conversion of a camper trailer to utility

[bwalley]

I just acquired a twin axle camping trailor sans the camper portion and am considering using it to transport a LS XG 3032. With ballasted tires weighs around 5k pounds. I know it will of course require some modifications. Anyone have some experience with this? By the way I am a new tractor owner. . Using it is a future thing as I don't have a vehicle at present that can handle thatcan handle that sort of weight at present. The trailor was free...

 

[MossRoad]

You should probably find out some specs on the axles first, to see if they can take that kind of weight. Then look at the frame of the thing. Campers are notoriously built to be as light as possible and frequently don't have strong frames and axles that, say, utility trailers have.

 

[KennyG]

Axles are pretty standard. You can quickly determine the capacity but I'd bet they are 3500 lb axles. Your problem will be the frame. Camper frames aren't built like load trailer frames so you may be building a new frame. Most factory built 7000 lb trailers weigh between 1500 and 2000 lbs empty so you are going to be pushing it to build a trailer yourself with 5000 lb load capacity. If you were looking to build a trailer that would handle 3000 to 4000 lbs, I'd say go for it. 5000 lbs is going to take a bit more thought and engineering.

 

[farm boy00]

I wouldn't do it. Around here you can find a decent trailer for $500-1,000 that is made to haul stuff that you want to

 

[bcp]

I wouldn't do it. Around here you can find a decent trailer for $500-1,000 that is made to haul stuff that you want to

Your "around here" prices are sure better than my "around here" prices.

Here are the "around here" $500 starting point equipment trailers.

View attachment 436309

Bruce

 

[KennyG]

Used trailers seem a bit overpriced. Here it would be hard to find a 7K trailer for under about $1200 that didn't need a rebuild. Compare that to new prices about $2000. If you are a good fabricator and find steel at a good price, you will probably come out OK, assuming the axles and other bits and pieces are OK. The details add up. I had a coupler failure mishap on mine last week and just ordered a new coupler A-frame, jack, safety cables and wiring pigtail. About $100 with some stuff on sale. A few months ago I put brakes on the second axle. Over $100 again at bargain prices for just one axle if the old brakes aren't good. $150 plus for lumber for the floor. After a while it just becomes a hobby rather than a money saver.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The frames are very light. What gives a c as mper a rigid structure is the "house".

I know a guy that did just what you want to do. He was hauling a Cub Lo Boy, about 2500#, dropped a tire off a drive into a culvert and folded it in half.

Chris

 

[bwalley]

Well maybe I could haul logs to the mill
I just hsd a hard time passing up a a free twin axle trailor. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. So many tmes borrowed short trailers are to short.Thanks for your input.

 

[crazyal]

I say go for it. You may not come out ahead but as long as the axles are designed for the weight you want to haul then you should be fine. The thin frame of the camper will work for cross members and other spots on the trailer. Just get something heavy enough to carry the weight for the two main beams and the front and rear of the deck. By building it yourself, assuming you can weld, you'll end up with something that's built well, to the size you want, that will have a much better paint job.

When I build a trailer I like to take stainless bolts and weld them to the frame for ground points. I put one near each brake, light, and where the tongue and main deck meet (or by the break away battery). Being stainless they never rust and you'll never have grounding issues.

 

[beeforty]

The frames are very light. What gives a c as mper a rigid structure is the "house".

I also picked up a camper trailer with the same thoughts several years ago. After stripping it down to the frame I found out that there is nothing at the edge to support a deck, just angled brackets to support the shell giving me a 20 ft skinny trailer. I use it as a "mobile" storage rack or if cleaned off for bringing home long lumber lengths for projects when I can't wait to have it delivered. No deck just secure items to the cross members. Finally took it to the DMV and re registered it a as a utility which got me a 5 year PTL license instead of a yearly camper registration. PTL license is about a quarter of the yearly fee.