Why there's so many homebuilt trailers

motownbrowne · Nov 23, 2014

oosik said:
Hmm - - I never thought about registering or titling my homemade trailer (post #3). Its rated at 20,000 lbs and is only used on my property.

Around here those are called "wagons". I think what's being discussed here are trailers you pull down the highway behind a truck. Or in the case of some of these slapped together homemade jobs, behind something like a Ford Tempo.

MitchellB · Nov 23, 2014

I once started to build myself a trailer and began a list of new parts & prices that I needed. I found that they sell new trailers as cheap as I could build one from scratch, but that is buying every nut/bolt, tires, axles and piece of steel new as I did not have any old stuff laying around to make it from. Had I a set of axles or frame available (cheap or free) or a source for wholesale trailer parts, I might still try it one day.

sandman2234 · Nov 23, 2014

Over the years I built several trailers, mostly for people who needed something built with certain custom features. All were registered as homemade trailers, since I don't have a business license for building them. One of my first was a 33' car hauler, last time I saw it... it had worn out two diesel pickups, wrecked a couple of times, and looked like heck, but the driver said it had been a good trailer. (I saw it out on the road, just asked about it, didn't tell him that I built it)
David from jax

2458n · Nov 23, 2014

I have built several trailers using old gas station car lifts. The long metal lifts are perfect for holding a cab and a half pickup truck. Nice and low when finished. I have one set remaining for some future project. The problem now is gas stations sell gas;and that was the end of my supply of trailer parts.

Looking4new · Nov 23, 2014

I had a homebuilt made out of a Ford Econoline van with the cab part cut off but the frame rails got bent inwards and made up the hitch. That thing pulled like a dream. In order to 'feel' it behind you, you had to look in the mirror.

handirifle · Nov 24, 2014

I built mine from a trailer my neighbor gave me. It was originally a grape hauler. They load a pair of 2000lb grape bins on it and pull with a tractor. The trailer is only a 4x8 bed, but the frame is made from 2x4" box tubing that is 1/4" thick. The frame would haul my diesel truck, but the tires wouldn't. Its single axle, and he originally had a MH axle on it. I bought a 3500lb axle, with backing plate for brakes, but haven't put brakes on it yet. I added sides and steel loops for tie downs to haul my Massey Furguson 1010.

I also added a tailgate and built ramps to get wheeled vehicles in. I have about $1000 in it and you cannot touch a trailer that capable for $1000 from ANY maker around here. They have 4x8 trailers for about $1500 but they won't take have the loads I have put on this thing. It's hauled two full pallets of used bricks, without a whimper. The only issue when I haul that kind of weight is getting it far enough forward for control. The sides make it hard to push the pallets all the way to the front. Once I had to unload the top three rows from the rear pallet and stack them around the front. That did the trick.

I will build another, a goose neck some day, if the right materials happen my way.

handirifle · Nov 24, 2014

I built mine from a trailer my neighbor gave me. It was originally a grape hauler. They load a pair of 2000lb grape bins on it and pull with a tractor. The trailer is only a 4x8 bed, but the frame is made from 2x4" box tubing that is 1/4" thick. The frame would haul my diesel truck, but the tires wouldn't. Its single axle, and he originally had a MH axle on it. I bought a 3500lb axle, with backing plate for brakes, but haven't put brakes on it yet. I added sides and steel loops for tie downs to haul my Massey Furguson 1010.

I also added a tailgate and built ramps to get wheeled vehicles in. I have about $1000 in it and you cannot touch a trailer that capable for $1000 from ANY maker around here. They have 4x8 trailers for about $1500 but they won't take have the loads I have put on this thing. It's hauled two full pallets of used bricks, without a whimper. The only issue when I haul that kind of weight is getting it far enough forward for control. The sides make it hard to push the pallets all the way to the front. Once I had to unload the top three rows from the rear pallet and stack them around the front. That did the trick.

I will build another, a goose neck some day, if the right materials happen my way.

Jay4200 · Nov 25, 2014

oosik said:
Hmm - - I never thought about registering or titling my homemade trailer (post #3). Its rated at 20,000 lbs and is only used on my property.

20,000 pounds? Good luck towing that with your ATV...