Building a 5th wheel trailer to haul my tractor.

[dclynch]

I came a cross a deal on a trailer frame and decided to convert into a 5th wheel trailer to haul my equipment. It has a 29' deck and I want to shorten it up to 26' I was originally going to cut it off the front but all my buddies are telling me to cut it off the rear. My question is how far back should the axles be from the tongue of the 5th wheel or front of deck? I know most of my regular trailers the axles are 1' back from center ( if trailer is 20' long axles are 11' back from front of trailer) With a 5th wheel can I get away with the axles being a little further back?

 

[Ken45101]

Equipment haulers tend to have their axles back a bit. Gooseneck horse trailers tend to have their axles back even further. I mention that since it shows that the answer is "it varies".

HOWEVER,

1) a "5th wheel" equipment hauler? Until you get into the really heavy semi trailers, they tend to be goosenecks rather than 5th wheels.

2) Gooseneck equipment haulers are generally heavier structurally than bumper pull trailers. I doubt that you can just slap a gooseneck (or 5th wheel) front end onto a flatbed and not loose hauling capacity. The bed won't be strong enough to support the change. A right angle joint is weaker than a straight bed. You need heavier steel to support the joint.

Bottom line, if you don't really know what you are doing engineering wise, this sounds like a dangerous endeavor. Please don't take it out on the road!

 

[Renze]

What kind of tow vehicle (how much gooseneck pin weight will it take) what kind of trailer capacity, whats the current axle rating and towbar rating ?

 

[Shield Arc]

I've built a couple gooseneck adapters for flatbed trailers in the past. One for me, other for a buddy. They are a lot easier than one would think.

 

[SoGeorgia]

I've built a couple gooseneck adapters for flatbed trailers in the past. One for me, other for a buddy. They are a lot easier than one would think.

Holy crap you do excellent work brother!

 

[Shield Arc]

Thank you!
Here is the one I built for a buddy.

 

[SoGeorgia]

Thank you!
Here is the one I built for a buddy.

Will you be my buddy?

I've got an old flat bed that needs to be rebuilt.

 

[SoGeorgia]

I'm kidding.. Well.. Sorta..

 

[Shield Arc]

You mean you would trust me?
If so, bring it on up, I'm about 15-minutes north west of Tacoma Washington.

 

[SoGeorgia]

You mean you would trust me?
If so, bring it on up, I'm about 15-minutes north west of Tacoma Washington.

Yikes.. Next time you're in Georgia let me know!