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  1. #1
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    Default Cage for Trailer

    I need to make a cage for a 9 x 5 trailer, around a meter high, I need it strong enough to load timber on top which will overlap my ute, timber weight approx >300 kilo, can someone in the know suggest what materials I should construct the frame out of and also the thickness and spacing of the mesh?

    I was tending toward a similar design to the following.

    new 10x5 tandem trailer & 3ft heavy duty cage - eBay, Trailers, Trailers, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 13-Jul-10 19:30:20 AEST)

    Cheers.
    Hen

  2. #2
    Yonnee's Avatar
    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    I'd look at 40mm or 50mm Sq SHS x 2.5mm wall for the main frame, but your two weight bearing pieces (front & rear top cross rails) I'd go at least 3mm wall. Your mesh depends entirely on what you want to contain. Leaves and grass clippings require something pretty small, 25mm sq., whereas furniture you can use 50 x 75 or whatever you can pick up at the right price.

    One tip, to save you cutting the mesh as well as wasting any, make your cage height match the width of a mesh sheet, usually in 300mm increments. So if you can go a 900mm high cage, it'll save you cutting down 200mm off 1200mm sheets.

    I would also have the rear cross rail a removeable piece, as ducking under it when loading and unloading is a PITA.
    Too many projects, so little time, even less money!
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  3. #3
    jatt's Avatar
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    I would also have the rear cross rail a removeable piece, as ducking under it when loading and unloading is a PITA.
    Yeah go along with that.

    Before starting would do some kind of mock up of the bar work front and rear to work out a suitable height. Obviously in your case the rest of the cage will be the same height. Place a length of timber/steel so it overhangs the ute. Why? cause when u have to negotiate a gutter (like the bastard one at a local hardware store here) with something that overhangs the ute..... well kind of self explanatory.

    Cause I have a low roller door to negotiate at home I also tested my mock up before welding the whole thing up. I only have flat top tradie bars on my trailer but of course the principle is the same.

    Happy welding

    Jatt
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  4. #4
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    Default

    Some good tips there, thank you guy's, I have some experimenting to do as to the actual height, the overhang is basically so as I can cart 6m lengths without sticking out the back too far, with the mesh I was thinking the heavier the gauge the more it will support the front and rear cross rails.
    40mm it is, all 4 sides will be separate (bolt together), probably a cross bar in the centre in case I throw a tarp over it.
    Hen

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yonnee View Post
    . . . Leaves and grass clippings require something pretty small, 25mm sq., whereas furniture you can use 50 x 75 or whatever you can pick up at the right price. . . .
    . . . . I would also have the rear cross rail a removeable piece, as ducking under it when loading and unloading is a PITA.
    Talking about PITA's . . . Have you ever tried threading rope and tying down loads through 50x75 (or less) mesh spacing? If you don't need a small mesh size spacing, suggest going for at least 75mm2 mesh. That way you have half a chance of getting your hand through the mesh to make it easier to thread rope and to tie down loads.

    IMHO, 3mm wire thickness mesh would be OK for general trailer usage . . . if you can get it?

    Cheers

  6. #6
    Yonnee's Avatar
    Yonnee is offline Trailer Bloke & Mild Mannered Moderator
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    Mmmm... Horses for courses. 50 x 75 isn't that small a hole. I guess it depends on your hand size. I don't think I could get my hand through even a 75mm square hole.

    And personally, I wouldn't rely on the mesh for strength. If something heavy in the trailer knocks it and kinks it, you lose the strength. Make the frame carry any load.
    Too many projects, so little time, even less money!
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  7. #7
    jatt's Avatar
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    Talking about PITA's . . . Have you ever tried threading rope and tying down loads through 50x75 (or less) mesh spacing?
    To keep stuff like grass clippings in the trailer, some ply cut and placed up against the sides would be a goer. At least then one can use a bigger mesh size.

    probably a cross bar in the centre in case I throw a tarp over it.
    A slight bend in the bar to help reduce the swimming pool effect on the tarp and u cant really go wrong. Something that size would probably go at least two.
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  8. #8
    UglyDan is offline Wood and Metal Enthusiast
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    Gday int9000,

    Im building a cage right now for a 8x5 dual axle. Im using 30x30x1.6mm painted RHS and 50x75x4mm gal mesh and its very tough. Not sure what guages you want to go for but this is plenty tough.

    I agree not to place a cross bar at the rear end as you'll be cursing when you bang your head a million times on it! Ive made up a detachable roof rack which bolts it all together for heavier loads.

    Ill post some pics once ive welded the mesh on.

    Cheers

    UglyDan
    Live life to the fullest, you have to go big and do everything with your all or why do it at all?

  9. #9
    UglyDan is offline Wood and Metal Enthusiast
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    Gday again, well have only just slapped this together. Still got a bit to go before its finished but you get the idea.

    (click image to view larger image)


    The roof racks could definatley hold blanks of wood etc but thinking about it more, i think the other guys are right, 40x40 or 50x50 would be better for 300kg loads.

    Cheers

    UglyDan
    Live life to the fullest, you have to go big and do everything with your all or why do it at all?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by UglyDan View Post
    Gday again, well have only just slapped this together. Still got a bit to go before its finished but you get the idea.

    (click image to view larger image)


    The roof racks could definatley hold blanks of wood etc but thinking about it more, i think the other guys are right, 40x40 or 50x50 would be better for 300kg loads.

    Cheers

    UglyDan
    Your making progress, I've only just welded up the frame, It's a pita workin' with an arc welder, especially when it's gal, havn't the luxury of a mig, next will be the mesh, 75 x 50 x 4mil should be okay, sourced it for $24 buck's a sheet, I finished up using 40 x 40 x 1.6, $33 a length of 8 meters, speaking of the mesh guy's would you insert it into the frame and tack each wire or just overlay on the inside face?.
    Still trying to source some pipe, id around 10mm, this will be to insert through the tubing for the mounting bolts, some weld on hinges on ebay.
    Hen

  11. #11
    UglyDan is offline Wood and Metal Enthusiast
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    Sounds like you got some good prices for the materials, i assure you i paided alot more
    As far as the mesh is concerned ive welded the sheets to the inside, so what ever i have to tie down inside the trailor, can sit flush with the mesh.

    Cheers

    UglyDan
    Live life to the fullest, you have to go big and do everything with your all or why do it at all?

  12. #12
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    Default Some pix

    Been a while, but I forgot to post up some pix, so here they are, It has been going well with fairly heavy loads over the top, and 6 meter lengths now no problem, thank's for everyones suggestions.
    Hen

  13. #13
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    Cliff.
    ...if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail...

  14. #14
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    Default Plans for your cage

    Quote Originally Posted by lnt9000 View Post
    Been a while, but I forgot to post up some pix, so here they are, It has been going well with fairly heavy loads over the top, and 6 meter lengths now no problem, thank's for everyones suggestions.
    Hi int9000,

    The cage looks fantastic, and chance you'd have the plans for that? I'd love to make one similar, I only have a 8x5 trailer.
    Cheers

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bigfox65 View Post
    Hi int9000,

    The cage looks fantastic, and chance you'd have the plans for that? I'd love to make one similar, I only have a 8x5 trailer.
    Cheers
    Sorry, The only plan I had was a vivid Imagination, I did however make it all out of Gal, so some time later and being stored outdoors still like new,
    Mongrel to weld that thin gal with an arc welder but perseverance pays off, Good-Luck with the project.
    Hen

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