5th wheel flatbed

bal0123 · Jan 30, 2011

Any of you have expierence dismantalling a 5th wheel. So far it is a pain in my U know what. Was thinking of demolishing it with my front end loader on my tractor. Also thought about burning all the wood material off. But I guess the old hammer and pry bar is working for the time being. I intend on making this a flatbed, with a possible hydraulic tilting bed that turns into a ramp. I got this trailer this weekend, off Craigslist in the barter section, I traded a old aluminum boat for it. The trailer is a 26 foot Nu-Wa, tandem axel. I was thinking of adding a third axel to it, but not totally forsure. I know I can't afford a nice goosneck so I thought this would work. I would eventually like to be able to haul up to 10k on the trailer. If you have ever built one of these or have a suggestions Please let me know, Thanks.

KB9UDE · Jan 30, 2011

Looks like a fun project!

Sackett2 · Jan 30, 2011

There was a couple fth wheel frames for sale at our local extremely low income trailer lot. I was thinking the same thing; as we already have a 5th wheel hitch. I was concerned that the frame couldn't handle the concentrated weight of a tractor. And i did have a trailer thad does work.

I think I would have tried the bucket of the tractor into it, and peeled the floor off later. A sawzall with a axe blade Milwaukee 48-00-8026 AX Super Sawzall Blade 5/8 TPI, 9-in (25 pack) - Stores and Prices would also make short work of it.

chad22 · Jan 30, 2011

Great Project. You happen to have a backhoe? :thumbsup: That should take it down in no time. If not I guess the pry bar should do.

I'm currently living in a fifth wheel camper. Once I get into a house, I plan on knocking this one down and turning it into a trailer too.

It's not much good for selling to anyone else anyway. There's a lot of wood rot and roof leaks. I've patched the leaks but, the leaks will come again. "They always do". :laughing:

One morning I woke up to a soaked bed. I thought for a moment. Now what the h e double hockey sticks happened? I haven't wet the bed since I was 15. :laughing: Turns out the leak was around the seams of the roof vent. And I was right under it.

I had to take the mattress outside the next sunny day and let it dry out.

Chad

slowzuki · Jan 31, 2011

A 5'ver uses the trailer structure as part of the structure to support the neck, and the frames are very light since they have the body of the trailer to hold it together. The axles also tend to be quite light. Usually make a good light duty trailer. Not so much for tractors.

Soundguy · Jan 31, 2011

will take some beefing up.. but sunds like a fun project.

soundguy

tcartwri · Jan 31, 2011

Chainsaw with a demolition chain. Cut the walls up into 4x4 sections without dismantling anything.

bironacad · Jan 31, 2011

Looks like a project for sure, hope to see more pictures as you move forward with it!

Reg · Jan 31, 2011

At a guess you will finish up with a lot of deck space on a very flimsy chassis.
Before getting into this I would have checked the axles and tires for rating suitable to... whatever I wanted to haul.
Judging the frame as a load bearing "bridge" between the axles and coupler.... tricky.

Campers are little more than thin empty boxes, so it is very unlikely to be suitable for tractors (2 points of high load) any bigger than riding mowers and implements.

bal0123 · Feb 1, 2011

tcartwri said:
Chainsaw with a demolition chain. Cut the walls up into 4x4 sections without dismantling anything.

Thanks for the suggestion, I think this idea will make quicker work.
I was under the trailer checking it out today and it appears that the main frame is 2" X 6" retangular tubing and maybe about a 1/8th inch side walls. I was planning on running a couple of pieces of 6" channel the length of the trailer "parralle" on top of the main frame welding to it. Then do something like 4" channel floor joist running perpendicular on top of the 6" channel spaced out 12" on center and a 4" channel as a frame on the outter perimeter of the floor joists. I was thinking of doing this all the way up over the hitch area making it what I think they call a step deck. After throwing around all these ideas I might be in it for more money than what I could go buy a new custom built trailer for. Who knows. I do know I usually learn the hard way and from my own bad choices and experiences. I guess that is life, trying to be tight or cheap all the time. Will see how it goes. A snow storm just hit and they are saying 12 to 18" of snow so I might not get to work on it for a while. I have lived in Oklahoma all my life and have never seen this much snow. I hate winter and snow.