basic trailer build question

[George2615]

RobJ,
I was going by tractordata.com which lists your tractor at 2700 plus the weights you just mentioned = 5000 which is 400 above the 4 tire rating. If your tractor is 2WD it may be lighter.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I personally would not buy or make anything less than 82" wide and 16' long. With that trailer and dual axles you can haul a good 5,500# and just about any car or truck plus your tractor.

Chris

 

[David Devuono]

That is a nice looking trailer. I see the 2 WD tractor weighing 2200 with ROPS + 400 for the box blade. What I don't see are any brakes which makes it illegal up here in Canada except if you keep the total weight under 2000 lbs. What is good is that the tires do not look overloaded so if the officer does not notice the lack of brakes its likely you would pass visual inspection. I would put a hand on the tires after 30 minutes of hwy driving to make sure they are not getting too hot. I would expect a lot of sway witht he tractor positioned so far back. Another good thing is that the Pick up can handle a lot of tongue weight, maybe a 1000 lbs with weight distributing hitch so that would help with the trailer loading, (4600 lbs + 1000 on the hitch=5600)

 

[T185]

I am all for building your own, but if it were me, I would be checking on craigs list. I am seeing dual axle trailer selling for under $750

 

[RobJ]

RobJ,
I was going by tractordata.com which lists your tractor at 2700 plus the weights you just mentioned = 5000 which is 400 above the 4 tire rating. If your tractor is 2WD it may be lighter.

I guess you can always believe what you read!! According to my manual, it weighs 1962# with the rops. The 4wd is 2205#. Add a little bit for the fuids I guess.

The tires are rated 1100# each. They are 20.5x8x10.

Couple pics from Fridays visit to the country..

 

[RobJ]

That is a nice looking trailer. I see the 2 WD tractor weighing 2200 with ROPS + 400 for the box blade. What I don't see are any brakes which makes it illegal up here in Canada except if you keep the total weight under 2000 lbs. What is good is that the tires do not look overloaded so if the officer does not notice the lack of brakes its likely you would pass visual inspection. I would put a hand on the tires after 30 minutes of hwy driving to make sure they are not getting too hot. I would expect a lot of sway witht he tractor positioned so far back. Another good thing is that the Pick up can handle a lot of tongue weight, maybe a 1000 lbs with weight distributing hitch so that would help with the trailer loading, (4600 lbs + 1000 on the hitch=5600)

Good eye. No brakes down here. As you mention I do have a nice sized tow vehicle. I thought about adding brakes if I used it a lot more than I do or if I drove like some do. I do stop at least once on my trip home...tires warm, pretty normal. As I mentioned the trailer came out a bit heavier than I thought, more tongue weight than I wanted to. But more tongue weight is better then to little. In the picture with the ATV, that 600# atv is about 4' from the ball! And another 550# Rancher in the bed. Nope the trailer didn't wag or sway. As I mentioned that to depends on how you tow it too.

If I had to change anything on the trailer...I might move the axle up a few inches(easy to do now, hangers are cheap), make a smaller and lighter bulkhead up front, and use lighter material for the deck thus lowering it. Of course making it from aluminum would have been really cool!! But I pretty much built exactly what I wanted, I haven't seen another sled like this in Texas!

I do get some looks though. ALL like it. Especially when we load feed, grass, or other things on a skid from the side my removing the side rails.

 

[zmansmac]

Been out of town for a few days and didn't realize that my trailer build question generated this many responses and interest. I appreciate all the good ideas and comments. I neglected to say in my original post that I intend to have one foot high sides and front using 2 inch square x 3/16 tubing with vertical uprights every 2 feet which should strengthen the frame considerably along with crossmembers every 2 feet and 2 x 6 planking. I have a friend with a B7610 and same implements who bought a used single axle trailer that he claims tows wonderfully. He told me it was a 7000 lb axle. That's what got me thinking about a single axle. But after what I've read of the benefits I have decided to go with a tandem axle. Yes, I've seen trailers on Craigslist for the cost of the material. But all the ones I've seen so far in that lower price range have rusty frames. Along with getting some sorely needed weld time I know that my scratch built trailer will be made as rust proof as I can. BTW, main towing vehicle would be a 3/4 ton, 7000 lb Silverado. But I also have a mid size SUV with a 3500 lb towing capacity that I intend to use to haul building supplies and other misc stuff. That is why I wanted to keep the size down to 6 x 12 feet.

 

[LBrown59]

I intend to have one foot high sides and front .

Don't like this idea.
1-Can't load stuff from the sides with forks.
2*Can't push or scoop dirt sand gravel slag etc off from the sides with the FEL.

 

[RobJ]

Don't like this idea.
1-Can't load stuff from the sides with forks.
2*Can't push or scoop dirt sand gravel slag etc off from the sides with the FEL.

True but the only trailers you can buy that do this is a car hauler and deck over. With a car hauler you still have the axles to deal with. With the deck over they are usually a lot larger and heavier.

If you buy used the car haulers are not as popular, little harder to find.

But adding side rails, welded to the lower frame with add a lot of strength. I still like my ply deck. No holes!

 

[sandman2234]

I got a call from an old friend who moved to Michigan about 10 years ago. I built a "quickie" trailer for him at the last minute out of what I had laying around. The whole frame was built out of 1/8" wall thickness 2x4 tubing. I realized it wouldn't have a lot of strength in the tubing, so I built it extra strong, doubling up on the amount of frame members and cross braces. I asked him about the trailer and how it did, and he said he had used it in his work up until two years ago, when a drunk plowed into the corner of it and the insurance company totaled it. Since they couldn't match the material, they just bought him a new one. Just mentioned this, since everybody says always use extra heavy material (and I usually do also), but using what you have can also work, provided you understand the drawbacks of what you have.
David from jax