Machine Builders Network+ Forums Machine Builders Network Trailer Builds/Repairs car trailer refit

Ok gang, I'm trying to get back in the saddle again. I just bought a rather decrepit car hauler that the previous owner welded the axles solid to the frame. I have cut the mobile home style axles loose, welded on new perches on the axles and hangars for the springs. So far the springs are installed and hubs repacked. All that is needed is to turn the trailer back over and put the wheels back on.
This trailer is solely going to be used as local junk hauling rig. If I need to haul any cars on the main highway I'll rent a U-Haul.
I have bought a Davis /Case trencher and an old floor scrubber from my friend. The floor scrubber is a parts pig and the trencher is on tracks which I plan to get running. Both are quite dead and have bee for a while.
Now if I could just get pictures to post.......
Cheers
Terry

what model trencher?? I got a Davis T-66.

Sonny, it says Taskforce 300. It's in a bit of a state. No engine, hasn't been operated in years. But it has tracks and it is hydraulicly powered. I'm primarily interested in the blade and tractor. The undercarrage looks to be in fine shape.
The floor scrubber has a massive Briggs horizontal twin in it, although its stuck. It's the donor if I can get it going.
But I have to get the trailer done first.
Being I haven't been doing this stuff for literally years, I've turned into a 250 pound weakling. I'm working into this as gently as I can.

As we get older we have to realize the mind doesnt work like it used to..for me what I used to do in a day now I find that if I slow down I make better moves and work more accurately and get better results..Take it slow one step at a time..It actually saves money by minimizing wasted effort and materials,parts,etc..I dont know how many times I've acted fast on something and bought the wrong parts,etc only to wish I woulda just popped a beer and looked at it for a while.notepads work great for tracking part numbers,measurements,etc..With the price of new materials (steel,aluminum,wood,etc) these days one can't make the wrong moves too often..

PS: remember never weld vertically on a horizontal trailer frame member as you weaken the steel at that point creating a stress point,(known as a 'riser')-it'l crack right along the weld,if you weld the crack you just move the problem 1/2" over..FWIW..an old timer (92yrs old retired welder) told me that and I've never forgotten it..Use a plate,plug weld it then weld to the plate if you HAVE to weld there..I see a lot of trailers out there and a lot of them break this rule just to get product painted and sold 'out the door, let someone else fix the problem'..best of luck Terry,hope it turns out great for ya..check back with us

Turn the trailer over so you are welding flat??? Cant do that with a truck BUT maybe do the trailer that way. As Bunk says plate the cracked area to make it stronger and spread out the weight on that point would be a plus.
The 300 would be way newer than the old T-66. --- some guys converted them to mini dozers.

It takes me 2 days to do what I could do in an hour 5 years ago! Old body getting weak fast and I keep pushing harder to try making up for it.

I've been so busy with work that by the time I get home I don't feel like doing ANYTHING. weather is getting nice and days longer, so hope to get some projects done.
I loaned my mini hoe to friend back in April, I need to retrieve it so I can get some stuff done here.

WELL SHIT! The trencher deal fell through......for now. Seller regrets.

make sure your tires don't say 'mobile home use only' as DOT police will cite you on that commercial or not..I got out of all my 14.5" mobile tires long ago and went with 8-lug hubs and 16" load-rated wheels. If its a Type 42 spindle then most 8-lug hubs will fit them..but you do you..You'll also find the mobile home axles are thinner axle tubing than a 6 or 7K trailer axle.

I really haven't studied all of the tires but the one I had to get back on the rim said nothing of mobile home use. I am however, going to replace the tires as budget allows. This trailer will never see the highway as I have a route that uses back roads without lines on them. I also scout out logging operations and detour around those as transport police always are close by. I'm not going to put a lot more into the thing as much better specimens appear all the time on marketplace.

My General has 14.5's on it but they dont say mobil home use on them either.

the second problem with the 14.5 tires is the donut style wheel they are on-you can't balance it on a tire shop spin balancer. For long highway use you'd want to balance the tires..I do a lot of highway long distance towing and always want a balanced tire, most importantly at least an E load rated radial tire..you can even get used tires to go on a trailer if the budget is tight..we have a ton of used tire shops around here.
For local use you are probably doing the best thing for you..just watch your tire pressure, underinflation will kill a tire on the road in no time.

Yep. I'm no fan of the damned things. They are so popular because they are cheap. I prefer a good lug style rim that is hub centered. If I can't find a suitable replacement, I'll build my own this winter. It's starting to get hot now and my British/Yankee blood doesn't tolerate it well anymore. The aggravating thing is the item I bought this trailer to haul fell through. He's a good friend of mine so I'm not going to make an issue over it. I value friendship over possessions. His wife will probably talk him into selling it to me. Patience is a virtue after all.
T

some of the mobile home axles used the same Type 42 spindle as the 6k axles..Ive swopped the mobile home hubs before with 8-lug hubs... with marginal success..the brake flanges were different and I had to make new ones to fit the 6K brakes to the older mobile axle..total PITA and not worth the effort but I made it work,eventually switching axles totally..back when you could afford new axles,they were $200/ea shipped to my door FedEx, now they get $600

Anything you look at nowdays is 3 to 10 times higher than just a few years ago! Sad times and not getting any better.
Trying to get big tire boot patches for my tractor tire here and when you ask for them, they just look at you with a dumb look and claim they never heard of such things!!!!!!!!!!! TSC and F & F USED to have racks of them in all sizes! Cant even get patches for tubes like I used to! ------ The world has lost it guys!!

I'm surprised they didnt ask you what make and model tractor they fit first..

Dont think they even knew what a tractor is! LOL!