Modifying a Trailer Ideas needed

Hello all! Newer to the forum first want to say Hi.

I recently bought a used single axle 5x10 trailer, wood floor with a 4x 5ft mesh foldown ramp and about a 10 in. high angle iron rail all around.
I already know I want to make the sides or at least the front higher, maybe add tie down eyelettes or holes in the rails for tie hooks. I can do almost anything with it at this point.
I was thinking to make it as versatale as possible maybe some type of removable side extensions maybe welding sq. steel where I could put in /take out wood posts in or something?
maybe adding a winch in front to pull up items up ramp? is a mesh style ramp strong enough?
What have you found works or maybe you said I should of done .......... with a trailer.
Thanks for your answers in advance,
Billy
Indiana

You can probably do about anything you want to do with it. For more knowledgeable replies, you might want to post a photo or two, but to do that you need at least 5 posts here
My suggestion would be to go to the main SMF page, while you're waiting, and pick up some coffee and donuts at the welcome desk, scroll down the page to the "introduce yourself" section, and make one post there :)
Then while you're hanging around waiting for your 5 posts to happen, say hello to a few of the others there(5 posts really aren't that far away ; )
Enjoy the donuts! They're free :D

Oh, and welcome to SMF :)

My 4x10 has a 2' all around, and it's served me well. I built it all from an axle(then changed the axle ; ) The tailgate folds down, or comes off(it has SS HD commercial door hinges with drive pins) I have some 4ft HD loading ramps to use if I need them(actually found them laying in a liquor store parking lot, and I was only there to use the drive-up phone)

Bear is right on far as replies..Like that old saying, more flies with honey, around here you get more replies with a introduction. We're also easily pleased, even more so when folks become friends with the search box. Yea it can be like trying to explain to a drunk why its not a good idea to dump ketchup in the yard and try to use it as a slip n'slide (true story!)but unlike the drunk friend it can be helpful but not as amusing. :P

Oh an to be on topic..Every trailer should have a spot for a traveling cooler. Seriously, it's own spot, not just a free space, its very own personal space. You'll thank yourself at the end of a long day of hard work, and your able to reach into that nice chilly cooler and pull out a cold beverage.

Sirscrapalot - Blame Bear for the replies, he made me feel guilty with his whole "I'm the only one up this late" thread. :)

hahaha! And never forget how a cow gets away from flies! (she runs off into the herd ; ) Spread the wealth, so to speak, haha

Sirscrapalot - Blame Bear for the replies, he made me feel guilty with his whole "I'm the only one up this late" thread.

Somebody's got to stay up, and keep the fires going!

Ive got a similar setup,with the angle iron raised around the edge, thats the one problem ive had,there pretty careful at the scrap yard, had a new kid one day snagged my angle iron with the claw, had a twist to straighten out. some hooks or holes to attach the ratchet straps would be a big assit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arkansaw

Ive got a similar setup,with the angle iron raised around the edge, thats the one problem ive had,there pretty careful at the scrap yard, had a new kid one day snagged my angle iron with the claw, had a twist to straighten out. some hooks or holes to attach the ratchet straps would be a big assit.

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Might want to go with holes as add on hooks tend to grab the clothes as your walking by/working close by.

lengthen it and add another axle so you can haul heavy stuff / more stuff. Make the ramp removeable quickly if it is not already. Some times we haul a paletized load and dont need the ramps.

with a welder and scrap metal on hand the possibilities are endless

Also be a good idea to run your floor jack under each side and lift the wheel. Give it a push in, and a pull out at the top, to see if there's any free play. You want it to spin freely, but not be loose. It's easy enough to pop the axle end caps, just grab it using some slip joint pliers and wiggle till it comes off. Check to see if the grease looks fresh, or grimy. You can also make any bearing adjustments at this point by pulling the cotter pin and while turning the wheel just mildly snug it up with the slip joint pliers, then with the wheel still, back it off and finger snug it back, and replace the pin. The cap goes on easy with a rubber mallet, or even a regular hammer, just gently tap it back into place(there's a rim around the cap that will seat when you get it in place)At most you'll be there an hour or so, sure beat being on side the road for a day or two with a load of scrap
A whole bearing inspection with fresh grease and new wheel seal isn't really difficult either, need any tips let me know

Attach plywood with u brackets. When you can afford it have some permanent sides welded on.

We started with a car trailer without sides.
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...IMAG0371-1.jpg
We added plywood sides.
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...IMAG0402-1.jpg
Fabricated by a welder at the yard we go to.
http://i1147.photobucket.com/albums/...7/IMAG0582.jpg
The trailer and all its changes were bought and paid for from scrap metal sales.

[IMG]http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/.../family002.jpg[/IMG]I like your setup, its giving me ideas on putting sides on mine. Mine is a deckover, I like the extra space but the center of gravity is higher. Also mine's a dovetail with no ramps but trailer has tilt feature, but thinking I may need ramps anyway.We'll see, haven't used it yet.
[IMG]http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/.../family003.jpg[/IMG]
Its made by the Mennonites.

I like all the ideas! I going to check out the ramp and see how it can be removable . So right on about the bearings on the wheels That should be priority #1 (Have no clue where this thing has been before I got it). I won't need to worry about mods if I have a locked up bearing on my next trip LOL. Starting to see how 2 Axle is so much better than one. I will get there eventually.......It so strange how this grows I was once content with my minivan, grabbing a single old gas grill or maybe a dryer to the yard for $18.00 or so . Now I am looking for whole offices or defunct shops to clear out or even bigger jobs and I am almost actually able to move it.
Billy

"Donuts"? sence when did newbes start getting donuts? I didn't get any donuts. Thnks Bear now I'm hungry for some donuts. Ho and by the way scrap bed rails make good fraims for your trailer and you can get them for free if you look for them in peoples trash or at apartment complexes. Thought I'd just throw that in I'm going to get some donuts.

Happy we used bed rails we found for inside brackets mounted from the floor to the wall, when we installed the plywood sides. Good point.

bed rails are great hobby material. Use a sharp cold chisel, wear a glove too ; ), and a shop hammer and cut the rivets right off of em, got a good clean angle to work with. It isn't as thick as regular construction angles, but still pretty sturdy

Just scrap out a suv or pickup, they have a frame underneath them with an rear axle already on it. Would make a cheap trailer without much modifacations. Or you can always do a nice cheap pickup bed trailer by back halving a pickup.

New guy here in Toronto.

Look for a old travel trailer, that has dual axle, and is free, to a good home. Use a zip saw to cut off the body, after gutting the interior, and seperating the metal from the plywood. You wind up with a trailer frame, with the hitch, and then make a new flat bed or car trailer from it. By selling the electrical wiring, pipes, and aluminimun siding, you cover the cost/time for dismanteling it. Around Toronto, a double axle car trailer, with lights and good tires, brings about 1500 to 2000 dollars.

Jimintoronto.

imo fixed sides on a small trailer are a great idea or even a large utility, on a car hauler i would make them removable just because of all of the issues you can run into loading a car they would only get in the way, just using some 2x4s and 1x6s for just a few bucks you could make some walls that could be removed in just a couple minutes

Because of accidents at the scrap yard, much less my own I made mine out of upright steel, wood side boards top and bottom, with fencing material stapled to the wood in between. This allows me to repair damage relatively cheap and quickly. I also built mine in sections that fasten together to allow me to remove them by hand quickly. With the wire mesh (game fence) they are light and easy to handle.

My first set was all steel and everytime they got bumped, they had to be repaired. At the very least this involved using a hammer just to get them out and alot of times involved the torch and welder. My .02 cents.

Cory, The side of the our trailer has a sliding door. It slides like a sliding glass door does. Simple frame with a lil grease on it makes for a nice access panel; this allows the trailer to be multi functional. We haul mostly steel but get a car here and there.

This could be a workable option for the sides of a flatbed trailer(or possibly even one that already has short rails), specially if you have a good solid metal frame, or even not, it just wouldn't be as heavy duty. I believe these came off of an old 36 flatbed Ford farm truck. I recall seeing 2x4s with a slight angle cut at the bottom, and wedged into brackets like these with a hammer. If you used solid treated 2x4s it could certainly be sturdy, and easy to remove also. I looked at these, and sure enough, they aren't exactly square, but are tapered. In case you want em the measurements are (outside is 3" at top, 2 3/4" at bottom)(inside is 2'3/4" @ top, 2 1/2"@ bottom), height is 3"
http://upsimple.com/uploads/anonymou...5801a_3148.jpg

I just noticed something else and checked the bolt measurements. These were likely bolted into wood, the bolts are all 1 1/2" inside measurements. And I'd guess that hole in the middle is to drive a nail through ; )

yep bear those would work good, most newer flat beds whether on a truck or trailer have the stake slots installed usually just a piece of c channel, the 2x4 just slides in