125 replies to this topic

[KennyP]

As with all your projects, this is looking good, Ray. Should hold up very well. Thanks for the pics.

[mjodrey]

As with all your projects, this is looking good, Ray. Should hold up very well. Thanks for the pics.

I couldn't agree more,Ray is the man .

[jdcrawler]

The cross brace is welded to the front and I'm measuring up the tongue to get it on center.




The trailer tongue is welded in place.




It's time to tip it over so I can weld the underside.
First I get it up on it's side.




then I back up and lower it down so it is now upside down.




Then I just pick it up from the back to take it back in the garage.




Back inside and sitting on blocks.
I'm going to leave the trailer frame on the forks.
This way I can easily raise or lower it to make it easier to get in and around things for welding.

[wvbuzzmaster]

Looking great Ray. Can't wait to see it done.

[mjodrey]

Looking great Ray. Can't wait to see it done.

:ditto:I just know it will look great.

[KennyP]

You make it look soooooooo easy. Can I borrow your fork lift?

[twostacks]

That's a great idea. My inlaws have an old horse trailer that hasn't been used for a long time and will probably end up getting scrapped. I'll get dibbs on it. Gary

[KennyP]

Gary, have you read posts 7 and 10? I see you are in PA. You may want to look at what all may be involved before starting too much on that trailer.

[mjodrey]

Gary, have you read posts 7 and 10? I see you are in PA. You may want to look at what all may be involved before starting too much on that trailer.

Good advice.

[dstaggs]

I see another GREAT PROJECT. Always a learning time for me.

[jdcrawler]

My inlaws have an old horse trailer that hasn't been used for a long time and will probably end up getting scrapped. I'll get dibbs on it. Gary

I think the caution that has been advised for doing something like this is well advised.
From what I've learned on some of the responses here, the legal problems for building a trailer in Pennsylvanian can be a real nightmare.

Also keep in mind that once you strip a horse trailer down, there isn't any structural strength in the frame of the trailer so you have to build the strength into the trailer frame yourself.
That is why you don't see many utility trailers made out of old horse trailers.

[KennyP]

After seeing what you are going through, Ray, I would save the axles and scrap the rest.

[jdcrawler]

After seeing what you are going through, Ray, I would save the axles and scrap the rest.

That would a wise decision.

I wanted a trailer that had dropped axles so the trailer deck would be as low as possible.
The only reason I used an old horse trailer is because it was dog gone cheep.
I couldn't buy one of the axles alone ( not to mention the other axle and springs ) for what I paid for this trailer.

I'll be taking most of the metal that I cut off the trailer to the scrap yard.
It will probably give me enough money back to cover what I paid for it so I guess you could say the axles were free.

[twostacks]

Gary, have you read posts 7 and 10? I see you are in PA. You may want to look at what all may be involved before starting too much on that trailer.

You're probably right. I can hardly find time now to do what I need to do. It's been some time since I've seen it and it wasn't very healthy looking back then. It's probably worth more as scrap.

[KennyP]

I'm not trying to keep you from doing it, just want you to be prepared if you do decide to rework it. Down this way, they don't pay much attention to trailers unless they are obviously overloaded. I built the one I have from the ground up, wish I had made it 10' long now. If I had the horse trailer axles, I make a 12'. The Ford and attachments would love it.