builing a new trailer

[Trevor]

I was wanting to start building a 6 x 12 trailer to pull behind my cheroke. Any tips would be apriciated. By the way I'm welding with a HH175. My brother has a trailer the same size and thats what I'll be bringing the angle home on so I have got no plans just looking at his and copying it. Any thing I should know before I start? I promiss to post lots of pics.
Thanks in advance
Trevor

[Sberry]

Its good fab practice to build trailers but I will buy them if its a common trailer and I had to buy the steel. I have built lots of them and it isnt worth it unless there is a lot of salvage and you need something special. Its just one of those things that is very competitive.

[Morgan]

You my want to check out (www.trailerplans.com). I purchased some plans from then several months ago, and they are an excellent set of plans. The plans are very professional and they guide you step by step in building your trailer with emphasis on important safety factors.

[Trevor]

this trailer my brother paid $900 for depending on price of steel I think i could build for less than half
maybe you could give me an exaple of steel angle prices
I figured I would use
6 - 12ft 3" x 2" angle
4 - 12ft 2"x 2" angle
Thanks again
Trevor

[cope]

Champion Trailer Parts has good trailer supplies and a couple of free plans. They tell how to figure axle placement if you vary from the sizes shown.

http://www.championtrailers.com/

[Sberry]

I would like to know, keep track of time, material, including paint, wire, lights, connectors, wheels and tires, fenders, and hitch coupler. It would be interesting.

[ChadRat]

Sure you can buy a trailer for the same price as you can buy one. I think the one I built is better than the one I could buy. I used thicker metal and pressure treated wood. Go to a tire shop and ask for used rims and tires. I got mine free. They were happy to get rid of them. Another advantage to building is that you don't have to pay for everything at once. You can just buy what you need at the time. Plus it is a fun project. If you are building a trailer like your brothers then just take measurements from his. No Plans needed.

[Trevor]

actually his is 6'6''x12' is there a standard 6 foot axle that I can buy

[R. Nelson]

Originally posted by Trevor
I was wanting to start building a 6 x 12 trailer to pull behind my cheroke. Any tips would be apriciated. By the way I'm welding with a HH175. My brother has a trailer the same size and thats what I'll be bringing the angle home on so I have got no plans just looking at his and copying it. Any thing I should know before I start? I promiss to post lots of pics.
Thanks in advance
Trevor

Go to champion trailers. com ,you can download some plans there free.

[cope]

True enough, for any size trailer, you can find a factory built model for less than you can build one, but the heavy duty ones cost a bit more than home built. Besides, for us hobbyist weldors, the fun is DYI!

[Franz]

http://www.southwestwheel.com/
Is another good site for trailer axels & parts.
Acme Lift Trucks in Stockton Ca had a load of 6' military axels with hydraulic brakes and timkin roller bearings for under $100, but I don't know if they have any left, 1-800-545-2263
Sorry, nothing in 6 x 12, but I do have 6 X 10, hydraulic brakes and hydraulic tilt that I built with a trussed frame, so it would be light enough to tow with an S 10 Blazer. The trailer weighs under 1000# and will carry 2000 with no problem.

[ChadRat]

I bought my axle from a place that made trailers here in town. I also got the fenders, hitch and the shackles from them. The axle came with leaf springs on it.

[Trevor]

what thickness angle should i be looking into the guy at my local supplier has 3"x2"x 12' was 3/16 for $22.00 for 12 foot sticks is this thick enough

[cope]

Trevor, I contacted Champion and they told me 3/16" was heavy enough for +/-3500# capacity on a 5X8 trailer. That price is pretty good. I was quoted +/-$18 for 20' a couiple of months ago.

Look at Champion's free plans; they use 3X2 for the whole trailer.

[Bobby]

I bought 2 (20') sticks of 2x2x3/16" angle the other week and paid about $18-19/stick. I didn't have a very large quantity order though to that boosted my price.

I went straight to a steel house. I didn't try to get it from a local fab shop, they mark up their prices too much around here.