Gonna build a trailer...

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AaronW

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All:

I chopped off the back end of a 1980 squarebody dually parts truck, gonna make a nice trailer out of it. I'm envisioning the axle location, and how much trailer would be in front of and behind, the axle. You guys got any advice there? Is there a rule of thumb for this, so I get the ideal ratio of trailer in front of and behind the axle, granting that I'll have one dual wheel axle, instead of two single wheel axles?


Aaron
 
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If you have too much weight hanging out back, it's gonna track squirrely. Having had a couple of these pickup conversions, my advice is 60/40 - 60% in front of the trailer axle center line and 40% behind. Even if you could get to 50/50, it still won't track right if more weight is behind the axle ever. Try to keep the majority up front, but don't make it so tongue heavy as to make it useless.

Whatcha all think of that synopsis?

Oh, PICTURES!
 
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Yes, will have pictures here before too long. That 60/40 ratio seems reasonable, particualrly since I'd like to be able to hang stuff off the back a ways. I'm probably gooing to end up with a flat deck around 10 or 12 feet long, and I'm likely to haul lumber on it that's 16' or longer, periodically.

Aaron
 
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Where did you chop the frame at? I got one once 8' GMT400 half ton chassis from a front end wreck. There was enough frame rail in front of the bed to make the V to the hitch. Was an 8' bed and I mounted a coffin lid tool box to the V frame in front of the head board. Was a great trailer, well balanced, towed beautiful.
 
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Kewl! I did a flatbed conversion to an old boat trailer. Like this
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It runs considerably more than 60/40. You can see what it gets used for so far. I made it to haul 21' sticks of black pipe and tower sections. Keeping it light ;)
 
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89Suburban said:
Where did you chop the frame at? I got one once 8' GMT400 half ton chassis from a front end wreck. There was enough frame rail in front of the bed to make the V to the hitch. Was an 8' bed and I mounted a coffin lid tool box to the V frame in front of the head board. Was a great trailer, well balanced, towed beautiful.
Click to expand...
Just up behind the cab. I'd have like to have taken the cab off, and had more frame, but I was out of time. I'll just have to buy some more c channel, but your idea is exactly what I've got in mind.

Aaron
 
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Radiohead said:
Kewl! I did a flatbed conversion to an old boat trailer. Like this
You must be registered for see images attach


It runs considerably more than 60/40. You can see what it gets used for so far. I made it to haul 21' sticks of black pipe and tower sections. Keeping it light ;)
Click to expand...


WERD!!! :favorites37:


I'm getting ready to re-deck mine soon! I run this 80 MPH behind my Tahoe don't even know it is there haha


You must be registered for see images attach
 
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Trailer more or less finished. Came out 10' long and 8' wide, on the deck, plus about another 4' on the tongue. Seems to run down the road just fine. Am planning to build 4' stake sides for it, which should allow me to get close to 3 cords of firewood on it, if I mound it up some. My initial plan was to use square tubing and weld soem cattle panels to the frames, for the sides; that plan's gonna cost a bit over 300 bucks though, so I'm going to try and dream of a cheaper solution, that still won't weigh a ton, since I'm going to take the sides on and off a fair amount.

Aaron
 

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AaronW said:
Trailer more or less finished. Came out 10' long and 8' wide, on the deck, plus about another 4' on the tongue. Seems to run down the road just fine. Am planning to build 4' stake sides for it, which should allow me to get close to 3 cords of firewood on it, if I mound it up some. My initial plan was to use square tubing and weld soem cattle panels to the frames, for the sides; that plan's gonna cost a bit over 300 bucks though, so I'm going to try and dream of a cheaper solution, that still won't weigh a ton, since I'm going to take the sides on and off a fair amount.

Aaron
Click to expand...
very nice. If you were closer I'd saw you up some rough sawn white Oak from my sawmill. Just sawed up some butt Oak for a trailer floor.
 
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Shorty81 said:
very nice. If you were closer I'd saw you up some rough sawn white Oak from my sawmill. Just sawed up some butt Oak for a trailer floor.
Click to expand...
Oak would be cool. I've got a friend with a sawmill, so I just used a bunch of 8/4 fir. I'm intending to hit it with old motor oil. That's what I did on my flat bed on my truck, and I think it will work well.
 
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AaronW said:
Oak would be cool. I've got a friend with a sawmill, so I just used a bunch of 8/4 fir. I'm intending to hit it with old motor oil. That's what I did on my flat bed on my truck, and I think it will work well.
Click to expand...
Try boiled Linseed oil. Old motor oil can break down the wood with time, although some guys have had good luck with old motor oil.
 
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