Make a trailer from back half of cube van?

[Janon]

Any thoughts on making a trailer out of the back half of a 1 ton dually cube van? I know of many of these just sitting there ready for the scrap heap... and the boxs are all fairly good, fully enclosed, rear door, etc. If I were to cut off the driver/passenger compartment... just wondering how it would tow since it is a single axle but with dual wheels.

Either way, these boxs would make excellent sheds... many are either fibreglass or treated steel.

cheers,

[len]

neat idea.
what are these things worth?

[mikell]

You need a good vehicle to tow them

mikell

[Kirk]

I would think you could do this the same way they do pickup beds into trailers. This would only be economical if they will give you the thing for next to nothing. In our local freebie auto trader there are all kinds of enclosed cargo trailers for under $4000. If they will give them to you cheap why not fix up the van half and have a cargo van, that way you dont need anything big to haul it with and can haul a trailer with it.
Kirk

[bearkiller]

Another great use for these old boxes is to remove the few bolts that hold them on the chassis, or don't if you are lazy enough, and simply bury the box in a prepared hole for use as a root cellar. A friend did this and lined the ground with black plastic and then stacked straw bales all around and over the top. Then covered all with plastic and backfilled the hole. Obviously leaving access to the entry door!

Made him a quick prefab root cellar that was well insulated and lasted for years before the insulation degraded.

Sure do like having John Deere living with me...makes all sorts of things more possible and even fun. For those of you with the inclination, the JD's with the two joysticks to operate the 'hoe, they are really very easy to learn to use from the start...it just takes time and practice to get good with them. And there are so many homestead projects that are so much easier with the ability to move dirt in volume. Not all that much money either!

bearkiller

[Ken Scharabok]

If the box is significantly higher than your tow vehicle GPM will be significantly reduces due to the wind resistance. If used as a shed, be sure to put in screen ventilation to keep it from becoming an oven.

Ken S. in WC TN

since you live in ont. you will need brakes on it too travel the road . and may be tongue heavy depending on where the wheels are .they make great hay sheds or tool sheds!