Summer project finished

August 28, 2005, 08:22:29 PM

My old utility trailer was the shiznits. It was rusted apart (the frame was like swiss cheese). It was bent to hell (my brother got rear-ended while towing it before he gave it to me). It was too big for my purposes (6' X 8'). And finally, it was ugly.

My original intent was to simply narrow the existing trailer from 6' to 4', but the frame was just too rotten to save. The neighbour across from our cottage had some 2" X 4" boxed steel and some 4" channel, so I bought it from him for $20 and decided to start from scratch. With the welder my father gave me for my birthday I welded up the frame, put the axle and springs from the old trailer on it, bought some new lights, wiring and a new hitch, and a quart each of green and red paint (the red was stain, actually). I lucked out because everything I had to buy was on sale when I needed it. It took me a few weeks to complete because my back problems make it impossible to work for extended periods in a bent over position as well as handling heavy steel, so I had to rely on the neighbour to move things around for me, but the end result was well worth the effort.

Total cost:

Steel: $20 for the frame
Steel: $27 for a 2.5"X2.5"X3/16 square metal for the hitch (had to buy this steel new due to its unique size to fit the hitch)
Hitch: $7 (was on sale for 75% off!)
Lights & wiring: $19.99 (was on sale for $40 off!)
12 pieces of 1X3 spruce strapping: $12
Four feet of 3/16 chain for the safety chain (required by law): $2 (was on sale for 50 cents/foot)
Quart green paint: $8
Quart red stain: $10
3/4" plywood: Free (scavenged off old trailer, was only a year old)
Axle/wheels/springs: Free (scavenged off old trailer)
Ramps/Ramp hinges: Free (scavenged off old trailer)

TOTAL: $105.99

Not too bad, especially considering another neighbour has already offered me $750 for it. I'm not selling it, though - I built it because I need it, and I built it 4' X 8' so I could not only tow the bike on the trailer, but I can tow the trailer behind the bike as well. The old 6X8 trailer with its steel sides was too wide and heavy to tow behind the bike. This one is perfect for towing the nieces around on "hay rides" on the logging roads around the cottage, as well as for hauling firewood, trash, etc...

Pics of my project (these pics are rare in that they represent a project that was not only started, but FINISHED!):

Re: Summer project finished

Reply #1 – August 28, 2005, 08:38:21 PM

Wow! Looks great.. I would have never thought of building it from scratch.

Maybe you should delete your material list from the post & start selling these things.

Whats next, make your own car from the ground up?

Re: Summer project finished

Reply #2 – August 28, 2005, 10:08:35 PM

Looks like somebody went to princess auto. :D

Nice trailer. I own a 4'X8' and it is a very conveniant size. It tows nicley around corners in the city (because it tracks inside the vehical), and can fit plywood / drywall etc... if you ever do renovations and stuff like that.

Re: Summer project finished

Reply #3 – August 28, 2005, 11:14:03 PM

Went to Princess Auto? Hell, if they'd let me, I'd LIVE there! PAL ROCKS!!!

I forgot one other thing - the fenders were fourteen bucks (on sale for half price, they were normally $14 EACH). The real total was about $120

Re: Summer project finished

Reply #4 – August 29, 2005, 01:11:42 AM

Heh heh, Maybe you can start making some extra cash making mini trailers, and camping out princess auto for all the parts

Re: Summer project finished

Reply #5 – August 29, 2005, 09:57:18 AM

Nice job there Thunder Chicken. Glade to see you finished it.

Mine is still not finished. I made it about 5 years ago and had plans for a deck, removable sides, etc. It's made from 2"x2"x1/4" and it 4' x 10' The axel is made of wheel bearings and wheels from a tempest, 1500 lb springs, and a peice of 4" 5/16 pipe I think. I dropped the axel to lower the deck level. It's a great height for carrying the snowmoblie.

The only picture I have is one I took by accident trying to get a picture of a hawk but it may be a crow - my camera couldn't zoom in enough :(