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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / Trailer out of 5th wheel frame?
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WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 11:17
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Wondering if anyone here has ever converted the frame of a 5th wheel into a hauling style trailer? My little 4'x8' trailer i've had for many, many years finally broke and i've since repaired it but it stays off the road and at my land for use behind the ATV.

So i've been on the lookout for a replacement and an upgrade in size to handle hauling lumber when we build the cabin or for our ATV's if we go wheeling somewhere besides around our land. Tandem axle trailers with 3500 or higher axle ratings typically go for $3000 and up for new or used around here. I got wind of a newer 5th wheel camper frame for a fraction of that price and it has 5300lb axles, 25' long lower deck and 6' upper deck. My truck is a 1-ton and i already have the 5th wheel parts from our camper.

Besides being way more length than i need, any downsides to this?

Everything i would haul is narrower loads, so not alot of weight would be put outside of the main rails where on those camper frames you have the brackets/arms that extend outward. Only additional investment i can think of is the decking i would need to put on and then any tie down hardware i would install.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 11:48
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Get it cheap, eliminate the outrigger rails and for just big stuff hauling you may only need a couple of beater planks on the frame for a while.
When you are done using it if youve modded it decent you should be able to get your money out.

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 12:03
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The outriggers should be able to take some weight right? So wouldn't i just leave them there?

If i wanted to deck it nice for potential resale or just so that it's done nicely, i think the hardest part would be securing the decking to the frame. Alot of drilling through steel and wood and then bolting everything together.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 12:17
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I have used a bumper pull camper frame that was decked to take a vehicle. It towed down the road like a wet noodle. The camper walls are actualy prety structural. Take a look at the frame rails of a similar utility trailer vs old camper frame and you can see there not even close.

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 12:29
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Yeah, i've converted popup campers into ice shanties before. Stripped to the frame and a new shack built on top of frame. Pulled OK.

5th wheels tend to be a bit more stout, so i'm hoping it'll be a different story.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 16:08
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The bigger the rv trailer it started out as the better it is as a utility trailer IF you intend to haul heavy stuff.
Btw, ime, people always end up hauling more than they should on whatever size trailer they have. It happens, so go big.

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 16:52
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You mean like this?!


Worked like a charm though!
807DCEA22F4D4366A.jpeg
807DCEA22F4D4366A.jpeg


jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 17:04
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Love the boat trailer wood hauler!

Only issues I can think of is just the general pain of hauling a huge trailer when its not needed.....And I don't know how you register trailers in your area, but some places set the yearly cost based on weight capacity...

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 5 Aug 2021 21:11
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You have a big boat trailer?
If I did I wouldnt be buying another trailer.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 05:29
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That's prob not even close to overloaded for that boat trailer.

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 07:45
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Nope, no longer have that boat. And no, i wasn't anywhere close. The boat that went on that trailer was a tank! It was an aluminum hulled deck boat we used to have.

Still on the fence about to do about the 5th wheel trailer. I'm guessing all in for the trailer, adding deck material, lights and whatnot i'd be around $2k. It's located in SW Wisconsin, so about a 2.5hr drive just for me to go look at it.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 10:15
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The thing that puts me off about that trailer is the 5th wheel rig, but you already have/deal with it. Will you 'forever'?
I like conventional trailers so I have my truck bed totally useful and can have a topper.
Thinking your 'all in' cost est. my guess is you can find a more suitable ready to run used trailer on Craigslist for no more, maybe well less. Just go, buy it, hook it up and drive.
After all, wouldnt you rather be working on the cabin than a trailer?

WILL1E
Moderator
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 10:19
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Quoting: gcrank1
After all, wouldnt you rather be working on the cabin than a trailer?

YES SIR!...just trying to save some $$ to use for cabin.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 10:33
Reply 


Quoting: WILL1E
Still on the fence about to do about the 5th wheel trailer. I'm guessing all in for the trailer, adding deck material, lights and whatnot i'd be around $2k. It's located in SW Wisconsin, so about a 2.5hr drive just for me to go look at it.

2k in deck material, plus new tires, brakes and wireing along with lights, paint and tie points...just buy a new trailer. They hold there value prety well so unless it's nearly new or new I'm not sure I would try saving a few $k over buying new. Anything 7+yrs old is going to need at minimum new tires and brakes along with rust repair.

snobdds
Member
# Posted: 6 Aug 2021 10:40
Reply 


For the time and money needed just to make it work, its better to buy a trailer. Use it and then sell it.

I used a 18Ft. utility trailer with tandem wheels and 5k axles. I welded another 18 inches of height to the side rails, added a rear lift gate, and tie down points. It was the perfect thing to haul material with. The higher rails kept the wood in without a lot of tieing down. I use that trailer for everything now. Very useful...

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