Trailer Help - building a trailer in a box lol, stumped on this

[WOT]

I was at my grandparents and my uncle overhead me talking about buying a trailer, he said he had a kit in his garage that he pieced together and I could build my own, all I needed to buy was wheels and build a platform. All he asked for was help cleaning out his garage and cringing the junk to the dump. Deal

So I got a 72" 5 lug axle, 3000lb spring kit, light/wiring kit and some other things. Im stumped on one end of each spring, and how it connects with the pieces provided.

Heres what I got and where I am now

Notice how the right side, the "C" chanel piece, fits over the spring and a bolt passes tightly through the 2 chanel, and then the top of the "c" chanel can be welded/bolted to the base of the trailer.

Inside view

But on the other side, the "C" chanel is different, it doesnt fit over the spring, the inside width is to small

Heres the hardware that was leftover in the kit, have a set of all the hardware thats in this picture, for each side.

This is the only way I could come up with to assemble it all together

But to me, that seems stupid, that would allow pivoting if just simply bolted together, doesnt make sence. The only thing I could come up with is that I would have to weld a bead around where the bracket C chanel meets it, locking it there, but that would be a huge stress point. Like this

And I threw in for reference of how my base 1" sqaure tube would be sitting ontop of the 2 metal pieces and Id just weld it on there. Only thing I could come up with is that it may be meant to be welded like that, and you can just pivot and adjust how high you want the front end to be on and if you wanted the trialer to slant backwards???

Another question, I have a hitch receiver on my car, I just dont have the piece that attaches to that and you put the ball on the end of it (already have a ball). SO I was looking at them in the store, and they are all different, some are 2" drop some are 6" 8" etc. Is the trailers nose supposed to be sitting at a certain point on the car or something?

Thanks for any help

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[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

Im guessing you didnt get any instructions, from the looks of your pictures I dont see a better way to attach that back c-channel.

Also you want the trailer to sit level so whatever kind of a drop or raise (upside down drop hitch) is required to attain that is what you need. Unless you have some jacked up truck you should be good to go with a 0" or 2" hitch.

 

[tommyk90 5,000+ posts]

That's the way it attaches.

There has to be a hinged end so when the spring compresses, it's allowed to "stretch" outward.

if both ends were just welded to the platform, the spring wouldn't be able to compress.

Go look at a RWD car like a pickup truck or SUV with leaf springs in the back and you'll see the same setup

 

[Ken448 10+ year member]

the shackles go on the back.. The leafs need shackles to pivot correctly.

As for the receiver, buy the one that allows the trailer to ride most level.

built boat trailers for about 10 years.. I know a little about trailers LOL

 

[WOT]

So I dont even have to weld the bracket to the c chanel? Im kinda lost. Because when both c chanels are welded to the trailer frame, they will be solid. And if I dont weld around that bracket, the pivot point will be where the 2 brackets meet the spring and also aloud to pivot where the bolt goes through the chanel and 2 brackets, Im guessing you would want the 2 drop brackets to be 90 degrees to the trailer frame straight down. How do you do the bolts that go through then, are they torqued to a certain spec or anything to allow free motion but still hold together and not vibrate loose and send my shit all over the road lol

Yeah Ive never really looked at a leaf setup before so I had no idea if I was right or not

thanks for telling me the shackles go on the back to, and I guess Ill have to wait til I figure out how tall this trailer is with tires what kida on drop hitch I would need to make it leve.

Thanks for far!!

Excited I dont have to bring sheet of mdf home ont he roof anymore lol

 

[Andrew_as 10+ year member]

Wouldn't be nice if you welded that!

 

[Ken448 10+ year member]

yes you have to weld them onto the rails. What else is going to hold them on?? Once you weld the large one up front, and small one in rear.. Youll be able to mount the springs and hang the axle.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

sell it, Then look in CL for a free boat with trailer...lose the boat...then throw a platform on the boat trailer.

 

[WOT]

yes you have to weld them onto the rails. What else is going to hold them on?? Once you weld the large one up front, and small one in rear.. Youll be able to mount the springs and hang the axle.

No I get that I have to weld the C chanels to the trailer frame, obviously

here Im gonna go take a few quick picks, with it mocked up. Im a little lost on how the angles should be, backin 5

 

[WOT]

Here I tightentenned all the bolts and threw a piece of wood ontop

Thats how that shackle would look? Just bolted down tight no welding, would you suggest loctite for it?

I didnt know if the brackets connecting the C chanel to the spring had to be close to 90* or if another angle was more beneficial

TO me that doesnt seem right, Im just thinking theres to many pivots in there and it will fold on itself? I dont really understand how it would load is what Im saying.

Heres a pic of what I wanna use as the front of the trailer, Im gonna cut off the 2 legs flush and weld/bolt that to the front of the square metal frame

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

And your spring should be under, not on top of the axle..

 

[WOT]

Mounting the springs ontop is perfectly fine though right? Isnt that a common way to drop cars? Take the leafs form how i have it, and putting them under the axle to lower it?

I tried it that way at first, buy the trailer was WAY to close to the ground, assuming I use the tires I have in my garage anyways

 

[Blazin_Jason 10+ year member]

Spring below will allow for more tire clearance if it's needed. Looks like some sort of power fist product?

 

[WOT]

Ya my uncle works at princess auto, so I think every piece he gave me was from there lol, Im happy though, only cost me 3 hours of labour for a good $250/$300 in materials he gave me

 

[Blazin_Jason 10+ year member]

Is that like a dolly kit or something? Either way you can use what you have and make it work. What material are you using for the frame, whats the use for this trailer?