What Axle Do I Have?

[Iplayfarmer]

In the course of some other activities, I was reviewing expenses today. Here's some data in favor of the I-told-you-so/never-buy-a-used-trailer camp.

I bought the trailer for $300 plus a lawnmower engine I got for free.
I paid $320 for the axles (brand new)
I put about $20 into lights when I first got the trailer.
Just last week I had to pay another $280 for springs, shackles, and fenders. I may be able to return some of the hangers, but they won't amount to much.
I got the tires for $10 each, and I traded some old hydraulic cylinders for the wheels. I did have to pay $50 to get the tires mounted on the rims.

That's $1010 I've paid for my used trailer (not counting my time).

I did sell the old axles last week on CL for $100. I may get something out of the tires and wheels, but I doubt it. I have them listed, but I haven't had any calls.

I hope I'm done buying parts and pieces for now. Sometime down the road I'll buy the steel and fab a better tongue for it. I don't think the steel will cost me more than the $100 I got out of the axles.

I'm sure I'm going to be very happy with the trailer when I'm done with it... New brake axles, new fenders, tilt deck, 2 new springs, etc. However, if I had known what it was going to take to re-furbish it I would probably have not bought it in the first place. I know I'll never get out of it what I have into it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

In the course of some other activities, I was reviewing expenses today. Here's some data in favor of the I-told-you-so/never-buy-a-used-trailer camp.

I bought the trailer for $300 plus a lawnmower engine I got for free.
I paid $320 for the axles (brand new)
I put about $20 into lights when I first got the trailer.
Just last week I had to pay another $280 for springs, shackles, and fenders. I may be able to return some of the hangers, but they won't amount to much.
I got the tires for $10 each, and I traded some old hydraulic cylinders for the wheels. I did have to pay $50 to get the tires mounted on the rims.

That's $1010 I've paid for my used trailer (not counting my time).

I did sell the old axles last week on CL for $100. I may get something out of the tires and wheels, but I doubt it. I have them listed, but I haven't had any calls.

I hope I'm done buying parts and pieces for now. Sometime down the road I'll buy the steel and fab a better tongue for it. I don't think the steel will cost me more than the $100 I got out of the axles.

I'm sure I'm going to be very happy with the trailer when I'm done with it... New brake axles, new fenders, tilt deck, 2 new springs, etc. However, if I had known what it was going to take to re-furbish it I would probably have not bought it in the first place. I know I'll never get out of it what I have into it.

I have been in the trailer business for years and this has been true 9 times out of 10. Case in point is my neighbor bought a used trailer for $800. New wood deck, new lights, paint job, and new tires that was nearly another $800 plus the time. New trailer just like it could be had for $1400 at the time.

Live and learn.


Chris

 

[dcyrilc]

In the course of some other activities, I was reviewing expenses today. Here's some data in favor of the I-told-you-so/never-buy-a-used-trailer camp.

.........

I'm sure I'm going to be very happy with the trailer when I'm done with it... New brake axles, new fenders, tilt deck, 2 new springs, etc. However, if I had known what it was going to take to re-furbish it I would probably have not bought it in the first place. I know I'll never get out of it what I have into it.

That depends on how long you have it and how much you use it. There is value in having the trailer and having it available when you need it.

To me it's like buying a new truck. If you're going to trade it in every year then you're going to take it in the shorts. If you keep it for 20-30 years the cost isn't that bad. If you use the trailer regularly and it does what you need in a reliable manor, then over time the investment you put into it will pay off.

At least that's my take on it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Opinion time...

I figured if I'm going to be welding on the underside of this trailer anyway, I'd take the opportunity to install the future mounts for a new tongue and some cylinder mounts for a possible future hydraulic tilt system. In the process of measuring the trailer I realized my axles were not at a 60/40 split. I'm about 53% back. Since I'm welding on new shackles anyway, I can put the axles wherever I want. This is where I welcome opinions...

Option 1 - Leave the axles where they were. In this case the trailer would serve like many tilt trailers with a section of "dead space" at the back that is not meant to be loaded. The trailer always pulled fine when I had the tractor on it, but I did have to move the tractor pretty far forward to balance the load. I'd just have to pay attention when loading things other than my tractor (i.e. hay) to keep the load forward a bit.

Option 2 - Plan to add a ~3 ft. fixed section to the new tongue when I finally build it. This is the same as option 1 except that I'd plan to have a fixed section as part of the new tongue when I finally build it. This would put the axles at 60%, leave my tilt angle where it is, and give me a final trailer that is 19ft. long. It would require more material and time than any other option.

Option 3 - Move the axles 13" back for proper 60/40 split. This would give me the proper weight distribution, but it would increase the loading angle. It would likely make the bed harder to tilt, too.

I could also do some combination of these options like move the axles back 6" and only add a 1.5 ft. fixed section.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am not sure if I would make the trailer longer, especially on the front. If I were going to lengthen it I would do so on the rear. Mainly for structure reasons.

I would put the axles in the 60/40 split no matter what I did.

Chris

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I stopped at the trailer place again to get fender backer plates, and I talked with the guy there about the axle placement. He convinced me to leave the axles where they are before I got Chris's reply. His logic makes sense... The tilt geometry is tricky, and if it was working before then don't change it. I also bought steel to make a new tongue.

Here are a few pictures of today's work. I tipped the trailer on it's side to do the work. The second picture is about halfway through the day. Now I have the springs all hung, One set of fender mounts welded on, the fender backers tacked to the fenders, and the mounts for the new tongue installed.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've been rained out all week until today. I envy those of you with nice shops to work in.

I have now accomplished what I originally set out to do at the beginning of this thread. I have added brakes to this trailer. Now I just have to put back together all the stuff I disassembled while I was at it... fenders, tongue, lights, etc.

Here are some notes of what I learned tonight.

Leave the U-bolts loose when hanging the springs. I originally tightened them up and I couldn't get the springs and hangers to line up. With the U-bolts loosened, everything went together fine.

The shackles that go from the springs to the equalizer need to be in the right orientation (up) when the axles are first hung. I let them hang down thinking they'd right themselves when weight was put on the tires, but that was not the case. The front ones popped into place, but I had to remove the rear ones and re-install them with them up.

My tilt angle is 10 degrees. My deck is 16 inches off the ground. That means the bottom of the trailer frame is 12 inches off the ground. That will be nice for loading and unloading, but I think I may have issues with clearance. I can get about another inch of clearance by using shorter shackles. I'm debating.

 

[dstig1]

It appears many of us have to learn this same lesson. The trailer I have is still holding up OK, but I had to get new ramps and then open up the ramp slots 1/2" as the new ones wouldn't fit (naturally...) which was a PITA of cutting them off and rewelding. I also had to totally rewire it, but only had to replace one light, even though the PO said it was rewired (they never even connected the brakes!). The tires are still OK, but nothing great, though the PO did put new rims on it. I need to replace a deck board yet. The fenders are rusted through in a couple spots... If I did everything that it really needs, it probably would have been even money to buy new. But it is getting me by and should continue to do so until I don't need it so much (in another couple years). Then I may keep/sell/replace...dunno. But if I replace, it will likely be with new. Otherwise I may take the time to just fix it up nicer myself, but that is down the road.

Oh, and I luv the Barbie jack stands you have

 

[Kioti guy]

Your trailer looks like it is coming along nicely. If you decide that you want to permanently mount your fenders to the trailer, the best way that I have found to strengthen them is to make 4 diagonal (triangle shaped) gussets out of 1/8 sheet steel (or checker plate) and weld them to the front and back of each fender and to the outer frame of the trailer. These also make convenient steps. This also makes a convenient place to mount marker lights if they are required in in your location.....good luck with the rest of your project....Craig

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Your trailer looks like it is coming along nicely. If you decide that you want to permanently mount your fenders to the trailer, the best way that I have found to strengthen them is to make 4 diagonal (triangle shaped) gussets out of 1/8 sheet steel (or checker plate) and weld them to the front and back of each fender and to the outer frame of the trailer. These also make convenient steps. This also makes a convenient place to mount marker lights if they are required in in your location.....good luck with the rest of your project....Craig

Thanks for the suggestion, and welcome to TBN.

Adding some mount for lights is something I still need to figure out. I was thinking I'd weld some angle iron sticking out from the frame. Not the most attractive solution, but I'm ready to have this trailer back working again.