Large AATV trailer

[sofob0909]

Hey guys.

I was snooping on the gallery and i saw hydromike was building a large trailer for aatvs.


Here is a link to the trailer I am building.
New trailer Project. 25 ft utility trailer!! - The Garage Journal Board
trailer_before.jpg


hydro mike: I would really like to see some pictures of how you mocked up the side walls and see how much it added to the rigidity of the frame.

I believe we have the same exact trailer frame.

A materials list would also be a huge help.

Edit:
Trailer Complete.
Oak floor, full LED lights, Gate, All bed linered, Ready to Haul MOST of my toys

[Obsessed]

Looks like a great use for an old camper frame!

Nice job

[hydromike]

Hey 'Sofo;

I agree; I think we're starting from the same point. My bed length will be just about the same as yours and by the looks of things, your rear bumper, entry step and those pesky little stamped steel triangles coming off the main channel are the same. Mine has 2 3500lb. axles, so when the trailer is finished, I'll probably be at the same 5000lb weight limit you quote. I ended up boxing my C-channel with some 1/4" x 5" plate from front to rear, added 1/4" x 2" angle as cross braces between the channel (36" on center, so far), and widened off of the channels with 6" of 2" angle on each side. My upright tubes consist of 2" schedule 80 pipe (I don't know what wall thickness that equates to), and the tubes that run front to rear are the same schedule 80 stuff. I bought my fenders from a local trailer supply joint that had them "out back", so they had a bit of surface rust, but were structurally sound. I don't know if you can tell from the one picture, but the top tubes are tied into the fenders, so once all of the final welding is complete, I hope that they'll act as a stressed member to some extent. It needs quite a bit of finish work, but it's getting there. I had planned on using some simple 2x10s as decking, but I haven't settled on anything.

Good luck on your build!

::EDIT::

I just read through your posts on the other message board, and it seems that you're getting a lot of fingers shaken in your face, telling you to eat your peas. If your ultimate goal is to haul a couple 'Trek's, furniture, whatever, I'm going to lay it on the line and say that I think you're headed in the right direction. If mine will haul 2500-3000 pounds safely, I'll be tickled. I've already thrown about a grand into the steel for this monster, so I giggle to myself when people tell me it'll be easier/cheaper/smarter to just buy a big utility trailer. If I lived by that mantra, I wouldn't build ATVs for a hobby, I'd just go buy 'em.

It's not the weight I'm worried about hauling; it's the room I need. The big kids usually have to stay home when I go on vacation, 'cuz daddy don't have 'nuff room in the truck or on the trailer....

[sofob0909]

Thanks for the thumbs up. I was not worried about what other people were saying. I have the same attitude.

If you have time could you take a picture up close of the side wall. I was just going to build my walls up directly over the C channel but I like the idea of having an extra foot of width.

[hydromike]

Sure....I'll get some closeups this weekend.

[hydromike]

I grabbed some pictures of the trailer this weekend, showing how things are connected so far. I started with bascially what you have, Sofo'; 5" C-channel. As I described above, I boxed it with 5"x1/4" plate the entire length. I tried to show the connections between the boxed channel, the cross members, the 6" long 2" angle, the top tubes, etc. I spent quite a bit of time and energy with a hand drill and a hole saw radiusing all of the small (6" long) uprights that go from the angles to the top tubes.

I spent yesterday doing quite a bit of "finish work" on welding and beefing things up a little bit. I really only have time to work on it during the weekends, so it's moving slowly but should hopefully be ready for a long trip this fall.

[Dan67]

How are the trailer builds going guys? Got any new pictures?

[sofob0909]

I got nothing. my trailer is 4 states away. (needless to say it is on the back burner of my project list currently.) I do hope to tackle it as this winter's project though.

Maybe hydromike has some updates on his?

[hydromike]

Maybe hydromike has some updates on his?

Yup! Fabrication is basically done aside from the deck (pretty important, eh?), I really only had the weekends to work on it, so building went pretty slow. In order to make it safe and reliable, a LOT more money went into it than I expected. Overall, it might have been cheaper to pick up a nice used trailer, but I doubt it would have been as long and I really enjoy the process of getting all the pieces together and building something.

It was cheapest to buy new tires and rims online and get them shipped versus replace the ones I have with local stuff. Four tires and a spare should arrive tomorrow, so I'll get those slapped on and hopefully get a couple pictures soon.

The hardest part is going to be going through NYS DMV to get it titled/inspected/registered in time for Busco. The paperwork's in, but they're busy folks.

[hydromike]

I've made some more progress on the trailer, and it's actually looking pretty good, considering where I started. She needs a few more lights and some decking, but other than that, it's about read to go down the road. It's painted with dollar-a-gallon yard sale truck paint and a paint brush that was originally used to spread road tar on a nearby highway. She looks good from about 30' away.



That's my Dad in the second picture. The photo makes it look like he doesn't have legs, but he actually does....

Oh, and to revisit; here's the $100-wonder as I got it from the auction.



Ooo! Ooo! And here's a picture of us flipping it over when I needed to access to the underside for boxing the channel. The extra effort to flip it was worth it versus laying a dozen feet of bead on my back. - Shows Dad's legs too, just in case anybody wanted proof.

[amphibious drew]

Looking good Mike. Hope NY DMV comes through with the registration stuff in time for Busco.

[Mike]

... - Shows Dad's legs too, just in case anybody wanted proof.

I still don't know that I believe you. How do we know that you didn't just photoshop some legs onto your dad? That can be done in a couple of minutes.

The trailer really does look good.

[sofob0909]

it would be a cool idea if you kept one of those water tanks under the deck to use for cleaning off machines/riders after a day in the mud.

[scotty.rodgers]

I used the very same concept but made mine to be very light. Used a 24 ft terry camper that I got for 200 tore it down and used cedar planks for decking, I reinforced the mid structure with pt 2x4 instead of steel and used 1 ft angle and brought the deck to the outside of the wheel wells. used the original fenders with some angle for support but thonk I will modify this summer with diamond plate like you did. At 24 ft with winch, brakes and battery 2 guys can lift and move it by hand. Can't carry a car but can still carry 6 4/wheelers or my two snow machines and my max and 4 wheeler. Also put a side loading ramp on which is great!

[sofob0909]

got any pictures scotty?

I am staining my deck today and I will snap some pics of mine,