metal thickness question

[dustin3207]

got some metal from work for free. I do demo. The metal is 1/8 inch thick 3"x3" square tube. Would it be strong enough to build a 7,000 lbs. tandem trailer if i doubled the sides and reinforced the shackle mounts ??? or what can I add to the frame to make it hold? 1/4" angle or...??

 

[Craig Clayton]

A simple method is to go to one of your local trailer lots and look over how they build theirs. The really cheap models are built very close to line . The heavy duty models are what the statment means. I have built 3 trailer single axles myself.
Craig Clayton

 

[Baby Grand]

got some metal from work for free. I do demo. The metal is 1/8 inch thick 3"x3" square tube. Would it be strong enough to build a 7,000 lbs. tandem trailer if i doubled the sides and reinforced the shackle mounts ??? or what can I add to the frame to make it hold? 1/4" angle or...??

Oh yes. As Craig suggests, you can always double up where you need reinforcement. Wish I could get my hands on 3x3 for free! Sketch it up & share - I'm sure you'll get all kinds of helpful ideas. Success or failure will depend heavily on how you configure it.
-Jim

 

[yomax4]

Double up as much as possible and don't forget the strength of gussets on all the 90's and like you said, Beef up the shackles. I rented a trailer to haul a 5200# tractor and it was built similar to 3x3 tube and I was worried about it but it worked out fine. It had a lot of stringers under it.

 

[LD1]

You could also build it like a truss. Similar to the landscape trailers you see that have the ~ 1 foot high side all the way around. They actually only use like 3x3 angle iron around the peremiter. But with that ~1 foot high side, it makes it like a 1' tall truss. which significantally increases the strength.

 

[PutnamVictor]

The easy way is to start with some engineered plans, because you want the trailer to be as light as possible so you can carry more without maxing out your truck. You can easily add 50% or more just by doubling up where you don't have to.

Next as Craig mentioned, copy an engineered trailer.

My 2 cents.

 

[Baby Grand]

I am never forget the day I first meet the great Lobachevsky.
In one word he told me secret of success in mathematics:
Plagiarize!

Plagiarize,
Let no one else's work evade your eyes,
Remember why the good Lord made your eyes,
So don't shade your eyes,
But plagiarize, plagiarize, plagiarize -
Only be sure always to call it please 'research'.