Building a 5th wheel trailer to haul my tractor.

[nc redneck]

First class work. Whatever you charged was probably not enough.

 

[Shield Arc]

First class work. Whatever you charged was probably not enough.

Thank you!

Charge?!:confused3:
Buddies don't charge buddies.

 

[Xfaxman]

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?

What kind of trailer is the frame from? I would compare the size of the beams to commercial equipment trailers. If it was a mobile home it may require more strength. I have seen triangulation bracing added to frames to make them stronger.

How much weight will you be hauling?

There is a difference between 5th wheel and gooseneck.

5th wheel and hitch.


Gooseneck and hitch.


The axles are farther back on a gooseneck, because you want about 20-25% tongue weight on the ball.

 

[Chopperhed]

From what I understand, You want 80-90% the load centered over the axles. The trailer carries the weight, and the pull vehicle controls it.

Myself, I always center the biggest load over the axle/s and load smaller bits ahead of the axles to adjust hitch weight.

In this case, I would position the axles to anticipate the load. Or... build in a sliding axle setup, not uncommon on trailers hereabouts.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

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.

That's an interesting way to convert it, I'd never have thought of that and just cut the whole tongue off. Why did you do it that way and is designed to un-bolt to return to a bumper pull?

 

[hawkeye08]

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.

Very nice, looks strong and uses the existing frame..

 

[Shield Arc]

That's an interesting way to convert it, I'd never have thought of that and just cut the whole tongue off. Why did you do it that way and is designed to un-bolt to return to a bumper pull?

My buddy removes his adapter all the time using his FEL on his tractor. I haven't removed mine yet.
There are four 1 1/4-inch A325 structural bolts, and two 1-inch bolts holding the adapters to the trailers.

 

[dclynch]

Shield Arc that is exactly the same style 5th wheel hitch I have that connects to the frame and trailer coupler. I figure the most weight I will ever haul on it is 7000 lbs it has 2 5000 lb axles. My tractor weighs about 3500 lbs I will haul that a 5' brush hog and a 5' rototiller and a quad.

 

[5picker]

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.

That sir... is brilliant!
Very nice work too btw.
This idea will go into the memory bank.
My problem is... I'm at the age where something has to come out to put something in.
Hope whatever comes out isn't something I need next week!

 

[Xfaxman]

That sir... is brilliant!
Very nice work too btw.
This idea will go into the memory bank.
My problem is... I'm at the age where something has to come out to put something in.
Hope whatever comes out isn't something I need next week!

Yep, I have that problem too, that's why I have a projects file where I save pictures like Shield Arc's gooseneck adapters.

This is the latest someday roundtuit idea for storing the forks inside the shop: