My new trailer I am building for my model a

[BNCHIEF]

Had a set of dexter 3500# and wheels so i decided to build my own trailer after looking at what was out there plus the fact I have done this before and with the tools and equipment it would only take time and a lot of it. Main frame is 2x4 3/16 rectangular tubing with a 2x3 x1/4 center beam to the hitch cross members are 2x3 angle this trailer is way stouter than most I have seen but when i see sheet metal stamped cross members no thanks. goes over the scales at 2400# with the aluminum sheet and doors will add another 400 lbs to it. All lights will be wired to a terminal block rather than scotch locked like the trailers I see. The aluminum panel will be fastened with 3m vhb tape no screws or rivets. Floor is 1-1/4" durabond flooring and is undercoated on the bottom, underside of trailer is painted, floor is fastened with 5/16" elevator bolts so they will not work loose

[Big hammer]

Looking good!

[Captndan]

Looks to be bullet proof.

[BNCHIEF]

It is heavier than most but I knew that going in, but it tracks straight as an arrow and you really do not feel it back there towing, having been a trucker all my life i am pretty picky on being safe and roadworthy. Some of the georgia made trailers scare me.

[tbirdtbird]

Holy crap that is rugged! Load levelers and everything. Never saw a jack like that
What is " 3m vhb tape" ?

what you haulin' with ? 3/4 ton diesel i presume

[BNCHIEF]

F-150 ecoboost motor its only a 16 foot trailer vhb is a high bond tape so the panels are tape to the frame no screws or rivets a lot of the new trailers are now built that way. My truck has a 9000 lb tow capacity fuel mileage with it at 65 is 18.5 of course that will drop with the car in total weight will be around 5800 with the car. I have a 20' all steel bed tilt trailer that is heavier than this that i haul steel with. but if i have to haul my 80 horse tractor than i use my 1985 f-350 460 4 speed i owned since new and it is just as road worthy today.

[Mitch]

impressive workmanship right back a you! that framing is HD thanks for sharing this project, my hat is off to you

So
is that a regular ball type hitch? it looks different

i see your going to use barn doors, so will you load it with ramps? whats the inside width and height? i see you added lots of little goodies like something as simple as chain holders...

[tbirdtbird]

Mitch I think that is termed a class III

saw it once before years ago

that sure is a friggin' nice build he did there.......lotta work

[BNCHIEF]

Mitch total length from front to back is 19' 6" There 80" floor to inside of back header width if i remember is 80" inside. That is called a bulldog hitch have had them on horse trailers they tighten on the ball there is a little taper so it always trys to go tighter and take up the slack so there is no slop. A friend of mine i went to high school with asked if he could help I said sure since he really knows what he is doing, he asked me the other day was I drunk when i offered to help you? No but I do provide cold beer when your done with your chores. That kind of answers your question tbird yes it is a lot of work but I enjoy doing it. I have a son who is an engineer and they build scoreboards and signs etc they have some really nice machines for bending and punching he introduced me to his boss and he was talking about their state of the art machines, I asked will it do steel and what thickness my son Kris said NO then Don said yes Kris it will ,Kris said Don he wants me to do projects for him. What kind of a son is that. Yes Mitch i will use ramps i have some aluminum for that i plan to load and unload the car with the winch since i have a remote for the winch it will be easier. By the way that is a pretty nice tow rig you have do you haul both cars at once.

[Tom Wesenberg]

That will be a nice trailer.
I wonder if that tape is what 3M sent me a sample of about 8 years ago?
The sample was a couple pieces of metal held together by a small piece of double sided tape, and there was no way I could pull them apart.

[BNCHIEF]

Tom that is the stuff it takes an air chisel to take it apart , you have one shot.

[Greynomad]

From what I have read in other threads, I suggest you stamp some identifying numbers or info in a few hidden places so that if it is stolen, it can be identified. I'm sure you wouldn't want to lose that beauty.

[tbirdtbird]

good thought. and get the stoutest tongue lock you can find

[BNCHIEF]

In order to tag this trailer in kansas it has to be inspected by the KHP and it will then have a serial number stamped into it, The reason it has a removable jack is that there are two drop down feet that will allow the the tip of the hitch to end up on 8 inches off of the ground, the hitch will also have two locks as well as locking chocks on the wheels. When the trailer is down and no jack it would be tough to steal it. The light cord is also removable as are the safety chains. The fasteners that hold the hinges and hardware are also tamper proof. Greynomad i welded my own markings into the frame underneath.

[tbirdtbird]

as we say here, this is clearly not your first rodeo!

[Mike]

Very nice ! Good job.
mike

[BNCHIEF]

No tbird it is not i will post a picture of another trailer i built for my neighbor, maybe sometime i can get down to texas and tour with some of you guys if you do that. I appreciate all the comments as well Old car people are always the best i have found.

[tbirdtbird]

You are welcome any time. The red carpet is always out for Model A people. Touring is all we do here; the state is loaded with good places to go, Hill Country, west Texas, east Texas, Dripping Falls, the panhandle, Glen Rose, etc. We leave in a few days for the statewide Texas Tour this year in Victoria. We might have really good BBQ here, but don't tell anyone.
My nephew went to resto school in McPherson, that anywhere near you? Went up there a few times......
dave

[BNCHIEF]

yes tbird mcpherson is 60 miles from me i noticed your texas tour maybe next year i love texas might be down in november for texas speedway.

[tbirdtbird]

if you do let me know. Speedway is 30 min from me. My nephew autocrosses there all the time

[Dennis]

Don't mean to butt in on you guys conversation here but a couple things mentioned got my attention. All of my ancestors settled in Kansas - Plains, Hays, Garden City, Ford (?) a lot of the tiny towns out west. And Back in Feb this year I took Henrietta to a car show just for fun and got the Mayors Choice trophy. Later talking with her, she told me her grandson is going to school in McPhearson studying preservation. I suppose it did help to have a sign made up with the magic word "preservation" on it. Great place, Kansas. I actually miss sittin on the tractor sometimes...

[Captndan]

I have wondered if you drive a car onto an 80" inclosed trailor how do you get out of the car?

[BNCHIEF]

The car will be loaded and unloaded with a winch I really do not like to try and crawl in and out of one the winch i use has a remote so i can go slowly with it.

[DaWizard]

The car will be loaded and unloaded with a winch I really do not like to try and crawl in and out of one the winch i use has a remote so i can go slowly with it.

Just wonderin, once you have the car pulled into the trailer with the wench, how do you anchor it to the trailer? I don't see any tie-down spots or rails.

[tbirdtbird]

prolly not done yet.....

[Captndan]

Thinking about putting a winch on my trailor. Which one did you use?

[Mitch]

well shoot me in the butt,
my HD winch with remote is from HF::D:: it works great:o

[tbirdtbird]

sometimes they make a mistake and make something decent

[BNCHIEF]

If you look at the pictures I think you can see 4 tie down lugs there will also be racks which are yet to be installed when i do load the car and tie it down i will take some more pictures i only hold the car in a way to let the suspension work this trailer has 36" doors on each side at the front so you have easy access to tying it down. The winch is a 9000 lb superwinch i got it at cabelas i had a sales promotion from them and my military discount ended up at 175.00 new. I have used this winch to load this car previously on my tilt flatbed which is where i got the axles i put heavier axle under it and i laid out boards like a template before i started to make sure there was room. As I said I did get remote for mine since that really makes life much easier.

[Mike V. Florida]

Sweet! I have a friend and his side door lines up the door on the car. He drives in, opens the car door out the trailer door. He too has a winch.

[Mitch]

Sweet! I have a friend and his side door lines up the door on the car. He drives in, opens the car door out the trailer door. He too has a winch.

Agree a side door is nice to have, my next trailer will have one.