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Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)
Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)

It sounds like you are working with a trailer that has a maximum Aggregate Trailer [...]

Figure 6.1. A standard form to use in requesting catalogs from various suppliers: Just cover up this line and copy the page for an easy to use format.)
A. PURCHASING MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS

Now that you're educated about trailer design, it's time to turn your plans into hardware.

CHAPTER 6. CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS

Acquiring the materials, components, and tools necessary to build your trailer may turn out to [...]

A trailer with stakesides and an overhead rack for long, lightweight items. Note the gusseting in the upper corners. 
Fabricated Accessories-Racks & Carriers 

With a trailer, racks and carriers of all types abound. They are smart solutions to [...]

All Posts

Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)
Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM)

It sounds like you are working with a trailer that has a maximum Aggregate Trailer [...]

08
Jul
Figure 6.1. A standard form to use in requesting catalogs from various suppliers: Just cover up this line and copy the page for an easy to use format.)
A. PURCHASING MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS

Now that you're educated about trailer design, it's time to turn your plans into hardware.

13
May
CHAPTER 6. CONSTRUCTION ASPECTS

Acquiring the materials, components, and tools necessary to build your trailer may turn out to [...]

12
May
A trailer with stakesides and an overhead rack for long, lightweight items. Note the gusseting in the upper corners. 
Fabricated Accessories-Racks & Carriers 

With a trailer, racks and carriers of all types abound. They are smart solutions to [...]

10
May
Figure 5.22. Two styles of flatbed trailer with removeable stakesides.
Fabricated Accessories – Stakesides

Stakesides, which are removable, turn a flatbed trailer, Figure 5.22, into a box trailer which [...]

09
May
Figure 5.20. Tandem trailer with tool box on tongue.
C. FABRICATED ACCESSORIES

Specially fabricated accessories can add capability to any trailer, making it versatile and useful as [...]

06
May
Figure 5.19. Various anti-theft devices-chain wheel lock, coupler lock, hitch lock.
Accessories-Anti-Theft 

Now that your trailer is built, discouraging would-be thieves with a trailer lock is a [...]

05
May
Figure 5.16. Load binders in three of the smaller sizes: 300-lbs to 1250-lbs
Accessories-Tie Downs 

Tying your load securely to hold it in place while the trailer is moving involves [...]

05
May
Figure 5.13. Electric winch, hand winch, plus wire rope cable, hook & clamp. 
Accessories-Winches

Winches are wonderful devices; they have the ability of moving something many times our size [...]

03
May
Figure 5.10. Fixes for light duty trailer caster wheels include replaced bushings or a completely new industrial duty wheel welded to the jack post receptacle.
Accessories-Caster Wheels & Jack Mountings

Caster wheels are currently a subject of great concern to many-as they are quite popular [...]

01
May
Figure 5.7. Trailer jacks are built and offered in a variety of styles as shown here: 1) extra heavy duty top wind jack with spring mounted caster wheel, 2) top wind straight, 3) stabilizer (light duty), 4) side wind straight, 5) top wind straight with flange, 6) side wind rack jack with caster wheel. 
B. ACCESSORIES

Accessories are an integral part of your trailer and make the trailer do the job [...]

27
Apr
Figure 5.1. A 3/8" chain with an extra heavy duty hook; plus straight link coil chain in two sizes-5/0 and 2/0-with chain hooks.
A. SAFETY DEVICES 

Let's start with safety devices since all trailers are required to have some of these.

26
Apr
CHAPTER 5. ACCESSORIES
CHAPTER 5. ACCESSORIES

Accessories are primarily available to enhance your trailer's utility.

26
Apr
Figure 4.21. Pigtails are available in a tremendous variety of styles, materials and pin patterns. Since one brand seldom fits another, it is important to purchase the plug and receptacle as a pair. A set of standards to simplify this overly complicated approach would make life easier for many of us.
F. ELECTRICAL-CONNECTIONS

Electrical connections include not only the individual connectors where two pieces of wire or more [...]

25
Apr
Figure 4.16. A typical cross section of jacket- ed electrical wire is shown above. The two inner wires are usually of two different colors: either black and red or black and white. Actual jacketed wire is also shown. with 4 inner wires and with 2 inner wires.
E. ELECTRICAL-WIRING

Although painting (Chapter 6) should precede installation of final wiring, it will be discussed here [...]

24
Apr
Figure 4.14. Single and dual filament automotive light bulbs.
D. ELECTRICAL-LIGHTING

There are three hardware parts to any trailer's electrical system- lights, wire, connectors

12
Apr
Figure 4.13. Checking out the trailer lights can be done with the simple set up shown here.
C. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Equally, if not more important, is the delineation of your trailer with lights.

11
Apr
Figure 4.7. Fender styles and shapes commonly available.
B. FENDERS

Although their primary purpose is to deflect debris and water thrown off by the tires, [...]

08
Apr
Figure 4.1. A few of the most common couplers— Class 1 & Class 2. 
A. COUPLERS

The coupler on the trailer fits over the ball on the hitch which is permanently [...]

04
Apr
CHAPTER 4. BASIC COMPONENTS
CHAPTER 4. BASIC COMPONENTS

With an enlightenment on suspensions and all the associated parts, we can now move onto [...]

31
Mar
Figure 3.36. Mechanically actuated braking systems are made up of the parts shown here. When the ball- coupler portion of the actuator is compressed, the action is fed through the system with cables thereby applying the brakes.
Brakes-Mechanical

Mechanical brakes are a third style which are used almost exclusively in Europe.

30
Mar
Figure 3.34. Hardware and brake line kit includes all the parts necessary for connecting hydraulic brakes at the hubs to the surge actuator at the coupler. An Atwood surge actuator is shown above.
Brakes-Hydraulic

Hydraulic brakes do not use any form of electricity and are much like the ones [...]

29
Mar
Figure 3.31. Electric brake backing plates shown with two styles of brake controllers-a handle controller which ties into the hydraulic line, a foot controller which ties into the brake light line. Other important parts include a battery box, break-away switch, and a selective resistor.
Brakes-Electric

Electric brakes are a compromise of other systems with many advantages and only a few [...]

28
Mar
Figure 3.29. Axle flange. Mechanical Figure 3.30. Backing plates-for Electric, Hydraulic, Mechanical Brakes. Mechanical brake information was provided by AL-KO.
F. TRAILER BRAKES

Brakes are an integral part of the suspension system and are used to slow the [...]

27
Mar
Figure 3.28. White spoke wheels and black wheels with hub caps are great for trailers. Spoke wheels are available from Industrial Tire Co (see Appendix).
E. WHEELS & TIRES

Tires are of supreme importance. Selecting the correct ones for your application is a task [...]

25
Mar
Figure 3.21. A rubber suspension uses the rubber to resist, yet soften, the twist from the wheel load at the spindle which is mounted at the end of the crank arm configuration. Drawing data from Building and Towing a Trailer.11
Suspension-Torsion & Crank Arm Styles

Torsion style suspension/axle options are available for the more adventuresome.

1 Comments

24
Mar
Figure 3.18. Slipper spring assembly and dimensions for welding spring hardware. Figure 3.19. Standard two- eye spring assembly and dimensions for welding of 82 hardware.
Suspension – Attachment Hardware

Springs are useless without a way to attach them to the frame and the axle.

23
Mar
Figure 3.13. A phenomenon common to tandem trailers without springs is shown here Even if the coupler height is adjusted to the tow vehicle ball hitch height, it is difficult to avoid the overload on one axle. The best fix for this problem is to install springs.
D. SUSPENSION TYPES

"Springs? Who needs springs? I had a trailer for 10 years. It towed great. Low [...]

23
Mar
Figure 3.12. Trailer bearing life can be prolonged by protecting bearing cavities from water, dirt and other elements. Bearing protectors, as in the cross sections shown here, are a worthwhile investment and can reduce or eliminate time you would otherwise spend re-packing bearings. Note that both have pressure relief methods and zerk fittings for refilling grease.
C. HUBS

The hub provides the mounting surface for the wheel. The hub spins on the bearings [...]

21
Mar
Figure 3.11a. The most common hub & drum assemblies available, shown with bearings. Because of their popularity, selecting one of these hubs
B. SPINDLES

A spindle is a part of the axle. It is a machined part whose primary [...]

21
Mar
Figure 3.2. Loads typically applied to the tire, wheel, hub and spindle. Arrows indicate directions and application point of load.
A. AXLES

The axle is an important and integral part of the suspension.

18
Mar
CHAPTER 3. SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 3. SUSPENSION SYSTEMS

A. Axles B. Spindles C. Hubs D. Suspension Types E. Wheels & Tires F. Trailer [...]

16
Mar
Figure 2.37. Which is the best axle position for your trailer? AND your tow vehicle?
D. AXLE PLACEMENT

To some this is the most important question of all.

16
Mar
Figure 2.18. Types of tongue loadings which occur on every trailer tongue.
C. TRAILER TONGUE

Within the framework, certain areas require and deserve more attention than others.

14
Mar
Figure 2.16. A heavy duty car trailer built in a lightweight/ high strength manner.
B. TRAILER STRUCTURE

The trailer's framework and structure is its backbone and the skeleton to which all parts [...]

14
Mar
A. THE ESSENCE OF CG.
A. THE ESSENCE OF CG.

The point from which an item can be lifted with perfect balance is called its [...]

10
Mar
Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2. OVERALL CONSIDERATIONS

CHAPTER 2. OVERALL CONSIDERATIONS

10
Mar
Figure 1.11. Steps required to produce a layout trailer drawing
STEP 8. Decide Final Overall Dimensions

And now, after drawing the cargo, you can start on the trailer.

09
Mar
Figure 1.10. Scales of various grided high quality vellum paper commonly used for drawing and developing a final trailer layout drawing are shown here. The use of vellum is especially important because the paper is very stable and can be counted on to last for many years.
STEP 7. Select Scale & Drawing Size

The scale of your drawing is an important consideration for all drawings.

09
Mar
Figure 1.12. Add all the finishing touches—top rails, floor, tailgate, winches, jockey wheels, tie down hardware—to your layout and your drawing then represents the finished product.
STEP 6. Calculate Sizes & Decide Configurations.

A trailer's final configuration and ultimate strength depends on the materials used and their placement [...]

08
Mar
Figure 1.9. Some of the basic trailer components which require investigation and selection. Shown here are springs, axle, coupler, hub only and hub & drum.
STEP 5. Selecting Components

Selecting the axles, hubs, springs, fenders and coupler is not all there is to building [...]

08
Mar
Figure 1.8. Cross sections of various steel shapes commonly used on trailers.
STEP 4. Selecting Materials

Materials are a major part of your project. Leave lots of time for studies in [...]

07
Mar
Figure 1.7. Getting organized will simplify the project greatly. Use a binder or a set of file folders. It will start out small and increase in size as you investigate more.
STEP 3. Investigate the Options

Homemade trailer plans. STEP 3. Investigate the Options.

03
Mar
Figure 1.6. A rough freehand sketch of a stake-rack is shown here. Subsequently a detailed drawing was done with more exacting lines and dimensions.
STEP 2. Lay Out the Basics

Trailer Plans & Build - A picture is worth a 1000 words. Lay Out the [...]

03
Mar
Figure 1.2. Take cargo dimensions in all directions, both individually and collectively. Then obtain weights
STEP 1. State the Problem … or Define the Project

The problem statement is very important.

03
Mar
Figure 1.1. Drafting tools needed to help you complete the layout drawing. Shown here are triangles, french curves, a compass, a T-square, a brush and an Engineer's or Architect's scale.
Steps to Organization & Success

The first step in any project is to PLAN with a capital P-L-A-N!

03
Mar
Chapter 1
Developing a Desing Trailers

Designing and building your very own trailer can be fun and very rewarding

03
Mar
Trailers - How to Design & Build
Trailers – How to Design & Build

This is at least the second or third major version of this book

03
Mar
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