Making a pickup bed utility trailer . . .
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 3
From: Cheyoming
Making a pickup bed utility trailer . . .
I'd like to convert a junk pickup to a utility trailer to put my truck camper in. Have to be 8'. You see them around all the time.
But I have to wonder what problems could arise and to avoid. And what about titling it? And I wonder if there is a better brand and year that works better than another.
The camper is about 2500 pounds so I'm thinking a 1 ton would do best.
Any help / advise is appreciated.
But I have to wonder what problems could arise and to avoid. And what about titling it? And I wonder if there is a better brand and year that works better than another.
The camper is about 2500 pounds so I'm thinking a 1 ton would do best.
Any help / advise is appreciated.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 2
From: Santa Fe Tx
Its pretty straight forward me and did built one out of a chebbie we used it to haul around scrap or building materials after we filled up the truck. We also used it for camping ect we found a truck for 200 bucks that had no title we took the cab off and cut v notches in the frame top and bottom on each side heated up each side and bent them inwards. When we had it close we tacked on the bully dog hitch and checked our angles and lengths after we made sure they were right we welded the v notches back to get her then boxed the tongue and where the v notches were and let it roll
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 3
From: Cheyoming
I don't forsee any problems building one . . . mostly wondering if there is a difference in one truck over another. Maybe for suspension, gas tank removal, better frame than another . . . that kind of thing.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,877
Likes: 49
From: Tennessee
They pull a bit harder than a standard trailer with a trailer axle . Other than that , be sure to get your tongue the proper length and watch your weight distribution ! If done improperly you could get a death wobble , tail wagging the dog ! I traded for a truck camper in the 90's and set it on a 14 ft tandem axle trailer . A bit of work and it looked good for a hunting shack . My 1/2 ton pulled it fine .
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 208
Likes: 3
From: Cheyoming
I considered the tandem axle trailer idea . . . but I'm trying to get off cheap. And I'm not sure the width would fit under and between the camper jacks for loading.
Is there some formula for tongue length vs. weight distribution vs. whatever?
I thought it would be a good idea to find a truck with an 8' bed where the axle was near center rather than back too far so there would not be too much tongue weight.
Is there some formula for tongue length vs. weight distribution vs. whatever?
I thought it would be a good idea to find a truck with an 8' bed where the axle was near center rather than back too far so there would not be too much tongue weight.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
I would be very careful about the build mainly because of the trial and error of getting the tongue weight in the proper range...
Have you ever been in a tow vehicle when the trailer LIFTED the rear end off the ground ?
I have - when I was young and MUCH dumber, er, ah, less experienced
it's not fun !!!!!!!
had a cj-5 short wheelbase jeep that could climb a tree it had so much torque, so pulling that 24 foot dual wheel trailer was not a problem !
and since we were just moving 20miles away, thought I'd save some work by loading all that "heavy" stuff on the back - u know fridge, washer, dryer, freezer, etc..
went fine for about 16 miles down the interstate and then I hit a dip, compressed the rear end and the rebound and the trailer lifted the rear end about 2 foot off the ground -as scared as I've ever been since my 5 year old was with me at the time !!!! thank goodness it came down more or less straight !
Have you ever been in a tow vehicle when the trailer LIFTED the rear end off the ground ?
I have - when I was young and MUCH dumber, er, ah, less experienced
it's not fun !!!!!!!
had a cj-5 short wheelbase jeep that could climb a tree it had so much torque, so pulling that 24 foot dual wheel trailer was not a problem !
and since we were just moving 20miles away, thought I'd save some work by loading all that "heavy" stuff on the back - u know fridge, washer, dryer, freezer, etc..
went fine for about 16 miles down the interstate and then I hit a dip, compressed the rear end and the rebound and the trailer lifted the rear end about 2 foot off the ground -as scared as I've ever been since my 5 year old was with me at the time !!!! thank goodness it came down more or less straight !
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 2
From: Santa Fe Tx
Find a old rv that's falling to the ground the frame that's under it is a perfect plat form for a small trailer i was gave a 14ft single axle has trailer brakes and all
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: central ohio
thats odd...most trailers ive seen use the 5 on 4-1/2 bolt pattern....common to rangers. never seen a trailer that used the 5 on 4-3/4 pattern, it would be neat to make a truck bed trailer and use the trucks stock brakes with a surge brake coupler (like on boat trailers) and have trailer brakes....id leave as much frame forward of the box to make the hitch though, otherwise the toungue weight might not be much, ive seen one homebuilt trailer that was actually tail-heavy! one other idea, have a receiver hitch on the "truck-bed trailer" and you could easily have a place for a quick-mount jack...for stabilizing things when youre parked.
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