Home made step deck question
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Home made step deck question
If anyone remebers, a while back I was going to convert a motorhome frame to a gooseneck trailer. Well I finally got the frame, so iwant to start burning steel soon on it. The frame is 7.5" for most of the length and it goes to 5.5" for the last 6 feet or so, but it looks pretty strudy at about 5/16" thickness. I got two questions for input.
1- I want to put a 10 deck for hauling a small car over the gooseneck hitch, is that too long? I figure with a good gusset on each side it should hold up well.
2- After the 5.5" section on the tail, I want to add 6" channel to that, and then a dove tail. I will then run a truss along the whole length of the flat section (18' of 7.5", 6' of 5.5", and then 7' of 6" channel) to tie it all together.
I know it'd be easier to buy a trailer, but I don't have the $$$ but ican weld and get steel for free or cheap. If anyone can see any holes in my plan please feel free to bring them up as I want to build it strong and safe.
Thanks!
1- I want to put a 10 deck for hauling a small car over the gooseneck hitch, is that too long? I figure with a good gusset on each side it should hold up well.
2- After the 5.5" section on the tail, I want to add 6" channel to that, and then a dove tail. I will then run a truss along the whole length of the flat section (18' of 7.5", 6' of 5.5", and then 7' of 6" channel) to tie it all together.
I know it'd be easier to buy a trailer, but I don't have the $$$ but ican weld and get steel for free or cheap. If anyone can see any holes in my plan please feel free to bring them up as I want to build it strong and safe.
Thanks!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX USA
If anyone remebers, a while back I was going to convert a motorhome frame to a gooseneck trailer. Well I finally got the frame, so iwant to start burning steel soon on it. The frame is 7.5" for most of the length and it goes to 5.5" for the last 6 feet or so, but it looks pretty strudy at about 5/16" thickness. I got two questions for input.
1- I want to put a 10 deck for hauling a small car over the gooseneck hitch, is that too long? I figure with a good gusset on each side it should hold up well.
2- After the 5.5" section on the tail, I want to add 6" channel to that, and then a dove tail. I will then run a truss along the whole length of the flat section (18' of 7.5", 6' of 5.5", and then 7' of 6" channel) to tie it all together.
I know it'd be easier to buy a trailer, but I don't have the $$$ but ican weld and get steel for free or cheap. If anyone can see any holes in my plan please feel free to bring them up as I want to build it strong and safe.
Thanks!
1- I want to put a 10 deck for hauling a small car over the gooseneck hitch, is that too long? I figure with a good gusset on each side it should hold up well.
2- After the 5.5" section on the tail, I want to add 6" channel to that, and then a dove tail. I will then run a truss along the whole length of the flat section (18' of 7.5", 6' of 5.5", and then 7' of 6" channel) to tie it all together.
I know it'd be easier to buy a trailer, but I don't have the $$$ but ican weld and get steel for free or cheap. If anyone can see any holes in my plan please feel free to bring them up as I want to build it strong and safe.
Thanks!
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Yeah, the smal car would be over the goose ball, but I just figured that you see it all the time with a wedge style car hauler, where you got 4 cars going up the ramp all the way to over the bed, so I would think it'd be ok? I know the gooseball is rated higher than a fifth wheel at 30k, so I would think it would work, but that's why I asked for advice- I don't want to do anything stupid. To get it up there, I'd just use the same ramps that load the cars on to the bottom deck, the step will be less than 24" from the main deck so 7 or 8 foot ramps would do the trick.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
I don't know a thing about hauling cars on a gooseneck trailer, but I also have a concern about your pin weight. I pulled up several websites and their wedge car haulers don't look like they are carrying any where near the weight you may be considering. Here is a link to one example, Equipment Trailers, Gooseneck Trailers, Car Hauler Trailers, Utility Trailer.
In the event you have already considered this, please ignore my comment.
Steve
In the event you have already considered this, please ignore my comment.
Steve
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,627
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From: West Valley Utah
Depends on where you are going to have the axle's placed. Weight behind the axle's will lessen the pin weight.
I see no problem with what you want to do, as long as you plan it right, there won't be a problem with pin weight.
Really is difficult not knowing exactly what your plan is, what you will be hauling, loading the same all the time ect. Alot of variables here.
I see no problem with what you want to do, as long as you plan it right, there won't be a problem with pin weight.
Really is difficult not knowing exactly what your plan is, what you will be hauling, loading the same all the time ect. Alot of variables here.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Depends on where you are going to have the axle's placed. Weight behind the axle's will lessen the pin weight.
I see no problem with what you want to do, as long as you plan it right, there won't be a problem with pin weight.
Really is difficult not knowing exactly what your plan is, what you will be hauling, loading the same all the time ect. Alot of variables here.
I see no problem with what you want to do, as long as you plan it right, there won't be a problem with pin weight.
Really is difficult not knowing exactly what your plan is, what you will be hauling, loading the same all the time ect. Alot of variables here.
My two sense,
Steve
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX USA
+1 on Steves comment..
another consideration is the axles - coming from another use (motorhome frame trailer) to hauling cars - Heavy enough axles? You didn't mention # of axles either..
Disclaimer:
I am not a car hauler either - occasional broken down truck or hunting rig on a trailer -
another consideration is the axles - coming from another use (motorhome frame trailer) to hauling cars - Heavy enough axles? You didn't mention # of axles either..
Disclaimer:
I am not a car hauler either - occasional broken down truck or hunting rig on a trailer -
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
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From: Indianapolis
I'll be using 3 axles so I can gross 18k, I know they're probably good for 7k a piece, but I won't overdo it. I'm going to use the 2/3rd rule when I mount them, the middle axle being 2/3rds of the way back from the front of the trailer. Here's an example of what I am trying to replicate.
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
And if you look at thee trailers, you'll see they all have a good amount of pin weight to them
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
Of cousre you have to take into consideration the weight of the laod and balance it as best as possible, especially if running commercial where you gotta hit the scales, and that means my truck gvrw has to stay under 12,500 lbs IIRC. Basically with truck trailer and load I could be at 30,500 up to 33,500.
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
And if you look at thee trailers, you'll see they all have a good amount of pin weight to them
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
Of cousre you have to take into consideration the weight of the laod and balance it as best as possible, especially if running commercial where you gotta hit the scales, and that means my truck gvrw has to stay under 12,500 lbs IIRC. Basically with truck trailer and load I could be at 30,500 up to 33,500.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,754
Likes: 1
From: Indianapolis
Here's one more- if this ain't some pin weight I don't know what is!
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
Take 3 Trailers - The Highest Quality Automotive Transport Trailers - Trailers
