chassis costs

General Discussion about almost anything Teardrop or camping related

chassis costs

Postby Paul » Sun Nov 30, 2008 11:54 pm

I'm in the process of getting an estimate to have a chassis welded. Short of going and researching prices on tubing, axles, etc separately, does anyone have recent ballpark figures I could compare with when I get my estimate? I'm planning on a 5 X 10 with a Dexter torsion axle. I found some older threads with ballpark figures, but they were from 2005. I'm assuming materials have gone up since then. Any thoughts?

Paul Cook
User avatar
Paul
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 38
Images: 5
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:16 pm
Location: New Mexico

Postby Esteban » Mon Dec 01, 2008 2:26 am

Paul,

A year ago a local welding shop made a 5' x 10' frame for me for $500 in labor and materials. They supplied all the steel, the coupler and chains. I previously purchased the Dexter axle... and should have had it shipped directly to the welder.

The main part of the frame was made from 2" x 2" x 1/8" square tubing with mitered corners. There are four cross pieces made of 2" x 2" x 1/8" L angle. The 48" long A-frame tongue was made from 2" x 3" x 1/ 8" rectangular tubing with the 3" side up. Each of the four corners has a gusset. They also welded on the axle support brackets, chain rings, mounts for two rear levelers and a front tongue jack, and mid front and mid back flanges for bolting the floor to the trailer.

Since then steel went up. I read recently that it's coming down. HTH and good luck to you.
Steve - SLO, CA
Esteban
Donating Member
 
Posts: 1684
Images: 15
Joined: Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:39 pm
Location: California, San Luis Obispo

Postby aggie79 » Mon Dec 01, 2008 1:40 pm

I recently priced out steel from a retail outlet for a trailer similar in size as Steve's, but with 2" x 2" x 3/16" for the a-frame. The steel alone was around $220. I paid about $190 for my Dexter axle. I was planning on cutting the steel myself - chop saw rental $50. Not far from me is a small welding shop. The guy said he could weld it for about $250-$300. So add in the coupler, safety chains, and two stabilizers - ~$110 - and the total comes to: $820-870.
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas
Top

Postby stomperxj » Mon Dec 01, 2008 3:58 pm

Just built my frame a couple months ago:

sq tube and angle 2x2x.120 - $225
Axle/springs= $175
Shocks= $40

Prices for Boise Id area
User avatar
stomperxj
The 300 Club
 
Posts: 395
Images: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:25 am
Location: Kuna ID
Top

Postby angib » Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:55 pm

aggie79 wrote:... but with 2" x 2" x 3/16" for the a-frame....

If you want to increase the strength of an A-frame, you are much better off to increase the depth of the tube, rather than its thickness - 3" x 2" x 1/8" tube is about 15% cheaper than 2" x 2" x 3/16", but it's 40% stronger and 12% lighter.

Andrew
User avatar
angib
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5783
Images: 231
Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:04 pm
Location: (Olde) England
Top

Postby aggie79 » Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:31 pm

angib wrote:If you want to increase the strength of an A-frame, you are much better off to increase the depth of the tube, rather than its thickness - 3" x 2" x 1/8" tube is about 15% cheaper than 2" x 2" x 3/16", but it's 40% stronger and 12% lighter.


Thanks. I may do that if I have the clearance. Right now, my sketches have the a-frame below the frame rail. The axle I ordered is a 10-degree up Dexter. With the standard bracket, the unloaded height of the stub axle would be about 1/2" above the bottom of the frame rail.
Tom (& Linda)
For build info on our former Silver Beatle teardrop:
Build Thread

93503
User avatar
aggie79
Super Duper Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 5405
Images: 686
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:42 pm
Location: Watauga, Texas
Top

Postby Paul » Mon Dec 01, 2008 10:08 pm

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it very much. I've been lurking on the board for years, but unfortunately it takes me forever to get started on projects. I've had my hatch hinge sitting in the closet for a year or so. I had a friend of mine order it from Grant for me and didn't tell my wife until after it had been sitting in the closet for a while. 8) I've already got several sheets of plywood to get started with, but didn't want to start anything until I have a chassis.

Paul
User avatar
Paul
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 38
Images: 5
Joined: Mon Mar 14, 2005 10:16 pm
Location: New Mexico
Top


Return to General Discussion

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests