Homebuilt flatbed trailer

nc redneck · Jan 3, 2014

Back in 1982 about 30 years ago. I pulled the axles out of my first home a Oakwood 14 + 56 mobile home. Had a fabricator build a 18 foot trailer with them. I have used it for many years. Sandblasted and repainted once, about 6 sets of tires, added brakes about 10 years ago. Used to buy any old tires I could find but for last 15 years or so bought new G loads for $ 50.00 apiece. For the last 10 years it hauled a Kioti 45 with front end loader and backhoe about 6500LB. Never once a blow out or problem. Repacked bearings twice in the last 30 years. I have by far had more problems with new 5Th wheels and Horse Trailers I have owned. Trailer is legal due to title being from the 80,s .
The place I buy my new G loads from is a major MH axle recycle outfit. They haul 2 to 3, 18 wheeler loads stacked 6 to 8 foot high out of there every day. If they are so bad and cheap why do MH manufactures want them back to haul 30,000 and 45,000 LB down the road.
Just my thoughts

tessiers · Jan 4, 2014

I've got 3 or 4 trailers with MH axels, we are farmers and most hauling is only a few miles but heavy loads. I have a 2 axle 20' deck over, will load 14 rounds on it weighing in at 8 ton plus. Also haul Massey 135, ballasted to over 5k and a rake or tedder on the beavertail. Have hauled it for years with nothing more than the occasional flat tire. Have a 17' low bed haul a small TLB on that with hoe out over the tongue, 17' is way too small. Tongue weight end up being way too heavy for a regular truck but OK for my 1 tons. That trailer I lost the wheel bearings in one time on the interstate, but that one has lots of miles, I haul equipment all over the place. It has new trailer rated tires for road use. Then we have 2 hay haulers both 16 or 18' to haul small squares, stack 180 bales 50lbs each. I am not saying MH axels and tires are perfect for every situation but they have done us well for many years. Incidentally we are exempt from inspection and registration for farm trailers so not sure on the legality if inspections and such. They do not ask for construction details for registration, that's up to the inspectors.

Whatswrong · Apr 21, 2014

Well, I see my 4 year old thread recently came back to life ,I haven't completely finished it yet but I have used it .The axles are only clamped to the frame yet I have purchased springs and hangers from e-trailer but haven't had a chance to flip it over to weld them on .Last year I used it to haul a deck for our son's house trailer to town to put on their house about six miles and it appeared to be well on the way to being usefull .This winter I installed unplanned plank for the bed and hauled a load of junk to a pit we have about 5 miles from where I live ,went slow loaded went up to about 60mph empty and it tracked like a million dollars it will never see a free way so 90mph won't be a requirement .I haven't put a load on to see how much flex it had, felt that a waste of time until the springs are mounted later this spring .I built a bit of preload in the bed so will check with a chalk line when I load it .

wareagle50 · Apr 22, 2014

Hey yall here is the guy on Ebay i mentioned in another MH axle thread. He has six lug conventioal hub conversions.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/350844744250?cmd=VIDESC

Gale Hawkins · Apr 23, 2014

Those are some nice hubs if one lives where there is a legal need to covert. In these parts just for you own non commercial with Farm Tags trailers there seems to be little interest in type of hubs and tires.

Whatswrong · Oct 25, 2014

I finally got the suspension welded on and hauled a half a load today .I used it to haul my B434 and pto welder to town today about 3 miles ,couldn't tell it was there going slow.
Coming home I had it loaded about a foot farther forward that transferred to much weight to my pickup and you could feel it wanting to bob a bit.
My next job will be to get lights on and fenders .
I have about $200.00 invested at this point so it won't take long to get my investment back in convenience ,I just wish I had it when I was young and farming full time rather than now in retirement but what the heck I'll just enjoy it now.