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Trailers - Mobile work

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jfk92

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey,

Would any of you who may have a mobile setup "welding trailer" offer up pictures? I've been scouring forums for months to find a small, enclosed trailer of sorts I can set up with my generator, MIG & TIG units with some miscellaneous other tools so I can do some work in my driveway or help out friends at their homes. Purely hobby / light work by me only. I was thinking a smaller trailer - a 4 x 6 - then I saw some single horse trailers for cheap (and missed those) thinking I can modify as needed. I have an open 12' landscaping trailer - but don't want it that big and also enclosed. This is a non-essential pipe-dream so thinking on the cheap! (although - it would be nice to get back to making some side bucks with small jobs to justify it!)

Any pictures of your "mobile welding trailer" or thoughts/advise most welcome as always!

jfk
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
indeed seems like it will be - when there is no pressure of putting food on the table awaiting it or deadline to hit (like those overly dramatic car building shows) - fortunate that way. missed out on a couple real sweet deals on some horse trailers - figure the low entry and head height will be ideal - all typically vented so I'd just need to cover those portals.... also just a neat looking/shaped trailer much of the time IMO....
 
#4 · (Edited)
Not a trailer, but something else that comes up cheap from time to time are old campers and motorhomes with the gas engines. Not the most economical vehicles, but if you aren't driving far it isn't a big deal. Somebody on here built a pretty sweet work rig out of an old ambulance. Check out what guys are doing with the service bodies, because in the end, a lot of what they are including is what you'll want on your trailer. If potential theft is an issue, you need to think about what you want accessed from the outside, or just inside, and how you will secure the whole unit against being towed away. Just a thought...
 
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#5 ·
My first welding trailer was a small double axel horse trailer that I 6010 cut off the top enclosure. Worked very well for a few years, before I started my business.

Trailers, especially enclosed, are really not built for welder/fab people. We beat the crap out of things and cheap mass produced won't due. Your best bet is to buy a frame and rebuild it with solid wood, and whatever enclosure you want.

Car trailers work out well, but they are usually priced high.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Have considered the old camper - then thought I'd resemble a meth-head after walking out of it after sweating and working... Agree about the build solid - I may end up doing that - right now I'm soaking in all options and ideas. I didn't envision working IN it rather rolling all out onto the ground to use...but still...

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 
#7 ·
It is better to the welding equipment on the truck so you use a trailer for hauling materials or other equipment.
I found putting the welder behind the driver was best location it leaves more space for other equipment or materials so did have to drag a trailer part of time.

Dave

PS I also used a over head rack that could hole over a ton. Also some jobs use for work platform

jfk92 said:
Hey,

Would any of you who may have a mobile setup "welding trailer" offer up pictures? I've been scouring forums for months to find a small, enclosed trailer of sorts I can set up with my generator, MIG & TIG units with some miscellaneous other tools so I can do some work in my driveway or help out friends at their homes. Purely hobby / light work by me only. I was thinking a smaller trailer - a 4 x 6 - then I saw some single horse trailers for cheap (and missed those) thinking I can modify as needed. I have an open 12' landscaping trailer - but don't want it that big and also enclosed. This is a non-essential pipe-dream so thinking on the cheap! (although - it would be nice to get back to making some side bucks with small jobs to justify it!)

Any pictures of your "mobile welding trailer" or thoughts/advise most welcome as always!

jfk
Click to expand...
 
#9 ·
I've often thought about creating a mobile welding/maintenance trailer.

We're limited to 3.5t gross weight for a vehicle without needing a heavy goods vehicle licence and some extra cost/documentation for business use.
But, we can tow a trailer of up to 3.5t gross as well, with no extra paperwork, as long as it's "own goods".

A box trailer weighs 1t max, so you can fill it with 2 tons of equipment... use a regular pickup to tow it, and drop it off when not required. Probably a 14ft size.

If I did ever go self employed, I think I'd probably build a trailer like that. Main problem would be deciding what to do power wise... ideally a 20 to 30kva generator to run inverter welders off... large cost and weight and doesn't allow for a compressor... but most of the time my customers would have site power, and I could always bring a road compressor seperately.

I'd like to see someone elses' build.
 
#12 ·
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#13 ·
I had a welding trailer and used it for years I built it like a flatbed for a truck . It was 10 foot long only as wide as a pickup tandem axle I recessed the welder into the bed put expanded iron in the recess it was an air cooled Lincoln it got more air that way. Put two pieces of 4 inch pipe under the deck for air tanks . I used it for years till I could afford a truck. Think simple when you build your first one you won’t get it the way you like it there is always something that doesn’t work .
 
#16 ·
I can see it having its place. It can be weather tight, can be a job box. Have seen them in box trucks too, some custom saddle boxes would do well. I have seen some all show and not all that much to write about but some of them seems like they were getting paid just the same.
 
#17 ·
I missed a pic to one was on a bought 14 ft tandem, they stuck some angle on it for a bottle rack and bolted a 500 Commander on it and ironworker gang box for the hammers and the torches. Was super simple and they could move it to the job with common pickup trucks. Air comp on a trailer if they need that on the job too, wasnt 1 man efficient but for gang was great.
 
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