5x10 flat bed trailer, 4" tubing?

Ask questions about Harbor Freight trailers, or questions about building your own...

5x10 flat bed trailer, 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:19 pm

I'm going to build a 5x10 flat bed utility trailer for general hauling, but am planning on leaving the top with the ability to put a 5x10 teardrop in place later on.

Total loaded weight will be at about a 2,000# load limit, with the axle & springs I have. Wondering about 1 1/2" X 3" X 1/8" wall tubing, or 1 1/2" X 4" X 1/8" wall (both would be rectangular sections) for the main frame runs. Planning on 3/16" X 2" angle for the internal cross members. The same end pieces as the main frame for the front & back will be used with mitered corners to seal up the frame.

I know the trailer with a teardrop box bolted in place on the frame is way overkill either way, but I'll be using it to haul stuff in the mean time with just a flat deck & no support for the frame, as a utility trailer once it's finished at first. Axle will be a 60/40 setback so there will be 4' behind & 6' in front with 25" springs splitting the difference on mounts.

Is the 1 1/2" X 3" X 1/8" tube strong enough, or should I go with 1 1/2" X 4" X 1/8" for a 10' long flat deck utility trailer? It will have a standard 50 degree hitch coupler for a 2" ball, with the 2 members running under the front corners & back to the frame sides.

Edit, 4" it is!
Last edited by noseoil on Tue Jan 01, 2019 8:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby JRAnt74 » Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:56 pm

The utility trailer I'm currently building already has 2"x3" frame rails. It used to be a pop up camper that got damaged in a storm. I honestly belive the 1 1/2 by 3 wpuld be plenty strong if 3" is vertical. I wish I could journal my build somewhere, but can not seem to find a good category here to put it under. Best of luck with your build!

James
JRAnt74
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat May 26, 2018 2:11 am

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Fri Jun 08, 2018 7:10 am

Decided to go with 4 X 2 tubing for the frame, 3 X 2 for the tongue & 3 X 2 X 3/16" angle for cross members. Starting the build now on this frame. Will post a few pictures along the way, but it was too hot yesterday afternoon when we stopped work. It was about 110 in the shade on the pavement & the steel was a bit warm to the touch. Working with my buddy Matt who is doing the welding for me on this one. It's going to be a bit on the heavy side initially, but I need something solid to move with to our new home in Raton, New Mexico!

154756
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby tony.latham » Fri Jun 08, 2018 11:03 am

It was about 110 in the shade on the pavement & the steel was a bit warm to the touch.


Ouch.

Are the welds on this new chassis going to look like the ones on your teardrop? Smooth as butter? :thinking:

:thumbsup:

Tony
User avatar
tony.latham
Gold Donating Member
 
Posts: 6880
Images: 17
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2013 4:03 pm
Location: Middle of Idaho on the edge of nowhere
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Fri Jun 08, 2018 8:05 pm

Er, not exactly smooth as butter at this point Tony, but they should be good enough. The teardrop frame really was a nice piece of work on the welds, so I lucked out on that one. Matt's still learning on the welding part, but the welds should hold. Doing a mitered frame for the corners, but we're working on the asphalt & on blocks initially, to make the box frame. Then we moved it up onto a rolling table to make things easier. Got the main frame welded, one cross member is in place & the "A-frame" is attached, missing one weld.

Ran out of wire, so we stopped for the day (yes, it was hot again today!). Here's the progress so far on the frame. Monday should show a bit more progress, axle & bits & pieces will go on next.

154759

Just a quick note: The total weight so far is at 150#, that's with the 4 X 2 X 1/8" frame, 3 X 2 X 1/8" A-frame tongue & one cross member & the coupler welded in place.
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Sun Jun 10, 2018 8:42 am

This is on the list for Monday. Need to get set up for the installation & get proper tracking for a straight pull. Any suggestions for measuring to keep it simple?

154765
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby JRAnt74 » Sun Jun 10, 2018 7:49 pm

noseoil wrote:This is on the list for Monday. Need to get set up for the installation & get proper tracking for a straight pull. Any suggestions for measuring to keep it simple?

154765


Simple would be a 60/40 split of bad length as a rough starting point. There are many formulas for acurate placement if the finished wieght is already known. Etrailer.com has a long drawn out way to figure it out. Just make sure you measure sevral mamy times for each location. I measured 10 times before tacking my perches in, then remeasured just to be safe.

James
JRAnt74
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat May 26, 2018 2:11 am
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby Padilen » Sun Jun 10, 2018 9:00 pm

There are mistakes in some of etrailer info. Be careful if you use it.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
Padilen
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1536
Joined: Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:20 pm
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3

Postby JRAnt74 » Mon Jun 11, 2018 5:31 pm

Padilen wrote:There are mistakes in some of etrailer info. Be careful if you use it.

Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk


Won't argue the inaccurate info, just a starting point for a ling drawn out formula. I'd stick with 60/40 split and watch weights to keep it balanced right. End result should have about 10-15% of total weight on the tongue.

James
JRAnt74
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 31
Joined: Sat May 26, 2018 2:11 am
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Mon Jun 11, 2018 7:26 pm

Went with the 60/40 today & it seems right. Got some more stuff done with d-rings for tie downs, brake light brackets, cross members, etc. It's coming along well enough.

154791
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Wed Jun 13, 2018 4:04 pm

Just some painting today & axle is mounted now, it's coming together! Monday should be good for the fenders, spare tire carrier & tires. Decking & sides will be #2 2x6's.

154824
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Sat Jun 16, 2018 6:26 am

Went to work (my old job) & found some southern yellow pine to use for the decking. It's a lot heavier than I had wanted, but the price was right so I grabbed it to use to make side boards & the deck. Coated it all with a mixture of linseed oil, paint thinner & varnish to seal the wood. Should be doing the deck next week along with wiring & fenders. The rolling weight without any decking is about 375# for the frame. With all the wood it will be about 600# when ready for a load.

154883
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:52 am

Simple board setup to weld braces onto the fender, quick & dirty, but it keeps the alignment of the fender to the "frame" in place for welding. The blocks simulate the offset for the frame to fender fit. Braces just get clamped to the fenders, then are spotted in the correct location & finish welds are made. Once the braces are welded on the fenders, the fender "assembly" gets clamped to the frame & welded with the correct clearance on the tires. Spacers will be used to keep things in place for spring loading, distances to front & rear.

154884
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Mon Jun 18, 2018 5:41 pm

Fenders mounted along with tires (ST205/75-R15). Tomorrow is decking & wiring for lights, then it's about done.
154911
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Re: 5x10 flat bed trailer, 3" or 4" tubing?

Postby noseoil » Wed Jun 20, 2018 3:45 pm

Ran out of paint, but deck is in place.

154938
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=50&t=60248
The time you spend planning is more important than the time you spend building.........

137905
User avatar
noseoil
1000 Club
1000 Club
 
Posts: 1820
Images: 669
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 8:46 am
Location: Raton, New Mexico, living the good life!
Top

Next

Return to Trailer and Chassis Secrets

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests