I'll call this project, heap hauler, since it will haul heaps of wood, scrap metal and anything else in heaps that will be needed. I've built a couple wicked trailers in the past. I want a dump trailer in the worst way, but being a broke homeowner has changed the way I spend my dollars. I got this trailer frame from work as a scrap unit being liquidated. cost me 100 bucks, for the bare frame, 1 wheel and rotted timbers. it is a generator frame, the generators get bolted to these and are basically permanently mounted, directly on the steel. It uses C channel through the fork pockets and is bolted down. This particular trailer had some 2x10's just laying on the frame as we used it on a job site 6-7 years ago to move cable and job supplies across a job. so I used the couple good ones for the sides. The lights were non functional, hitch jacked up, brakes not working and most electrical was non existent also. So I bought it, and loaded it with their forklift on my car hauler. I didn't want to use my nice car hauler to use a firewood and log trailer as it was getting beat up from that kind of use. I had some industrial pallet racking that work threw out a couple years ago. I used some of it in my garage and cut them down for shelfs and kept the metal grating that went on it, with plans of building a lightweight utility trailer to haul quads, tractor, wood with the mesh type floor. So yesterday, I got some used tires for a case of beer and had them mounted and decided to drag it back into work today. I don't have any pics of the bare frame as I got it, but from the beat up pics, you should get the idea. The frame is 6" C channel, brakes on both axles that I rebuilt and installed new bearings. Wired up some semi oval lights and put two tires on it to transport it back to work to work on it after work or when we were slow. I cut the grates to fit over the C channel. I used some of the decent 2x10's for sides. Right now the sides are just tacked together with some drywall screws to hold them in rough shape. I need to get some steel to weld to the frame so I can bolt the sides up at 2" or 4" gap intervals. I also have another layer of 2x12's to go either on top or on bottom. The front will be semi permanent mounted, but the rear I need to come up with a easy way to remove the slats/boards for ease of loading an unloading. The grates are cut, but nothing is welded in place yet. I'll need to add a few cross braces where the grates overlap/meet without support. This grating is rated for 4Klbs per shelf on 42" rails, so `18" center support should hold quite a bit. I need to finish welding, get two more tires and wheels, removed and install new fenders and then finish up the sides. The trailer is 14 1/2' long x 6'2" wide and I'll have sides that will be 36-38" when done. Should be able to get every bit of 2-2.5 cord in it when done. So far, initial investment is 1$00, for trailer frame, 19 bucks for a case of beer (for two HD trailer tires), 8 bucks for a trailer plug, and I'll need to buy 8 lug nuts. I had a roll of trailer wire from another past build, and had those trailer lights already. Not done, but could be used in short order if needed... basic layout of the floor after I notched the grates to fit over the cross members: the grates I used, freebie they measure 43"x48" Starting to lay out the sides:
Boss thought I was nuts. He woulda used the rotted untreated wood. I like the idea of open mesh for firewood. Loose the bark and in important stuff on the way home. Lol.
That's exactly my thought. I always gotta scrape that crap out when I unload. Sprinkling it on the way home is much better
Progress pics.. Bought some angle iron at the scrap yard at lunch today and welded on the corners. Buddy is giving me 3 16' PT 2x12's so I made the angle 36" tall. Going to cross bolt the front corners to the angle and add some 2x6's down the sides for support. For the back, angle iron to hold the tailgate boards in place and I'll add some 2x4's on the inside so the tailgate boards will slide up and out. This will be the finished height, 3" gap between the slats for added height. Three total high
Will the long sides be that high too? That'll be nice, especially for hauling scrap Glad to see I'm not the only one that uses a chainsaw for woodworking projects
Yes the sides will be one 2x12 at the bottom and 2 2x10's on top with a 3.5" gap between them for added height. I have to pick up the other 2x12's from my buddy. That's why I didn't cut the angle iron yet. I'll prolly use four boards for the front and rear with no gap.
I'm also Going to make a bar scabbard setup on the front to hold some saws on the huge loads where I'll fill the truck full as well.
Nice. I'll be interested in seeing pics of the scabbard set up, sounds handy. Someone on one of these sites had a flat bed with carved cedar scabbards mounted on the stakesides that I always thought was neat
I couldn't use them when I cut them down from 4' wide racks to two foot wide work bench/shelves for my garage... basically 17' of HD workbench work top and shelving underneath. couldn't throw away that awesome grating.... Initially I thought bout using them for sides, but I didn't have enough for this sized trailer. I had stacks of 3-4 foot 2x10's, 2x12's and 2x8's that I used for the shelf "shelves"
Some updated pics... got the one side done, working on the other side. ended up putting the 2x12's on top instead of the bottom. Its dark when I leave and dark when I get home so its a long process to get anything done. Got the tires mounted. I think I'm going to make a hinged gate instead of the 2x10 "tailgate" total height of the sides will be 36" from the deck. 68" wide and 14.5" long. 2 cord will be a stretch. Still need to wire wheel the metal down and paint everything up to make it look nice once the weather breaks, or I get it back in a shop to finish. Hope to use it this week to pick up two cord from a FHC member and use it to pick up some trees over at dads.
If I didn't already have a flat bed trailer, I'd done things totally different with this freebie/cheap budget build. this won't be a general purpose trailer, just wood and scrap. The car trailer is the universal trailer that has a winch and tool box to do car hauling, tractor hauling, logs, etc.
So the wood wagon or heap hauler made it's maiden voyage tonight. Guess thst means I should add some updates. Still have a few thingd to button up or modify but it's functional. I think I'm into the project 250-275 bucks. A lot if scrap yard visits. Made a gate for the rear. Might do one for the front or the side
