Has anyone built an extremely long bumper pull type trailer. I am talking in the 28ft-30ft range. I currently have a 18ft dovetail car hauler that I tow my jeep on, but am looking to be able to pull 2 jeeps without going to a gooseneck trailer. I have seen some up to 30ft or more in length, but want to get some other opinions on this idea.

Here are some of the materials I am looking to use:
4" channel for the tongue back to the front of the front axle
4"x3" x1/4" angle for the outer frame
2"x3" x3/16" angle for the lateral cross braces on 24" seperation
dual 7k axles with elec brakes on at least one of them, if not both
Weight distribution setup on the hitch

The deck will be 7' wide and 28' long with a 4ft-5ft tongue as of now. Should I run an extra brace down the length of the trailer in the middle to help tie the cross braces together. I did not want to run any top rails, but may consider this to help stiffen up the deck if neccesary.

Any feedback is welcome, good or bad. Please offer any solutions to some problems that I might encounter.

Thanks,
Stephen
:cool2:

angle iron frame rails ain't gonna cut it for a 30' trailer i would say minimum 2x6 rectangular tubing or c channel

Don't know where you are but you need some more structural members other than the fame you're talking about. I'd go visit your local trailer dealer and look @ some of their longer trailers and mimic the design of those. or check out this trailer (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328805&page=1&pp=20) and see if the guy still has it for sale.

I have a 32-foot bumper pull: http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/c9e95e0c_m40c19f3d/6f25/__sr_/5e14.jpg?ph48jZDBs7ieqR7R

it has I-beams, over a c-channel frame. It also has LARGE c-channels between the I-beams.

http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/c9e95e0c_m40c19f3d/6f25/__sr_/b3b5.jpg?ph48jZDBvAD5WJjF

JP

where is it, where's the pic of the 1/2 ton 30'+ pontton boat trailer.

where is it, where's the pic of the 1/2 ton 30'+ pontton boat trailer.


this one??

http://www.tech.mtu.edu/~jawagone/random/pontoon2.JPG


I wihs my closeup pic of that gem would have turned out.. whe it was sitting at the roadside rest with no truck attached.. With the awsome 2x4 box frame.. and the bent 2k pound jack holding it all up..

ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh yyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

If you're considering building a long trailer with angle iron, then you have no business building your own trailer. Seriously.

I'm with BCboy, 2x6 .250 minimum for the main rails and I would do .120 wall 2x3 crossmembers minimum every 18". Brakes on one axle aren't gonna cut it either, the trailer alone will weigh at least 4k, two Heeps and you're well over 12k if not 14k loaded. That's a lot of weight to bumper pull depending on how well built the Jeeps are. I would seriously consider a gooseneck, it's by far a better option. If you're really serious about doing this, contact the guy at www.tufindustries.com. Have him design you a set or modify one of his plan sets. I built my 20' with his plans and it's overbuilt to hell and doesn't flex. Even with your Ford, I wouldn't want to tow that load bumper pulled. By the time you add airbags, WD hitch, etc.. you could have gone gooseneck and been a lot happier. Take it for what it's worth.

In my post above, I said that the frame of my 32-ft is I beam. It isn't. It's all C-Channel. The trailer has a full C-channel frame, AND it has a draw C-channel subframe (That's the part that attaches to the hitch ball).

You can see the larger and the smaller C-channel crossbeams that are stacked up until the back of the axles, and then only the main frame's c-channels are cross-beam (because the subframe doesn't go past the axle).

It has a small amount of flex, but I've never had a problem. The only problem I've had is blown-out tires, mostly due to the previous owner selling me this trailer with $hitty dry-rotted crap.

I like this trailer a lot, but I've upgraded to a 3-car wedge.

JP

I dont get how you can pumper pull a 30 foot trailer... I drag the back of my 16" dovetail all over the place trying to go over dips and bumps, must be crazy with double the length... Plus, you tounge weight is going to be through the ROOF, b/c so much of the trailer is in front of the wheels. I guess it would help to not have ANY dovetail, and just use longer ramps...

I dont get how you can pumper pull a 30 foot trailer... I drag the back of my 16" dovetail all over the place trying to go over dips and bumps, must be crazy with double the length... Plus, you tounge weight is going to be through the ROOF, b/c so much of the trailer is in front of the wheels. I guess it would help to not have ANY dovetail, and just use longer ramps...

I run a 34' bumper pull. Its not bad. No dove tail and its fairly tall, it would be rough getting a car on it, but fortunately with 4wds its not hard. We use
6' ramps.

Tongue weight when loaded is 12% just like on a regular bumper pull. You just adjust the rigs until you achieve that. (although when towing with the dually, we usually aim for about 15%)

My 32-ft bumper pull is NOT dovetail.

The front height and the rear height are the same (due to the right hitch height AND proper weight positioning).

I occasionally drag the tail but seldom. I've never dragged the tail on pavement.

Look at the pics I posted, you'll see that it's the same as standard height trailers.

My good fried, JeepSkeet (on here) has driven my rig a couple times, and he thinks it works reallly great.

JP

your pics didnt show up.

Go here for my truck & trailer pics:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jp_boileau/album?.dir=6f25&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jp_boileau/my_photos

I now use the F350 to tow, and sold the F250. The F250 did the job just fine, a small amount of "tail wagging the dog" but manageable. The F350 is more stable, and it can tow more.

I'm not saying that a 32-foot bumper pull is THE best solution. It's just "a solution" that works.

JP

That is a nice trailer. I looked at a Kaufman here locally, and they are built heavy duty. I am going to look at a gooseneck this weekend. Hopefully after that I will decide which way to go. We'll see what kind of deal this guy wants to make on the GN. Thanks for everyones input.

Stephen
:cool2:

Plus, you tounge weight is going to be through the ROOF, b/c so much of the trailer is in front of the wheels...

just wanted to point out that the wheels on a 30 foot bumper pull are not going to be the same distance from the rear of the trailer as they are on a 18 or 20 footer. they will be close to the same relation front to rear,making them furter away from the end,and making it possible to position the rigs for good tonge weight.

what im trying to say,is that the wheels arent at the end of the tralier,so that all the weight of 2 rigs isnt on the tongue.

i have a mobile home frame ill be making a 32 foot trailer from,it will be a gooseneck,but right now i pull it around with the standard hitch if i need to move it. the wheels are at the extreme end of it,and it is alittle hairy trying to get it around some corners-you have to go way out before the turn so it doesnt track into the opposite left turn lane and mangle someones car,or run over the curb and hit a light pole :eek:

i researched the idea of keeping it bumper pull,and like the others have said it can be done,but a gooseneck is alot better of an option,IMO