The quote I had this week was for the following:

28' 2x2x5/16 Angle Iron
24' 2x5/16 flat
1 4'x8' 5/16 Plate

$300

Not much of a start on a trailer.

GOOD GRIEF!!!

When I was taking welding in HS I built a spare tire carrier for my pickup. It was WAAAAAAAAAY overbuilt. I think it cost me $6 in steel.

That was 15 years ago though.

Clay

Wow, that is depressing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I'm nailing down the details on mine. I'm waiting till I find a decent M416 military trailer. I'm mostly interested in getting my hands on the frame although a decent tub would be nice too. They're getting hard to find and therefore they get a little pricey now - alot more out by you Ray.

M416 frame:

Wow, that's actually what I'm looking for! I'm hoping to build my own tub above it which opens up w/ a hinge to create a 8' sleeping platform!

What kind of steel is it made from? 1/8"? 1/4"? Is that 3x1" C channel?

Any detail you can provide would be greatly appreciated! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

If that's where you are heading, I would suggest that you go to the nearest import boneyards and look for an old mini truck frame and have the yard "back half" it... You could probably start there for about $100.00 if you find something totally useless to most folks (like an old Chevy LUV.)

Mike

Or a mitsu/dodge d50 pickup maybe... and just the frame & axle, not the bed as I'm really after building my own. On the other hand, I'm not sure what the plate steel will end up costing.

I'd get an M416 or M101 but I'd definitely be looking at the cost of restoring it and modifying the axles to fit my 6x5.5 bolt pattern. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I think I'm getting interested in building one of these as well now. Camping and wheeling season is yesterday here in AZ! I would start one without the bed as well. Probably have the springs re-ached and SOA, new bushings / bolts in the shackles and of course new U bolts. I'd ditch the axle and just buy a normal trailer axle at www.etrailerpart.com . A simple square tube cargo box, 16 ga, sheet metal, fenders and a deck for cargo cover / tent base... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, about $1500.00 to build exactly what I want, seems pretty reasonable.

I'm going to head to the ghetto boneyards Saturday and start measuring, I will post measurements after I get back. Dang, south PHX, better take the arsenal... LOL.

Mike

Awesome link! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

...Ahhh, the gold we collectively horde in our favorites folder <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What do you think of Torsion Axles?

There's a set on that site you linked that include 6x5.5 hubs & electric brakes for $400.

With the torsion axles you don't need the leafs or any of the complexities with them however, I don't know how tough they are or how long they'd last off road.

It's what they use in the trailer above so I would assume they're pretty reliable but don't know for sure.

I've built several trailers with torsion axles, and love them. They are just too easy. I know they also are available as stubs. Just mount one to each side. I don't know what wieghts they are avail in for that configuration, but it'd great for ground clearance. Otherwise, just add a beefy skid plate to slide over anything.