your opinion on a trailer

[b.walker5]

The hitch mount is a lot stronger than the photo's show. It's 10mm plate welded to the draw bar with the hitch bolted to it.

Sorry Ray, just had a second look, it's 8mm plate not 10. , and your post has caused me to consider adding a couple of bolts through the mount and draw bar ends for added strength. Not that I'm concerned about current strength but it cant hurt, right..

[DGXSER]

All I know is that looking at all of this makes me REALLY want to buy a welder!! And learn how to weld of course!

[Jerry]

Slight variation on building a trailer...

The rule of thumb generally accepted by most manufacturers, is the axle (on a single-axle trailer) should have its center line about 60 percent back from the front of the bed. Tongue weight, the weight of the trailer pressing down on the tow vehicle hitch, should be between 10 - 15 percent of over-all trailer weight.

Under 2,000 pounds total weight with load, a 1 7/8 coupler is sufficient. Over 2K and you should go with the larger 2 inch coupler. The capacity of the coupler is usually stamped into the coupler.

These specs generally result in a well-behaved trailer that tracks well at any legal speed. I generally stay between 65 - 70 mph with all my trailers, but have gone considerably faster than that on occasion without problems.

I have also come to the conclusion that it is not any cheaper to build a trailer as it is to look for a good deal on a used one, unless you are building a special purpose unit. One suggestion: Many junkyards have old travel trailers, and they will sell the frames / axles pretty cheap. In Colorado it is pretty easy to build a new deck on these frames and re-title the trailer as home made. My last trailer, 12 foot long by around 6 foot wide, is built on a $100.00 frame / axle combo from the local bone yard. Frame included a tongue jack, spare tire, and has a surge brakes. I added a new deck, safety chains, and lights. I did have to tear off the old camper body, but did that at the junk yard before I brought the frame home. Overall cost of the trailer, including getting a new title and license plates, came to about $225.00. I hope to enclose it this summer, similar to b. walker5's construction job.

[madmax-im]

You all have given me the inspiration to have my trailer enclosed...its no fun having an open trailer and towing your pride and joy thru inclement weather. I am limited to clear and dry weather...I wont do it in anything else...but an enclosed trailer would give me more flexibility.