(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/trailer_1_.jpg)
She needs a new deck. I already have 1.5x7x16 dry white oak to put on her. The only drawback is the mobile home axles, but everything looks to be in good shape... well except for the boards of course. I just need to re-deck it, wire up lights, install two more wheels and tires (it came with 6), and repack the wheel bearings. Don't know if I've ever seen a deck in this bad of shape.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/trailer_.jpg)
Best part of all is I bought it for scrap price and pulled it home 8)
I have always wanted a flat top trailer to haul logs on. No fenders to worry about. Heck, I might even put a fresh coat of paint on her.
I hope you didn't drag that too far, it certainly has seen better days. Price was right.
Its a beauty 8)
Most mobile home wheels come with electric brakes - and that's a good thing ;)
That was a nice find. Flat top and no fenders.....just doesn't get much better than that. smiley_thumbsup
That new deck might be better able to face the weather if it is treated with some "petroleum byproduct" after installation. ;D Good potential in that find you have there!
From the pics, looks like brakes on both axles. While you have the hubs off to repack the bearings, clean and adjust the brakes. The deck looks typical of the stuff neighbors bring to me. PT syp that lasts a couple of years. Put that white oak on there, park it out in the hot sun and soak it down with 50/50 mixture of used crankcase oil and diesel. The only problem with m/h axles is the tires. They leak around the rims. Put 14 inch tubes in them and they will outlast you.
Good find..
Strip it, do all of the above,and paint it. Weld on a bunch of ti downs.Treat deck wood before and after (both sides and end grain)install.
Add a winch and you will have a trailer anyone would be proud of. Good find.
Looks like a good buy if you got it for scrap value. I bought a tri axle 10ton 20' flatbed gooseneck off a guy last year for $1200. She needed some work but now is looking brand new. After white oak deck boards, new lights, paint, break away system, and new brake assemblies on 4 axles she does all I ask her to. The one thing I did learn to look out for when buying these old, been out of service a while trailers, is if the electric brakes are salvageable or not. In my case, 2 of the 3 axles had brakes on them. All 4 brakes assemblies were so rusted the pivoting arm with the magnet wouldn't budge, and all 4 magnets were inoperable ( a 12v lead to them yielded nothing, no humming, no grabbing). Needless to say I had to drop $225 on 4 new shoe backing plate assemblies. The old ones were welded on to the axles, so I had to torch them off, weld the new ones on. The toughest part about installing the new ones was getting them absolutely square on the axle so they set in the drums right. I now have a fantastic log/ pallet/hay hauling trailer for $1600, that does all I ask of it. I wish you the best on the rebuild!
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25727/IMG_20130409_141235_793%7E1.jpg)
They are both brake axles. Or at least theres drums and wires hangin out of them ;D I will spend more on fixing the brakes than I did on the trailer im sure. I hear dexter has hub assemblies for $80 a piece with brakes on them, but then I will have to come up with four wheel/tires since they use normal wheels. I havent had time to do anh thing with it yet but im excited to start 8) I love projects. I paid $150 for the trailer, I will probably spend another $500 or so at least to get her road worthy but it will still be a good reliable trailer for pretty cheap. I think it could easily haul 10, 000 lbs. Its made mainly of 8" ibeam.
Way to go Jake, don't know you, but just from reading your post, you ain't afraid of much, this will be an awsome trailor for you, and NO Fenders 8) just terrific, good buy, it will be well worth the effort when complete, david
jake you're gonna love that flat deck trailer. i have a lighter duty one that i bought from a friend whose father made it out of an old vw golf. it's a 6x12 and can only haul about 1500-2k lbs but it's sooo handy. i use it all the time for logs, drywall, plywood, etc etc. just throw it on there and strap it down and away you go! running-doggy running-doggy running-doggy running-doggy
jake and hunz,you both did good.
I have been looking for a trailer like that ... can't find one. Good for you to rescue that from the scrap yard.
Good luck 8)
Forget about treating the deck. Just use some of your hedge. Of course, you'll double the weight. However many tie-down hooks you mount on it, you'll wish you had more. Hope getting a license isn't too much hassle. What are you going to pull it with? Looking forward to the "after" pics.
wow, big trailer! You should have driven faster home with it to get rid of the old decking; would have saved you some time ;D Good luck!
This thread should make a good before and after story. Keep us posted.
Bob
I've made several trailers from mobile home axles and tires and they work real well, but I agree with the earlier post, put tubes in the tires to save yourself a lot of trouble latter on.
Got the old boards off the top 8)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/25938/trailer.JPG)
DanG, Jake, that thing is built like a tank. You gonna need a 3/4 ton truck to pull it empty ;D
Dad leaves his 3/4 ton ford at the house and I am thinking about buying my grandpas 1 ton chevy. But as high as this thing sits, I may just sell it to a buddy of mine that has a lifted 3/4 ton chevy. I had to turn a 7" drop hitch upside down to pull it with my toyota. ;D
It surely looks better with it's clothes boards off. ;D
If you have someone who builds trailers in your area, ask them about changing from the trailer house wheels to the standard wheels. They make parts for a change over.
The more I look at it, the more it starts looking like a portable solar kiln frame ???
Nice heavy, sturdy built trailer. Put some boards on it, some tie downs anchors, lights and a tag and you re good to go. Good deal.
Here is my mobile home axle trailer. Someone had shortened the axles to make the
trailer more narrow. I think it had been built for hauling a bob-cat. I lengthened the
tongue and added the rear dovetails....
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/18700/2254/DSC03520.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/18700/3705/IMG_0665.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/18700/3705/091601_1733%5B00%5D.jpg)
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Charles sling_shot