1964 Mobile Home into 18' trailer...

[AMP762]

Just depends on the deck materal.We have one with with steel plate decking which has hauled countless cars,trucks,tractors,ect. for over 15yrs,same wheels and axles never a problem,use lowboy tires ther're easy to find and last well.

 

[EddieWalker]

P.S. Eddie - Nice hog you got there!

Not me, that's my wife. She's shot four hogs now and had oportunities for allot more, but she's picky now and only likes to shoot the big ones.

Eddie

 

[MacLawn]

Not me, that's my wife. She's shot four hogs now and had oportunities for allot more, but she's picky now and only likes to shoot the big ones.

Eddie

Hmm... off road, eh? Might just do that...

This is great! I like getting sidetracked, especially when it comes to hunting/fishing! From trailer talk to hawg killin'! I wish I could get that picky about my deer, etc. I have never got a hog, only went one time and buddy got a fair 250 pounder. Had head mounted with big tusks put in. He wasn't very picky, and I wouldn't be now.

Okay, I'll let y'all know the final trailer outcome. Too hot to do much on it today around here, been over 100 lately with high humidity...

 

[schmism]

trailer axles are DOT legal otherwise they wouldnt be allowed perod.

The diffrence is the bearings and backing plates for breaks are designed for one time use, so were other axles have bolts and are designed to be serviced, the trailer axles arnt. Not a problem till you need to service them.

as for tires, again they are DOT aproved, although odd sized.

you might be sucessfull in swaping out the hubs for more "modern" wheels.

As for homade trailer part, i seems laws varry from state to state as when i brought my homeade trailer into MO, all they did was give me a vin plate at the DMV which i stuck on it, and the created a title and sent it to me in the mail. no inspections etc.

 

[travis potter]

I was given a 16' x 80' with 4 axles. just the frame I cut it down to 8' x 40' it worked just right that the frame i cut off would weld inside the part with the spring hangers now I have 4 I beams in pairs 40' long with 4 axles. I bought a 40' conex box and welded it to the frame. This was for a 1 time move of 250miles. It worked great and is now a shop still on the trailer but I can move it if I need to. In Texas the law was much better I have 5 different trailers and only 1 tag use it on what ever trailer I'm pulling .

 

[nebuniram]

I have an old mobilehome axle trailer and it is buil a lot sturdier than the new ones. You can find replacement brakes and bearings but they are not cheap. I spoke with the manufacturer of my axles and was informed that they are not any less sturdy than what is used for regular trailers. New brakes/bearings/magnets/races for tandem axles will run you about $400.00 for all four wheels from Marshalco. (Marshal Company, Marshalco.com, trailer tires, trailer axles, manufactured home tire recycling, 14.5 tire. )

 

[MacLawn]

UPDATE: Y'all boys are great! Thanks a lot. Yesterday, I cut some of the 2x4s and plywood off the frame, and that thing is really strong! Steel must have been Pennsylvania made . Even the plywood and 2x4s are birch, and looked great! So, I have decided to go ahead with this project. Also, it will be no problem getting it registered. And, I can make three more trailers from the frame - giving me the 18' trailer I want, and three 10' trailers to sell. They will be made right! My welder/machinist nephew will do most of the work for me, he does this kind of thing all day in his shop, so I will have good products - he is meticulous in his work.

I looked at new trailers yesterday, and compared to what we can make, they are not so good, and $1,795, no brakes (don't know yet if I will need brakes on mine). So, I will probably buy new hubs, wheel, tires for the present axles (if they will fit), then get new axles, etc. to build the other three trailers, probably single axle for those. Mine will be tandem axle, I'll get new axles too if the present ones won't work.

It will take me some time, I have other projects in higher priority, but I will post photos as I go along...

Thanks, nebu, for that Marshalco link - I checked them out, and they have the present tire sizes. I want new wheels, etc. though, so might go with new hubs and all.

 

[sandman2234]

In Florida, if you build it and it weighs over 2K, you have to title it. Plus it has to have brakes, and you have to take it to get it inspected. If it weighs less than 2k, they issue you a homemade trailer tag and your off and running.
I have build several from mobile home frames. One I left 40 ft long and hauled a semi truck container on it, loaded with my two Corvettes and a bunch of other assorted junk.
Call or visit your tag agency and ask them what it takes to register a homemade trailer and see what they say. It should clear up the problem, as they are probably well versed on the answer to that question.
David from jax

 

[Mahana79]

I have 2 trailers made from mobile home frame and axles. the axles that i get are made by Dexter Axle and they have standard 2x12 5 bolt backing plates. they are standard 7k axles and will accept 7K pound 8 lug hubs if i want to swap. i get tires and wheel from them as well $25 one-tripers plenty of tread and they are 14 ply Load Range G bias plys. I get brake axles with all hardware and springs for $125 and idler axles for $75 Price a 7K pound dexter axle with springs and hardware online and you will see that it is a heck of a deal. Dexter lists the hubs as "UMH" hubs and you can get replacements through anybody that can get Dexter parts.

 

[podagrower]

Another problem in Florida. Where I live, several major roads form a cut thru area from one interstate to another, so our DOT is on patrol always. I've heard from several people who were pulled over with mobile home axles (the lug pattern sticks out like a sore thumb) and the nice officers pointed out that the sidewall says "mobile home use only" on the tire. I think there are tires in 14.5 and 15.5 that are not mobile home tires, so be forewarned. One small trick for the weight, have it weighed before you put on the deck, that will save you a couple hundred pounds if you are on the edge.