need help with small trailer design

Renze · Jun 23, 2012

I used to work at a light to medium trailer builder. The deck-over designs had a truss frame from 2x2" tubing, and the cheap ones with the wheels beside the deck, had no real frame, the sideboards were integrated which gave it its strength.
when building tubes from angles, you either have a lot of welding to do, or if you dont weld them fully, rust is guaranteed. Water will come between them, and brown traces of rustwater will seep out.
For my manure spreader i use either C channel, or in case of tubes, i throw in some old engine oil before welding the ends shut, so there will be oil vapour throughout the hollow frame: Just open an old tractor that has sat for a couple of years: they dont rust that much from the inside because of the oil vapour.

Attono · Jun 23, 2012

That's an interesting way to do it, but how do you prevent it from flashing while you are welding it? Isn't oil vapor flammable?

bcp · Jun 23, 2012

Use linseed oil in tubular frames.

From:
aircraft tube oil

"Ever since there has been tubular steel aircraft, the standard method of tube interior corrosion protection is boiled linseed oil. Not to say that there isn't a better method, however, only linseed oil has passed the test of time."

Oliver1655 · Jun 27, 2012

As long as your are planing to have fixed sides & front on the trailer, it should be stiff enough using the angle iron for the frame. However when building heavier trailers, I would recommend using channel iron for the frame box.

bcp · Jun 27, 2012

When looking at trailer websites, one stood out for have material sizes listed for many of their trailers. That can be useful information for designing your own.

Here is one of their small trailers:

Utility Trailer Mini: Equipment Trailer Mini From Carson Trailer

Bruce

Renze · Jun 28, 2012

Attono said:
That's an interesting way to do it, but how do you prevent it from flashing while you are welding it? Isn't oil vapor flammable?

Yes it is, when heated enough. So i weld everything shut, all but the endcap on the upper end. then throw oil down into it, and weld it shut: When the source of heat is so far away, the oil doesnt get hot enough to catch fire.