OK, I see these all the time and I am considering making my own. My brother recently totaled his truck, but the bed and frame are fine. I was wondering what one needs to do to convert the bed into a work trailer. I would also like to be able to mount a tool box to the front of the new trailer. Thank guys.

 

Moved to proper forum.

 

Picture of mine is in my gallery....frame was cut, looks like probably a little behind the front axle. Cut the flanges where you want them to bend together, heat and bend the rails, weld the flanges back together. Mine was cut far enough forward to leave room for a box in front of the bed. Make a tongue--mine's got a piece of pipe for the hitch, extends back past the ends of the rails to a new crossmember, then that's all welded together. Tear off the brake lines, e-brake, gas tank, etc...sort out the wires and lights. Mine uses the original taillights, or you can get one of those cheap trailer lighting kits at the parts store. I could say that the original lights look better, but frankly, my old trailer's pretty ugly and I doubt it would make a difference. If you want to spend a little more money, put a straight trailer axle under it. Mine still has the truck axle.

 

Mike, that is a nice looking truck with the green ext and green interior!

 

I used the brakes with a surge unit, works ok, needed lockout solenoid for reverse( they use them on boat trailers with disc brakes)

 

another thing to do is pull the axles, cut the axle shafts of so you can repalce the end cap, pack all the wheel bearing, add more gease, new inner seal and put together. this way there is let drag on the tow vehicle

 

this works only on 3/4 with the floating axles, not on lesser duty axles, such as half ton and light duty 3/4. Just wanted to clarify that.
The way I do mine is to cut the flanges on the frame rail, you won't need to heat the wide part of the frame because it will flex easily at this time, bring the two rails together, and weld a piece of square tube in at the meeting point. Then you can bolt the ball hitch to the square tube. Put flat strap across where you cut the frame rails and weld solid, this is adequate to reinforce the rail. Cut the rails as far forward as you can, and it will trail better and allow more room for the tool box. I generally cut right at the point the frame rails start to go up for the front suspension.

 

Thanks....I was pretty pleased to find it. It's kinda dirty now, been sitting out for a couple months at my brother's, so I need to clean it, and get it back under a roof for the summer.