How to go about building a trailer, or getting plans?

[EmptyNester]

My original plan was to modify an HF trailer kit for the hovercraft I'm building. While I think that's still viable, I wondered if I'd be better off just building one to spec instead.

Any recommendations on designing or getting plans? PA requires all home built trailers to be inspected, so I'd need to figure out what they judge based on.

I want a trailer that has a bed that is 6 1/2' wide and 15' long. I'd want the bed as low as possible since I'd like to be able to "fly on - fly off".

I'd used a plywood deck so that I have a solid surface to hover on.

The hover craft is around 500 lbs. So it doesn't need to be a heavy duty trailer. I wouldn't want brakes since I'd have to get annual inspections.

Anxious to hear any experiences, thoughts, etc.

Thanks

[performance]

I've built a lot of trailers. You won't be able to make enough of a trailer out of the HF special...I've heard that some of them will barely pass inspection themselves. I wouldn't use one that's for sure.

Go ahead and make it a standard 6 1/2 x 16. It won't cost any more.

A trailer that size typically has two axles. Its a little hard to make one work with just one because of the "flop" factor and stress it puts on the trailer and the frame. Two idler axles rated at 3500 lbs are a good starting point.

Use 2x3 14 (or 12) gauge tubing for the outside frame. Either 2x3 tubing on 2 foot centers for the cross members or 2x3 angle iron, 3/16" thick.
You'll need a solid floor no doubt. A mesh wire floor would be ideal, if not for the idea of the hovercraft. I'd definitely stay away from plywood. Too many issues and not durable enough. Consider using PT 5/4 x6 boards or 2x6 pt . Use another piece of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8" angle iron surrounding the top with the "lip turned up and to the inside to capture the boards. (Screw or bolt them down the rest of the way. ) 1x3 14 gauge tubing can be used for the top rail if you desire one.

[redbeard]

Here is a nice pdf tutorial on building a frame for teardrop campers, but it is very complete and most of the info should be applicable to your application. http://www.teardroptrailers.us/tbuild.pdf

[EmptyNester]

I've built a lot of trailers. You won't be able to make enough of a trailer out of the HF special...I've heard that some of them will barely pass inspection themselves. I wouldn't use one that's for sure.

Go ahead and make it a standard 6 1/2 x 16. It won't cost any more.

A trailer that size typically has two axles. Its a little hard to make one work with just one because of the "flop" factor and stress it puts on the trailer and the frame. Two idler axles rated at 3500 lbs are a good starting point.

Use 2x3 14 (or 12) gauge tubing for the outside frame. Either 2x3 tubing on 2 foot centers for the cross members or 2x3 angle iron, 3/16" thick.
You'll need a solid floor no doubt. A mesh wire floor would be ideal, if not for the idea of the hovercraft. I'd definitely stay away from plywood. Too many issues and not durable enough. Consider using PT 5/4 x6 boards or 2x6 pt . Use another piece of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/8" angle iron surrounding the top with the "lip turned up and to the inside to capture the boards. (Screw or bolt them down the rest of the way. ) 1x3 14 gauge tubing can be used for the top rail if you desire one.

How is GVWR calculated? I don't want a high enough rating to need brakes. But I do like how much better dual axles tow.

I'm surprised 14 gauge is heavy enough. Do the put the larger dimension (3") horizontal or vertical?

[EmptyNester]

Here is a nice pdf tutorial on building a frame for teardrop campers, but it is very complete and most of the info should be applicable to your application. http://www.teardroptrailers.us/tbuild.pdf

Thanks Redbeard - that's a great tutorial!

[MigPlazArc]

My original plan was to modify an HF trailer kit for the hovercraft I'm building. While I think that's still viable, I wondered if I'd be better off just building one to spec instead.

Any recommendations on designing or getting plans? PA requires all home built trailers to be inspected, so I'd need to figure out what they judge based on.

I want a trailer that has a bed that is 6 1/2' wide and 15' long. I'd want the bed as low as possible since I'd like to be able to "fly on - fly off".

I'd used a plywood deck so that I have a solid surface to hover on.

The hover craft is around 500 lbs. So it doesn't need to be a heavy duty trailer. I wouldn't want brakes since I'd have to get annual inspections.

Anxious to hear any experiences, thoughts, etc.

Thanks

Well, right off I'll tell you I haven't ever built a trailer...But my dad has built a few. The latest was a kayak trailer. He started with 2" 1/16" square tube. He got it square, tacked it, and checked square again. For this trailer he used an axle off a different trailer. It was built to hold six kayaks, but will hold 8. the kayaks weigh 41lbs apiece for a total weight of 328 (kayaks only).

[geezer]

My original plan was to modify an HF trailer kit for the hovercraft I'm building. While I think that's still viable, I wondered if I'd be better off just building one to spec instead.

Any recommendations on designing or getting plans? PA requires all home built trailers to be inspected, so I'd need to figure out what they judge based on.

I want a trailer that has a bed that is 6 1/2' wide and 15' long. I'd want the bed as low as possible since I'd like to be able to "fly on - fly off".

I'd used a plywood deck so that I have a solid surface to hover on.

The hover craft is around 500 lbs. So it doesn't need to be a heavy duty trailer. I wouldn't want brakes since I'd have to get annual inspections.

Anxious to hear any experiences, thoughts, etc.

Thanks

Building a trailer from the ground up is not a good idea, when you consider there are plenty of used trailers out there that are going for less than the cost of the steel in them. Buying and modifying would be a better idea. The advantage to that is obvious when it comes to registration time material cost etc. I have built goosenecks and bumper pulls ,from the ground up,it's time consuming and requires shop space. The end result was I used a lot of time that could have been used on more interesting projects.

[everlastsupport]

Based on the weight you are carrying, you might build one on the cheap. You'll need two axles $$.

I agree with Geezer. Down here in Florida, there are tons of trailers going cheap, you could not build on for the prices they are going for here. So you might want to hit the local craigslist and search for "trailer" first, might find a good deal.

I have 4 trailers myself. One bought dirt cheap (5x10 $400 was 2 years old) almost new, one (6.5x16) was a birthday gift (gifter paid $300 for it) and a fixer-upper, other two where free and just needed repairs. And this is in a very urban area. So if you have not bought any parts, look around first.

[EmptyNester]

I have looked around and the problem I'm running into is that the existing trailers that are big enough to fit the hovercraft are along the lines of car haulers. As a result, they are much higher capacity than I need (the craft is only 500 pounds), have brakes (which require annual inspections) and are still pretty expensive used.

One thought I had with the 4x8 HF tailer was to extend the tongue and just build a wood platform to sit on the trailer and hold the hovercraft. But, it seemed like building a trailer would be a good/fun project.

I hadn't looked into the cost yet as I wasn't sure what the specs for the metal I'd need would be.

[Tritium]

Lincoln Electric has about 5 books of High School Shop and other projects at a reasonable cost. There are quite a few varied trailer plans in them. Also take a look here for kits.

http://www.utilitytrailerkit.com/

and here for plans:

http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/...ler-plans.aspx

Thurmond

[dennis]

This might be a little late. I am real big on building trailers for spare cash. I buy old rusty boat trailers for free to $75 and build from there. EZ loaders habve a real nice subframe design that is a good platform to build from. Old free travel trailers work god as well.

[everlastsupport]

Nothing like bring back up an old thread about trailers. Has my vote.

I just went out to get 2 trailers a week or so ago, guy I "was" working with ran off with one. I do trailers like that all the time. I have a POP 6x6 and a 18' boat trailer will be working on this weekend, time permitting. There are a lot of there for sure just waiting for a new life.

[dennis]

I figure a couple tax free dollars never hurts. I'm 4 trailers behind right now and having horrible tool failure.

[DaveO]

I read somewhere that boat trailers don't work well as utility trailers because the weight distribution built into a boat trailer is so dramatically different. Any truth in that?

[everlastsupport]

I also buy old trailers (that are not boat trailers) as well. A lot of the boat trailers I do end up hauling quad bikes and light things. The axle is back further as well on many of them, things you have to check, like the 60/40 rule. I am moving the axle on the 18' one.

[DaveO]

How tough is it to move the axle? I guess a lot depends on the original design, but that might be a cost-effective solution. In some places old boats and trailers are plentiful- a relative bought a beach property here in VA got a boat in the deal. I think he might have used it once, decided it was too much to fuss with and tried to sell it- no dice. Tried to give it away, no takers- that's when he got the sharp lesson in over-supply and under-demand. Wound up having to pay a junk yard to scrap it.

[everlastsupport]

On the trailer, with wheels a scrap man will take it (today). With no wheels a scrap dealer will take it as well. They pay almost nothing for steel.

The axles is easy to move on the leaf spring types, 4 tabs and 2 bolts per side of each axle.

The boat trailers you can add metal to make it stronger, bad part is narrow ones where the wheels poke through the deck, same for the pop-campers. And the wheels poking through are more work to cover or can be dangerous or damage things.

[dennis]

Most of the time I just rob the axle and springs and start from there. I have about 5 axles laying around. Some of the narrow ones can be cut and a chunk of DOM or pipe welded over it to make it the right width. I have never used the frame unless I used the subframe to build from. I did get a 3 axle for $150 and used 99% of it to build a car trailer. But it was very strong and the frame was 4x8 I beam.

[hooda]

Even though I like the ideas posted here about repurposing old trailers and customizing to suit, (plus the added bonus of using you're EVERLAST machine that much more) If you have a Northern Tool nearby, they usually have a good assortment of complete trailer plans. Ranging from little 4 x 6 open utility models, to tandem axle, 10 ton rated gooseneck models. Might even be able to get the plans off their website. I happened across a closeout sale there a year ago or so, and they had plans that were priced up to $39.99 marked down to 99 cents!! I ended up with 12 sets of plans for 12 different trailers that would have cost me about $240. for $12.00. If you need plans and are unable to find any, I could send you a set for the cost of copying, just keep in mind that these are FULL SIZE prints, so I'll need to find a spot that will copy them. Just let me know.

[zoama]

Even though I like the ideas posted here about repurposing old trailers and customizing to suit, (plus the added bonus of using you're EVERLAST machine that much more) If you have a Northern Tool nearby, they usually have a good assortment of complete trailer plans. Ranging from little 4 x 6 open utility models, to tandem axle, 10 ton rated gooseneck models. Might even be able to get the plans off their website. I happened across a closeout sale there a year ago or so, and they had plans that were priced up to $39.99 marked down to 99 cents!! I ended up with 12 sets of plans for 12 different trailers that would have cost me about $240. for $12.00. If you need plans and are unable to find any, I could send you a set for the cost of copying, just keep in mind that these are FULL SIZE prints, so I'll need to find a spot that will copy them. Just let me know.

No one will copy them if they're copyrighted.