mikehaugen
Elite Member
As some of you may remember from a previous thread, I have rescued some i-beam that was getting scrapped from work. I am wanting to build a trailer with it. I have 2-24' 12" i-beams and 5-20' 8" i-beams. Not sure about the weight, but it is not the lightweight stuff- the web is close to 1/4" thick. I would like to build a gooseneck using the 12" beams for the frame and the 8" for the neck. I have looked at many manufacturers and some use 12" throughout and some use 8" throughout for a 24' 14k trailer. I haven't seen this combination yet, but think it will work. I will use 12" x 24" x 3/16" triangular gussets at the joints on the neck. Then I will use 3" channel at 16" spacing and then a wood deck (probably 2" oak) and will build ramps out of 3" channel and 2"x1/4" angle. I plan on using some using some donor axles from a 14k bobcat trailer that has a damaged frame that I can get for cheap. I will probably also use 3 or 4 4"x4"x1/4" square cross tubes between the main frame rails.
This will be a long process that will be built in my free time. The critical joints will be well prepared and beveled, then arc welded with 6010, then either 1 or 2 passes with 7018, less critical with just a 7018 pass. I plan on painting with valspar tractor and implement paint, but may look into a single stage automotive paint... perhaps imron- not sure yet. I am still putting a material list together in my head to see if it would be cheaper to buy a good used trailer, especially since the axles I am getting will need new rims and tires. I may even repair the donor trailer and sell it to buy new axles. I haven't seen it for a while and need to evaluate the options (it is a friend of mine's that he has sitting around). The dimensions and axles placement I can get from different manufacturer's websites.
I will post pictures along the way (but as I said this will take me a while, I have built many things in the past and have had success and am pretty confident in my weld abilities. I have not built anything quite this big yet and imagine the biggest hurdle will be getting the frame placed and squared up, but have a few ideas for that. I worked at a trailer manufacturer out of high school and did a lot of assembly and wiring, then worked in the cut department. I have been wanting a flat bed trailer for some time because I hate fenders.
Anybody see any problems with my plan before I get too far into this? Thanks.
This will be a long process that will be built in my free time. The critical joints will be well prepared and beveled, then arc welded with 6010, then either 1 or 2 passes with 7018, less critical with just a 7018 pass. I plan on painting with valspar tractor and implement paint, but may look into a single stage automotive paint... perhaps imron- not sure yet. I am still putting a material list together in my head to see if it would be cheaper to buy a good used trailer, especially since the axles I am getting will need new rims and tires. I may even repair the donor trailer and sell it to buy new axles. I haven't seen it for a while and need to evaluate the options (it is a friend of mine's that he has sitting around). The dimensions and axles placement I can get from different manufacturer's websites.
I will post pictures along the way (but as I said this will take me a while, I have built many things in the past and have had success and am pretty confident in my weld abilities. I have not built anything quite this big yet and imagine the biggest hurdle will be getting the frame placed and squared up, but have a few ideas for that. I worked at a trailer manufacturer out of high school and did a lot of assembly and wiring, then worked in the cut department. I have been wanting a flat bed trailer for some time because I hate fenders.
Anybody see any problems with my plan before I get too far into this? Thanks.