I’m going to be designing and building a 8.5’x22’ off-road enclosed trailer and had a couple of questions for this group.
Ive put a couple standard bumper pull trailers before and a 32’ gooseneck as well, however it was before I really got into the importance of tolerances. With that being said, for those trailers I always checked squareness of the parts and the entire trailer by either using normal squares or measuring diagonally from the hitch of the trailer using plum bob.
My intent for this build is to pickup some mutant and mega square for the cross members and shell of the enclosed part. As for the frame of the trailer, what would be the best way to go about building it and making sure it’s square to each of the frame components? In the past we also used pipe stands to get the frame components level and then square off items from there, but a concern of mine now is how to make sure both sides of the frame are exact same plane before I mate them with the cross members and weld at the tongue (is the best way to just get a 8’ to check this?).
I do not have a fixture table at this moment and if I were to start manufacturing this, I would think the best way would be an extremely large fixture table (or multiple mated together) to easily replicate the builds and ensure tolerances of the frame are met.
There is a big difference between something you intend to manufacture and a one off.
For production it would be worth it to build a jig to construct them on.
For a one off or prototype I would say adjustable stands, levels, and lasers or strings would do the job. Using appropriate tools, you can build to whatever accuracy you require.
I think the way you built in the past works for me. Did you find that you ran into problems with those past jobs at some point?
I think checking, double checking and triple checking helps. I would tack things together as you go, tacks placed where they can be cut easily if needed.
Not any major issues, getting the axle hangers in the exact spot and then preventing the outer tubing frame from warping during welding (bowing inwards or outwards) was the hardest part. We tacked a couple of temporary cross members during some of the welding which ended up helping regarding the warping.
I am planning on designing it in Solidworks prior to building it (waiting on to get a new computer to start). I have a little experience building parts in Autodesk Inventor but never used Solidworks. I’m planning on just watching a ton of YouTube videos and taking my time.
I’m building this one for personal use but would really like to start manufacturing them more seriously if there is enough customer interest. It’ll be a pretty high end off-road trailer for hauling ATV’s and etc… with some of the parts and accessories I plan on putting on it so I’m not sure what kind of demand there will be.
Lay your rails down on pipe stands up off the ground by a foot or two, then use a laser level to raise and lower them until the edge of the laser just skirts the edge of the tubing or channel or whatever you’re using?
Essentially suspending the trailer frame rails in the air on pipe stands and use the laser to get them all level. This is my plan for the trailer I will be starting probably in the next few weeks.