Walking Beam Trailer

[ProjectKing]

I've been looking at some trailers for off-road use and am contemplating building my own. There are some mighty fine examples in some older threads, and I'll shamelessly steal all the good ideas from those.

The trailer available from DR and Woodland Mills is pretty much what I want. I'm exploring a design for something a little heaver duty and sized for my needs.

What are my needs? Something I can haul with my Arctic Cat Prowler (tow limit 1500 lbs) as well as my LS XJ2025 tractor. I want it to have a tire width the same as the Prowler, and am looking at a walking beam design to allow for taking it over some rough terrain. I'd like to be able to tow it with the tractor with upwards of 2,000 lbs in materials.

My first effort in Sketchup is here:

And here's what I've got for a walking beam. I'd like to have 360 degree rotation for the walking beam, for when I'm in the really nasty stuff.

In addition to the reasons above for building my own, I live in Alaska and freight shipping of big items is brutal. I'm guessing the freight for the $1500 Woodland Mills unit will be another $600 or more. So I could potentially get a better trailer for less out-of-pocket expense.

My initial design uses 3x2 rectangular tube (1/8" wall) for the main elements. I experiments with the StructuralWeb beam calculator and determined that the walking beams would have no problem supporting a ton of cargo. My concern is the center beam for the frame. I'm pretty sure that I would get a lot of deflection on the tongue. Anyone have suggestions on what an optimal tongue beam would be?

I think you are over building your trailer. Steel is extremely strong and durable. Also heavy. The goal is to minimize trailer weight and maximize capacity.

Look at how light weight boat trailers are made. They are very strong yet light. Remember if the box dumps it also must have a frame. The weight adds up quick. An ATV can be quickly overloaded by an over built trailer.

Again study the MUTS trailer and how it's built. Very elegant design. Tongue weight is only around 30 lbs.

 

[ProjectKing]

I guess maybe i'm just accident prone....but then when you just "sit in a chair all day", not much chance of getting hurt.....I'm a Do'er and Do'ers get abused.

As a truck driver, I Hand Crank trailers up and down. Had one going up hard one time, the handle came out of gear. So now I'm cranking hard and now it's free.....my hands spun around and came up under my chin.....I woke up wondering "What the Heck just Happened"...lol...oh wait..no it wasn't LOL...lol

Hang on to the MUTS crank handle and you will be fine. The handwinch works great and requires no wires or power.

 

[smokinmad]

Hang on to the MUTS crank handle and you will be fine. The handwinch works great and requires no wires or power.

Fortunately for me, my neighbor, I call him McGyevor, just tell him what you want and he can build it. He made a pull around backhoe, put a loader on his garden tractor, a dump bed on his nissan....

And that crank handle was on a 6500 gal tank trailer, loaded...

 

[ProjectKing]

Fortunately for me, my neighbor, I call him McGyevor, just tell him what you want and he can build it. He made a pull around backhoe, put a loader on his garden tractor, a dump bed on his nissan....

And that crank handle was on a 6500 gal tank trailer, loaded...

Yeah those heavy trailer cranks can be bad business. The little one on the MUTS trailer is not as dangerous. The 6500 gal tank trailer is a whole different story! Yikes!

 

[crazyal]

Around here I often come across old single axle leaf spring trailers, usually for free. Other than the axle under the trailer they are simple and easy to turn into an ATV/ UTV trailer. I'm currently building a 54" x 68" trailer to pull behind my UTV. I was given two trailers, a single place snow machine trailer and a Holsclaw boat trailer a couple years ago. Last year I got some golf cart tires/ wheels (which are the standard 4 on 4 lug nut pattern). I over built the steel frame by using 2"x3" 1/8" tube but it's not too heavy and it'll last for ever.

Not knowing what you can find second hand it's hard to offer advice but I would try to get a used axle and leaf springs if possible. Ideally two axles rated for around 1500 lbs each and connect them with equalizers. If you have a golf course near by you may find some tires for a reasonable price. I think the golf cart tires are rated for roughly 1000 lbs each. I made one trailer dump but found it was more trouble than it was worth. The weight always seamed like it was either too far back or too far forward to easily dump. Plus I like to make them low enough to get firewood into the trailer with a minimal amount of lifting.

 

[600rider]

Here is the link to my thread. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/204019-my-version-kk-xb-dump.html?highlight= I built a walking beam axle trailer in 2011 and use it almost daily. It is very long and I had many questions that were answered by many more knowledgeable than I! It has many pictures from the build to paint. I think it is worth the read. I love the walking beam axle and the one thing I would do differently now (almost 6 years later) is put stops on the beam to keep it from hitting the bottom of the bed when it "walks"

 

[farm boy00]

Heres an idea for the walking beam. Mount a regular trailer axle to your frame and use that as the main axle for the walking beam. Gives you good bearings and easy to get parts. Then just figure out how to bolt the walking beam to the trailer tire studs

 

[countrybumpkin]

Heres an idea for the walking beam. Mount a regular trailer axle to your frame and use that as the main axle for the walking beam. Gives you good bearings and easy to get parts. Then just figure out how to bolt the walking beam to the trailer tire studs

Use the axle and bearings but instead of a hub, have a piece of tubing machined out on the insides to accept the bearing races and seals.

 

[GLyford]

Or make a plate with the hub and stud spacing. Or cut up and reinforce an old wheel.

 

[jimmysisson]

You will love the walking beam. I have one of the DR versa trailers and it walks over almost anything. Also I like the ground clearance between the tires. Mine was second hand but barely used, $600. Odd looking but works well. Jim