carl0s
Member
- Messages
- 333
- Location
- Kelsall
Hi.
I picked up a nearly-free trailer. It's to use in the garden / field on the back of our ride-on mower garden tractor thing.
It looks ideal. Even has basic leaf spring suspension.
I just need help with how to make a suitable box. The father in law said I should weld angle iron to the frame, and I can see how that would work.
But, I think I want to be able to remove whatever I add, so that the trailer can be put away in a shed / stable easily.
So I'd rather not weld to it.
There are lots of bolt holes along the frame, and of course I can drill more anyway.
I suppose what I'm stuck on is: should I just go straight for as much timber as possible - OSB3 from Wickes, and use pieces of angle iron as simple L brackets, possibly inside and outside of the corners and pass bolts through ? Or even some kind of removable pins?
Or should I be trying to build a drop-in steel frame out of angle & box section, that bolts to the frame?
I don't want to start something that either works out way too expensive, or just doesn't get finished because I've bitten off more than I can chew.
I would like to have the rear door long to allow a wheelbarrow to be rolled up it or something, maybe.
The trailer bed that I have picked up is 1510mm x 948mm.
I have a decent TIG welder that I have not had much practice on. I am eager to get back to learning to use it now though, and am in a new house with a new garage / workshop that is finally clear and tidy and I would be able to get going on the TIG welder again. I'd rather not try welding to this frame though because if I screw it up I can't just saw it off and try again. So welding a separate frame that drops in would be preferable - if I am to go down the welding route at all that is.
I am happy to spend the money on a MIG, and realise I should have one really, but gas wise I only have pure argon and it seems like I'd be wasting it unnecessarily if I used that while migging? It's taken me ages to finally get a gas bottle sorted - I had a rented bottle that didn't get touched for over a year so went back. Father in law has given me a full sized bottle of argon that he had lying around.
I would like to get *something* done quick so that we can actually use this before winter and make life easier for moving the hay and rocks and things that are everywhere. I could always go back for a version-2 project over winter.
I'd be grateful of any ideas!
As far as the OSB goes, I can buy the 2400x600mm pieces and get those in my car with the rear seats folded..
I can get 3000mm pieces of angle and box section delivered from eBay sellers.
Here's some pictures of the bed:
I picked up a nearly-free trailer. It's to use in the garden / field on the back of our ride-on mower garden tractor thing.
It looks ideal. Even has basic leaf spring suspension.
I just need help with how to make a suitable box. The father in law said I should weld angle iron to the frame, and I can see how that would work.
But, I think I want to be able to remove whatever I add, so that the trailer can be put away in a shed / stable easily.
So I'd rather not weld to it.
There are lots of bolt holes along the frame, and of course I can drill more anyway.
I suppose what I'm stuck on is: should I just go straight for as much timber as possible - OSB3 from Wickes, and use pieces of angle iron as simple L brackets, possibly inside and outside of the corners and pass bolts through ? Or even some kind of removable pins?
Or should I be trying to build a drop-in steel frame out of angle & box section, that bolts to the frame?
I don't want to start something that either works out way too expensive, or just doesn't get finished because I've bitten off more than I can chew.
I would like to have the rear door long to allow a wheelbarrow to be rolled up it or something, maybe.
The trailer bed that I have picked up is 1510mm x 948mm.
I have a decent TIG welder that I have not had much practice on. I am eager to get back to learning to use it now though, and am in a new house with a new garage / workshop that is finally clear and tidy and I would be able to get going on the TIG welder again. I'd rather not try welding to this frame though because if I screw it up I can't just saw it off and try again. So welding a separate frame that drops in would be preferable - if I am to go down the welding route at all that is.
I am happy to spend the money on a MIG, and realise I should have one really, but gas wise I only have pure argon and it seems like I'd be wasting it unnecessarily if I used that while migging? It's taken me ages to finally get a gas bottle sorted - I had a rented bottle that didn't get touched for over a year so went back. Father in law has given me a full sized bottle of argon that he had lying around.
I would like to get *something* done quick so that we can actually use this before winter and make life easier for moving the hay and rocks and things that are everywhere. I could always go back for a version-2 project over winter.
I'd be grateful of any ideas!
As far as the OSB goes, I can buy the 2400x600mm pieces and get those in my car with the rear seats folded..
I can get 3000mm pieces of angle and box section delivered from eBay sellers.
Here's some pictures of the bed: