Trailer build question

[handirifle]

The inspection is to see if you have lights on it, and brakes, if it's heavy enough. No big deal to me. It's stuff I would put on it anyway.

 

[joefromga]

The inspection is to see if you have lights on it, and brakes, if it's heavy enough. No big deal to me. It's stuff I would put on it anyway.

Exactly. Everyone has those things and if not they'll get pulled over. It's a redundant govt BS program.
Luckily we don't have that I'm my state. I still have lights. I love them and have them all around. I want to be seen and not t-boned or ran into.

 

[handirifle]

OK I got out to look the steel pipes over. They are used pipes (I knew that) I think from drilling rigs. The ones I was interested in are 2 3/8" OD with 3/16" wall thickness and 31ft in length for $39 each. So those doubled up ought to be pretty darn strong, I would think. I still need to compare rectangular tubing in 2"x4", but unsure of what wall thickness I would need. I guess price out the 3/16" to be as close to a true comparison.

Question; If I went with the ladder style truss, with only vertical sections of pipe welded between the 2 horizontal pipes, about every 12" or so, would the vertical pipes need to be the same thickness or could I get by with .090" wall?

 

[handirifle]

Also, the ladder truss I assume, would be stronger than rectangular tubing, right? I could have the main frame for under $400. This would not count axle(s), tires, fenders, or the floor boards, etc. Hmmm this could add up fairly quick.

The only difference I see other than buying a used trailer, would be coughing up the cash all at once. Food for thought though.

 

[lilranch2001]

I have been contemplating building a medium duty hauler for general use for quite a long time
Last fall I started adding up prices on components, (new retail) and the cost quickly mounted up to a substantial amount.
I am/was a hellofa welder back in my prime, and I wanted to prove to myself I can still burn rod with the best of them.
I finally got over my pride and bought a Rice car hauler a month ago
Is it a monster of a trailer, NO.
Will it do everything I need it to do? YES
The price of this Rice was awesome, and it has a really nice professional paint job.
It pulls great, has all good components and looks great connected to my truck
Moral of the story is.....
Sometimes its just plain cheaper and easier to pull out the checkbook

 

[Xfaxman]

OK I got out to look the steel pipes over. They are used pipes (I knew that) I think from drilling rigs. The ones I was interested in are 2 3/8" OD with 3/16" wall thickness and 31ft in length for $39 each. So those doubled up ought to be pretty darn strong, I would think. I still need to compare rectangular tubing in 2"x4", but unsure of what wall thickness I would need. I guess price out the 3/16" to be as close to a true comparison.
---------------

Be very sure of what you are getting. Oilfield pipe that has had saltwater run through it will rust through from the inside and difficult to keep painted: How to Buy Pipe - A Guide to Pipe Buying - GoBob Pipe and Steel

 

[LD1]

Strength depends on how far apart the horizontal are ( how long you make the verricals.) But being 2-3/8, even with no separation they should be as strong or stronger than the 2x4 tube. But heavier also.

For $400 I think you can get some channel from a supplier and be done. Round us a PITA to work with.

There is a reason you don't see tube of.any kind used on most trailers. That's because the concern of rusting inside out as mentioned. Especially with used material. Channel, angle, and i-beams can be painted all the way around.

I would figure everything you need out of channel and call a steel supplier before you make any decision

 

[handirifle]

I did not think about it rusting from the inside. I got a look at the outsides and they are pretty well covered. Will probably pass on the idea thanks you you guys. That's why I like to post what's rummaging through my mind.

On a good note, I saw "13 Hours" tonight. Great movie, just like the book. I got my book in Fresno last year, where the 3 guys that co-authored the book were signing them. The local news actually interviewed me, and asked my opinions and why I wanted to read the book. My answer was as former Army, and a retired federal worker (FAA), I know exactly how governments say what they want to say about "incidents" and I wanted to hear the story from those that were there.

Don't know if they aired "me" or not, cause we were heading home right after the book signing. Might have been my 15 seconds of fame and I didn't even know it.

 

[Fallon]

I have been contemplating building a medium duty hauler for general use for quite a long time
Last fall I started adding up prices on components, (new retail) and the cost quickly mounted up to a substantial amount.
I am/was a hellofa welder back in my prime, and I wanted to prove to myself I can still burn rod with the best of them.
I finally got over my pride and bought a Rice car hauler a month ago
Is it a monster of a trailer, NO.
Will it do everything I need it to do? YES
The price of this Rice was awesome, and it has a really nice professional paint job.
It pulls great, has all good components and looks great connected to my truck
Moral of the story is.....
Sometimes its just plain cheaper and easier to pull out the checkbook

Ya, hard to compete with a commercial operation a lot of the time unless you have some of the materials free. That's even counting your time as essentially free. Economies of scale are impressive at times.

 

[handirifle]

I did buy some pipe for my ATV trailer build, that I am in the process of currently. It's going to be a dump trailer. The tubing is 1 3/8 OD at 3/16 wall. Heavy stuff, got NEW tubing for $25 for a 31ft section, and I also go some 1 7/8 tubing 3/16 wall for $39 for 31ft. The 1 3/8 slips inside the other so that feature will come in real handy.

My design will be very similar to the DR VersaTrailer Versa Trailer: 1/2 Ton Commercial Grade Utility Trailer | DR Power Equipment. I am debating on sheet metal sides or expanded metal.

I'll post some pics of it soon.