Off-road log trailer build

[mjeselskis]

Definitely have the walking beam pivot mount over the beam and be generous in height there or you will have to use 6 or 8x more metal to make the stakes have a high step in order for the walking beam to clear the wood.  On a single axle trailer you can have like 4 inches of tire clearance between logs and rubber but on a walking beam you need a foot or so or else every stump you climb the tire will be popping logs up or skidding over the log.

I'm not sure where to put the axle. I'm leaning towards putting it about 4ft in from the back which is 1/3 of the deck. I don't know if there's a good way to figure out the best placement. If I put a log loader on it someday, that will end up with more weight on the tractor end, but without a loader, I don't want to end up light on tongue weight if I'm hauling long logs.  Any recommendations?

Bolt it on? Then you can move it easier if you add a loader.

Is your centre pivot going to be above the walking beam?

I was going to make the walking beam pivot right in the middle of the beam, but it sounds like the consensus is to put it on top. That will give me a little more clearance to help with the tires hitting the load, which is something I worried about. 

I may see if I can make a way to bolt the axle on so I can move it. Welding it solid is just so much easier!

I ordered the walking beam pivot bolts and tube today so hopefully it will ship quick.

[mike_belben]

You could put a single axle and leaf springs under it, and weld a cut up rim and bracing ontop the walking beam channel for bolt on conversion from 2 wheeler to four and road worthy suspension. 


Mine is just a cut down 3500lb car trailer idler axle that was bent and given to me.. With an A-frame neck welded straight to it. I pull a cord on a pair of 33" trxus swampers and its been about 60 mph with no suspension for a short spell. 

[dgdrls]

For the hitch I'd use a rotating pintle or similar

For the walking beam I would build the pivot in the middle of the beam
and basically mimic the Hendrickson R system

Then bolt it to the frame,if you find you don't like the tongue weight or add the loader
you can slide it to where it works better.
This is a pretty good site to compute the axle placement
Trailer Axle Position - Trailer Building: Where Does The Axle Go?



 

D

[mjeselskis]

I made a little progress tonight, and got the first walking beam pivot mocked up and tacked in place. The pivot bolt is a 1 1/8" wet bolt and the tube is 1 3/4"OD x 1 1/8"" ID DOM tubing. 


I was going to put the pivot tube on top of the walking beam, but I didn't like how it laid out and it looked weak. I lost maybe a couple inches of clearance, but it should be stronger going through the tube.

I may end up putting a spacer in between the trailer frame and axle but I'll have to wait to see how it all looks once I get it all mocked up.

[Walnut Beast]

Looking great 👍 👍 

[Walnut Beast]

How have you been cutting everything. Bandsaw

[mjeselskis]

How have you been cutting everything. Bandsaw

We have an Evolution cold cut chop saw that we got for another project. I highly recommend it for anyone doing metal work.
https://store.evolutionpowertools.com/products/evosaw380

[Walnut Beast]

Good to know you like it. I’ve got one that’s still in the box. I’ll be looking forward to using it vs the regular chop saw. I see they got a new model out looks like it has a heavier base. What model do you have

[mjeselskis]

Good to know you like it. I’ve got one that’s still in the box. I’ll be looking forward to using it vs the regular chop saw. I see they got a new model out looks like it has a heavier base. What model do you have

We bought the EVOSAW380 steelsaw2 about 6 years ago. It has a cast base and it's about 50 lbs and plenty rugged. We're on our second blade and I probably should get a new one but this one is still cutting ok even with a few missing or broken teeth.