Not your average camper frame

[Ryansweatt2004]

Figured I'd share my trailer build. I started with a 26ft camper trailer that had been set on fire. I started by stripping off everything down to the bare frame. Here's when I started fabrication. I cut off the bumper, all the cross members, the trailer tongue, and started fabricating. I cut the frame rails at 16ft, widened the frame from 55 inches to 72 inches, added a 2.5ft beaver tail, started building a new trailer tongue from 4 inch channel.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

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[Ryansweatt2004]

More pics, most of the fabrication is done by this point.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

More pics. By this point this project has taken me three summers of fabrication in my driveway completely dependent on good weather to get anything done.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Some ramps

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Paint, decals and decking done. Did this all before the ramps though so my pics are a bit out of order.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Almost done. Had to try loading my new l3901 though to see how it fit. Found out how flat one of my tires was though. They're one of two sets of 4 weather cracked tires I have. I'll be replacing all four of them with brand new rims and tires as soon as funds allow.

 

[tman1020]

Looks nice. Thanks for sharing. How much does it weigh and what are the axels rated for?

 

[Thomas]

Nice...very nice.:thumbsup:
Is there some sort of lights on the sides?

 

[franklin2]

Nice...very nice.:thumbsup:
Is there some sort of lights on the sides?

Yes, if it's over 80 inches wide you will need the 3 small lights in the rear center, and two red marker lights shining to the side at the rear. The over 80 taillight kits come with the side red lights made into the taillight. And most trailers are long enough where you are required to have one yellow light at each front corner on the side.

That's a big tractor, I bet it's heavy.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Nice...very nice.:thumbsup:
Is there some sort of lights on the sides?

Right now I only have two tail lights for it. I haven't gotten far enough to think about other marker lights yet. The trailer deck is 72 inches wide. One benefit of it being a home made trailer from what I've been told and what I've read here in Maine there's not much in the way of requirements for being road towable.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Looks nice. Thanks for sharing. How much does it weigh and what are the axels rated for?

Not sure about the actual trailer weight. The axels are stock 3500lb 4 inch drop axles though.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

Yes, if it's over 80 inches wide you will need the 3 small lights in the rear center, and two red marker lights shining to the side at the rear. The over 80 taillight kits come with the side red lights made into the taillight. And most trailers are long enough where you are required to have one yellow light at each front corner on the side.

That's a big tractor, I bet it's heavy.

All the info I've found says the tractor itself should be under 3000lbs but I figure it's at least another 1000lbs or so for both implements and another 450lbs worth of rim guard in the tires.

 

[kebo]

Almost done. Had to try loading my new l3901 though to see how it fit. Found out how flat one of my tires was though. They're one of two sets of 4 weather cracked tires I have. I'll be replacing all four of them with brand new rims and tires as soon as funds allow.

NICE. But, have to ask, what's with the tire almost being flat on the front left axle? Also, I would suggest adding a bracket (or maybe a floor made of expanded metal) in between the "A" frame of the tongue for a spare tire, and then I would add in a storage box (for chains and chain binders) in between the two short "45" degree angle pieces that raise the hitch up. Then it would be complete lol. But, you did a great job, I like it.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

The tire is flat because it's an old set I had laying around that I stuck on it so I could move it around my yard until I'm finished fabricating and painting. I do plan to add a basket for chains near the hitch. I'm just limited on funds. Most of this trailer aside from the frame has been entirely built from scrap steel I've been able to scrounge up.

 

[franklin2]

NICE. But, have to ask, what's with the tire almost being flat on the front left axle? Also, I would suggest adding a bracket (or maybe a floor made of expanded metal) in between the "A" frame of the tongue for a spare tire, and then I would add in a storage box (for chains and chain binders) in between the two short "45" degree angle pieces that raise the hitch up. Then it would be complete lol. But, you did a great job, I like it.

I think I would go ahead and add a heavy crossbrace in the "A" area. That's a awful long open area and the offset you put in there gives it some opportunity to twist. In other words pretend you are at a very tight turn with the trailer and are backing up. The trailer will want to resist scooting around, and the truck will be pushing sideways on the hitch of the trailer, so the offset you put in the "A" will have a tendency to want to bend over some since the actual trailer is lower than the hitch.

I am sure some of the guys on here can give you more technical terms and analyze it for you. I may be all wrong, but that's my backyard "gut" feeling looking at it.

 

[Ryansweatt2004]

I think I would go ahead and add a heavy crossbrace in the "A" area. That's a awful long open area and the offset you put in there gives it some opportunity to twist. In other words pretend you are at a very tight turn with the trailer and are backing up. The trailer will want to resist scooting around, and the truck will be pushing sideways on the hitch of the trailer, so the offset you put in the "A" will have a tendency to want to bend over some since the actual trailer is lower than the hitch.

I am sure some of the guys on here can give you more technical terms and analyze it for you. I may be all wrong, but that's my backyard "gut" feeling looking at it.

Adding a crossmember in the a-frame area has been on my list of things to do. The whole trailer is a work in progress. Plan is to have either an expanded metal basket in that area or a plate steel box for holding blocks and chains and binders.

 

[KennyG]

I really like everything about this trailer except the angle transition in the tongue. I think I would have just stacked the tongue directily over the stub off the trailer and reinforced it like crazy. Bracing will help. Right now it looks like it's subject to a lot of bending forces in all three directions.

 

[ArlyA]

Ryan, what you did sure looks nice. I've got my eyes on a 19ft camper frame and I'm considering doing something similar with. Cut all the wings off the frame side, shorten it up and make a flatbed trailer with it. Are you still happy with what you did?? Ya, This is an old thread..