Homebuilt flatbed trailer

[tulenutn2o]

I would have to argue with the cop that wrote a ticket for "not for intended use" and "not for continual use". Do they think a 2000 mile cross country trip behind a semi is not continual? I would argue that my uses are less continual then the so-called intended use. Probably still get the ticket, but oh well. I have a home built 20' flatbed, triple axle.I love the thing aside from it being somewhat of a beast. 14.5 wheels are used on a ton of heavy equipment trailers, even today. Tires are available new also for about the same money as your run of the mill trailer tire. I run 100-110 psi in mine, none under 90lbs. I believe the 7.00 tires run a little softer pressure. I have leaves under mine with the 3rd axle out back being a tag for really heavy loads or.................. for the occasional flat tire. I love that tag for that. I wouldn't part with that ole trailer for nuthin.

 

[kebo]

I also would vote for longer if your material allows.

If you are looking for an inexpensive option mobile home axles come with strong leaf springs attached. The axles and springs are rated for 6000 pounds. In my area an axle and leaf springs set sells for $50 and tires are $25 each. The axles are too wide so they need to be cut and welded together in the center.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but aren't mobile home axles NOT supposed to be used for everyday use at highway speeds?? Yes, I know that pretty much everyone has built trailers using mobile home axles, but that doesn't mean it's ok by the fed's. I think the way that the tire rims bolt onto the hubs on those axles has something to do with it.

Not to derail the OP's original thread, but anyone know for sure??

 

[tulenutn2o]

KEBO, I do not know anything for sure, however, the rim clamp system works very well, and is still in use on many trucks and trailers on the road. By the way, my trailer was homebuilt and Inspected by the state police and issued a title. So, evidently not a problem in every state. I guess, just need to check your states laws and run with it. I have never lost a wheel in 20+ years of travels with my trailer.Maybe someone could ask Dexter axles if there is a difference that we aren't aware of. This has got me curious as to whether this is truly a safety issue stemming from real facts, or some boy in blue flexing his/her authority.Just my 2.3 cents worth.

 

[sandman2234]

I took a commercial boat hauling trailer (45') and cut it to a 20 flatbed (12 feet of it dumps). Check my previous postings for pictures of my UGLY TRAILER.
It used 14.5 wheels on 3 drop axles, not mobile home axles, unless somebody added a six inch drop to a mobile home axle. Tires can be purchased new, just make sure you don't settle for the six or eight ply ratings. In fact, try to find 14 ply ratings, or at least 12. Nothing less is going to hold up to a 40 hp tractor. They don't give them away, but money well spent if you are going to keep the mobile home axles.
I have a 16 foot trailer, and extending it may be in the future, unless I decide to trade it for a trailer that has brakes. Swapping hubs or axles is an option, but not a cheap one, so I will probably just extend it, and add a third axle with brakes.
David from jax

 

[tommu56]

Note this is just my opinion the reason the manufactures don't want mobile home axels used on trailers in because of the liability.
Even though some one(me) modified it and the lawyers will call any one in to court that made any part of the homemade trailer because thy got deeper pockets.

again just my opinion.

Any mh Axel I have used didn't have a weight plate like the ones from a trailer parts place.

tom

 

[tessiers]

I've got a 2 axle trailer with MH axles and when I got pulled over last year they asked me to cover the liscence plate. Under Agricultural use they don't require a liscence plate only a slow vehicle sign (such as hay wagons). Kind of took me by surprise, only restriction is must be within 75 miles of the farm. I tied a T-shirt around it and away I went.

 

[lostcause]

sadly, we've strayed form the original topic a lot, but hopefully the added discussion will at least be of some use.

as far as legality of mobile home axles... myself and another already posted on this, but i'll elaborate a little more, but that's an issue you will have to deal with state by state. i don't just mean taking the word of the arresting officer either - look into it at the head office yourself. the person at the end of the line doesn't always have all of the facts in these cases, because semi-commercial trailers sometimes have rules that differ by use of the truck, trailer, and cargo.

as far as tire rating, i currently have 7x14.5 10 ply tires. they're rated at 1860 each, or roughly 3750 per axle. on a 2 axle trailer, that's 7500, which means almost 6000 load capacity above and beyond the trailer. that should be enough for a 40hp tractor. my 25hp with loader & backhoe is probably only about 4500lb.

these are my personal opinions, because i am not a believer in the "bigger is better" approach. i've seen far too many ads for "heavy duty" homemade equipment, and the one thing i can assure you is that they are heavy, and that's it. just because you use heavier pieces of steel does not mean you have something that will do more work, it only means it weighs more, which induces more wear and tear on suspension parts, brakes, and the tow vehicle. in the long run it probably reduces what you can actually haul, because you are using so much of your towing capacity to haul an empty flatbed.

 

[Car Doc]

I built my (tilt bed) car trailer out of trailer house axles cut a little shorter to meet legal width specs (100") and also dropped them about 5" and then bought 3500# leaf springs and shackle kits from a trailer supply. I used steel tread plate for the runners and 2x6 wood planks and angle iron down the center for a floor and used inexpensive oil field structural 2 3/8 tubing as the frame.

Paying close attention to the exact center of the ball and tongue as your alignment point and triangulating the mounting points of the front axle spring perch in regards to that point is critical to making it track properly and not wear tires. I like a longer tongue on my trailers it makes for a better ride and they do seem to track better.

I used a laser level and tape measure to align my axle perches however a string works every bit as good though. A level is necessary to get the tires up straight and true if you do end up cutting your axle tubing. FWTW I have bent them before with heat and a floor jack to get the camber and cut and re-welded them to get toe in right. hth

Steve

 

[brokenot]

I've posted this on several other forums, so I thought I'd throw it in here as well.

Yes, we've all made trailers using mobile home axles....and they're "okay" for limited uses. But mobile home axles are not, and never will be in any way equivalent to "standard" trailer axles. The components used in mobile home axles are much lighter duty. Typical mobile home axles are "rated" for 6,000 lbs. But if you compare the bearings/hubs/brake components/etc. side-by-side with a standard trailer axle with the same weight rating, you'll see the huge difference.

Dexter Axle is one of the biggest names in trailer axles, and has been for many years. Dexter builds mobile home axles AND standard axles as well. On their website, they have a FAQ section like many manufacturers do. Here's a link, read what they say themselves about mobile home axles:

Dexter Axle - Trailer Axles and Running Gear Components - FAQ'S

Pretty much sums it up. They build both types, so they aren't trying to "sell" people on *their* product versus someone else's product. They simply realize there's a market for both product lines. Both of those product lines are designed and built around an intended use and service life.

If mobile home axles were "comparable" to the other stuff they build, well.....they wouldn't bother with the other stuff.

 

[crazyal]

My 16' triple axle equipment trailer uses the same axles like a MH would use. It's a factory made trailer with a gross rating of 24,000 lbs. The only difference I have seen between MH axles and mine are the brake pads are thinner on the MH axles and my trailer uses different springs. I have a set of 6 MH tires for the trailer because they were like brand new and were 14 or 16 ply with a load rating enough needed for the trailer.

Because this type of axle was used in both equipment trailers and MH I'm not sure if you can be sure which one you have unless you built the trailer yourself. I wouldn't doubt that a company like Dexter would come out and say the MH are not to be used since it removes liability for them.

I would use them, pack the bearings well and watch for brake pad wear. I know several people who have and never had an issue with 1000s of miles of use.