Got my hands on a crusty old camper trailer frame. Gave her some TLC + new steel, new wiring and some wood on top. Not a bad turn around for what some would refer to as junk!
1957 traveling trailer two 3500 pound axles under I’m making a trailer just like that got it for $100 tree fell on top of it and destroyed the top tore it down to make a car hauler out of it. Enjoy making it first time welding this is fun 👍 thank you.
Nice, thanks for saving me a bunch of research. I have a similar trailer frame that I used with my winches and comealongs to transport various stuff. I wanted to see how to reinforce it so I can add D rings, Etrack etc. Cherry picker makes it very versatile. :)
@8:19, love how you just welded the square tubing on the sides of the old steel, you not only widened it out but also given it an extra strength to load it up with heavy items such as cars. I'm planning on doing up a diy trailer myself came across your vids and appreciate it alot, thanx man for the vids, keep'em coming, take care👍😁
I like the video I have an old car trailer, which is home built. I need to rebuild it, for my 240 coupe so I can go to drift events! Keep up the content!
I'm going to be building an ATV trailer over the winter and wasn't really sure how I wanted the boards to sit but I like your idea of tucking it under angle iron up front but might do mine on three sides instead. Thanks for the detail!
I'm doing the same. Was given the camper. I have some trailer house axles that will have to be cut down. Got them when I cleaned up and old rotten trailer house. Found 8 lug hubs and the brake kit.
@@titanfabinc I used one of these frames and reinforced it and maid it 8ft wide by 20ft long and put a tiny house on it! It’s 13ft 5” tall!!! I’m also building right now a car hauler out of a camper frame like yours except it’s 6” thick I beam steel and it’s going to be 93” wide with drive over fenders and I cut the frame to 18ft long and welded a 2 ft dovetail! It looks amazing I will try to make a post of it in the next week when it’s done. I think you will like it!!!
My son just acquired a 34' version for free, it's in decent shape no real rust just surface rust here n there most of the original white paint is relatively intact, I was thinking the same thing about a car hauler just not sure of the capacity of the axles, it would be nice to be able to at least haul my 92 c1500 it goes about 4000lbs, that may be pushing it but I don't know. I would do Some beefing up so the axles are the limiting factor. The car trailer at work is made from big beefie c channel like maybe 8"x2.5"? Ish Can't remember . But it would haul a diesel truck no problem I'd say...Probably should shorten it tho 34' is huge!
Hey there I’m trying to perform a big move and have a trailer dual axle for 24 footer that I’m looking to convert . The cost of shipping/moving is INSANE at the moment soo imma watch the shit outta this and maybe jam you up for advice ?
Good job on the rebuild. it kind of looks like the axles are too far forward. I know this is too late but might want to google some similar length trailers and look at the axle placement. With them centered it will be too easy to load it wrong and make it dangerous.
Could be the angle of the photo. I took a good 8-10" of the back, axles are favoring the back but yes they are still pretty centered. Got it plated and have towed 4000lbs of steel, a old sn95 mustang and 24' lengths of tube.
Not too shabby, I probably would have overbuilt it. Adding more crossmembers, torque tube, etc. But the decking choice makes it good and stout I'm sure.
Yeah for sure, I did add some additional crossmember but not too crazy. Hauled 6000 lbs of scrap steel on it, probably pushed it a little haha. But all in all it's been great!
@titanfabinc Funny, I just built out my camper trailer, and the original trailer looks identical to yours. Curious who the manufacturer was. 20ft long and I made it the width of the "wings" about 91" wide.
Bro you the best 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 i jusy bought one for $250!!!!!! 30ft same as yours. Im going to sand blasting , painted and do the same as yours men i have to say thank you !
The one thing I would have changed was putting that narrow set of boards down the center or ran a piece of steel down the center, a) to have center line, and b) not have weight on the narrow boards
Well the angles were that way to hold the water and black water tanks... The safety chains are suppose to be welded with round bar cause it is illegal to weld the chain link of a safety chain now. You may want to redo the safety chains.
All and all you can make a trailer out of one. It wont be as cheap as you hope it will. It will be narrower than a regular trailer. And it will have around a 5000 pound capacity. Trailer looks nice.
@@caspercook7337 wrong, 2 3500# axles equals 7k minus the weight of the trailer. Safe load capacity maximum would be 5k. You put 7k on it it would be overloaded.
They are actually underneath the trailer, I used angle iron. I did briefly touch on this in the video, being the trailer is so narrow I am able to run the straps around the deck to tie downs underneath the trailer when securing a car. Otherwise there is smaller bolted anchor points for small loads
Noticed you’re in Alberta (At least your trailer plate said so haha). I was hoping you could tell me whether or not this had a vin or you had an assigned vin. If you had the vin assigned were they at all concerned that it used to be another trailer/where you acquired the trailer? I’ve built my own from scratch so it wasn’t in question when they assigned it a vin. However I’m looking to do a deck over starting with a used travel trailer.
It was already stamped as a travel trailer. All I said was that it's been painted black! No questions asked. For those that are curious this trailer is still going strong. I had replaced the tires with 4 new ones after I had a blow out. Also the plastic leds tail lights aren't very durable at all and have cracked pretty bad from little bumps and scrapes
how much of a headache is it to get a vin on one of these camper/flat deck builds or did you not do that and just use it incognito? I've heard it's around $500 for the inspection/vin but I'd assume they'd instantly know it was a trailer frame and not as strong as a proper car hauler frame and it wouldn't be rated for a full 5000lbs (assuming 3500 axles)? Just wondering cause I've seen a bunch of these $600 camper frames on marketplace, is it worth building into a car hauler if it may never pass the vin inspection?
Well this already had a vin, and was easy enough to get a plate for. They never asked questions for me, yeah 2×3500lbs axles. Id be happy to put 5000lbs on this without a worry. Ive done multiple trips of steel, long hauls with race car + gear, s197 mustang. Never an issue
@@titanfabinc I actually somewhat answered my own question today lol I found a forum for 2007 which said there isn't a VIN inspection, it's just literally you pay for a guy to come out and give it a vin. Which is terrifying to think of the sketchy trailers that are on the road. On your registration does it say "travel trailer" with the old VIN that's in the system or does it say homemade? Or could someone tell the registry anything like "car hauler" and in the eyes of the law that is now what it is? lol
@hurtinalbertan3844 All I said to them was that it is a now painted black and that it is used as a utility trailer. I do agree there is some sketchy home built trailers out there, this did save me some messing about being that it all ready had a vin stamped in it and had been registered before. I did strengthen the frame, as well as widen it. But the way it was built as far as axles, brakes etc is still the same. I am a journeyman welder in Alberta, im more then confident that the modifications done are adequate if not better then what is was prior to me. The cross braces literally had 2 welds per tube and were very easily wacked off with a hammer and some grinding. Ive had a few people comment with how stupid this is, but again 2×3500lb axles. It was rated to carry a load, whether the load was "self-supported" or not the frame underneath is the real steel part of a camper. With some additional cross braces, and the additional width (2x2x3/16" HSS) around the entire upper perimeter I would believe this is a perfect candidate for a budget flat deck. Its still going strong, my paint didnt hold up so well. But the trailer it self is solid with new tires and axle bearings
@@titanfabinc All good, yours definitely looks well done and you know what you're doing. Definitely some of the camper frames are pretty cheaply welded together and need to be strengthened. I'm pretty sure a lot of the actual frames are only 1/8 wall tubing which might not be so good for a full 5000lbs over the length, 3000-4000ish sure. You added the 2" square tubing so that probably helps with stiffness. Most people probably strip the camper, slap some ply wood on it then go towing their 1 ton on the "legal trailer" lol
In my state I took my camper title and a weight slip to my dmv. They took that and retitled my trailer as a utility trailer. I registered it for 7000 pounds which is plenty for a sxs hauler
I believe the use of the frame/axles would be a good starting point. But boat trailers from my experience have a pretty designated design which could get tricky making a "flat deck"
The amber lights are suppose to go on the front corners on the side. Better check your regulations. Cause there is a couple of things illegal about this trailer build.
Thanks for your input I'll look into that. I live in Alberta, our trailer rules are pretty leanent. It's been plated and used quite a bit since it's been built
To be legal, you're gonna have to nix that blue license plate light setup and replace it with the cluster of three ID lights in the middle for trailers over 80" wide and light your plate from the side. Aren't their angle iron cross members way to light duty? You know what works great for treating wood like your trailer deck is just used motor oil.
I have done several of these. I will assure anyone you cannot convert one of these for 600 bucks even it is free. If its done right, buy the time its over you can buy a proper built trailer in good condition. But!! Wheres the fun in that? You can make these 8 ft wide with drive over fenders and they definitely need beefed up after the camper is removed. Also the axles need moved back for proper load position and reduce tail whip. Im about to start on another one thats a fifth wheel. It will be a tongue pull when im done. You will never know it was ever a camper when im done. It will be a 20 ft deck over.
Yeah I've used it quite a bit since it's been finished. If I did it again I'd make it wider for sure. But other the the width I've moved 4k lbs in steel, moved my mother in law, moved client cars and not to mention my own car. When I put my own car on the trailer the wheels almost touch the wheel wells going on. But still happy either way!
So it's had bad geometry since it was manufactured? It's a 1991 camper and was used before I got it. Seems to be fine for me, have used it a good 2 dozen times since it's been finished. Do appreciate the input 👌
@@titanfabinc you seem a little butthurt when someone gives criticism.... he's right. And no, it wasn't wrong when it was manufactured. The manufacturer wasn't putting cars on it..? You dumb
@@titanfabinc That and the "opinion" of engineers but what would somebody with knowledge or torsional forces, material strengths and dynamic loads know anyway.
