Ok, I've searched around and can't seem to find the info I want. I'm thinking about building a trailer to haul my fullsize bronco to trails on(not a gooseneck because I've got an Excursion). It's got fullwidth 1ton axles on it so the thing is wide and I imagine it weighs around 6K.
I will use 2 mobile home axles (both with brakes)because I can get them cheap. I want to keep it low so I'm thinking of doing a low deck and make the wheel wells so that I can just drive over them. I want it as strong as necessary while trying to keep it light.
Anyone out there got some suggestions for materials and framing and general building issues. <IMG SRC="smilies/idea.gif" border="0">

No idea if this would help or not. I was just snooping Harbor Freight and found this. You could probably modify it to suit your needs...HTH
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40916

Yeah I've seen a few of those ads, but didnt know if they would be worth it

I've been thinking of the same idea I was thinking that using some I beam design would work really well while being able to keep it low and long enough.

I also like the idea of being able to drive over the wheelwells and then having the trailer lower in front of the wheels.

I had a similiar question when I was shopping for a trailer and quickly learned that nothing was out their that suited my needs. Try looking on http://www.scorpionvehicles.com, Soni has a good idea and if you decide to buy from him be very patient, overly so, he's got a good idea but it takes him time and he doesn't always follow through on stuff at times, don't get me wrong he's a smart cookie and the design works well and is fairly narrow to boot, beats pullin a 102" any day!

What are the advantages/disadvantages or dual rear wheels as opposed to tandem axles?
Seems far less complex, lighter, how about load carrying capacity? I don't see many trailers with duals...

I found these but not really too much help: http://www.elamtrailers.com/plans.htm http://www.trailerplans.org/nscgi-bin/masterplansdesigninc/catalog.cgi?Department=TANDEM!32AXLE!32TRAILERS&Cartid=&Merchant=masterplansdesigninc

[ 10-06-2001: Message edited by: budr ]

Budr open your eyes...every tractor trailer is that way...an axle is an axle it can be bade to withstand whatever weight rating you want. The big advantage to duals is only one axle to deal with, in Soni's design its real easy to driver over versus going over a 10" wide fender and can be made narrow. The downside to single axle duals is to get it to track properly loaded and unloaded its tricky, and usually you end up with a very heavy tongue load, not always a problem just foor for thought. For me, I wanted a narrow track trailer as 102" wide trailer is a handful going down the road, have pulled boat trailers alot but nothing that wide, usually a jet ski on a modified trailer to improve driveability...other then that its driver preference...

You're right Coyote, I meant little ones or car haulers. Just wondering... Since we can drive over the tires, we should and can benefit from it. For my Toyota, I bet I could use a dually axle and springs from a large truck, and fab from there.

just food for thought - a dually axle is a good way to go the bigger your wheels the better it will tow at speed.

The reason you 2 axles would also be better is better weight distribution.

If its a traier just for your rig - 2 I beams straight down the middle with outriggers just where your wheels will ride is a weight save as well.

just my .o2

Rhino

I've got a 18' trailer that my dad and I built using mobile home axles under, both with brakes. The other day I was at a trailer place buying something for ours, when the owner of the place told me it was illegal to use mobile home axles under anything but a mobile home. <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0"> Anyone else ever heard this before? I live in TN if it matters. I figured the fellow was just trying to sell me some new axles for it. But I don't know? <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

Good info, thanks guys. That one like the scorpion is what I'm thinking about, but with tandem axles. maybe build a bridge over the tires tho.

Hillbilly, I think its just the tires that can only be used for mobil homes. But definetly rebuild the axles before you use them. Remember they were designed for a one way trip. So they are definetly suspect. Next time you see a mobile home being pulled down the road, check out all the spare tires on the rack of the rig that is pulling it. I don't think they last long.