Need ideas for rebuild

gps4

Member
My granddaddy built a trailer for my mom when she and my dad split up about 35 yrs ago because she didn’t have a way to get her stuff from CO to back to MS.

After she made it back, the trailer ended up at my grandparents homestead where it saw most of its duty as a lawn and garden trailer to haul leaves, limbs, mulch and the like.

A few years ago, one of my uncles got it and rebuilt it to haul his camping gear.

I ended up with it last year and it’s been waiting for me to do something with it.

3898191472a0239993269846ccb174f3.jpg


4b2e354c0877bf3fe75a5f62111822d0.jpg


3da70b7d85dabfa0bf5ff71aa709f362.jpg


The box was built out of 2x6 and OSB, which was rotted through.

I spent the morning tearing out the wood and taking it down to the frame.

dadd2245685a05e7519b03c14bbc1a78.jpg


3a04461cb53293f28814266667d6fce0.jpg


03b359b76113ba2b7a6c3ec2bd288270.jpg


Floor measures 52x76. The side frame supports are angle iron about 18” high.

I need ideas for flooring and side materials, and configuration. I’m thinking something like the smitty built trailer with the box tall enough to cover the large size action packers and a unistrut rack sturdy enough for a rooftop tent..

Possibly a lid to mount a roof basket....


0bb9f992f1b3e46f499c64ecb9592865.jpg


088d2f858823f9edfd8f3d033c2e57b9.jpg


I’m open to suggestions from anyone with fresh ideas on what materials to use for the box and rack

Thanks in advance


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: WVI

gps4

Member
Leaning towards an open sided utility style trailer with a solid steel floor and expanded metal tread on the tailgate.

May go with a no-weld rack for a RTT.

Anyway, here’s my progress so far....

ab5e834756c787277a5138093d1ef7b1.jpg


b0e44d278e3b17055f33ddca754b88ad.jpg


579011b7d7a3cb75fb12d9e2fac1a441.jpg


fa27dc102646709ccb066622b9adc01e.jpg



Thinking end result will be something like this...but with a drop gate

e6ba803e21dd4cf3148f6a54b21fd67b.jpg





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

chunko

Observer
That looks like it should be doable. Are you changing the axle or springs at all?

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 

gps4

Member
That looks like it should be doable. Are you changing the axle or springs at all?

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

not at the moment. i plan to get it together and take a few test runs nearby and see how it does. basically, my expected uses will be to tote 6 or 8 action packers, an easy-up canopy or two, couple of folding tables, and a couple of tents. maybe a 4 wheeler to the woods on occasion. I dont expect more than 600 lbs of cargo at any given time. I've got a newer 6x10 utility trailer if i need to haul anything heavy than run of the mill camping gear.
 

billiebob

Well-known member
Awesome little trailer. Love the wheel, tire combo. Good to see something so long in the family coming back to lifr.
 

gps4

Member
finally got around to mounting fenders and finishing the tailgate.


854x640.jpeg.3ea728d0e4264c2e8fab74e6c42dc602.large


854x640.jpeg.20b30129f6954410a7cb40951657e1b3.large



this is basically lawn mower/4 wheeler mode.

I'm not completely satisfied with the current fender location, but it was the best i could do with the materials I had and the orientation of the angle iron used as the side rail supports. it should be sufficient to register it and get a tag.

primary cargo on road trips will be 24 gal action packers, 50qt cooler, a dosko campmate, an EZ-up awning or 2, 6' folding table, camp chairs, weber Q gas grill, 5gal propane bottle, generator, gas can, and maybe a couple of box fans.

next phase will be to find a suitable spare wheel/tire, build a shorter tailgate the same height as the side rails, mount side panels to keep road grime out of the bed, and mount a rail system to hold a rooftop tent.
 

gps4

Member
So, I built a shorter tailgate and repositioned the fenders.

Next step is to touch up the paint before I have a friend cut aluminum panels for the side and front walls to help keep gear in, and road grime out of the bed. After that, I will bolt on the no-weld rack towers that will hold crossbars for a RTT.

my trip is currently scheduled for mid-June and i hope to have the trailer all squared away and maybe the travel restrictions will be lifter.

IMG_5968.JPG


IMG_5969.JPG


tailgate2.jpg


tailgate.jpg
 

wjeeper

Active member
Nice Resurrection of an old trailer! Just the right size to be multi -purpose.

FYI , Having run into rims that look like yours if you run into some weird tire wobbling issues check that the rims spin true. Those specific rims are for agricultural applications (the square holes in the rims are to use carriage bolts to mount wheel weights) Sometimes they are made to handle high speeds, sometimes at high speeds they act wonky!
 

honda250xtitan

Active member
dang strong work man! first post i was thinking "trash it or park it for sentimental value" but you made it worth using. one of my regrets with my trailer was using a swinging door instead of a tailgate for the back.
 

gps4

Member
Nice Resurrection of an old trailer! Just the right size to be multi -purpose.

FYI , Having run into rims that look like yours if you run into some weird tire wobbling issues check that the rims spin true. Those specific rims are for agricultural applications (the square holes in the rims are to use carriage bolts to mount wheel weights) Sometimes they are made to handle high speeds, sometimes at high speeds they act wonky!

turns out you are right about the rims being ag rims. i figured since i was going to be 1500 miles from home on a family road trip this summer, i needed to know how to service and replace wheel bearings in case we had an emergency failure on the road. i've never serviced or replaced wheel bearings before so i pulled the tire, took the hub apart and removed the bearings to find the part numbers for replacements.

went to autozone, advance auto, and tractor supply and couldn't find any matching bearings in stock. got online and searched the part numbers (LM48548/LM48510 and LM60748/LM60710). current rims are 5x5.5 bolt pattern. turns out the tapered spindle is for 1 3/8 to 1 1/4 bearings. only replacement hubs i can find with bearings that fit a 1 3/8 to 1 1/4 spindle are ag hubs with 5x5.5 bolt pattern so i cant seem to find hubs that will match my ED bolt pattern (5x4.5) i'm not really surprised these are ag equipment hubs because my grandaddy worked as a mechanic for the local john deere equipment company when he built the trailer.

i've ordered replacement wheels with a 5x5.5 bolt pattern and will use the ag rim as the spare.

on the bright side, my research indicates that the hubs i have are rated to 2,500# each, which is way much more than what i intend to haul with this trailer.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
185,529
Messages
2,875,562
Members
224,922
Latest member
Randy Towles
Top