ATV Trailer build

handirifle · Feb 9, 2016

Yea I get it, and take the idea in exactly the same manner.

Well I finally got it to a rolling chassis. Hooked it to the quad, and I gotta say that thing pulls fantastic. Took it down our dirt road which is a steady grade up, and pulled 4th gear with no issues. Didn't try 5th, but I figure if I load it up, with firewood, and can only pull 1st or second, I will be fine. It pulls as is, like it's not back there.

So here's the shots of my rolling chassis.

Hooked behind the quad and an old guy.

And in work mode (someday

)

LOL it looked a lot bigger inside the shop, than it does hooked to the quad, but the bed is 30"x48".

On another note, I finally heard back from a guy on craigs list with some angle iron. He's offering me 2 10ft sticks of 3x3x1/2" angle iron for $50. A good price, just not sure I want steel THAT heavy. I might still go for it, but that would make a darn strong brake. What do you guys think?

Jim Timber · Feb 9, 2016

I wish he was closer because I'd buy it for other projects.

Oldpath05 · Feb 9, 2016

Your ATV looks more than enough to pull that trailer. I still like the idea of 16 ga. galvanize for the trailer bed the best, so to me that 1/2" angle sounds good enough for a bending brake, but how long will it take to build a brake compared to how much pressure treated lumber will $50.00 buy and install, 3/4-1" PTL wont rot for a long time, remember I don't want to spend much more money and I'm in a hurry to haul some firewood.

handirifle · Feb 9, 2016

Yea I get that. I am not in a hurry, but I would like to make it truly usable. I really do not want wood on the sides, regardless. This one will be pulled by my mower, quad or tractor, depending on the need.

I could live with wood floor, but not all wood. I told the guy I would take the angle, but have not heard back.

Oldpath05 · Feb 10, 2016

A couple pics of my ATV trailer in use. I've been using those 3/4" wooden boards for 15 years, a few patches here and there. If I get a chance this year, I'll replace them.

handirifle · Feb 11, 2016

That trailer is sure rugged, are those tires on the pass side, different sizes? Optical illusion? I am picking up my steel angle tomorrow, 3x3x1/2" to make my brake, 20ft of angle for $50. Local shop wants $78 for 20ft of 3x3x1/4". Then once I get it built and get the cash for the sheet metal, I can do my own fabricating.

Probably best in the long run, cause I have needed a brake in the past, and will probably need one in the future.

handirifle · Feb 11, 2016

Boy looking at mine, that 4ft looks tiny. Sure seemed bigger in the shop

. Here I was getting concerned about pulling it.

Jim Timber · Feb 11, 2016

Mine's 6' and has never been a problem on firm earth. I have run into putting enough weight in it that it just sunk into the mud and when I winched it, it just rutted everything up.

The biggest problem with towing with an atv isn't being able to pull it, it's being able (or not) to stop it. If you end up with a heavy load behind you on a hill and lose traction things get ugly really fast. That's the main reason I didn't use my log arch more before getting my tractor. I could pull a 2,000# log easy - but I couldn't stop it if I wanted to on anything but an incline or flat land. I have a lot of hills on my North 40. The South 40 is almost text book definition of flat. Even so, I just parked the arch and held off since I couldn't stack the wood anyway.

handirifle · Feb 11, 2016

Well on my place it's all pretty flat, and I don't have far to go, at least if I had a heavy load. I will have to load it up some and see how it does on my "little" hill before going anywhere else. Once it's done anyway.

On that note, I went to get the heavy 3x3 angle today, and had to walk away from it. The stuff looked horrible. It had been removed from some sort of construction and about every 24" was about a 4" section of the edge that had been removed with a cutting torch. I simply told him it wouldn't work for me, and I couldn't use it.

The search continues.

Green Power · Feb 12, 2016

Very nice trailer Handirifle.

handirifle · Feb 12, 2016

Thanks, will be glad when I can get it totally done. Good news on that, I stopped in at an AC repair shop today, and asked about sheet metal work He told me 30-40hr labor and can get a better price on the galvanized sheet metal. So on the high side, it looks like another $160 and I can get er done. Now to save my pennies.......

Oldpath05 · Feb 12, 2016

handirifle said:
Thanks, will be glad when I can get it totally done. Good news on that, I stopped in at an AC repair shop today, and asked about sheet metal work He told me 30-40hr labor and can get a better price on the galvanized sheet metal. So on the high side, it looks like another $160 and I can get er done. Now to save my pennies.......

Ain't that the way it goes sometimes think you got a good buy on something and it's crap, does this mean your not going to make-a-brake?
I see what you mean about my trailer tires, one tire does look bigger then the other, I didn't notice it until you pointed it out, now it sticks out big time, but they are all 185/13" tires.

handirifle · Feb 12, 2016

Oldpath05 said:
Ain't that the way it goes sometimes think you got a good buy on something and it's crap, does this mean your not going to make-a-brake?
I see what you mean about my trailer tires, one tire does look bigger then the other, I didn't notice it until you pointed it out, now it sticks out big time, but they are all 185/13" tires.

Oops!

I might still make one, if I find angle real cheap, but with that shop charging 1/3 the labor shop of the steel supply, it's not as cost effective. At least not a real big (4ft) one. I might stil make a 3 footer though. They do come in handy.

handirifle · Feb 12, 2016

They don't look like that sitting on level ground do they?

handirifle · Mar 10, 2016

Well got antsy and went a slightly different route. Went by the metal shop and found 2 pieces of galvanized 20ga sheet steel that were 22" x 60". Surprisingly 20ga was thicker than I imagined. Got them for under $15 each, so was happy with that. I will use sheet on the sides, and bought some 2x4 redwood lumber.

I earlier said I though 2x was too thick, but decided I wanted the floor strength more than the extra 3/4" of space.

I also got a couple 4ft pieces of angle iron to use to make my bends. Tomorrow morning I will start the skinning of the sides, and post more pics, of the progress.

handirifle · Mar 10, 2016

OK got the sides and floor on today. Pretty happy with it overall, to date.

Here's the first side partly on. Not sure why the tubing color came out yellow, but it's still orange.

Here's another angle.

The same side riveted down. I also hammered the top edge over to hopefully prevent getting cut from it when loading.

Both sides installed.

And with the 2x4 redwood floor. I installed those with counter sunk self tapping hex head screws.

And here it sits after it's first tow. I took 3 packages that were left at the gate back to a neighbor. I REALLY need to get my front and rear panels built. The boxes kept trying to slide out from the bouncy dirt road.

handirifle · Mar 10, 2016

I have not made a sheet metal brake yet. I bent those using 2, 1" angle iron pieces, that were clamped together. Pretty tough job, but it worked. If I ever come across some decently priced 3x3 angle I might still make one.

It tracks very well and the little quad has no issue pulling it. It is noticeably heavier with the metal and redwood on it. I also built a bracket and installed a 1 7/8" ball on my garden tractor as well, so I can use either to pull it. Probably the mower if I am using it near the house, since it is more powerful than the quad (24hp Kawasaki engine) and not quite as cold blooded as the Honda.

I also need to touch up my paint, since I had to do a lot of clamping to install the sides and floor, and it took some of my nice purdy orange paint off.

Xfaxman · Mar 10, 2016

:thumbsup:

How about pictures in the dump position, curios about the dump angle.

handirifle · Mar 10, 2016

Here's one from an earlier post on this thread. It wasn't skinned then but you can see the dump angle. Pretty steep, and I doubt it will leave anything much in the bed.