Stock trailer rebuild project

[jon f mn]

Since I'm in the parts gathering part of the 830 and 646 projects I decided to get started on the stock trailer repair that is long over due. This one was patched once around the front already, but the whole bottom was about gone and the angle iron frame was only slightly better. So today I started the rebuild to make it safe to use again.

Started by taking the floor out and fender off to get a good look at it.

Of course as usual, once you start looking there is a lot more to fix that anticipated. I went to my steel supplier and picked up what I thought I needed, but soon realized I needed more, so back to town for more angle to replace the main rails as well. Then no more than got started with cutting a d ran out of oxygen in the torch, so another trip to town. So didnt get what I wanted done, but did make progress.

I put a new main angle on the bottom and a 6" filler to get over the rust. Will get that on both sides and .most of the cross members replaced. Then new fenders. The round part on the front has been patched once already and I thought that would be good, but I'm going to have to fix that too, so another trip for more metal. The rear cross member and structural pipe across the back have to be replaced too. Then several other small holes. Some of the hinges are seized and will need to be freed up as well. Then some paint to finish it off. I need to go get the parts rear end for the 830 on Monday and the parts for the 646 should be here by then too. Plus its supposed to be colder next week, so I'm hoping to have this ready for paint on Sunday, the last warm day for a while.

 

[greenmech]

Wow! What a project! Ron MN

 

[SleepyFarmall]

Since I'm in the parts gathering part of the 830 and 646 projects I decided to get started on the stock trailer repair that is long over due. This one was patched once around the front already, but the whole bottom was about gone and the angle iron frame was only slightly better. So today I started the rebuild to make it safe to use again.

View attachment 144518

Started by taking the floor out and fender off to get a good look at it.

View attachment 144521View attachment 144522

Of course as usual, once you start looking there is a lot more to fix that anticipated. I went to my steel supplier and picked up what I thought I needed, but soon realized I needed more, so back to town for more angle to replace the main rails as well. Then no more than got started with cutting a d ran out of oxygen in the torch, so another trip to town. So didnt get what I wanted done, but did make progress.

View attachment 144523View attachment 144524View attachment 144525

I put a new main angle on the bottom and a 6" filler to get over the rust. Will get that on both sides and .most of the cross members replaced. Then new fenders. The round part on the front has been patched once already and I thought that would be good, but I'm going to have to fix that too, so another trip for more metal. The rear cross member and structural pipe across the back have to be replaced too. Then several other small holes. Some of the hinges are seized and will need to be freed up as well. Then some paint to finish it off. I need to go get the parts rear end for the 830 on Monday and the parts for the 646 should be here by then too. Plus its supposed to be colder next week, so I'm hoping to have this ready for paint on Sunday, the last warm day for a while.

I appreciate the step-by-step pictures. I feel like it makes me a better project handyman. Kinda like FarmerSam used to do. Thanks, Michael

 

[casecollectorsc]

Light frame for what they haul. No brakes on the trailer??

 

[ADB-Ia]

I've always rated a project by how many trips to town it takes. Very few get done with just one. And it is amazing how a job grows in the process.

 

[trackrat]

Light frame for what they haul. No brakes on the trailer??

The frame includes the whole body of the trailer, just like a big rig trailer they have no separate frame at all the body is the frame, most older small stock trailers do not have brakes

 

[jon f mn]

Light frame for what they haul. No brakes on the trailer??

The brakes rusted off and had to be removed. I'll put in new ones on this job.

 

[WI Dan]

Since I'm in the parts gathering part of the 830 and 646 projects I decided to get started on the stock trailer repair that is long over due. This one was patched once around the front already, but the whole bottom was about gone and the angle iron frame was only slightly better. So today I started the rebuild to make it safe to use again.

View attachment 144518

Started by taking the floor out and fender off to get a good look at it.

View attachment 144521View attachment 144522

Of course as usual, once you start looking there is a lot more to fix that anticipated. I went to my steel supplier and picked up what I thought I needed, but soon realized I needed more, so back to town for more angle to replace the main rails as well. Then no more than got started with cutting a d ran out of oxygen in the torch, so another trip to town. So didnt get what I wanted done, but did make progress.

View attachment 144523View attachment 144524View attachment 144525

I put a new main angle on the bottom and a 6" filler to get over the rust. Will get that on both sides and .most of the cross members replaced. Then new fenders. The round part on the front has been patched once already and I thought that would be good, but I'm going to have to fix that too, so another trip for more metal. The rear cross member and structural pipe across the back have to be replaced too. Then several other small holes. Some of the hinges are seized and will need to be freed up as well. Then some paint to finish it off. I need to go get the parts rear end for the 830 on Monday and the parts for the 646 should be here by then too. Plus its supposed to be colder next week, so I'm hoping to have this ready for paint on Sunday, the last warm day for a while.

Nice job!
I like the before & after photos.

 

[jon f mn]

Made a bit more progress yesterday in spite of rain in the morning and afternoon. Got the other side done on the bottom. That took a little longer because of the door. Also got the siezed up door hinges loose by heating them with the torch.

I have a few more holes in the sides to fix, you can see one higher on the door, and some on the roof where it crosses the roof bows and the lower front round part. And the crossmembers. I hope to get that done today, but it's raining again this morning.

 

[DanielW]

Looks superb. I've pondered doing something similar for years. I bought an enclosed trailer a few years ago beacuse it was too good of a deal to pass up. Didn't think I had much use for it, but now I would never want to be without one, and I'd ideally have a couple more for mobile tool trailers to take between farms.

Fiberglass enclosed trailers fetch some stupidly high prices around here though. But there are loads of cheap old stock trailers in about the same condition as yours. I always thought I should buy one or two and fix them up to be enclosed trailers. Ideally I'd have one for my common tools, one for my large tire tools, and one set up for welding with another compressor, genny and the plasma-cutter.

 

[WI Dan]

Made a bit more progress yesterday in spite of rain in the morning and afternoon. Got the other side done on the bottom. That took a little longer because of the door. Also got the siezed up door hinges loose by heating them with the torch.

View attachment 144598View attachment 144599View attachment 144600View attachment 144601

I have a few more holes in the sides to fix, you can see one higher on the door, and some on the roof where it crosses the roof bows and the lower front round part. And the crossmembers. I hope to get that done today, but it's raining again this morning.

Very cool. Great job. You are talented!

 

[TN 2N]

Better than new!

 

[Dopp Creek]

I did that on sisters horse trailer. It was like it would never end! It was hard to know when I had arrived at "good enough". Always glad you did the work to make it right, but man is it alot of effort.

 

[jon f mn]

Some more progress on the trailer in spite of rain off and on all day. I did what I could working inside the trailer. Got the front mostly patched.

I didnt have any wide steel and didnt want to drive an hour each way for more, so I just used 3 pieces of the 6" I had cut for patches. Putting together round forms is tough to do, but this turned out OK. Snowed last night so not sure what ill get done today.

Supposed to be warm for a couple days yet so I hope to have the welding done this weekend. Guess painting will have to wait til the next warm spell.

 

[Ultradog MN]

Some more progress on the trailer in spite of rain off and on all day. I did what I could working inside the trailer. Got the front mostly patched.

View attachment 144730View attachment 144731

I didnt have any wide steel and didnt want to drive an hour each way for more, so I just used 3 pieces of the 6" I had cut for patches. Putting together round forms is tough to do, but this turned out OK. Snowed last night so not sure what ill get done today.


View attachment 144732

Supposed to be warm for a couple days yet so I hope to have the welding done this weekend. Guess painting will have to wait til the next warm spell.

Nice work Jon.
You're real good at this kind of stuff.
Thanks for the photos too.

 

[37 chief]

Good job. Stan

 

[flying belgian]

You certainly are doing a nice job and that trailer will be fine when you are done. Anymore I would have traded for a new one. I am to old and fat to do that kinda work at my age. We all have different opinions on when we think things are not worth fixing and I know you are smart enough to make the right choice for your situation.

 

[Welding man]

Since I'm in the parts gathering part of the 830 and 646 projects I decided to get started on the stock trailer repair that is long over due. This one was patched once around the front already, but the whole bottom was about gone and the angle iron frame was only slightly better. So today I started the rebuild to make it safe to use again.

View attachment 144518

Started by taking the floor out and fender off to get a good look at it.

View attachment 144521View attachment 144522

Of course as usual, once you start looking there is a lot more to fix that anticipated. I went to my steel supplier and picked up what I thought I needed, but soon realized I needed more, so back to town for more angle to replace the main rails as well. Then no more than got started with cutting a d ran out of oxygen in the torch, so another trip to town. So didnt get what I wanted done, but did make progress.

View attachment 144523View attachment 144524View attachment 144525

I put a new main angle on the bottom and a 6" filler to get over the rust. Will get that on both sides and .most of the cross members replaced. Then new fenders. The round part on the front has been patched once already and I thought that would be good, but I'm going to have to fix that too, so another trip for more metal. The rear cross member and structural pipe across the back have to be replaced too. Then several other small holes. Some of the hinges are seized and will need to be freed up as well. Then some paint to finish it off. I need to go get the parts rear end for the 830 on Monday and the parts for the 646 should be here by then too. Plus its supposed to be colder next week, so I'm hoping to have this ready for paint on Sunday, the last warm day for a while.

Since I'm in the parts gathering part of the 830 and 646 projects I decided to get started on the stock trailer repair that is long over due. This one was patched once around the front already, but the whole bottom was about gone and the angle iron frame was only slightly better. So today I started the rebuild to make it safe to use again.

View attachment 144518

Started by taking the floor out and fender off to get a good look at it.

View attachment 144521View attachment 144522

Of course as usual, once you start looking there is a lot more to fix that anticipated. I went to my steel supplier and picked up what I thought I needed, but soon realized I needed more, so back to town for more angle to replace the main rails as well. Then no more than got started with cutting a d ran out of oxygen in the torch, so another trip to town. So didnt get what I wanted done, but did make progress.

View attachment 144523View attachment 144524View attachment 144525

I put a new main angle on the bottom and a 6" filler to get over the rust. Will get that on both sides and .most of the cross members replaced. Then new fenders. The round part on the front has been patched once already and I thought that would be good, but I'm going to have to fix that too, so another trip for more metal. The rear cross member and structural pipe across the back have to be replaced too. Then several other small holes. Some of the hinges are seized and will need to be freed up as well. Then some paint to finish it off. I need to go get the parts rear end for the 830 on Monday and the parts for the 646 should be here by then too. Plus its supposed to be colder next week, so I'm hoping to have this ready for paint on Sunday, the last warm day for a while.

Jon it is good you are doing this job for yourself. If someone brought that trailer to my shop and wanted that repair done, I would have to say NO WAY!!!, it will be cheaper on you to buy another trailer. That is nasty dirty work that no one wants to pay what it worth to get it done. I turn down one like that about every 6 months. You are doing a great job, but that ones not for me.
I have a lot cleaner, easier work to do.

 

[jon f mn]

Jon it is good you are doing this job for yourself. If someone brought that trailer to my shop and wanted that repair done, I would have to say NO WAY!!!, it will be cheaper on you to buy another trailer. That is nasty dirty work that no one wants to pay what it worth to get it done. I turn down one like that about every 6 months. You are doing a great job, but that ones not for me.
I have a lot cleaner, easier work to do.

If this was in my shop the answer would have been the same. But since my labor has no value (lol) I can do this cheaper than a new one. Even so, ill have over $1000.00 in it. This one had new axles a few years back and I redid the suspension last year, so that is an advantage.

 

[rrman61]

If this was in my shop the answer would have been the same. But since my labor has no value (lol) I can do this cheaper than a new one. Even so, ill have over $1000.00 in it. This one had new axles a few years back and I redid the suspension last year, so that is an advantage.

I really like the way those 3-6 inch pieces on the front came out.there’s probably no other trailer with a front like that!