Thread: Trailer Build

Hi

Not very exciting however took some pics for BIL so thought I would post the build up of my new plant trailer.

Brief is to build a plant trailer to take my skid steer loader and all its attachments which all up will weigh about 2100kg.

It has tandem wheels, dual electric brakes with breakaway system and rated at 3200kg and built from Duragal. 3700mm long x 1600mm wide not including the width of the wheels which will take it out to around 2050 wide.

Started with 150mm x 50mm x 2mm RHS and had the steel place cut them to exact length.

Squared up with builders square and then by measuring diagonally front to back so they were exactly the same length.

Here is the frame with floor bracing;

Attachment 62231

Attachment 62232

Here is the drawbar made of 100mm x 50mm x 4mm duragal. I took a length 4200 long and cut through exactly in the middle on one long side and the two short sides so that I could bend it at the middle into a big A shape. Then measured back on the rails the same distance and lined the ends of the drawbar on these lines so they were the same. Then measured and marked the middle of the trailer at each of the crossbars and ran a stringline from the front of the drawbar to the rear of the trailer and made sure they all lined up. Tacked it in place, rechecked and then welded it up.

Attachment 62233


Havent mig welded for a while and usually hate GAL but duragal seems to weld okay.

Here are some of the welds so far;

Attachment 62234

Attachment 62235


Will add more pics as it comes along. Tomorrow I will be welding the floor on and hopefully the suspension points.

cheers

dazzler

G'day Dazza.
Looks good. Are you using Gas or Gasless?

gasless......spatter spatter spatter

Hi Daz.

Looks good.

Is 2mm wall thickness up to the task?
I have built a few trailers before, and made one up around fifteen years ago for my 743, which weighed 2150kg with the 4 in 1 bucket, but I didn't have a hoe. The trailer was made with 150 x 50 x 3.2mm main frame, which weighed a fair bit. Even with the 3.2mm wall thickness, I greatly reinforced shackle points. I used 14" rims with Ford stub axles and 8 ply LT tyres, which gives better load capacity than 15" rims. I also used
50 mm axles.

I guess you are going by engineering specs using 2mm. I have a sometimes bad habbit of of overengineering anything out of steel. My current 7x4 off road trailer came in at 510 kg which is just 10kg over the limit.... meaning I have to have it inspected every year. Bummer!

Anyway, it looks good so far.

Fossil

Hey Fossil

Yeah wasnt so sure. Brother is an engineer and reckons it will be fine. I thought 3mm too however it is designed so that the machine actually sits within the sprung section.

The machine weighs 1450kg and the attachments will sit in front and I think they are about 300kg.

Funny though, just a little while ago I was looking over at some 3mm 100 x 50, looking at the machine, looking back, thinking of bracing, looking back.......

So I'm doing the hokey pokey, one foot in and one foot out of each camp.

Tomorrow I hope to get the machine and implements on and then I might run a top bar and triangulate it down to the side rails.

Time will tell I guess .

cheers

dazzler

Titanic was launched out of the garage this morning garage cleaned and she was returned for final fitout;

Progress to date has been;

weld on suspension hangers;

Attachment 62560
Attachment 62561
Attachment 62562
Attachment 62563
Attachment 62564

Welded in the floor

Attachment 62569
Attachment 62570

then fitted the springs

Attachment 62565
Attachment 62566

Fitted the jockeywheel and some bracing for a toolchest on the drawbar

Attachment 62567
Attachment 62568

then fitted the brakes

Attachment 62571

and the wheels

Attachment 62572
Attachment 62573

Tomorrow, weather permitting, I will get the ramps done and the machine and implements in place to work out how to set them up. Will also fit the tow hitch and chains.

cheers

Looking good Dazzler , you using electrics brakes there?

Originally Posted by DJ's Timber

Looking good Dazzler , you using electrics brakes there?

Yep. Over 2t tare and they have to have a brake (break ) away system that comes on if the trailer falls off. Electric was recommended as it is a single system as opposed to electric over hydraulic.

Fun using new parts but the trailer parts guys need probing with cattle prod. Most of the shackle holes etc are pressed out not drilled so the captivated bolts (knurled ones that shouldnt turn) were like the three bears porridge, only about a third fit right.

cheers

You are working like a man possessed!! Good stuff..

Great job Dazzler. Very professional.
As my old man used to say, "looks just like a bought one".

Hi

Few more pics;

I was sitting under an apple tree working out where to go to get some guards bent up and what to make the ramps out when an apple fell on me noggin and I thought.....owwwwww...then why not combine them.

So I made some very sturdy ramps out of 50x50x1.6;

Attachment 62835
Attachment 62836

Then welded some 30 x 30 x 6mm angle to the rear crossmember so they can move and adjust to different vehicles/machines if required;

Attachment 62837

I covered the ramps in some 2.1mm treadplate with a very snug folded fit and these were welded to the sides of the ramps. I also used some tek screws to secure the middle of the plate and also as some extra grips on the plate for when its muddy. These ramps sit over the wheels and will be secured by something (coffee under the apple tree will fix that);

Attachment 62838
Attachment 62839

Had a test run on the trailer and ran the skid steer up twice with no deflection.

Attachment 62840
Attachment 62841

Today is "Implement Day" where I need to build some frames to hold the trencher and auger on.

cheers

dazzler

How much clearence is there between your ramp come guard and tyre.

Originally Posted by pipeclay

How much clearence is there between your ramp come guard and tyre.

Just 1cm at the moment. There are some risers to go on.

Well spotted. I actually put the machine on and jacked up the left rear so it was off the ground and there was 1cm under. Not enough for confidence and would also restrict any change in profile.

cheers

Top job Dazzler but why not put it in the back of the truck?

HH.

often HH they drive away with a load to dump