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Posted: 5/16/2016 2:17:13 PM EDT
[#1]
Sounds like getting it registered and plated would be the hardest part then. Might as well make it tilt or dump with an electrical actuator motor while your at it.
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Posted: 5/16/2016 2:20:50 PM EDT
[#2]
Find an old half ton (or whatever) pickup truck.
Chop the cab off, bend frames together, weld on a hitch. I built one from a 1975 F150. I have it licensed for 3000 pounds gross. This weight eliminates brake requirements and gets me permanent registration (no yearly tabs). Mine has a flat bed that I made from wood, as the box was total junk. I once hauled just barely shy of 8000 pounds of sand in it once back from the local gravel pit (all of 4 miles of back roads). Handled it fine. Wouldn't necessarily recommend that though  .ETA: Registration for a homemade was easy, just went to the local DMV place and filled out some papers. Never even brought in the trailer or even pics! The pickup for me was "free" as it was my first truck that was sitting in the weeds. Have maybe $100 in turning it into a trailer. |
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Posted: 5/16/2016 3:25:35 PM EDT
[#3]
Axle, hubs, springs, tires, coupler, =$400
Plus your steel and you are up to $750, toss in electricity(for welding) and tail lights then you are close to a 5x10 PJ tilt utility that's powder coated. For fun? Go for it. For money/time savings, probably be lucky to break even. Don't forget the odd stitches or broken toe that projects of this size end up adding. 
I've wanted to build my own but steel has always run the price up over what a well built manufactured would cost for me. |
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Posted: 5/16/2016 3:58:15 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Axle, hubs, springs, tires, coupler, =$400 Plus your steel and you are up to $750, toss in electricity(for welding) and tail lights then you are close to a 5x10 PJ tilt utility that's powder coated. For fun? Go for it. For money/time savings, probably be lucky to break even. Don't forget the odd stitches or broken toe that projects of this size end up adding. I've wanted to build my own but steel has always run the price up over what a well built manufactured would cost for me. Pretty much this. You will be hard pressed to build it for what you can buy it for. If your goal is to save money, just go buy one. If you want to do it as a project go for it. Helped my dad build a dump trailer as we couldn't find one to suit our needs. Built it narrower than what was available to fit through the woods and it also ran off the tractor hydraulics and had a much higher capacity than what was available. Was cheaper to do it ourself than to have one custom made. |
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Posted: 5/16/2016 4:31:58 PM EDT
[#5]
Look for a used one for sale in your area. Cheapest way to get one without all the BS of building one.
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Posted: 5/16/2016 6:20:49 PM EDT
[#6]
Pirate 4x4 and expedition portal have some awesome threads of folks building their trailers.
Pirate has a thread just for little tricks to incorporate into your trailer to make it better. I buy used ones and fix em up. I own half a new one I bought with an uncle. Even when I do get my hands on a welder, coming later this year, I don't really plan to build a trailer. Modify a trailer, yup. If you have the space and time and workshop and tools then no biggy on building a trailer. All that said, reading about what others built and a lot of the little tips and tricks make using the trailer easier on a daily basis. And no you don't need to go build some monster off road capable trailer, plenty of just utility trailers being built. But those 2 forums have a lot of folks who are not happy with store bought. Seeing what they can do with the right tools and workspace is amazing. My buddy just borrowed an old boat trailer with a wood deck on it. He needs to move his new side by side for a recall and has not bought his own trailer yet. Yeah a boat trailer with a wood deck is silly looking and not as nice as a store bought, but dang it if it does not get the job done for not much money. |
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Posted: 5/16/2016 10:48:10 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Pretty much this. You will be hard pressed to build it for what you can buy it for. If your goal is to save money, just go buy one. If you want to do it as a project go for it. Helped my dad build a dump trailer as we couldn't find one to suit our needs. Built it narrower than what was available to fit through the woods and it also ran off the tractor hydraulics and had a much higher capacity than what was available. Was cheaper to do it ourself than to have one custom made. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Axle, hubs, springs, tires, coupler, =$400 Plus your steel and you are up to $750, toss in electricity(for welding) and tail lights then you are close to a 5x10 PJ tilt utility that's powder coated. For fun? Go for it. For money/time savings, probably be lucky to break even. Don't forget the odd stitches or broken toe that projects of this size end up adding.
I've wanted to build my own but steel has always run the price up over what a well built manufactured would cost for me. Pretty much this. You will be hard pressed to build it for what you can buy it for. If your goal is to save money, just go buy one. If you want to do it as a project go for it. Helped my dad build a dump trailer as we couldn't find one to suit our needs. Built it narrower than what was available to fit through the woods and it also ran off the tractor hydraulics and had a much higher capacity than what was available. Was cheaper to do it ourself than to have one custom made. I'm not really happy with the pre-made trailers that I see. They're all either too light, or won't hold enough to make it worth it. I've been trolling for used trailers. Around here they're either way overpriced, or someone else's mess of bird-shit-welds and wood screws holding steel together. ETA: And it'd be a fun project. |
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Posted: 5/16/2016 10:48:15 PM EDT
[#8]
I built one for offroad use. I used lumber for the frame so it won't hold much weight. I used a fwd car rear axle flipped upside down for ground clearance.
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Posted: 5/16/2016 11:41:13 PM EDT
[#9]
If you want a good quality trailer, you don't build to save money. You build because you can't buy what you want. Given your stated uses, you can buy 5x10 trailers with 3500 lb. axles all day long.
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Posted: 5/17/2016 8:33:49 AM EDT
[#10]
That's overkill for a trailer, right? Curiously, here's the price for slightly larger steel from another supplier: 
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Posted: 5/17/2016 8:47:39 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted: http://i.imgur.com/Tz9Ptft.png That's overkill for a trailer, right? Curiously, here's the price for slightly larger steel from another supplier: http://i.imgur.com/vyHGJfa.png  Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 9:28:25 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. Lol, didn't catch that. That explains the price... ETA: I asked why they quoted me a572, here's the response: All angles are dual certified A36/A572 – there is very little just A36 in the market place anymore. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 9:47:00 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Lol, didn't catch that. That explains the price... ETA: I asked why they quoted me a572, here's the response: Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. Lol, didn't catch that. That explains the price... ETA: I asked why they quoted me a572, here's the response: All angles are dual certified A36/A572 – there is very little just A36 in the market place anymore. Lol, that's a load a bullshit. I could have a semi load of that angle here tomorrow. Do you have the ability to haul and cut a 20' piece? |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 9:49:51 AM EDT
[#14]
Onlinemetals.com is selling 2x2x1/8 angle for less than $2/ft.
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Posted: 5/17/2016 9:54:14 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Lol, that's a load a bullshit. I could have a semi load of that angle here tomorrow. Do you have the ability to haul and cut a 20' piece? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. Lol, didn't catch that. That explains the price... ETA: I asked why they quoted me a572, here's the response: All angles are dual certified A36/A572 – there is very little just A36 in the market place anymore. Lol, that's a load a bullshit. I could have a semi load of that angle here tomorrow. Do you have the ability to haul and cut a 20' piece? I can cut it. I have a dodge ramcharger (think 2-door durango), so I could probably haul it on the roof or something. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 9:57:48 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I can cut it. I have a dodge ramcharger (think 2-door durango), so I could probably haul it on the roof or something. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why are you using Grade 50? I just checked our prices. 2"x2"X1/8"x20' A36 is $21 and 3"x3"x3/16"x20' A36 is $39. Lol, didn't catch that. That explains the price... ETA: I asked why they quoted me a572, here's the response: All angles are dual certified A36/A572 – there is very little just A36 in the market place anymore. Lol, that's a load a bullshit. I could have a semi load of that angle here tomorrow. Do you have the ability to haul and cut a 20' piece? I can cut it. I have a dodge ramcharger (think 2-door durango), so I could probably haul it on the roof or something. Look around for a local place selling plain old A36 and buy it in full 20' lengths. Most places any more charge an arm and a leg for cut fees. You might get lucky and find a shop that will cut it for free. I would still expect to pay close to double the prices I quoted for those sizes in A36, we buy a LOT of it and get massive price breaks. Have any friends that work somewhere that buys metal? Most places will let employees buy it at cost. Probably your best bet for getting it at a reasonable price. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:21:39 AM EDT
[#17]
Its been 20 years but been there done that and won't do it again. I woefully underestimated the time of sourcing, pickup, cutting, welding, bolting, wiring and painting. Also don't forget $$ for wheels and tires and lights and hitch coupler.
At the time, I did this out of my garage with just basic metal forming tools and a cheap welder. I will never do it again unless I can't buy what I need. 10 years ago my brother-in-law went to the local Tractor Supply and bought a crappy trailer. It has served him well and it sits outside all year long. It is tempting. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:37:42 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
ETA: And it'd be a fun project. That's all you needed to say. I demand a thread with pictures.
Maybe it will encourage me to strip my little 5ton trailer and build a longer bed for it. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:38:55 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: http://i.imgur.com/Tz9Ptft.png That's overkill for a trailer, right? Curiously, here's the price for slightly larger steel from another supplier: http://i.imgur.com/vyHGJfa.png  What are you plans again? If you are looking for about 2k pound of cargo capacity, you don't need 4x3x.25. Overkill. Agreed with above: if you cannot source a place that sells by the stick, you are going to spend a LOT of $$$. I also would advice AGAINST putting the metal on the roof of your durango. It is too long a stick, and you will destroy something or loose the load. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:50:23 AM EDT
[#20]
Unfortunately I don't have many friends. I'm always covered in cheeto dust in mom's basement.
BREAK I found a more local place that will sell this: 
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:56:51 AM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's all you needed to say. I demand a thread with pictures.
Maybe it will encourage me to strip my little 5ton trailer and build a longer bed for it. Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's all you needed to say. I demand a thread with pictures.
Maybe it will encourage me to strip my little 5ton trailer and build a longer bed for it. Rgr, I'll take pictures and post a thread. Quoted:
What are you plans again? If you are looking for about 2k pound of cargo capacity, you don't need 4x3x.25. Overkill. Agreed with above: if you cannot source a place that sells by the stick, you are going to spend a LOT of $$$. I also would advice AGAINST putting the metal on the roof of your durango. It is too long a stick, and you will destroy something or loose the load. A cord of oak weighs 5500lbs. That's what I'm looking at hauling +/- couple hundred pounds. I might be able to fit 12ft of the sticks into my ramcharger, I may have to bring a small welder and tack some eyes/hooks to it to help hold it. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 1:02:26 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Unfortunately I don't have many friends. I'm always covered in cheeto dust in mom's basement. BREAK I found a more local place that will sell this: http://i.imgur.com/jOOwD1h.png Those are great prices |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 1:17:03 PM EDT
[#23]
Yeah, that's what I've found out...
Now I just have to GET the steel from their warehouse to my house... It's going to be a fun drive, lol. Through Baltimore traffic and over a bridge. lol. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 1:52:07 PM EDT
[#24]
Haul the steel down the side of your truck. Tie the ends of the steel to your front and rear bumper and hang the middle from the front of the bed or strap from the seat anchor through the open passenger window. A few pieces of carpet tie-wrapped to the steel will prevent paint scratches.
I've hauled 20' steel on a 4' roof rack. When the ends start bouncing around it gets interesting.
Where is this online steel price from? I need to get a ballpark on some 2x6x.25 or .375 tubing. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 2:42:47 PM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A cord of oak weighs 5500lbs. That's what I'm looking at hauling +/- couple hundred pounds. I might be able to fit 12ft of the sticks into my ramcharger, I may have to bring a small welder and tack some eyes/hooks to it to help hold it. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: What are you plans again? If you are looking for about 2k pound of cargo capacity, you don't need 4x3x.25. Overkill. Agreed with above: if you cannot source a place that sells by the stick, you are going to spend a LOT of $$$. I also would advice AGAINST putting the metal on the roof of your durango. It is too long a stick, and you will destroy something or loose the load. A cord of oak weighs 5500lbs. That's what I'm looking at hauling +/- couple hundred pounds. I might be able to fit 12ft of the sticks into my ramcharger, I may have to bring a small welder and tack some eyes/hooks to it to help hold it. You will have to have a tandem axle trailer. You will have to have electric brakes. Expect to spend at least $500-$600 on getting running gear and brakes, NOT including tires/wheels. You will most likely have to have the trailer inspected (check local laws). The trailer now needs to be much heavier. I recall you having a cheap welder? Be sure you can weld good enough for this kind of load. If YOU build it and your construction fails and somebody gets hurt, YOU are on the line for crappy engineering. You will want rectangular tubing for your frame. No if's, and's or but's about it. Don't screw with anything else. To be quite honest, in your position, I would look for a donor trailer to customize to your specs. Find an older horse trailer or something and tear it down to frame and build the deck/sides you need. Leave the engineering and critical welding to the pros. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 4:13:29 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Well, now that changes things. I had thought you wanted a ton of hauling capacity, now we are talking 3 tons. I don't know how lenient your state is, we can get away with over-loading a trailer if it is for private/non-commercial use. Some states are particular on the weight. Since you want to haul 5500, 6000 pound tabs (one threshold here) may not be enough and you would have to step it up a bit. You REALLY need to talk to the DMV before you spend ANY more time/money on this. You will have to have a tandem axle trailer. You will have to have electric brakes. Expect to spend at least $500-$600 on getting running gear and brakes, NOT including tires/wheels. You will most likely have to have the trailer inspected (check local laws). The trailer now needs to be much heavier. I recall you having a cheap welder? Be sure you can weld good enough for this kind of load. If YOU build it and your construction fails and somebody gets hurt, YOU are on the line for crappy engineering. You will want rectangular tubing for your frame. No if's, and's or but's about it. Don't screw with anything else. To be quite honest, in your position, I would look for a donor trailer to customize to your specs. Find an older horse trailer or something and tear it down to frame and build the deck/sides you need. Leave the engineering and critical welding to the pros. Yeah, I've been doing some DMV research. I need electric brakes to haul more than 3,000. Not going to happen on my budget. I'll just have to keep it light. Guess I'll just build it to 3k and not load it past the legal limit. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 7:39:54 PM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Yeah, I've been doing some DMV research. I need electric brakes to haul more than 3,000. Not going to happen on my budget. I'll just have to keep it light. Guess I'll just build it to 3k and not load it past the legal limit. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Well, now that changes things. I had thought you wanted a ton of hauling capacity, now we are talking 3 tons. I don't know how lenient your state is, we can get away with over-loading a trailer if it is for private/non-commercial use. Some states are particular on the weight. Since you want to haul 5500, 6000 pound tabs (one threshold here) may not be enough and you would have to step it up a bit. You REALLY need to talk to the DMV before you spend ANY more time/money on this. You will have to have a tandem axle trailer. You will have to have electric brakes. Expect to spend at least $500-$600 on getting running gear and brakes, NOT including tires/wheels. You will most likely have to have the trailer inspected (check local laws). The trailer now needs to be much heavier. I recall you having a cheap welder? Be sure you can weld good enough for this kind of load. If YOU build it and your construction fails and somebody gets hurt, YOU are on the line for crappy engineering. You will want rectangular tubing for your frame. No if's, and's or but's about it. Don't screw with anything else. To be quite honest, in your position, I would look for a donor trailer to customize to your specs. Find an older horse trailer or something and tear it down to frame and build the deck/sides you need. Leave the engineering and critical welding to the pros. Yeah, I've been doing some DMV research. I need electric brakes to haul more than 3,000. Not going to happen on my budget. I'll just have to keep it light. Guess I'll just build it to 3k and not load it past the legal limit. electric brake kits are not that expensive at all. |
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Posted: 5/17/2016 10:31:58 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: electric brake kits are not that expensive at all. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Quoted: Well, now that changes things. I had thought you wanted a ton of hauling capacity, now we are talking 3 tons. I don't know how lenient your state is, we can get away with over-loading a trailer if it is for private/non-commercial use. Some states are particular on the weight. Since you want to haul 5500, 6000 pound tabs (one threshold here) may not be enough and you would have to step it up a bit. You REALLY need to talk to the DMV before you spend ANY more time/money on this. You will have to have a tandem axle trailer. You will have to have electric brakes. Expect to spend at least $500-$600 on getting running gear and brakes, NOT including tires/wheels. You will most likely have to have the trailer inspected (check local laws). The trailer now needs to be much heavier. I recall you having a cheap welder? Be sure you can weld good enough for this kind of load. If YOU build it and your construction fails and somebody gets hurt, YOU are on the line for crappy engineering. You will want rectangular tubing for your frame. No if's, and's or but's about it. Don't screw with anything else. To be quite honest, in your position, I would look for a donor trailer to customize to your specs. Find an older horse trailer or something and tear it down to frame and build the deck/sides you need. Leave the engineering and critical welding to the pros. Yeah, I've been doing some DMV research. I need electric brakes to haul more than 3,000. Not going to happen on my budget. I'll just have to keep it light. Guess I'll just build it to 3k and not load it past the legal limit. electric brake kits are not that expensive at all. ^^Multiply x2 for tandem axle trailer. |
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Posted: 5/21/2016 9:26:18 AM EDT
[#29]
Think about a single (5000lb) axle dump trailer. Sounds like it would mostly fit your needs. Useful capacity would be under 5k, obviously
Go and rent that one from home depot and copy the design if you like it. Made with mostly channel, which I prefer over angle or box frames |
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Posted: 5/23/2016 8:06:30 AM EDT
[#30]
I bought a 3/4 ton dodge truck instead.
Now I just have to fix the transmission. |
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Posted: 5/23/2016 9:44:40 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I bought a 3/4 ton dodge truck instead. Now I just have to fix the transmission. |
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