Country Manufacturing Trailer, Tandem or Wagon?

[MikeIA]

I swapped out the hitch for this:

5-position channel from Northern

I used a pintle hitch to match our airport tugs, but we have the option of a ball or the clevis.

You can probably just cut the bands on the pallet while it's still on the truck, and unload it piece by piece, if you have to.

 

[BigDogues]

I was thinking about something simple like this hitch . Not sure if that's that right size as I don't know how wide the channel is until I have it in hand. Why did you opt for that channel and hitch configuration? Do you tow your trailer with more than one rig?
I'm having the trailer delivered to my shop. I'll use our forktruck to unload it. It will be easier to make the mods there. When I'm done I'll stuff it in my wife's minivan and bring it home in pieces.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Not sure if that's that right size as I don't know how wide the channel is until I have it in hand. )</font>

They use 3" x 4.10 bar channel for their hitch tonque. It's a little too lightweight for a 4000 lb application.

 

[BigDogues]

Oops, I had just grabbed a hitch coupler off the site at random. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Didn't necessarily mean that one exactly. But a 4" wide channel really changes things. Guess I see now why he had opted for the other.

 

[MadReferee]

A piece of 3" x 4.10 bar channel is 3" wide on the flat side. It is approximately 3/16" thick and the wings (short sides) are just over 1.4" long. The 4.10 represents the weight in lbs per foot of steel. That is how you order this type of steel.

For 3" bar channel the next size is 5.0 then 6.0 wih the only basic difference being the thickness, just over 1/4" and just under 3/8".

See if your steel supplier has a list of his stock that includes weights per lb and dimensions. It is invaluable when determining what you may need for a project.

 

[BigDogues]

Well, you learn something new everyday. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif You know, I've been in the precision sheet metal trade for over 25 years and have ordered plenty of angle and channel for different customer requirements but have never specified it that way. I've always specified it width by height by thickness right out of my Jorgenson catalog. Guess I just didn't know any different. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
-Phil

 

[BigDogues]

I guess then I could get away with something like this hitch.

 

[MadReferee]

That would fit but the real problem is that the Country Mfg trailer's tongue is too flimsy and will tend to bow upwards when backing up with heavy loads. Not only that but the steering assembly's bushing and frame for the tongue pivot pin is too weak also and will deform rather quickly.

There have been several posts regarding methods to fix that. I have designed and built a super strong tongue and steering assembly that is similar but much stronger than the ones posted here. I have no doubt that mine and the ones posted here will work much better than the stock ones. However, you do need a lathe and milling machine to make the mods.

 

[MadReferee]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've been in the precision sheet metal trade for over 25 years and have ordered plenty of angle and channel for different customer requirements but have never specified it that way. I've always specified it width by height by thickness right out of my Jorgenson catalog. )</font>

That's because the catalog company made it easy for you to specify what you wanted. Most steel distributor salesmen will do the same. But when you look at the actual invoice from the steel distributor it will specify the bar channel as width x lbs/ft. The reason behind this nomenclature is that bar channel, steel beams and several other steel types, are used by engineers for structural purposes and the lbs/ft means more to them than the length x width x thickness nomenclature.

 

[BigDogues]

Mad, are we talking trailer or wagon here? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I went with the trailer for use in the woods. Doesn't the trailer have a rigid frame all the way back?