Travel trailer to euipment trailer, thoughts anyone?

[Cantoo]

Big wave D, whenever I load anything on pallets I just make sure to throw a few old ones on the bottom first up to the height of the side rail. The side rail is what is going to give you strength to "overload" the trailer frame. Keep in mind the tires and axles are still only good for whatever weight. As for leaving the middle of the trailer open, this saves very little weight and really cuts down on other uses for the trailer. I hauled my Kubota L35 TLB once on the trailer shown, it carried it but there is noway I would do it again.

 

[Big Wave D]

I am definitely getting more nays than yeahs for making it into a tractor hauler.

It seems like the best option would be to make it into just a nice light to light/medium duty trailer. Something with around 5K pounds of usable capacity.



Haven't done any pricing of possible needed materials, but what kind of dollars do any of you think this conversion might take?

Also, what might one sell the finished product for?

I understand this is all guess work on all of your behalves.

 

[Cantoo]

Tough to resell them, no one wants to buy a self built trailer. Especially when brand new pretty looking trailers can be had for so little, they don't haul or last worth a sheet but they are pretty.
Price depends on new and used steel and how pretty you want it. I use angle iron for all my side rails and it's relatively cheap. The heavy frame pieces and running gear are expensive so that's why I start out with travel trailers.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Haven't done any pricing of possible needed materials, but what kind of dollars do any of you think this conversion might take?

It will cost about 2 times whatever you think it will, and will take about 3 times as long. No Joke.

Also, what might one sell the finished product for?

Not nearly enough.

If you're hoping to make a buck or two, your best bet is to pull the axles and sell them separately. Then sell whatever is left for scrap. Or just try to sell the thing outright, as is, to someone who needs a lower capacity trailer. Let them put the work into it to make what they want (rather than what you think they want).

I'm serious. I've re-made a few trailers. You never know what you're going to find when you start cutting. New parts are more expensive than new trailers. The only reason to custom build a trailer is if you can't find exactly what you want. This is not a money making veture.

 

[dusty3030]

Got any pics of it in current condition? A good washing, airing out, silicone any leaks, if the carpet stinks rip it out and throw down some cheap vinyl flooring. A little elbow grease make it shiny and even an old camper is worth 1500 to 2000 to somebody. You'd be money ahead to sell it as a camper than a rigged up trailer. Take that money and put it into what you really want and you'll be coming out ahead.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Its way too light. Those 5 lugs are 3,500# axles and the frame is just not up to par for the heavy foot print area cars, trucks, and tractors put on it.

Sell it for a $2500 and get a real trailer.

Chris

 

[beeforty]

I started to make a flat bed trailer out of an old travel trailer I got for free, after I peeled off everything, recycled what I could of siding I decided to just use it as a bare frame for hauling lumber from lumberyard, didn't have a rack. Also if you strip it down, check with your DMV, I went from a yearly fee to a 5 year PTL(permanent trailer license) that was less than the one year fee for a travel trailer:thumbsup: I now use mine mostly as a portable material storage stand:laughing: Axles on mine put the bed too high to drive onto.

 

[Big Wave D]

We are moving down the project scale.

Now looks like the best option is just to scrap it out.

The interior just isn't worth anything anymore, so trying to seal it up for a 'lodge' isn't worth the effort.

I suppose that other than a personal trailer for myself for light moving, we won't move forward with any grandiose plans.

Thank you very much to all of you who have kept me from making a dumb decision and inventing a money pit for myself.

 

[Soundguy]

Its way too light. Those 5 lugs are 3,500# axles and the frame is just not up to par for the heavy foot print area cars, trucks, and tractors put on it.

Sell it for a $2500 and get a real trailer.

Chris

probably the smartest move by far.. unless the OP just wants practice cutting up and re-fabbing a trailer for more $ and work than he can get out of it..

unfortunately..

 

[Big Wave D]

Soundguy,

There is a part of me that wants to do the build just for that purpose, but I don't have a ton of scrap around for dabbling. So, it becomes to expensive to sink the time, money, and materials into basically a trailer that can't meet my main need.