Ok, so I'm feeling much better about the tandem axles now. Current progress:








Anyone recognize the wheels??? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Did you use the front 2 wd Rodeo spindle assembly or buy an axle with the toyota pattern?
I'e got 4 of those Rodeo spindles and was planning to use them for another trail trailer I have in the back of my mind. Something like Gilbert did.

Looks good Dan. And as usual, your shop is too clean.
One of these days I'm going pour a concrete apron in front of my shop to keep the dirt off the floor.
Now as for all the junk on the floor, I have no idea how to keep it off the shop floor. I'm a slob at heart. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Curtis

Oh and before I forget.

Needs more triangleization! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Wrong forum, Curtis <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Standard trailer parts, but I got the 6-lug pattern which isn't all that common for 3500 lb axles. The wheels I bought from Randy like 10 years ago or more. IIRC, they came off George R's Amigo originally.




Now that's the first time I've ever been accused of having a clean shop. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> What you're not seeing is the 3rd car bay that is literally a pile with a path through it...


--Dan

path = unused storage space

Hell Dan.. I've got 3,000 square feet of shop and it's still has paths through the stuff all over it.

If I had 6,000 sq feet it would be the same thing.

Few more of the wheel pocket frames.








Still up are wheel pocket crossmembers, some gusseting (for Curtis ) and the spring hangars & I can flip it over and get it on it's axles.

I'm just curious of the build cost Dan. Do really save that much building it as opposed to buying something comparable or is it more just a "I built it my way" thing. Steel is really getting up there in price.

It's definitely not cheaper, unless you've got some of the parts already. Tandem 3500 lb axles with brakes, springs, u-bolts & hanger kit were $750. Tires (5) & a set of lug nuts was another $500. You could probably find a used 16' for not much more than that. Things like the coupler, jack, breakaway, lights, & wiring add several hundred more.

Steel wasn't that bad for this. About $400. My biggest problem is that I can't get a standard 16' trailer through my RV gate. Anything a little narrower I found was a lighter duty utility or heavy equipment type trailer.

--Dan

Actually, I'm going to recant my previous statement. Something didn't sound right after I wrote that & it's not adding up to as much as I thought at first. A new 16' flat bed with a spare is about $2800 out the door around here & I'll be well below that. On my 16' rollback I had planned, I was figuring about $3k in parts, but it'd be a lot more trailer than a standard 16'.

A good 16' a year or two old is going for $1800 - $2000 here, and older ones that will likely need at least tires and a little TLC is about $1200.

Anyways, point is, the steel isn't really the big cost of the trailer. It's maybe 1/4 - 1/3 of the total cost.

--Dan