What will you use the trailer for? What tools do you have to work with? I'm just about finished with my trailer. It's a 3'9 by 4'10 trailer but it is very heavy duty. It's 1/4 steel plate all around, side toolboxes, 3 car leaf springs under it, countless braces, 2 foot ground cleareance, and 32" all-terrian tires on it. I'm using it as a welding trailer so I want it to last. I'm sure you don't want something like this, so just explain what you want and maybe I can help.

 

Check out the (free) plans at www.championtrailers.com

There is a nice layout out for a general duty utility trailer that might do you for your project.

 

I think the size of my trailer is 5' X 7 1/2', the reason for the 7 1/2' was that was all the available metal I had on hand was to go with that length. I went around to several places that either sold utility trailers or saw some that I liked and got different ideas from them.

The axle on my trailer is from a front drive car. I lengthened it out about 18-20". I was able to purchase the axle with the tires and wheels from a salvage dealer for $40.00. It took me about 1 hour to remove all the excess off of it that I did not need and another hour to lengthen it out to the length I needed it to be.

 

Will Try this again.

 

Thanks for the replies. Hey Snidley, the website was a big help. I've looked at many trailer websites but I didn't get the answers to my questions until this one. E.G. axle relation to the bed , tongue length. I was born in Winnipeg, and left with my folks as a young child. A few memories, the golden boy, zoo, river. Nice pic gnewby. That is along the lines of what we are going to build. Can't decide on a wooden deck or metal. Great idea for the axle. Did you add leaf springs to yours?
Thanks everyone
Patio

 

Yes I did put leaf springs on it that I purchased at local farm store, I don't recall how much the set was on them. I had thought about going with a metal deck on my trailer but after talking with some guys that had used metal I decided against it. A local welding shop where I bought my metal at the guy that owns the shop said he had built using both the metal and the wood he told me he wasn't going to do anymore with metal as for one they are too slick. For another reason he said you could go wood a lot cheaper. I figured if he was in the business of selling metal and he was telling me that he must be giving me some good advice.

 

I have been reading all of the information on this forum for a week or so, but this is my first post.

My father and I build all kinds of things as a hobby and trailers are some of our favorite projects. Here are just a few examples of the utility trailers we have built:

We were building trailers pretty much all the time until the steel took off and now we cannot build them for what you can buy them for. We would buy a "kit" that had everything you need, except the steel, tires, wheels and floor. We found it to be the easiest and cheapest way to get the everything you need to build a trailer. The kit includes:

Axles assemblies (hubs, spindles)
Springs and hangers
Fenders/backing plates
Lights and wiring
Hitch
Jack
Saftey chains
Safety Stickers

Most comapanies sell a kit, but you will have to ask for it. We also have a local steel company that will call us when they have drops that would be great for trailers. We can buy the drops alot cheaper than buying whole stalks of metal that we dont need.

-Monkey-1

 

Hey Monkey-1. I liked the pics of your trailers. Gave me some more ideas. I went to your website, very cool! Very funny videos. Keep them coming.
Patio