Making 2 trailers out of 1...worth it?

[curdy]

I am in need of a heavier duty trailer that I can: haul my tractor when needed, logs, lumber, cars, hay, other equipment, etc. None of these needs are for a regular basis, but I find myself needing one too often to keep borrowing from others.

I have a good friend that lives about 2 hrs away that also needs a trailer, mostly for car and equipment hauling.

This same friend is currently storing a 40' gooseneck/5th wheel deckover trailer out at our farm. Its a tandem axle, single wheel set up. He got the trailer along with other equipment in a package deal. Neither of us really want to use a trailer that big. I used it twice, and don't care to again.

I have heard that trailers this size don't hold their value as well given their limiting factors. So selling or trading it may not be the best option. With both of us needing trailers about 1/2 this size, is it crazy to consider making 2 trailers out of it? I have a 5th wheel hitch and he does not. So I could make use of the front half, and he could make use of the back half.

I'm going to make some calls to see what might be offered for it by a dealer and then go from there to see if we think its worth our time to move forward. Just wanted to throw it out there to see if anyone has looked into something like this before.

I guess one way of looking at it would be:

How much would a 20' deck be worth by itself? Because that's all we'd be left with minus the front metal.

We'd have to add:
Front metal
Tongue
Coupler
Move axles
Ramps, and maybe a beaver tail
Break away box
Battery
Wire connections


5th wheel trailer
Add tail end, ramps, maybe a beaver tail
Axles, suspension
Wheels
Tires
Lights

 

[schmism]

do you have the equipment and skill to do this mod?

Its going to take significant welders and cutting tools, plus more than just hobby welding skill to make those 2 trailers.

5200lb axles are about $400 a piece. Figure alxes, springs, hangers etc for the GN (front half) is ~$1000

Id likely add a 4' dove to the back of the 20' GN... (thus 24'GN)

that leaves the other half to make into a bumper bull. Likely go with a 4' dove on that one also, plus tongue/hitch etc.

If i had to balkpark the expense Id guess you'd have $4000 in cost to make to trailers (if you could do the work yourself)

SO ya in the end i see the finished product being worth $2k each...

 

[slowzuki]

My guess is cutting it in two and doing all that work would turn a 5000$ trailer into two 1500$ trailers. Try selling it. On pirate4x4 guys buy that type of trailer, pop a truck camper on the nose then haul their two rigs behind on the deck.

 

[schmism]

turn a 5000$ trailer into two 1500$ trailers.

have you priced 20' or 24' deck over trailers in your area? There are none-zero-nada- 20' trailers in my area for 1500 and that includes home built MH axled old-boat trailer converted deals.

youd be VERY hard pressed to find a 20' deck-over for $1500.

 

[crazyal]

If you've got the tools and skills go for it. You could try to sell it and buy two smaller trailers but a trailer that long may not be easy to sell. It would allow you to customize the trailer(s) to your needs. Just take a look at a factory built trailer to get some ideas.

As far as costs go, I guess it depends on if you have any steel or other spare parts around. If you have to buy everything new it could get a little costly to build the second trailer. It may not save much over the cost of a new trailer.

 

[firemanpat2910]

I am thinking make one trailer the size you want out of this one, then sell the scrap materials and buy the second trailer.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would sell that trailer and buy two new 18 to 20 foot bumper pulls.

Chris

 

[curdy]

Given what our time is worth, selling is be considered. Its not in as much demand as say a 20' deckover, no doubt about that. If we can get a good offer on it, its worth selling and buying what we need. But its only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

If memory serves me well, my friend has some extra axles. I actually forgot about that. I'll have to look into that.

schmism, you asked about equipment and skill. Myself, no. My friend, absolutely. I'd look to buy the parts he'd need for his trailer and pay him to make mine go. Then, we'd both end up with what we needed.

slowzuki, you let me know someone with $5k that would be interested because we'd like to talk to him.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Id say go for it, I did one like that for some friends. . In fact it was I denticle to that one almost. He had gotten it from a furniture factory. I started by cutting the deck off a where the third upright to the right is. and removed 3 feet of decking from the rails in that area. I notched the frame and brought the main rails down for a dove tail The way the suspension was we had to unbolt the axles and suspension and turn them around to face the former rear end. Then took the ramp mounts off and welded in a new Pintle hitch and tongue. On the other end we left the GN and measured from the rear and put in a set of tandem dual axles and suspension. You never could tell that anything was ever changed.

 

[curdy]

Id say go for it, I did one like that for some friends. . In fact it was I denticle to that one almost. He had gotten it from a furniture factory. I started by cutting the deck off a where the third upright to the right is. and removed 3 feet of decking from the rails in that area. I notched the frame and brought the main rails down for a dove tail The way the suspension was we had to unbolt the axles and suspension and turn them around to face the former rear end. Then took the ramp mounts off and welded in a new Pintle hitch and tongue. On the other end we left the GN and measured from the rear and put in a set of tandem dual axles and suspension. You never could tell that anything was ever changed.

Please tell me you have pictures of this! How much time would you say it took you?