I am thinking of building my own. I can get a kit online with everything that I will need except the frame and the flooring for $790.

Here;s the BOM
Bill of materials for selected tandem 7,000 lb. trailer kit:

(2) 3,500 lb. trailer axle with electric brakes

(4) four leaf double eye 25 1/4" leaf springs

(2) 2 3/8" round u-bolt kit for 3,500 lb. axle including u-bolts, nuts, and plates

(1) tandem hanger kit for 3,500 lb. axle including hangers, shackle bolts and nuts, shackle straps, and equalizers

(4) fifteen inch 70015D white spoke wheel and tire

(2) tandem fenders 9x72

(2) pre cut fender backs

(1) trailer light kit including tail lights, clearance lights, license plate bracket, and wire with connection

(1) Bulldog 2" 50° A-frame coupler

(1) Bulldog A-frame jack

(2) Safety chain

Part Number: ASINTKITTNDM3505

Total weight: 800 lb.

Price: $798.36

here's the link:
http://www.utilitytrailerkit.com/asintkittndm3505.htm

Are there any other companies that sell these kits? I am thinking 3-4" C channel for the perimeter and tongue and angle iron for stringers and 2x10 plans for treads with a recessed lock box in the middle to store spares, chains, etc.

Anybody done this?

SeanP

Aren't those axles a little bit light-duty?

I'd go with 5000lb axles, since the completeed trailer could weigh about 2k lbs, and that would limit anything on it to 5k lbs...

Just my $0.02

I built my own trailer, but I got a huge old, rusty POS boat trailer for free and started from there. That was a mistake since by the time I was finished only the bare axles and outer frame were original. Ended up costing almost $2,000, $50 at a time :(

Going with a kit is the way to go if you want to build your own. The upgrade to 5,000 or 6,000 lb axles usually isn't much and you get bigger tires, brakes, springs, bearings, etc. If you are going to spend the money, spending another $100 or so to upgarde is a very good idea.

Add up the total cost before you jump in though. Decking, D-rings, paint, shipping, etc. can take the total to $1,500 or more VERY quickly. If you look around, you can find quality, new trailers for not much more than that.

the jump is from $798 to $1043 to go from the 3500# to the 5200# axles. I have been keeping my eyes open an I cannot find a nice 16-18 trailer for under $2K. I figure the c channel and the angle iron will only be about $200-250 at most.

thanks

SeanP

http://www.equipmenttraderonline.com

For used stuff. I bided my time and finally found a decent trailer, freshly re-worked $2000. Better searching than eBay because you can do it by region, ie I'm willing to drive for this.

Bryan

I have been keeping my eyes open an I cannot find a nice 16-18 trailer for under $2K.

$1575 brand new 16 foot double axle 7500lb gross weight trailer at Bulldog trailers in centralia WA. Too bad your all the way down in cali:(

I rebuilt mine. Mine started as a slightly bent 8x16' flat bed farm implement that started as a mobile home I think. The trailer frame and axles it came with could probably have held 14,000lb's on the 3,000lb trailer.

I replaced the hokey welded on hitch, swapped out the mobile home axles with 6,000lb axles (both w/ brakes), 8 lug wheels, tires, brakes, battery, and the work to make fenders I could drive over after I dropped the trailer down. It came out to about $850. Initial cost was nothing, the trailer was swapped for my old slightly rusted out Fiat, that I got for free.

I'm going to build a 30ft gooseneck from scratch after I get a bigger truck. I figured about $1,000 for up to 4,000lb of steel, about another $1200 for 15-16,000lbs worth of axles either double or triple all w/ brakes, and another 1100 for the hitch, deck, lights, tires, wheels, etc. Of course, no one sells any plans for a trailer that big.

Those estimates are high sides, but figured about $3,300 for a custom built 30' Gooseneck would be a good deal.


For yours, if your trailer only weighs 2,000lbs, expect to pay about $0.35-0.40 a pound for the 1500lbs? of steel or so. And maybe another $400? for the wood deck.

down here you can get a 16ft.car trailer with 3500#axels with brakes for around $1100 or so.if you can find where you are located,just buy a new one and save the labor...

Two things I learned while looking for a trailer:
1) All trailers are in Tx (at some point in their lives)
2) Going directly to a manufacturer will save you big coin.

Bryan

i built my own i have 280$ in to it

this is a pic when i was building it

now i have good tires on it and lights

and it is painted black

I'm just finishing my second trailer.

After the first I said never again.

After the second I can definitely, absolutely, positively say never again.

A new 18' trailer, with removable fenders, powdercoated frame, 10,000# capacity, new tires, two axle brakes with either diamond plate or wood decking is $2300 locally.

The first 18' trailer cost me $1400 in materials, not counting tires or ramps and I got a set of used axles for free. I had around 80 hours into building this one from scratch. Say I'm worth $10 an hour that's $800 so this trailer cost me $2400 counting the tires, or I lost 80 hours to work on my Jeep.

The second trailer was given to me. It's a 9500# tandem boat trailer with new tires, new brakes and it's 16'. I have about 130 hours into this one. Yea it took a lot longer than building a new one. I currently have$1200 in materials.

If I had it to do over I'd buy one and spend the time working on my Jeep or playing with the kids.

BTW heres another place to look for parts. The website doesn't list everthing they carry so give them a call.

http://www.southwestwheel.com/

The coupler in that kit is too small. Should be a 2 5/16 ball. A 2" ball is only rated for 6000# So, your 7000# GVW trailer is only going to be as good as your 6000# ball. Remember, the official rating on your trailer is the smallest number in the equation. If your hitch is rated for 5000#, your ball and ball mount rated at 6000#, but youre trailer is rated at 7000#, you can only carry 5000# because that is the smallest number in the equation.

Sounds like alot of work to me just to save a few bucks! Why not just spend $1500 for a complete ready to haul 16ft 83" wide trailer from Zamora trailer sales in Woodland, CA?

Originally posted by dog walker
Sounds like alot of work to me just to save a few bucks! Why not just spend $1500 for a complete ready to haul 16ft 83" wide trailer from Zamora trailer sales in Woodland, CA?

thanks for the tip, I'll give them a call. My neighbors weren't looking forward to the chop saw/welder.

SeanP

Originally posted by twaldher
started as a mobile home I think. 8 lug wheels

I got a set of moble home axles for free one axle has electric brakes the other does not. Not 8 lug, they have a 5 lug thats like 15in round so for a special rim.
EDIT: did some reading, california style wheels.

they were free so there in my garge, I might sell them and put the cost twards a trailer, The Guy also gave me some 12in
I-beams WAY over kill, but it was free Ill have to trade it for some 6in I-beam or something usefull for the trailer.

Whats this junk worth?

There is a trailer dealer at El Camino and Capitol frwy In Sacramento. I think it's called California custom trailer.

just called today and got a price on a trailer,16 ft.lowboy,pipe top rails,3500# axels,and 1 with brakes for $945.from one of the local places close to my house...

That's a killer price, although, I'd want both axles with brakes. (Probably a nominal upgrade charge)

Bryan

Originally posted by flmanyj
i built my own i have 280$ in to it

this is a pic when i was building it

now i have good tires on it and lights

and it is painted black

That looks jsut like what I want to make.
Got more pics? What size steel did you use?

Thanks,
Phil

Originally posted by Bill Collins
just called today and got a price on a trailer,16 ft.lowboy,pipe top rails,3500# axels,and 1 with brakes for $945.from one of the local places close to my house...

Where is that? Can I get a # for them. That sounds GREAT!!!!

Dimitri

Originally posted by Flatty


Where is that? Can I get a # for them. That sounds GREAT!!!!

Dimitri he is in texas

Originally posted by The Jerk
he is in texas

And your point is???? I am gonna go down that way soon this summer some time so that I can wheel all over the place down there. May as well pick up a trailer while I am at it.

Dimitri