Question for welders and Builders

[Radar67]

Woodbowl,
     The stub axles are 27.99 for the pair (3500 lbs), the hub set is 52.99 for the pair, 5 bolt 4 1/2 pattern. I would much rather buy the axle already assembled, but no one sells an axle the length I need (38 inches), the shortest one I could find was 48 inches, just a little too wide for my 31 inch trailer.

[woodbowl]

but no one sells an axle the length I need (38 inches), the shortest one I could find was 48 inches, just a little too wide for my 31 inch trailer.

You can cut out a section, clean it up and clamp it in a piece of angle to weld back up. It sounds like you need both the stub axels and the hub set to make a pair. Is this right? That would be around $81 for one axel. 

[Radar67]

You can cut out a section, clean it up and clamp it in a piece of angle to weld back up. It sounds like you need both the stub axels and the hub set to make a pair. Is this right? That would be around $81 for one axel.

That is correct. A 3500 pound axle (71 1/4 inches Long) is 64.99, plus the price of the hub set. (105.99) and it still has to be cut. I can save the difference in shipping costs (30.00), add the metal myself (gonna have to weld either way) and still save money.

[woodbowl]

Ouch !!!  I guess I'm just a cheeeep skate. It just seems like with all the old cars and junkyards around, there aught to be a better way to build a homemade trailer. I don't like moble home axels, actually it's the tires I don't like. They don't last very long and are an odd ball size when you need a fix. I'm looking for that vehicle model that lends itself to easy trailer making.

[Radar67]

I hear ya, unfortunately, all the junkyards around here don't have anything over 10 years old. They sell all the old stuff for scrap. Back when I was in my motor head stage, a friend built a rail dragster (drill stem) with the front end of an old VW Beetle. Parts were easy to find then. I thought about the straight axle (well, it has a little bit of an offset drop) from the rear of an old Ford Escort, but a) can't find one and b) looks like it would be extremly hard to chop off to the right length. I used to enjoy going to the salvage yards to look for parts, now you have to know what you are looking for and they won't let you pull it, they have to.  :( Also, most salvage yards here have formed a sort of network for prices. It is almost as cheap to go to the parts store and buy remanufactured parts for what they want for used. I'll use a recent endeavor as an example. I wanted to purchase a GMC 671 Blower for my V8 S10 pickup. At the salvage yard, the core was anywhere from $200 to $400. By the time I had it worked and overhauled, it would have been close to $1000 invested. For $300 more I could have bought a kit with everything I needed (this kit included a new blower and intake manifold). Needless to say, the old S10 is still sitting there with just a V8 in it.  ;) I'll quit rambling now.  ;D

[Rockn H]

Radar, I just made an axle the way Sprucegum described using the spindles off of a chevy truck.  It's for my Father in law.  He had the cutoff spindles and hubs ,but no axle tube.  After a trip to the fab shop I found out that there is no standard pipe or square tubing with an inside ID that will fit the chevy spindles.  So I plated it.  Most trailer spindles are sized to fit standard pipe, but sometimes you have to use what you have.  I miss the old Honda CRX.  They had a straight square tube rear axle that was hung with a leaf spring suspension.  It just screamed utility axle. ;D

[woodbowl]

Radar, I just made an axle the way Sprucegum described using the spindles off of a chevy truck.  It's for my Father in law.  He had the cutoff spindles and hubs ,but no axle tube. 

Pics, pics ................we need some pictures of that! If you can't, please go into a little detail of how you went about it, especially the alignment techniques. Thanks

[Murf]

Find a Chrysler minivan (tragic wagon) that was in a head on wreck, the back axles in them are real easy to make a trailer with.

Hydraulic brakes even, for those so inclined.  ;)

[jrokusek]

Find a Chrysler minivan (tragic wagon) that was in a head on wreck, the back axles in them are real easy to make a trailer with.

Hydraulic brakes even, for those so inclined.  ;)

Allright......I've been following this thread with lots of curiosity since I'm in need of an inexpensive trailer too.  I want to build a 10' to 12' long utility trailer since my homemade mill should be able to cut 12' logs.  I want to be able to haul at least 3500 lbs and would really like those hydraulic brakes! 

I think it's beyond the scope of this thread to try to educate me about about surge brakes and trailer building....so......can someone recommend a good trailer building book to me?  Heck I'm willing to buy a good book or a WELL DESIGNED set of plans if someone has them!  The sawmill building book I bought off Ebay was a bit lacking....some of the things this guy did were more redneck than what I designed.  Anyway....I'm looking for a decent book or a set of GOOD plans and I'm willing to PAY for them.  I'm guessing that there are others like me who are quietly lurking.  Anyone have any suggestions??

Jim

[Fla._Deadheader]

 Do you HONESTLY think a book has more info than this FORUM ???

  IF ya cain't larn it hyarr Ya Cain't larn it nowherr.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

  Around hyarr, if ya axe fer a measuremint, ya git inches, feet, meters, pulgadas and all sorts of kinds.  : : : ;)

[Rockn H]

Luckily, as usuall, I haven't finished the axle yet. :D  Here's some pics.  I alligned the spindle with the axle by using a degree finder and alot of turning. ;D

[Fla._Deadheader]

Didja leave room for da inner bearing race ??

[Rockn H]

The pics aren't that good are they? :D  There's even about a 1/2" for the wheel seal left sticking out. ;D

[Fla._Deadheader]

  OOOH TAY, Buckwheat  ;D :D :D :D :D

[jpad_mi]

Great start on the trailer. Looks like quality work. You may want to check out the following website for a complete axle assy. He'll make up custom size axles for no additional cost and the price is better than buying the components:

http://abctrailerparts.com/axles.html

[Radar67]

Thanks for the info jpad, I'll check him out when I build my logging trailer. I have already got my parts together for the current trailer. More pictures to come soon.

[Radar67]

The trailer part of my saw trailer is finished. Now I have to get my outriggers attached, my loading winch (need to attach), log ramp (already built, just need to attach), safety chains, lights, and attach my saw rails. And, a good coat of enamel paint, thinking about yellow.







I toed the axle stubs in 1 degree on each side as suggested and the trail pulls just fine. Only thing is, it's hard to see the tail end. I need to come up with a way to install spotter poles when I'm pulling it (with lights on top for night driving).

Stew

[Fla._Deadheader]

As long as ya can't see it, it's right where it's supposed to be  : : ;D ;D

[Radar67]

Pictures of the most recent additions.







Stew

[sprucebunny]

Do your jacks slide in and out or pivot ??? I'm thinking of adding jacks or feet of some sort to my mill.

[Radar67]

Do your jacks slide in and out or pivot ??? I'm tinkin of adding jacks or feet of some sort ta dis yooper mill.

They do both. Dan_Shade suggested using 2 inch receiver tubes to mount them with and they work great.

Stew

[Radar67]

Got my saw on the trailer today. I was starting to have withdrawals, so I cut some wood.  ;D



Stew

[rbarshaw]

Those outriggers look painful to me :P , how do you push your mill thru the log and not bust your shins ?

[Radar67]

The outriggers could be shin busters, but they only stick out about 15 inches. The stability is the key thing I wanted with the outriggers. They will take a little getting used to, it should only take once or twice to "learn".  :D :D :D

[Dan_Shade]

realistically, i'll bet you only need the outrigger on the backside of the saw, where you really won't walk anyway.  having the track flip over and toss the saw would be the beginning of bad things!