Adding onto a trailer lenth

[jack707]

I am thinking of adding 4 feet total to a 16 foot car trailer. I have been looking on line about the 60 40 rule now everybody had their own way of doing it so how would you do it?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am thinking of adding 4 feet total to a 16 foot car trailer. I have been looking on line about the 60 40 rule now everybody had their own way of doing it so how would you do it?

Sell the trailer and buy another.

I'm not being a smart azz. It's tougher than it looks and the reality is it will end up being heavier than it needs to be, pull awful, and be something no one else wants at a later date.

Chris

 

[jack707]

It's easy say sell but if there no buyers then what do you do?

 

[lostcause]

It's easy say sell but if there no buyers then what do you do?

Start out by providing a lot more information. If you want good answers you'll need to supply your design and fabrication capabilities along with a bunch of pictures and material specs of the trailer.

 

[2458n]

Got to be a buyer for a 16 ft. car trailer. Tires are bad? Tongue bent ? See if someone wants to trade for your trailer on a longer one or for something else you could use. Chris is correct in his reply.

 

[Diamondpilot]

It's easy say sell but if there no buyers then what do you do?

There is a rear end for every saddle.

I have been in the boat and trailer business for over 25 years. It just doesn't work out doing that much modifying. Weight and balance are always a issue.

The side rails and axles are sized accordingly. To do it your will have to add structure. That's going to raise the trailer making it tougher to load, less stable, less fuel efficient, ect. It also will add significantly to the empty weight. About 500 to 700#. This will make the trailer easily overloaded.

Lastly, the cost. You will need new decking, the steel, the welding supplies, new wiring for lights and brakes, ect.

Chris

 

[Sodo]

In my area good used trailers sell for about 75% of new ones, it's crazy. With a new one you will get new tires, new lights, new deck, wiring and brakes, for 25%.

If it's an old trailer, and not attractive enough to sell well, I'd lengthen it to make it work for you. I'd do the 60/40, that's 20" longer in the back - not much. Make sure you use the same materials it was built with, same channel etc and put doublers on the inside. The outside you can grind it to be invisible. Longer trailer holds more "stuff", so be careful not to overload it. Someone else may be unaware it's a smaller trailer with a big deck, assume the axles are bigger etc, and overload it, that's the downside.

 

[4570Man]

If you do it you will need to move the axels back. I agree that it's a bad idea.

 

[CCWKen]

Save the cost of the plasma cutter and new compressor and put it toward a new trailer. There's no law that says you can't own two trailers then sell one.

But, I have no dog in the fight. I could never justify the cost of a trailer. The number of times I've used a rental in the past still wouldn't pay for the axles and wheels of a new one.

 

[roadhunter]

Great opportunity to go buy a 110v mig and slap another 4 ft on that trailer. While you are at it throw another axle under there.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Good advice so far. Probably better to get what you need. Trailers are pretty cheap all things considered.