czechsonofagun
Elite Member
Looks good, what do you pull it with?
Trailer finished - back to the honeydo list
- Thread starter zmansmac
- Start date
- Views: 3628
OP
zmansmac
Gold Member
To answer Diamondpilot first, the axles are standard 3500 lb ones that I picked up for $100 and they use they standard 25 inch springs. The tires look further apart because they are only 14 inch. I didn't build this trailer to handle 7000 lbs, only about 5000. The trailer weighed in at 1300 lbs and cost me about $900 to build. Everything is new except the bare axles (all hubs and bearings are new). I hope Murphy doesn't hear this but with brand new tires and the fact that I really won't be using the trailer that much I decided not to get a spare at this time. But I will be keeping a lug wrench, jack and all my straps and tie downs in the box. To just transport items less than 2000 lbs I can use my Toyota Highlander Hybrid but to haul the tractor and implements or anything else heavy I'll use my 8.1 liter 3/4 ton Chevy pickup.
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
Thank you, I don't have a big trailer and was toying with the idea of getting one for 04 Grand Cherokee, but I always feel it is not strong enough for 14' trailer.
brokenknee
Platinum Member
Did you put breaks on it? Anything over 3,000lbs should have brakes.
6011Artist
Gold Member
- Joined
- Aug 17, 2008
- Messages
- 375
- Location
- Darlington, SC
- Tractor
- 1957 Ferguson 35, 1977? Yanmar 2200, 1963 Cub Cadet Original
Good looking trailer, I like it.
Fenders not only protect others from flying debris, but it somewhat keeps your tires out of the sun. The sun will dry rot or crack them fast if not kept under a shelter or garage.
Go ahead and put your sides on and then build fenders that mount onto the uprights you already have and attach to your sides too. You should get good support this way. No need to add more uprights for fenders.
If you have a shop close by that can bend plate, measure the trailer to figure out your width and length you want, have him bend you a 1 1/2 inch lip to bolt the fenders into the sides, come out as wide as you want, then bend a drop lip an inch or so to give the metal strength/durability. Have him bend 1 piece as long as the entire fender including front and rear drops. When you get it home, cut out a v on both the inside and outside drops so you can heat across the fender and bend the end down to have it bent into a 45% angle, or whatever angle you want or think will look good. Also mount your tag sideways on the back drop on the road side of the trailer, visible from the rear by any cop.
Build them heavy, they will become work benches, sitting benches, standing steps, and a blown tire will murder them if built light.
Fenders not only protect others from flying debris, but it somewhat keeps your tires out of the sun. The sun will dry rot or crack them fast if not kept under a shelter or garage.
Go ahead and put your sides on and then build fenders that mount onto the uprights you already have and attach to your sides too. You should get good support this way. No need to add more uprights for fenders.
If you have a shop close by that can bend plate, measure the trailer to figure out your width and length you want, have him bend you a 1 1/2 inch lip to bolt the fenders into the sides, come out as wide as you want, then bend a drop lip an inch or so to give the metal strength/durability. Have him bend 1 piece as long as the entire fender including front and rear drops. When you get it home, cut out a v on both the inside and outside drops so you can heat across the fender and bend the end down to have it bent into a 45% angle, or whatever angle you want or think will look good. Also mount your tag sideways on the back drop on the road side of the trailer, visible from the rear by any cop.
Build them heavy, they will become work benches, sitting benches, standing steps, and a blown tire will murder them if built light.
OP
zmansmac
Gold Member
You need to check the towing capacity of your Grand Cherokee. My hybrid came with a towing package and was rated at 3500 pounds. All states are different in their requirements on trailers. In Michigan, you need brakes on a trailer over 5000 pounds GVW and I will not be exceeding that. When I borrowed my buddy's car hauler a couple of times to transport my tractor I had no problems even having to stop fast once. His trailer was much bigger and had electric brakes but I had no controller hookup for them. I guess that's the difference a big truck with 4 big disk brakes can make. As I mentioned, I won't consider towing the trailer with anything very heavy with the hybrid.
6011artist, I like your recommendations for the fenders. I've been looking at some on the internet and am even considering making my own. I don't own a brake but have improvised before for times like this. Can you give me an idea of what gauge of steel would be good to use for sturdy fenders?
6011artist, I like your recommendations for the fenders. I've been looking at some on the internet and am even considering making my own. I don't own a brake but have improvised before for times like this. Can you give me an idea of what gauge of steel would be good to use for sturdy fenders?