Trailer build 

The happiest man i have ever seen!

I have a German shepherd who hangs in the shop all the time , but when I weld I put him outside

Every welding shop used to have a blind dog.

I’ve seen a lot of trailer mods, don’t remember if I have seen one from scratch. I think this is one that will last a lifetime.

Always handy havin a trailer, especially one u built yourself because your more likely to take care of it. Made mine 35 yrs ago and it's still working well. Nice work.

As you don't have a new post today I came back to this one as It is a thing I have done many times. Love that cut where Cora comes to you in the bush. She really lives the life of Riley. I sure enjoy a build done by a good machinist / fabricator. Accuracy can never be not considered in anything. See you next week my friend. (I hope).

Hi, Wansford U.K. Allways a good Saturday morning when there is a new Steve Summers vid.

I enjoy watching people carefully plan, 3d model, and execute a project. But I REALLY like watching somebody with deep experience using expert intuition and past lessons to design and build something on the fly. The "plan-model-build" feels like something I can do (probably unjustified ego, but that's how it feels), this feels more like watching somebody who's mastered a domain.

The quality of your work is directly related to your abilities as a machinist.

Nice build Steve I think you are building it for your buddy that's been helping you aquire equipment at auctions. He should get a lot of use out of it. Cora is such a sweet dog she is so lucky she found you guys. Thanks for the video.

Steve, in Australia, your draw bar would be classed as very light duty,,we normally have a V style draw bar, and axle is always to the rear of center to get weight on the ball ,,Regards Frank.

You are the Bob Ross of metal fabrication and that is one happy little trailer. Love the show and keep up the great work!

Happy Sunday Steve, Cora, and Grits! Nice change of pace, a little fabricating is good for us. I learned about notching beams on the Evo Saw ( I have one ) Instructive and inspiring as always. Thanks for sharing, God Bless.

Pro Tip: If you use Vise Grips on both sides of the Fireball squares to hold your work in place, there's no monkeying around with them. They'll hold things square without shifting.

Just like a sawmill trailers for HD applications like this just can't be overbuilt. Oh how I love fixtures and jigs. Well worth the time and resorses to make them. I am thinking you really appreciate that wonderful flat and level pour you did on the shop resto. I will never forget all the different things you mastered when breathing the new life into that building. BTW You have some great tunes happening here today. So good I put them up into the TV and surround sound. I once had a pad ground into our long shop floor to give me a dialable surface to work on. The boss squalled like a rabbet but when I showed/ compared it to what I was spending hourly to get a good, level build he was sold. The pad was 12 x 40 so I could cut damaged logging trailers apart and back together again. Being old school I was never a fan of wire feed welders. The wire tech was new and solid low hydrogen wires had yet to be invented. Things have changed a lot since my retirement. It is nice to see welds done in the right direction esp with the spring hangers. Many will make the mistake of welding across A beam whether it is H or SQ tube. when they crack they become really dangerous to everyone on the road. I usually put a side gusset in both sides of the tow bar. About a 1/3rd of the length for that extra bit of over build on a trailer draw bar. That way it makes a great support system for a tool box or the spare tire. Just like everything like a shop we can't make anything big enough eh. Thanks bud and I will see you next post my friend.

Nice trailer build, Steve. Keeping it square, parallel, and flat is critical. Notching and welding the i beams to the web makes it really strong. Great informative video. Thanks for sharing.

Don't forget to add some tie down points/D rings. Nice job!

Nice job. I try to make the tongues as long as possible. Makes it so much easier to control when backing up. Otherwise they will jack knife very quickly. Also, I would add some side supports for that light weight tongue. Just me. Thanks for sharing.

Steve, be careful when grinding, cutting, or welding when Cora is around. Protect her eyes too. Thanks for the video. Jon

can't wait to see the part 2 TRAILING video

I didn't even know they sold trailers at Ikea!! Learn something every day.

As Tom Lipton says..."Nothing too strong ever broke"...!

Nice job. Welds look very nice. Really a nice to see Miss Elizabeth doing work on her truck. Was in Kansas visiting my son, nice to get away, but no place like home, and watching you n yours Saturday morning. Thanks as always. Steve in the morning, Adam in the afternoon. He told me about your channel years ago n have been hooked ever since. Thanks again for all you do. Learning and enjoying, couldn't ask for anything more. Have a great weekend. 👍

Thank you for the video Steve.

Morning everyone! From sunny Dorset! 👍

Thanks for changing things up. It was nice. I loved the music as well

Nice project....nicely done. Thanks for bringing us along.

Like your welding skill.

Good morning from a trying to be sunny Cambridgeshire in the UK!

At 3:40, when you are kicking that beam into position...Is that what they call "toe in" ;-)

Heavy duty trailer. You have the lightest tongue bar you can find. and an extremely lightweight axle.

I’ve built a small boat trailer. The axle was marked TOP. There was a definite bow that straightened when load applied.

Steve may I suggest a gusset under the added piece of metal to reinforce it against twisting in.

Hope you checked for square by going corner to opposite corner. The squares in corners usually doesn't get it there.

I didn't see Cora's welding helmet on 😉, I hope her eyes didn't get burned. Nice build,

Hi Steve. Love the dry humor at the beginning! As far as being overbuilt, Tom Lipton often says "nothing too strong ever broke". I tend to agree with that. Nice trailer. Al should get some good use out of it. Thanks for the video!

That was really fun to watch, especially the plasma torch. I had to look away when you removed those steel scraps from the bandsaw with your fingers, but I know you are very skilled and careful.

From the wise Keith Rucker: "nothing too strong ever broke". Theres no harm in over-building your trailer! (or anything else)

хорошая работа

Love the new logo

Thank you for sharing. Nice job.👍

One of the first things you learn in welding school is measure twice cut once

It's about time to go ahead and makes them birches shorts. It's gonna get hot up there in Kentucky!

Hello from Texas!

Nice build Steve. The draw bar Ratio should be in the instructions.

Excellent. 👍

Thnks, great vid!

I believe the formula is you need at least 10% of trailer weight on the tongue for it to tow safely. Also the farther from the tongue to the axle the easier it will be to back up. I am calling the hitch point the tongue as that is called tongue weight

When I was building trailers, of all sorts, the basic rule of thumb was for the centre of axle, or axle group, was to be 4 inches (100mm) BEHIND the centre of the bed/box. That plus drawbar/tongue weight gave enough balance to track near perfect.

Man I loved your video and just your vibe is amazing GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!

Excellent build video. Good to see your variable ergometrics in the fit and weld up. Some sketchy wobblings should have had saw horses or 2X4 braces for secondary support. Overall +5☆ for videography, content and je ne sai quoi (french for unknown but worthy) keep it up dude.

Thanks for making the video.... 1) Make sure your dog is out of the way - they have no eye protection..... 2) I make mine and turned the C channel facing outside. That gave me square sides on the inside and channel on the outside for the wiring - so if and when my wiring goes bad I can access it easy. 3) There are plans on the internet for 3500 5x10 utilitrailer. I use C-channel, bought a bigger axel etc. and used pressure treated 2x8 on the floor. End result is a beast that probably weighs close to 800lbs. - but I have hauled some pretty heavy stuff (probably a hair overweight considering I have no brakes on the axle - but I pull with a 1ton pickup) 4) I went with torsion axle. Note, to make the mounting brakets on the inside, you have to order them that way..... I made the mistake of assuming C-channels were 2" wide. Not sure why I did that. I had to adjust with custom mouting plate. That plate/mount is stupid heavy duty.

Awesome job

Good job 👏

Awesome looking trailer. Being it's so small hopefully it will handle just fine.. But the load thats placed upon it, the c.o.g. has to be slightly in front of the center line of the trailers axle to pull correctly.

Very nice..!

I thought the axle looked light for the trailer. People will load anything that fits on a trailer then wonder why the tires blow out.

Hi. Nice video again. Never before seen anybody lift 2000lbs axel with bare hands! :D Greetings from Finland.

Nice job man !!! definitely better than the new store bought cheap offshore trailers 👍👍👍

Very nice project video

Slightly surprised not to have brakes on an HD trailer. I would not be happy towing any trailer with a GVW, including load, exceeding 500kg/1100lbs without brakes, either over-run, electric or air. I have seen a number of smaller trailers jack-knifing under heavy braking.

Awesome job. It would have been better if you made it a bit bigger though. I know you built it for one specific purpose, but you built it well, and it will be around for a while, and I was just thinking that later in its life it could be a quad trailer.

Steve just an idea for a project please make up a welding cart for your welders I'm thinking of your back plus a tip make a few stands that have a short length of thread all to adjust for a comfortable working hight for welding as I know you don't have space for a fixture table

Dang! did you see that guy lift that 2000# axle. What a beast.

by Adding an adjustable lenght, like double, towbar you can haul long planks of wood when needed eaven if you have small bed. Strong frame, that thing will las forever

The cheap welder thing amazes me at the moment. I do lotsa field welding, railings, carports, etc. was using 80lb hobart mig welder. Bought some Lincoln/century flux wire feed, 11 lbs, $160. so far no issues. 200 hrs of welding. Can climb ladders, run on homeowner 20 amp sketchy circuits, set fire to their mulch…no issues at all. Not running 100% for sure, more like 30%, but gotta be careful on 1/8” tubing for burn through. Have everlast welders in shop. Again, trained/cert on miller, but not seeing huge difference nowadays.

Love the small set of chicken legs you've got there! Nice build.

Centering the axil in the very center of a trailer is prone to make a problem trailer hauling most anything. Without more tongue weight towards the vehicle, it will wonder all over the road and as speed increases, it will become dangerous for sure... The axil has to be offset to the rear of the trailer to make it haul correctly.

Keep on welding steve, I've ben a producktion and site welder all my life, licenced in too many welding types and materials to remember. That thing is waaaay overbuilt, but you can forget about it for the next 30+years.

Have fun and we'll see you next week.

Steve, I'm buying a trailer from a guy that was on e a solar powered highway arrow sign. It's 4x4', so I'll add 2' to the front, and add steel in the same gauge. I'm thinking I might get it sandblasted, and at least get the bottom coated with a 10 year guarantee on "self healing" black paint offered by a local trailer company. It's about $300 for that, so it's a tad expensive, but worth it in the long run. This trailer was never titled, so a bill of sale and receipts for parts , like lights and additional materials is what they review when inspecting for the title. I'm tempted to make it a tilt bed for loading mowers, etc. That's a nice trailer you have there. I wish you success with completing it and the paperwork.

I was gonna say poor dog but he put her up by the next cut scene, my boy forgot she was there thats all. Great video bubba 💪

Comment on the algorithm!

I usually do 60/40 split 60% in front of axle and 40% behind.

Not sure what the text books say, 60/40 or 20% weight down on your truck. 80% on the trailer 20% on the ball of the truck. Solid ball only, no fantasy pen ball or other gadget ball. Thanks for sharing.

That is one serious heavy-duty trailer frame for its size. You could put a 5k axle under that thing. Anything worth engineering is worth over engineering.

Good build over here in the UK anything over 750kg has to have brakes

Steve you could bang out 10 of those trailers a day with your welding skills 😅

nice video, if that's the trailer when is the main event. Thank you

Triangulate the tip of the tongue to the edges of the axle for a straight pull

I do believe you have a fan in Cora dog. Regards, Duck

Hi Steve, as Frank has said your draw bar is very light,your frame looks good but build a good strong V draw bar.

I was going to say that trailer is going to be squirrely at best. More tongue stickout and move the axle back so at least 10% of the trailer weight is on the tongue when loaded. Short trailers are so much harder to tow than big ones.

Nothing too strong ever broke.

Hey Steve be careful if you overload the trailer and hit a big bump the drawbar may hit the axle and bend it. I've been there and done that. After straightening the axle and cutting the drawbar from over the axle. I cut two diagonals for the front of the trailer and welded them to the drawbar. Love the video some great ideas there. Oh are you going to put fenders on it and what kind of decking are you using?

NICE...ya goofy m8te from Australia 😊

Thanks, Steve, for the tip of the day: Overdo your trailers, but not your 🥩! 😄

Nice job using C sections and I beem will never bend or break ? As for the axl should be 100 150 mm of center to the back of trailer . As for that tow pull and hitch as its called here in Australia that one i would chuck in bin and make a heavy duty one to match your work . And as a I ways the weakest link is the tires are they rated to carry 1000 pound each ?

Under heavy load , that axle will bottom on the tongue.

That trailer base is 5 times stronger than the axle itself

in the UK all trailers have to have working brakes if over 750KG

Is that the new Shop Frog?

Imagine what you could do with a CNC cutting table =)

👍

The first thing to know when building your own trailer, you need to know what the trailer weighs after building it, reason is lets say you have a 2000lb axle kit, well that doesn’t mean the trailer will hold 2000lbs, because the trailer has to carry its own weight, so weigh the trailer then subtract that from the 2000lbs and then you will have your carring capacity

👍👍🙏

i'm surprised you haven't made a small fab table yet . in the floor s**ks . hard on the knees , back etc

Both the trailer and this video were very expertly done! Also: Q: “What kind of Dog is Cora” A: “Yes” 😉🙃🤣

A drop axle would have been nice for getting the deck lower to the ground. Weld some D rings onto the outside corners.

That trailer will haul anything under 2000 pounds but take it to one of the scrap yards in west Tn one time and let them unload your shreddables with the excavator and its done for. Not because of quality work and materials mind you. I had a couple good trailers too until i hailed a few loads of scrap, now every cross support is bowed to the max due to excavator operator pushing down to hard to pick up material.