Built a small car trailer.

[72Quarterhorse]

Ok, I have read what all the experts wrote and I agree with the axle and tires being over loaded. Keep in mind, I live on a Hawaiian island were 55 mph is the max speed limit and my tow rig is a Bronco. Most of my towing is within 20 miles and at about 45 mph. A bigger trailer would be nice but then I would need a bigger tow rig. What would be my better option? A) add another 3500 lb. axle or B) put a 5200 lb. axle. I'm leaning towards a single 5200 lb. axle with bigger tires and then adjust the fenders.

Thank you for all your input,

 

[Explorer]

Adding another 3500lb axle in front of your existing would distribute the weight better and help with tongue weight. Unless your mentioned tow rig Bronco is a full size, you are still asking for trouble. Good luck, stay safe.

 

[Yeller]

Explorer is correct a second 3500# axle would be a better choice, and less expensive. 5200# axles are expensive. The tandem set up will also distribute the weight better over the frame so it should live a happy life. Also please make sure it has brakes and you have a good controler, hate to see you pile up 2 broncos because you couldn't stop reasonably quick.

 

[Broncobowsher]

If you look at car trailers they are always tandem axle. Yes, a good single axle costs more, but I don't think it is double. There is also a lot more work in making a tandem axle trailer, alignment of axles, spring equalizer, etc. So there are reasons tandem works better then just one big single axle or else the cheap trailer builders would simply be making single axle trailers with beefier suspension.

So a second axle is a good upgrade. But just adding a new axle in front of the existing will alter the load distribution. If the existing trailer is correctly balanced on a single axle, adding a second will require relocating the original axle to get the trailer to balance out correctly.

More thoughts, a free trailer rarely has a set of new tires on it. How old are the tires? There is a date code at the end of the DOT number. Are the existing tires even worth keeping?

At one time I almost built a single axle car trailer, out of the frame section of a motorhome. Rated tires, springs with capacity, really big brakes. In my head it would have worked. Never made it. Something just wasn't "right" about it.

My thoughts on this trailer. Sell it as a quad/ATV/utility trailer. It looks very good for that application. Get a proper car trailer. Or at least a good tandem axle boat trailer for a heavy boat (3+ton) and start again.

For reference, the scariest trailer I ever pulled was a pickup bed trailer with 1100 pounds in it. It was an empty water tank with a high CG (Bronco has a high CG sitting on a trailer) and it was a single axle trailer. Rolled, rocked, swayed, unstable, unsafe, and it was only 12 miles and took nearly an hour at 15 MPH.

 

[jw0747]

with improper engineering, overloading or poor weight distribution yes, with all three in check, good to go.

My trailer for instance, tires are rated for 3295# each = 6590. axles rated for 7,000 coupler rated for 12,000 tonge has more sectoin modulas (engineer geek for strength) than the frame on your bronco, trailer frame is a truss with double the modulas of the tongue. Trailer capacity on axle 6590 tongue wieght 439 total 7029#. Bronco = 4800 trailer 810 (and all weighed on race car scales) total weight = 5610 20.2% safety margin.

not yours...I was referring to his.

 

[Yeller]

BTW here's a pic of Gordon Bailie's with Kyle Malone's bronco on it. On his its not quite wide enough to drive between the fenders, so they lift off and you can drive between the tires.

 

[BRONCROB]

BTW here's a pic of Gordon Bailie's with Kyle Malone's bronco on it. On his its not quite wide enough to drive between the fenders, so they lift off and you can drive between the tires.

That's cool.I really like that cage,any more pics of that.Sorry..Hijak

 

[Yeller]

its a Bailie Bilt cage. PM Kyle.malone he can answer it all

 

[Broncobowsher]

BTW here's a pic of Gordon Bailie's with Kyle Malone's bronco on it. On his its not quite wide enough to drive between the fenders, so they lift off and you can drive between the tires.

I really like the way it keeps the CG low. Makes the trailer a little bit of a unitasker.

 

[patterdale]

My neighbor gave me a boat trailer so I decided to build it in to a small car trailer just big enough to carry a bronco.

Big enough doesn't mean heavy duty enough. I could drive my old Farmall A tractor onto my dad's 4 place snowmobile trailer and drive slowly for a few miles. Not a good idea. What is your axel rating? I don't think the tubing on a boat trailer is remotely heavy enough to make a car hauler but I could be wrong. Doubt full Boat trailer axle is rated to carry the weight of an EB I hope you have skills and knowledge enough to have done it right.

 

[72Quarterhorse]

I did put new tire's new hubs with bearings and replaced all the nuts bolts and bushings on the axle and springs. The axle is adjustable - see pic. So, if I add a second matching axle it should be easy to adjust the two axles for proper trailer balance. Then brakes... $$ man, I think I will keep looking for a good car trailer and sell this one to recoup some $. If I come across another 3500 lb. axle, I will add it to this trailer and probably keep it.

I have read all the posts, Thanks for all your advice.