DIY ATV Trailer ideas needed

Awnry Abe · #1 01/14/13, 08:27 PM

Starting in about April, fights amoung "the crew" start over use of the 4x4 mule because of the many outdoor projects that get into full swing. I thought I would make a simple, light-weight single axle trailer for our smallish (250cc) ATV. I have a large assortment of tires, ranging from pneumatic lawnmower tires to larger bicycle tires. Has anyone here made a small trailer?

DaleK · #2 01/14/13, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrownRanch

Starting in about April, fights amoung "the crew" start over use of the 4x4 mule because of the many outdoor projects that get into full swing. I thought I would make a simple, light-weight single axle trailer for our smallish (250cc) ATV. I have a large assortment of tires, ranging from pneumatic lawnmower tires to larger bicycle tires. Has anyone here made a small trailer?

Depends what you have available. I've seen some nice ones made from old furnace oil tanks laid on their sides with a tongue and axle on them.

Studhauler · #3 01/14/13, 09:13 PM

It is not homemade but I really like the one I have. It has a ??? (I forget what they call it), twin floating axles. When back in the woods, I may have to winch the ATV over a log, as soon as the front tires of the ATV hit the ground I disconnect the winch and the ATV pulls the trailer over without even knowing it is behind. I have used it behind the snowmobile also with great results. It is a tilt-bed also.

DIY ATV Trailer ideas needed - Homesteading Questions

DIY ATV Trailer ideas needed - Homesteading Questions

rwinsouthla · #4 01/14/13, 10:29 PM

I got an old boat trailer for free off craigslist and put a piece of 1 1/8" plywood on it to transport a zero turn mower. Treated with about 6 coats of deck sealer. Works well for me. Sure beats building one.

irregardless · #5 01/14/13, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwinsouthla

I got an old boat trailer for free off craigslist and put a piece of 1 1/8" plywood on it to transport a zero turn mower. Treated with about 6 coats of deck sealer. Works well for me. Sure beats building one.

This... But don't be like my dad, cut the tongue off if it was for a large boat. I still make fun of his 8' trailer with another 8' of tongue.

Silvercreek Farmer · #6 01/15/13, 08:13 AM

I built a little trailer out of the metal frame that comes on a tote (the plastic tanks on a pallet). Try to keep the wheels under the trailer so you don't bend the axle by smacking the wheel on a tree or fence post (I haven't hit one, yet). That trailer got me by for a few years, then I picked up a used yard trailer for $40. I like it better because it has a dump feature, larger tires, and I don't have to bend over to unload it. Plus the wide wheel base is pretty stable. Start trolling craigslist. They tires that come on many of the yard trailers are crap and they are often for sale with bad tires, you might be able to swap out some of the ones you have.

rwinsouthla · #7 01/15/13, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irregardless

This... But don't be like my dad, cut the tongue off if it was for a large boat. I still make fun of his 8' trailer with another 8' of tongue.

LOL...Nope, mine was for a 12' flatboat and it only has room for one sheet of plywood. So it's a true 8 foot trailer, with about 3' of tongue. That would be a sight to see though.

wannabechef · #8 01/15/13, 08:30 AM

Not homemade, but I use a John-Deere 10p and its still going after many years.

fantasymaker · #9 01/15/13, 11:13 AM

I had a trailer made to haul a semi transporter beam.
I built it from the front spindles of a one ton truck pressed into a pipe and welded.
When I needed a 4 wheeler trailer I took that trailer that with its 18x36 inch bed and put a 60 inch tongue on it.
I now have a fine ATV trailer....rated for 6000 POUNDS!

agmantoo · #10 01/15/13, 11:26 AM

CrownRanch

My ATV trailer is home built. I made the trailer large enough that I can put the ATV in it. This gives me a dual use. I can pull the trailer with the ATV and move materials around the farm and if I have a need for the ATV elsewhere I can attach the trailer to the pickup and load the ATV on the trailer and transport it. As an avid deer hunter I can easily transport the ATV, retrieve the harvested deer and then load everything for the trip home.

fordy · #11 01/15/13, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrownRanch

Starting in about April, fights amoung "the crew" start over use of the 4x4 mule because of the many outdoor projects that get into full swing. I thought I would make a simple, light-weight single axle trailer for our smallish (250cc) ATV. I have a large assortment of tires, ranging from pneumatic lawnmower tires to larger bicycle tires. Has anyone here made a small trailer?

................Can you weld , do you have a cutting torch , can you use a grinder ? Visit TSC , buy an axle , springs , hangers , wheels\tires , hubs , etc . and away you go . , fordy

NELSELGNE · #12 01/15/13, 05:37 PM

http://www.trails.com/how_41390_buil...ehind-atv.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_7896858_buil...ehind-atv.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4815261_buil...v-trailer.html

ksfarmer · #13 01/15/13, 07:14 PM

Might be a little heavy for your 250 but a friend made this one to haul baby calves or other stuff on the farm.

Bearfootfarm · #14 01/15/13, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Visit TSC , buy an axle , springs , hangers , wheels\tires , hubs , etc . and away you go . , fordy

Agri-Supply has all that and is usually about 10% cheaper than TSC
http://www.agrisupply.com/

COWS · #15 01/16/13, 09:39 AM

If you buy the materials to build a trailer you will come out cheaper to buy a new commercial one. First suggest is to look at craiglist and paper ads and fin a used trailer.

If building a trailer, bear in mind that sooner or later someone will want to haul plywood, OSB, or something heavy on it. I would first put a 3500 pound axle under it. The convential wisdom from many years past was to make the trailer with an inch clearance over a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood or other sheet goods, but now some construction sheet goods are over 4 x 8, so maybe 50 x 100 inches is the minimum size now. Measure twice, build once.

Scrounging building material is something that has to be adjusted to local circumstances. One suggestion is local farm machinery or lawn equipment dealers. Some of their equipment comes in on steel skids, but some of them have to be returned, so that option is hit or miss. Finding a local scrapper and getting him to save you some material and paying a little more than scrap price may be an option.
Junk yards don't want to sell you anything anymore.

Several choices for flooring a trailer. Treated lumber is fine, if expensive, and if you get it select the boards for straight lumber with few knots. A six inch wide board with a 2 inch knot is a 4 inch board in strength. Going to a sawmill and getting white oak lumber, which you will need to air dry for 6 months to a year, is the most bang for your buck. Again, avoid knots. Western states have other lumber options.

I would have springs on the trailer, easier on the load and easier to attach to the trailer frame.

A trailer frame made from 3 inch channel or 3 inch fairly thick angle iron will support any reasonable load. Commercial trailers are made from 2 inch light angle iron with built up sides which make a truss. Copy them for your trailer if you have that sixe material.

To drive the ATV on you need a folding ramp, which should be removeable for other uses. The floor of the ramp should be made from so called expanded steel because if the ramp is floored solid, it will make wind resistance when folded up. Even made from expanded steel there will be some wind resistance, but we don't live in a perfect world. Another option is to use light angle iron cross pieces close together, but this is more expensive.

COWS

fantasymaker · #16 01/16/13, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

I had a trailer made to haul a semi transporter beam.
I built it from the front spindles of a one ton truck pressed into a pipe and welded.
When I needed a 4 wheeler trailer I took that trailer that with its 18x36 inch bed and put a 60 inch tongue on it.
I now have a fine ATV trailer....rated for 6000 POUNDS!

Update I was on my way home with a load of wood when the hitch came loose at about 60. Now I have a interesting sculpture.
OPPS I was talking about a trailer to pull behind a 4 wheeler not to carry one.

COWS · #17 01/16/13, 07:22 PM

Sorry, must not have read the OP closely enough. My general suggestions still apply, just scale them down considerably. No experience with ATVs so i don't know what they could pull. You said you had wheels on hand, I would strongly suggest that whatever axle you use has roller bearings and not just bushings. Also, I would want an axle that would carry wheels with wide enough tires so as not to bog down in soft ground. Bicycle tires are out, too narrow, also wheels not strong enough.

Maybe you could find a suitable trailer at Harbor Freight.

COWS

Ozarks Tom · #18 01/16/13, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

Update I was on my way home with a load of wood when the hitch came loose at about 60. Now I have a interesting sculpture.
OPPS I was talking about a trailer to pull behind a 4 wheeler not to carry one.

Almost BTDT. Never let anyone else hook up your trailer. I learned the hard way when my neighbor hooked (almost) my boat trailer. Safety chains made it swing into the gas tank, punching a hole. Just lucky no sparks.

johng · #19 01/17/13, 01:23 PM

I have an old sea doo trailer that was converted into a small yard trailer. It works great with my atv. Moving leaves, dirt, cleaning the chicken house, taking the garbage to the road. It has become an absolute necessity.