building a trailer
- Thread starter Gizmo36
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Diamondpilot
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 16,331
- Location
- Daleville, IN
- Tractor
- Jinma 254/284 Ford 861 Powermaster at work
Looks good so far. Are you using plans or just winging it? Why I ask is a employee of ours built a trailer and it looked great and towed awful. Getting the axles in the wrong spot can make it a hand full.
Chris.
Chris.
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
I have some prints on some trailers I have had for years. I am using them, I have build a lot of trailers over the years. I am just slow at it now.
MrJimi
Elite Member, Rest in Peace
Now that looks almost like mine hanging in my garage, mine is 18 feet long and almost 7 foot wide and is the top half of my tilt-bed trailer
I'll be watching for your progress, you will be ahead of me
Stick with it and it will be finished in no time
Jim
I'll be watching for your progress, you will be ahead of me
Stick with it and it will be finished in no time
Jim
Just make the frame square and the suspension the same distance from the back on each side. Should pull smooth. You need to bias the axle (s) to the rear so the nose will have 15% of the load transfered to the truck. That makes it behave on the road.
jb
jb
tommu56
Elite Member
Gizmo36
I've built a couple and after I built my first one I learned to measure from the hitch to the spring mounts by measuring an arch from the center of the hitch that keeps the axle in correct track. this eliminates any error in frame.
tom
I've built a couple and after I built my first one I learned to measure from the hitch to the spring mounts by measuring an arch from the center of the hitch that keeps the axle in correct track. this eliminates any error in frame.
tom
Renze
Super Member
Can you use that trailer on the highway just like that ?
Over here in Holland, all highway trailers above 750 kg total weight, need a license plate of their own, and need to have a type approval.
We cant get home built stuff on the road anymore.
Over here in Holland, all highway trailers above 750 kg total weight, need a license plate of their own, and need to have a type approval.
We cant get home built stuff on the road anymore.
tommu56
Elite Member
Renze
Over here each state is different In Pa under 3000 lbs with out brakes isn't any major problem go over 3000 or add brakes you have to go to an inspection station have them sign a form and sign pictures and show receipts for parts pay taxes on that pay registration and they will send you a vin plate, then back to inspection station for inspection and sticker for trailer which has to be done yearly.
tom
Over here each state is different In Pa under 3000 lbs with out brakes isn't any major problem go over 3000 or add brakes you have to go to an inspection station have them sign a form and sign pictures and show receipts for parts pay taxes on that pay registration and they will send you a vin plate, then back to inspection station for inspection and sticker for trailer which has to be done yearly.
tom
Diamondpilot
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 16,331
- Location
- Daleville, IN
- Tractor
- Jinma 254/284 Ford 861 Powermaster at work
In Indiana any trailer over 3000# must have brakes with a brake away system capable of applying the brakes for 15 minutes. If it is homemade you simply get a vin# from the BMV and have a one time inspection by a police officer. I see trucks and trailers pulled over on a daily basis getting spot checked. I live near a major highway, gravel pit, recycling center/junk yard, and landscape center so there are lost of trailers traveling my area.
If in violation they usually get a ticket and 7 days to fix it followed up by another inspection. If you fail to fix the problem your trailer is impounded. The trailer shop 3 miles from my house have been busy for the last two years since they cracked down. The owner said they make 10 times the money selling components and fixing broke trailers versus new trailer sales. The local cops seem to love the guys who mow for a living. The trailers are usually poorly maintained and its like shooting fish in a barrel.
Chris
If in violation they usually get a ticket and 7 days to fix it followed up by another inspection. If you fail to fix the problem your trailer is impounded. The trailer shop 3 miles from my house have been busy for the last two years since they cracked down. The owner said they make 10 times the money selling components and fixing broke trailers versus new trailer sales. The local cops seem to love the guys who mow for a living. The trailers are usually poorly maintained and its like shooting fish in a barrel.
Chris
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
Here in SC I don't need a inspection or a tag for it . not going to be that big of a load.
tommu56 what do you mean an arch from the center of the hitch.
tommu56 what do you mean an arch from the center of the hitch.
Gizmo36 said:
I think he means an 'arc' from the center of the ball. In effect, it is two legs of a triangle. If you measure the same distance from the center of the ball on the hitch to a point on the spring shackle mount on either side, it means the axle is perpendicular to the hitch. You want that.
I wish I could draw on here.
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
Yes I do that any way.I am just slow some times.
Renze
Super Member
At the trailer company i work, we sold a couple of damaged trailers (mostly accident damage)
As long as they come with some paperwork, they are worth at least a 100 Euro...
I dont know why but afterwards i wondered if these trailers paperwork and VIN number would be stamped into some stolen trailer ... ???
Anyways, these guys could also just use the trailers identification for a home built trailer, or to certify an older trailer, as trailers from 750-3500 kg didnt have to be registered untill 3 years ago.
As long as they come with some paperwork, they are worth at least a 100 Euro...
I dont know why but afterwards i wondered if these trailers paperwork and VIN number would be stamped into some stolen trailer ... ???
Anyways, these guys could also just use the trailers identification for a home built trailer, or to certify an older trailer, as trailers from 750-3500 kg didnt have to be registered untill 3 years ago.
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
In Virginia, after I built it, I picked up a VIN number and two rivets from DMV, fixed the VIN to the tongue as described on the form and called State Trooper to check the VIN and confirm the form for me. Fast and simple.
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
Dose any one enforce it . I have pull trailers all over NC . SC. GA .Ala and I have never been stopped for a tag on a trailer . just been lucky over the years .
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Beats me..NC and GA require tags on all trailers. I have tags on several of my trailers that I tow out of state to avoid hassles. SC has a permanent tag you can get for around $80-90 that is good as long as you own the trailer and there is no property tax.
OP
Gizmo36
Platinum Member
maybe I better not keep pushing my luck and get one.
That is what I figured The instant blood pressure rise when you see blue lights in the rearview mirror is worth $90 to avoid...
But here may be your problem- you need a certificate of origin to get a title to get a plate. Not sure how they would license a home built trailer, since you don't have those documents.
Funny story- Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a 20 ft enclosed trailer with one of those permanent plates. Noticed a Ranger following me- thought I saw blue lights, took a look again and they were off. Thought I saw them again, took another look and they were off. WTH? A mile or two later saw them again so I pulled into an upcoming overlook. Yes he wanted to stop ME and said he kept turning on the blue lights every time an overlook pulloff came up He stopped me because he erroneously though the permanent license plate meant it was a commercial vehicle, and they aren't allowed on the BRP. Told him no it wasn't commercial and he was welcome to look in the trailer to confirm I was hauling toys ie dirt bikes and ATVs. He declined to bother, wished me a good day and on we went- so in that case my plan to avoid blue lights actually backfired Sorry to drift off topic
The instant blood pressure rise when you see blue lights in the rearview mirror is worth $90 to avoid...But here may be your problem- you need a certificate of origin to get a title to get a plate. Not sure how they would license a home built trailer, since you don't have those documents.
Funny story- Driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway with a 20 ft enclosed trailer with one of those permanent plates. Noticed a Ranger following me- thought I saw blue lights, took a look again and they were off. Thought I saw them again, took another look and they were off. WTH? A mile or two later saw them again so I pulled into an upcoming overlook. Yes he wanted to stop ME and said he kept turning on the blue lights every time an overlook pulloff came up
He stopped me because he erroneously though the permanent license plate meant it was a commercial vehicle, and they aren't allowed on the BRP. Told him no it wasn't commercial and he was welcome to look in the trailer to confirm I was hauling toys ie dirt bikes and ATVs. He declined to bother, wished me a good day and on we went- so in that case my plan to avoid blue lights actually backfired Sorry to drift off topic
