Sled Trailer Build...

[RobJ]

Think I posted about a sled trailer. Well the old one is sold (gone) and the new one has begun. It's a 14' sled type, 20.5x8.10" wheels/tires rated at C (1150# each). The axles are 3500 leafs but my max gross is 4600#. When the tires wear out maybe I'll move to D tires. I think they are 1500# each. The deck with is 90". Wide enough to load my ATV's side by side, and easier to slide sideways than a 6'6" trailer. All frame members are 5" channel (6.71# foot). So fas it's all scrap metal at $.25 a pound. Much cheaper than new. I know I will have to buy some more new unless the scrap yerd gets in some decent 2x2 angle. I need this to complete the side rails and other fun stuff.

It all started here at the yard, SSS Steel in Houston, Jenson location....

 

[RobJ]

I borrowed my BIL 16' tandem and brought home the steel. 7 x 20' sections of the channel. Also bought 3 20' pieces if 1/4" 2x2 angle. I wish I would have picked up double of that. A little rough but a twisted wire brush cleaned it up. The channel looked new, almost no rust.

I used a Milwaukee 14" chop saw to cut it up and pile it under my wifes Suburban.

 

[RobJ]

Once my 5x12 trailer sold we were off and running. I wanted a sled so we played with the axles being over slung or under slung. I thought I might have to go over but late research told me under would be fine. It was. Here we are just playing with the axles.

 

[RobJ]

Here we are just laying out things. When I bought the stuff they were short 2 tires and 1 axle. So we did what we could in the mean time.

 

[RobJ]

I precut 3 boards to size the width. Since the channel is wavy when it's long I used clamps to hold it tight while we squared it up.

 

[RobJ]

I quick check told me the deck height is about 25" and the tire bump clearance is about 5". nice, I won't have to mess with the hangers or anything.

 

[RobJ]

Next we (my 16yo son and I) welded the front and rear cross members to hold it square, couldn't weld the centers yet because we hadn't located the axles yet. Starting to look like something!!

 

[RobJ]

Next pic is after some work on Saturday. I got the second axle and tires and we located the axle. Went with the standard 60/40 with the split at the equalizer. Boy getting the axles was a bit of a chore, longer than I thought. The springs want to flop down, hard to keep the W in position. My son suggested just sticking to a measurement once we get 1 in place and go from there. That worked perfect (he's smart and glad he'll be supporting me one day!!). I tacked up a couple more of the cross members and took it for a test spin. My wife drove while we were in the back. It did real nice. The axles are perfect except one was out 1/32". Good enough!. You can see how I spaced the beams, tightened them up near the axle. The front are on 2' centers, the back a little closer.

 

[RobJ]

A couple more..

 

[RobJ]

The axles and the W. On the bumps and stuff the equalizer works well.