailer from them without doing the conversion mentioned above would be a dubious activity.  That aside, RVs make a good source of axles and parts.-Heath
Reply:TapwelderNo actually this is my 4th youngin. Got em ranging from 16 to soon to be a new born..Fixin to have my hands full again. Im not sure what I will do as far as the trailers. Still considering all options...ss
Reply:Halbritt,Before the law changed in GA, mobile home axles were the standard for utility trailers.  Every trailer I saw had them.  The bearings are actually the same as in other heavy duty applications and the axles currently get removed and reused by mobile home sales folks, so they end up with many miles on them, all heavily loaded. Also, they attach the same way as a regular axle.  The biggest technical sticking point is the tires.  They are an oddball size 14.5 ($$$), and use a hub that is definitely different than the standard hub...but it's the same attachment method as used on REALLY big dump trucks and stuff like that.  I have built/rebuilt maybe a dozen or more trailers using (or that used) MH axles.  All of them run heavily loaded often (hay haulers). http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...er/Trailer.htmHere is a good rundown on the parts and stuff.  I found this site much too late.  It also mentions your concerns.  I had heard the same stuff, but I had already had experience that pointed to the opposite conclusion.I think (though I am not positive) the reason for outlawing these on homebuilts is that folks were using used axles for new homebuilts and this has a couple of issues.  1) you are supposed to purchase the materials new for your trailer project in GA to prove nothing was not stolen. 2) people were using very old MH axles and tires that were good for nothing more than scrap and wrecking.In GA, it is difficult or impossible to get a homebuilt trailer made with MH axles approved for the road, but trailers that were registered before the law are not a problem.  Also, I appears that the tires/hubs are the big issue...I have had mobile home axles on several new homebuilts, but have used hub adapters to put regular trailer tires on it, and they flew through inspection.  The ones I have built are not being used on the road often, though...but the havent had a problem...a couple are 20 years old now and were built by a 16 year old (me).Outlawing the axles may be just a ploy to sell more new trailer axles.  I cant rule that out, because I have seen lobbyist argue similar safety issues on other goods that are competing with theirs.  My dad is a cattle farmer, and he is convinced that both the mad cow and avian flu are marketing ploys from the poultry and beef industries (competing industries).  He makes an interesting conspiracy theory from it.Take a look at that guy's trailer project.  It's actually a pretty nice website and has gobs of info for a fellow who is dealing with bring a trailer back to life.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:For Cheap axle kits and parts got to:abctrailerparts.comSingle Axle 3,500lb complete kit (A-Frame) w/o brakes  $205 plus tax.Rod
Reply:ive used mobile home axles no problems.  Usually though, if yourstaate prohibits this,  use low boy tires   This gets around the mobile home use only tire lawIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:Haven't been here in a while so here goes, can you get me the info on swaping to regular type rims from mobile home axles. I am fixing a buddies car hauler and need that type of info since they do not let you use the MH axles any more. Any help would be greatful. Pardon me for high jacking the thread Steelshot, but the info is too good to let pass by and congrats on the young one Why buy when you can build
Reply:Thanks for the info Smithboy.  And thanks for leading me to this web site. Nick_Hrones
Reply:Glad to have ya!  Make sure to post some of those pictures.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:steel shot, you might find the 112 page soft-cover book, "how to build boat trailers," by Glen L. Witt, to be of interest.  Even if you are building utility trailers, not boat trailers, there is a wealth of information on all aspects of trailer design and fabrication, including stability, lighting, brakes, axles, wheels, and other stuff applicable to all trailers.A notation in the book states that the book can be ordered from Glen-L marine designs, 9152 Rosecrans Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706-2138.  My copy is the 2nd edition dated 1966, so I don't know if they are still there selling the book.  You can search for used books on the 'net and probably pick a copy up for $10 or so.  Google "used book search," and you get a listing of many used book search services.awright
Reply:Hey AWRIGHT,This might help...http://www.glen-l.com/books/trbk.htmlLast print date of 1996.
Reply:Thanks, NJ Plowman.  I'm constantly amazed at how quickly members of these forums come up with just what we're looking for.awright
Reply:No problem...I used to hang out on Plowsite.Com but since we didn't have much snow this Winter here in Jersey I have been hanging out here instead. This post interested me so I did a little research.  The internet is a wonderful thing!  This book looks like it has been through several printings form the 60's all the way up to 1996.  I might get a copy myself...if it sold that many copies it must have something worth while in it!
Reply:You can check out my trailer project at:http://www.gt1.homeip.net/project-trailer.htm