Build your own trailers

[Markcuda]

And Chris, do you consider your self as one of the know it alls?LOLOOLOLOLOL

 

[Diamondpilot]

And Chris, do you consider your self as one of the know it alls?LOLOOLOLOLOL

No, just smarter than......

Chris

 

[Pops15]

Because the know nothings don't understand that they are intended for limited use and are illegal in some states.

Chris

The states that have outlawed them seem to have done so because of the goofy lug system not because of the axles themselves. The lug system IS a lousy design. The axles themselves are fine if you keep the bearings greased. I've had 5 trailers with MH axles and haven't had any issues. I know several racers that got over 150,000 miles of service out of their re-purposed mobile home axles. Even some of the mobile home manufacturers have re-used the so called one use axles.

 

[kenmac]

Don't know what states have outlawed them. Al must be 1 of them. My BIL has had a trailer with dual MH axles for years

 

[joshuabardwell]

All the folks here discussing possibly building their own trailer have failed to mention the one thing that any trailer builder MUST have, no ifs ands or buts, and that is impeccable welding skills. If you can't make excellent welds, in every position, every time, you have no business building a trailer. Or at least that's what they say on the welding forums when somebody brings up trailer building. Those plans might be useful to somebody who was an excellent weldor and fabricator, but who didn't have the skill to design a trailer from scratch. To the average Joe, with hobbyist-level welding skills, those plans are, at best, useless, and at worst, an invitation to kill somebody on the road.

 

[meburdick]

All the folks here discussing possibly building their own trailer have failed to mention the one thing that any trailer builder MUST have, no ifs ands or buts, and that is impeccable welding skills. If you can't make excellent welds, in every position, every time, you have no business building a trailer. Or at least that's what they say on the welding forums when somebody brings up trailer building. Those plans might be useful to somebody who was an excellent weldor and fabricator, but who didn't have the skill to design a trailer from scratch. To the average Joe, with hobbyist-level welding skills, those plans are, at best, useless, and at worst, an invitation to kill somebody on the road.

While I agree that someone building their own trailer needs to be able to complete the appropriate welds correctly, I also believe that there should be some good controls in place at the DMV before a home made trailer would be allowed on the road. I've never built one, and I don't know anyone that has... So, I can't say how strictly they are inspected before being granted a plate. But, it would make sense that the more weight the builder wants it to carry, the more stringent the inspection would be.

 

[Diamondpilot]

While I agree that someone building their own trailer needs to be able to complete the appropriate welds correctly, I also believe that there should be some good controls in place at the DMV before a home made trailer would be allowed on the road. I've never built one, and I don't know anyone that has... So, I can't say how strictly they are inspected before being granted a plate. But, it would make sense that the more weight the builder wants it to carry, the more stringent the inspection would be.

Its a joke. I have buit two boat trailers. Both light duty 1,200# axle units. All I did was go to the DMV, apply for a VIN, get a form and fill it out, and schedule an inspection. That consisted of the inspector not even looking at my first one and just asking me if it had fenders, safety chains, and lights. The second one the guy came to my home but never got out of his car. He looked at it from 25'
away and signed it off.

Take a look at most of the homemade junk and you will be amazed.

Chris

 

[meburdick]

Its a joke. I have buit two boat trailers. Both light duty 1,200# axle units. All I did was go to the DMV, apply for a VIN, get a form and fill it out, and schedule an inspection. That consisted of the inspector not even looking at my first one and just asking me if it had fenders, safety chains, and lights. The second one the guy came to my home but never got out of his car. He looked at it from 25'
away and signed it off.

Take a look at most of the homemade junk and you will be amazed.

Chris

I didn't say they were DOING reasonable inspections. I just said it would make sense.

 

[Pops15]

They inspect homemade trailers in IL.

 

[meburdick]

They inspect them in CT, too. But, I don't believe that they have the appropriate training and tools to do so correctly. For example: Do they x-ray the welds on trailers built for 10k pounds (just an example) to be sure that they will hold the weight?