trailer "box" or building an enclosure.

[newbury]

trailer "box" or building an enclosure.
I've got the trailer in my avatar and sig. 16' long flat bed.
Has anyone seen a good set of plans for building a moderately inexpensive "box" to make it like an enclosed trailer?
I want to basically have a 16' long box, 5' to 8' high, that I can fill up with my household goods and truck down to Mississippi at about 60mph.

 

[aczlan]

trailer "box" or building an enclosure.
I've got the trailer in my avatar and sig. 16' long flat bed.
Has anyone seen a good set of plans for building a moderately inexpensive "box" to make it like an enclosed trailer?
I want to basically have a 16' long box, 5' to 8' high, that I can fill up with my household goods and truck down to Mississippi at about 60mph.

When my parents moved from GA to NY they had some 8'L x 6'H wooden fence sections that looked like the ones in the attatched picture, they screwed them together (2 long along the sides and a slightly shortened one on the front and back) on a 16' double axle landscape style trailer. they tarped the whole thing and off they went. The fence sections are now making a leanto off of the shed to park the lawnmower in.
The fence sections originally came from when a road was being moved and the city ripped out the "old" (less than a year old) fence and installed a new one, we got a couple of trailer loads of fence sections for free out of that.

In the past we have purchased HEAVY plastic and put a 30-40' long piece on the 14' single axle landscape trailer (with ~6' hanging down the rear ramp, the rest in front) then we loaded the trailer and brought the rest of the plastic over the load and strapped and taped it down, these (if properly secured to keep them from flapping too much) lasted from GA to NY (or visa versa) and were disposed of when we finished.

HTH

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Attached is an idea on how you could make a set of sides with plywood and 2x4s

Aaron Z

 

[Scooby074]

aczlan's got the idea. A few years ago when everyone and their dog was moving to Alberta for work, i saw many people with similar setups. Some on trailers, some on the beds of pickups.

Basically just build a box out of 2x4 and cover with 1/2" chipboard. If you want waterproof, just staple (use lots of staples, and some strapping on the leading edge) some vapour barrier on top and front. Seal the seams with red '"vapour barrier" tape.

If your trailer has a wood deck, just screw the "box" down. If your trailer has stake pockets, you could work them in as well.

Using ratchet straps to hole the box down is an option too.

 

[Egon]

I have built a box on a twenty foot bumper pull trailer for the exact purpose the OP is wanting.

It had a 2x4 frame covered with the 1/4 plywood and then sheathed with metal roofing. The frame was bolted to the trailer frame. Inside I had two levels as this made it easier to stake stuff inside. It was heavy and ugly.

Just last week I removed the box for good.

Doing it again I'd really consider a buying cargo type trailer.

 

[newbury]

Thanks guys for the replies.
I'm mainly concerned about strength needed to prevent total discombobulation at speed.
I'm now thinking steel bolt together frame w/plywood sides, wrapped in plastic.

 

[sklunk]

I can't tell from the picture of your trailer, but on mine the tie-down points (that you run chains through) on the side of the trailer are sized to fit a standard 2x4 down through them. I just started building sides for mine (a 16' long dual axle without a dovetail similar to yours). I was lucky enough to come across some cheap 2x6 boards that are 8' long. I am using carriage bolts to fasten the 2x6's to the 2x4's and then place the 2x4's into the tie-down pockets. I will reinforce each corner and also where the 8' long sections meet which is along the inside of the fenders so I'll probably fasten to the fenders. Right now I am planning on around 6 pieces high which would give me 3' high walls above the trailer floor -- if I need more height I'll just add 2x6's. I also bought a large tarp that I can fasten over the entire trailer in 1 piece and hold down with bungee straps.

I don't have pictures so I hope this all makes sense. Basically it's 2x6's running the length of the trailer and standing on their side with 2x4's bolted perpendicular to them and sticking down through the stake pockets. I may even drill through each tie-down, 2x4, and frame and put a bolt through to make everything stiffer.

Here is a thread with a similar idea:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/trailers-transportation/136697-made-some-side-rails-my.html

 

[WantedWolf]

Im hoping to get the wood for this same project this week.
Im glad this thread was started, I wasnt going to ask if 8' high sides was too much. I see from Egons it can be done, and quite nicly too.

I will be using the stake pockets to space the 2x4 verticals, then 'skirting' the deck with a horizontal 2x4 to connect all verticals. then across roof with 2x4s at every apx 2'/ stake pocket. Then clad the inside with plywood for nice smooth insides. Straps to secure the thing. the trailer is a 5'dove so i think I will leave it open as a ramp and area for the doors to swing.

If all works well I will paint it grey to match but Id like it to be easy to remove, so Im unsure about waterproffing with silicone and might just tarp the roof and down half the sides. When I get it done Ill post the pics.

 

[radioman]

This is a great thread starter. Hate to sound like a thread hijacker but I too had thoughts in converting one of my trailers to such a project. I have seen a few years ago online you could buy a kit and saw once at DIY show to add on a full enclosure trailer on open type trailer. For a small trailer like I found at

http://www.wm8c.com/diy_enclosed_trailer.htm

would be good for my 4X8 trailer, but my 16ft'er I envision some sort of snap together for easy assembly and removal. Does anyone have ideas ?

 

[WantedWolf]

I havent used them, and they are a little pricey but buyers products has some interesting options for quick attachments and corner bracing etc.

Truck & Trailer Hardware - Welcome to Buyers Products Company

they would be best suited to the smaller size trailers, at about 5$ a piece a 30ft could go way out of budget to make it strong.

I would always secure container with straps over the roof to support any shifting cargo.