ATV Trailer build

[Jim Timber]

I've really enjoyed using mine in the last couple years since building it. The trailer will handle more weight than the atv will, but I can load boulders on it with the tractor and not worry about doing any damage. I was planning ahead.

Here's the build thread: http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/woods-trailer-2-0.247169/

 

[Jim Timber]

The trailer tongue is 1 7/8" OD, and the ball connector will be for 2" OD tubing. Would the correct wall thickness be .065" for the 2" square tubing? I am figuring 2 -1 7/8" and splitting the difference. Comes out to .062 but I think .065 is closest I will get.

What configuration is this stuff going to be? I'm not following what you're trying to say.

 

[handirifle]

Sorry. The trailer hitch is for 2" square tubing, and the tongue is round, so I will need to adapt the round tongue to the square hitch connector 1-7/8" x 2" Ball Coupler.

I figured using a 2" sq tube piece slid over and welded to the round tongue is the easiest to adapt.

Looks like a pretty heavy duty. That build makes me want to take mine off the internet . Oh well it is what it is . It will do all I need. I do not have that much property and it's pretty clean, so walking beam isn't needed at all. Won't need it on my deer cart either.

 

[handirifle]

I like those stakes that add more width. Good idea for when you do not need all the space, to just remove them, and voila, narrow trailer. Wish I had thought of that, would have been a real nice option to add to mine.

Man I looked all over the net before settling on the body design, really wish I had seen yours first. Oh well, on with the show.

 

[Jim Timber]

Sorry. The trailer hitch is for 2" square tubing, and the tongue is round, so I will need to adapt the round tongue to the square hitch connector 1-7/8" x 2" Ball Coupler.

I figured using a 2" sq tube piece slid over and welded to the round tongue is the easiest to adapt.

Looks like a pretty heavy duty. That build makes me want to take mine off the internet . Oh well it is what it is . It will do all I need. I do not have that much property and it's pretty clean, so walking beam isn't needed at all. Won't need it on my deer cart either.

Ah, now I get it. I was thinking you were going to add a receiver to the front of your tongue like mine and was thinking not only is .065 too thin, but you'll need a way to remove the weld flash seam. For what you're doing, that'll work perfect. You might need to smack the round tube with a hammer a little for it to slide over, or you could take the grinder to it easy enough as well. That'll be plenty adequate for your application.

I like those stakes that add more width. Good idea for when you do not need all the space, to just remove them, and voila, narrow trailer. Wish I had thought of that, would have been a real nice option to add to mine.

Man I looked all over the net before settling on the body design, really wish I had seen yours first. Oh well, on with the show.

Keep in mind, mine's a version 2.0 for a reason. :laughing:

I had that tubing laying around for years, so I decided I'd use it vs buying new and spending more up front. If I was to build it again, it'd be lighter. I don't mind that it's heavier though. The atv doesn't care at all, and it hauls deer really good as-is. I still haven't made my boxed sides for it and need to. I've got some firewood on the ground that'll turn punky if I don't get it moved before much longer.

I don't know if I'll ever build a dump box for it or not. I have a big Chevy straight truck that'll be getting a 5yd dump box this spring, and the tractor will hold what the little trailer will in it's bucket. Plans change and projects grow in and out of our implements. Just like we grow our skills as our passions guide us. Keep on fabricating and welding.

I didn't start out all that differently than you about 20 years ago with a flux core MIG. Taking the initiative is a big first step. :thumbsup:

I've got a buddy who's talking about going to college after working on a production line for nearly 10 years and suddenly realizing he doesn't have any other skills or knowledge. I've talked to him several times a week over these years and he's always looking at dumb videos on youtube or watching tv - Top Gear or some such (not that there's anything wrong with that in itself). But there's one thing that stands out to me; he's done nothing outside of what he has to to get by. No initiative to learn on his own. Now he's talking about paying a school to teach him stuff. It makes no sense to me. There's so much information out there at the tip of our fingers, if you want to learn it, it's free! Better yet, there's communities like this one where we can delve into areas we know nothing about and get some help from folks that do. It's huge. So don't be disparaged that you don't have the coolest whatever out there. If I had more spending cash I'd be doing things differently too. :laughing: Be proud that you're gaining skills most people don't have. I've never met an engineer who said they got something absolutely perfect the first time they drew it out on paper, and wasn't lying.

I'm looking forward to watching your build.

 

[Xfaxman]

Sorry. The trailer hitch is for 2" square tubing, and the tongue is round, so I will need to adapt the round tongue to the square hitch connector 1-7/8" x 2" Ball Coupler.

I figured using a 2" sq tube piece slid over and welded to the round tongue is the easiest to adapt.

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What I have done with round tongues, is shim the sides and bolt it on through the holes on the side.

 

[handirifle]

Jim
True, nothing like getting your hands dirty trying. Depending on what you do with them, the youtube videos can be great. I retired in '09 and the wife and I finished off our home build. The contractor took it to roughed out condition (elec, plumbing, finish) no cabinets, elec pulled to the boxes and main panel, but nothing connected, plumbing the same. Some of the stuff I knew from previous jobs and some I picked up along the way. But some stuff like doing the baseboards and door trim, and hanging the interior doors, I got off youtube . There's a lot of vidoes on there of people that THINK they know what they are doing, and if you keep looking you will find those that KNOW what they are doing. I am a visual oriented person. If I see it done, I have a way better chance of being able to do it myself. Kinda how my last career (Air Traffic Controller 27 yrs) went. Some things you have to be able to "see" in your mind, and that's how I work.

I do plan on getting the gas refilled, cause I hate the slag cleanup but for now this will have to do. Had my little welder since the late 90's. It's been a good little welder, and it's better than I am. My first mower trailer is mostly wood and some 1/2" sq tubing. Pretty pathetic, but it held up pretty well to hauling the 35gal water tank I used to water my trees during the drought. But the Harbor Freight tires kept going flat and I finally had enough and decided to build a good one. Might be overkill but at least it won't break. :thumbsup:

Welder aside, Jim, you'd probably get the biggest kick out of my little Harbor Freight 4x12 lathe . THAT is also above my skill level. I stand in awe at some of the stuff a real machinist turns out.

xfaxman

I have done it that way before and not been happy so I will stick with the 2" tube for now. In fact, I might go with what Jim suggested by grinding some off the sides, and might even use .090 for a better weld joint. I have plenty of material on the tube and don't want a weld breaking with a big load on it. I am making this trailer to be hauled by anything with a 1 7/8 ball on it so I'll be able to load it real heavy if I want. Prob up to 1/2 ton, especially with just 2 tires. If I had 4 tires I could probably go to 1 ton.

Right now I am looking out the patio doors and it is pouring rain. We really need it, but not sure I will get anything done today, but it's supposed to lighten up about 12:30.

 

[Jim Timber]

You definitely need to sift some chaff before finding the gems on youtube, there's no doubt there.

Maybe since you're retired, you should treat yourself to a 240v MIG upgrade?

 

[handirifle]

That WOULD be nice, just not sure it would happen.

Got a little more done today, after the rains quit. I like to open the shop door whan working and the rain was blowing right against it and it would have been a mess.

I got both spindles welded into the tubes, and onto the struts. On the one pointing left, there is a glob of weld wire. I ran out of flux core and tried to do shielded, with the little bit of gas left.

Wrong place to experiment!

I will need to grind that the shielded part back off. Made a real mess of it. I need to get a tank of gas and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it. It wasn't penetrating. I did remember to reverse the polarity, and that made it smoother, but no penetration. As I mentioned, this thing puts out 90 amps on a good day, and it seems like less when welding shielded. That is one reason I went back to flux cored wire too.

Maybe the welder (the machine and me) are not up to it. I dunno.

I still need to cut and weld in my supports for the axles. My thoughts are to go from the lower corner (bottom picture for reference) where the 2 round tubes are perpendicular and go up to the rear or inside tube the spindle is welded into. I will do the same on the other side if the spindle. In other words, if looking from one side to the other it will look like a triangle. It will have to be angled to avoid making contact with the tongue when dumping.

 

[Jim Timber]

You'll want the braces swept anyway, so it'll ride over anything it might otherwise get stuck on.

A nice 180A mig would make these a lot easier.