20' LowBoy Gooseneck Trailer project
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:35 pm
I was in the market for a 20' enclosed gooseneck trailer for my airplane project, vintage car restoration project, hovercraft project and maybe as a camping shelter, etc. You can never have too many projects.
I went to visit a few folks who had these trailers for sale but to my surprise, the empty weight was almost 5000lbs. I drive a 1996 Dodge Cummins diesel SRW pickup and would like to have an enclosed trailer with an empty weight of no more than 3500lbs. I looked around but nobody is selling such a creature.
So, I've decided to build my own. I started by purchasing a set of plans on eBay for $30 CAD.
http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/sho ... ans-mp2220
I will most likely use old mobile home axles with electric brakes ($100 each), a gooseneck ball type coupler ($100 eBay), a retractable gooseneck truck bed ball head and various other inexpensive bits and pieces that I collect from the metal recycling yards. (Steel is either 10 cents a pound or 30 cents a pound for structural.)
I was contemplating the thought of making a foam composite roof for light weight and insulation. The idea came to me, after looking at how light and strong surfboards were, when I visit Maui a couple of times each year. I think that the goal of a light weight cargo trailer is possible but will be a bit of a challenge.
I suppose the real fun will come when I try to register this trailer for highway use. I will visit the appropriate government agency before building anything, just so that I know what I am up against. It never hurts to figure things out before I get more than $30 invested in this idea.
I went to visit a few folks who had these trailers for sale but to my surprise, the empty weight was almost 5000lbs. I drive a 1996 Dodge Cummins diesel SRW pickup and would like to have an enclosed trailer with an empty weight of no more than 3500lbs. I looked around but nobody is selling such a creature.
So, I've decided to build my own. I started by purchasing a set of plans on eBay for $30 CAD.
http://www.southwestwheel.com/store/sho ... ans-mp2220
I will most likely use old mobile home axles with electric brakes ($100 each), a gooseneck ball type coupler ($100 eBay), a retractable gooseneck truck bed ball head and various other inexpensive bits and pieces that I collect from the metal recycling yards. (Steel is either 10 cents a pound or 30 cents a pound for structural.)
I was contemplating the thought of making a foam composite roof for light weight and insulation. The idea came to me, after looking at how light and strong surfboards were, when I visit Maui a couple of times each year. I think that the goal of a light weight cargo trailer is possible but will be a bit of a challenge.
I suppose the real fun will come when I try to register this trailer for highway use. I will visit the appropriate government agency before building anything, just so that I know what I am up against. It never hurts to figure things out before I get more than $30 invested in this idea.