Build your own trailers

[Pops15]

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?

Do the state inspectors X-ray the welds on factory built trailers? I highly doubt it.
A buddy of mine picks up stacks of the cheap utility trailers at the factory for a local dealer. He didn't like the way the factory guys tied them down so he added more ratchet straps. The factory guys said the way he was tying them down would break the welds!

 

[meburdick]

The commercial manufacturers have to have their trailer building processes approved, and state inspectors do not inspect any newly manufactured trailers from commercial entities.

 

[joshuabardwell]

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?

Exactly. Even if you're in a state where they do more than check a box, the DMV are not qualified weld inspectors. And remember: if you built it, and it comes apart on the highway and kills somebody, you are the one who is going to be charged with a crime, if charges are filed. Not the DMV inspector.

 

[joshuabardwell]

Do the state inspectors X-ray the welds on factory built trailers? I highly doubt it.

Nope. But if a commercial trailer breaks, it is the manufacturer who will be on the hook, not the owner. And commercial manufacturers are expected to have qualified weldors (or machines) working according to adequate welding procedure specifications. The point is not that the DMV inspects manufacturers better than an individual; it's that a DMV inspection is irrelevant when it comes to the quality of the welds. What is relevant is the skill of the weldor or the operator of the machine that is making the welds. And if you can't make excellent welds, in every position, every time, then you have no business building a vehicle that is going to go down the highway at 70 mph carrying 5,000 to 10,000 lbs or more of cargo.

 

[kenmac]

And if you can't make excellent welds, in every position, every time, then you have no business building a vehicle that is going to go down the highway at 70 mph carrying 5,000 to 10,000 lbs or more of cargo.

I can't tell you that I make excellent welds every time,but I've built several trailers that haven't come apart as of yet. My 20 footer is 15 yrs old and has been way over loaded several times. Just added 7k axles under it. I,m no expert axle installer & didn't have the axles checked so, I hope they stay under it.. What about trailers that you purchase , do you think they use certified welders at these plants ?? I hightly doubt it. What about those factory built trailers when they sit outside for years and the weld seems start to rust and become weak ? I'm not an expert welder, but I can weld good enough to build a trailer and other things

 

[joshuabardwell]

What about trailers that you purchase , do you think they use certified welders at these plants ?? I hightly doubt it.

Just because a weldor isn't certified doesn't mean he or she isn't qualified. Lots of very proficient weldors out there haven't bothered to get certified because they aren't doing code work. You may be one of them

What about those factory built trailers when they sit outside for years and the weld seems start to rust and become weak ? I'm not an expert welder, but I can weld good enough to build a trailer and other things

More power to you!

 

[meburdick]

Just because a weldor isn't certified doesn't mean he or she isn't qualified. Lots of very proficient weldors out there haven't bothered to get certified because they aren't doing code work. You may be one of them

Yep. I said this earlier... CERTAIN kinds of welding require certification. If DOT requires the plant to have certified welders to do the work, then you can bet that the plants will have them (or risk losing DOT approval for their trailers).

 

[kenmac]

They inspect homemade trailers in IL.

My local sheriff's dept. inspected mine. Said yep. it's a 20' dual axle trailer. signed the paper & that was the inspection. when I built my 14 footed (single axle)I got the same inspection. different deputy . Building a trailer isn't rocket science . if you can half way weld.

 

[meburdick]

"Yup, it's a trailer."

 

[Pops15]

My local sheriff's dept. inspected mine. Said yep. it's a 20' dual axle trailer. signed the paper & that was the inspection. when I built my 14 footed (single axle)I got the same inspection. different deputy . Building a trailer isn't rocket science . if you can half way weld.

Our inspection was a little more thorough. I don't remember what all he checked but he did crawl under and check the axles where I narrowed them. He had a checklist of things he looked at. When he was done he said something to the affect of you guys do nice work. You're right. It's not rocket science and I can more than half way weld.

 

[john_bud]

Here there is not only no inspection for trailers 3500# and under, there is no tag required. Or registration or title. nothing but lights.

 

[meburdick]

And "here" would be..... ?

 

[timswi]

And "here" would be..... ?

Around here there is no inspection for non braked utility trailers...We do have to buy tags. As far as homemade trailers a vin would be needed so I guess someone would have to look at it. I've stretched utility trailers in the past, but they already had vin's and were registered...Stick welded mostly, but a few were mig'd. Never built one from scratch, just customized them for owners.

Based on what 've seen once you buy the wheels/tires and axles(s) you're already in too deep to build your own. That doesn't include the steel, lights and decking....That's of course if one doesn't have a cheap supply of those materials.

 

[bcp]

About once a month I see a trailer on the road or CL, built with a Model A or T front axle, bed frame angle or wood for the frame, and water pipe for the tongue.

Makes me nervous to have to follow one.

Bruce

 

[Pops15]

About once a month I see a trailer on the road or CL, built with a Model A or T front axle, bed frame angle or wood for the frame, and water pipe for the tongue.

Makes me nervous to have to follow one.

Bruce

Henry made some darn good axles so I wouldn't let a T or A axle under an appropriate size trailer bother you.

 

[Markcuda]

I wouldn't let a T or A axle under an appropriate size trailer bother you.

Now that is funnnnny right there.:laughing:

 

[fabsroman]

What I think really amazes me the most, is the number of wanna be attorneys dispensing legal advice on chatboards. So, if somebody builds a trailer themselves and it does come apart and hurts or kills somebody, what is the criminal charge going to be? Sort of like maintaining your car yourself and something going wrong. Better yet, like driving an older car and having something go wrong that causes an accident, like a worn out tie rod. Don't get me wrong, I know there is the civil aspect of the matter, like personal injury/wrongful death, but really want to know what the criminal aspect of a trailer breaking and causing an accident is? Want to know all the risks involved in making and using my own trailer.

You guys have me so scared on here right now. Scared to buy a welder, learn how to weld, and build my own trailers and log splitters. Just kidding. lol

Now, instead of making everybody feel like they are too intept to build a trailer, how about offering some advice on how to make sure welds are good (e.g., how to determine if there is adequate penetration, how to prevent burn through, where to go to take classes, other resources like books and websites that are a good place to get information on welding). Better not work on your tractor or farm equipment unless you really know what you are doing. Something could break, launch off at somebody, kill them, and then you are looking at life in prison or the death penalty. lol Just joking, but hopefully you get my point.

Now, the real reason I am reading this thread. I am interested in building my own trailers. Question is, how cost effective is it? I have read that it really isn't, but what about from a quality standpoint? Don't think I have seen any of the Georgia manufacturers using Dexter axles, and that is what I would prefer. Dump trailers are rather expensive too. Anybody know why? Are the hydraulics really that expensive? What if I have family in the auto business, might they be able to get me a discount on steel, etc. What size Mig welder would I need to build a trailer?

 

[bamboozled]

Unless you can get the materials cheaper than dirt (literally), it's not cost effective. Not to mention all of the tools needed, the jigs that you would need to fab up, etc. I would rather build than buy any day of the week, but there is no way I could build my own trailer (open or enclosed) for what I could buy one for.

 

[joshuabardwell]

What size Mig welder would I need to build a trailer?

No offense intended, Fabsroman, but questions like this are exactly why people on the Internet respond poorly most times when somebody starts asking about building their own trailer. It's not like you came on here and said, "I have been welding pipe for 20 years, and I have decided I want to build a trailer." You don't even know the first thing, like what thickness metal you will need to use to build a trailer of a given capacity, and what size welder to use to weld that thickness of metal. It's not that people can't home-build trailers because OMG TEH LAWYERZ. It's that 99% of people who ask about building a trailer on the Internet are rank beginners who have not yet even built a welding table or a little shop cart or a BBQ or any of a zillion other projects that do not put life and limb at risk on the public roads--or, in your case, do not even yet own the welder that they would use to build the trailer.

Now, if I have misjudged you, then I apologize. If you are an experienced weldor who just doesn't know much about trailers, then you are the exception to the rule. But now you understand why people react so badly on the Internet when somebody comes along and starts asking basic questions about trailer building. It's because, if you have to ask basic questions about trailer building on the Internet, then you're not qualified to build a trailer. It's not about fear of prosecution or civil action, although that's not out of the question. It's about fear of killing somebody, or maiming them, or wrecking their car. I think we can all agree that those are bad things, to be avoided, even if no legal action results from them.

I'll now answer your question, just to show I'm a nice guy. The size of welder that you will need will depend on the thickness of metal that you want to join. The thickness of metal that you will be joining will depend entirely on the type and size of trailer that you're building. Before you can really answer the question about the thickness of the metal, you'll need to get a set of plans, and the plans will specify the material to use to build the trailer. I think that you would probably be safe getting a MIG welder in the 160A range, which should handle up to about 3/8" material. However, it's usually the case that manufacturer's specifications are a little bit "optimistic" on the single-pass material thickness, so you might be happier stepping up to the 200A range, which gets you to 1/2" material thickness, and which should do anything you will need to do on a trailer. Another advantage of a higher-output welder will be higher duty cycle at lower outputs--in other words, you will get better duty cycle running a 200A welder at 160A than you will running a 160A welder at 160A.