Deckover Trailer Options

When I brought my latest project it included a deckover trailer that needed new lights and a new deck. Its got a 15' deck with 3' dovetail. Also has a pintle hitch and pulls great. We installed a new deck using 2x6 sawmill lumber and wired up new lights. One problem I have is that it has mobile home axles on it. One axle has brakes which has the brake backing plate welded on and the other axle is just an basic axle with no brakes. On a positive note it did come with 6 spare wheels and tires in great condition.

My Delima is....
1. Keep trailer as is and go with it
2. Swap hubs to standard trailer hubs and get new wheels and tires
3. Convert to spring under to lower trailer for better stability
4. Sell trailer and buy factory built

The whole key is I don't want to invest more into the trailer than what I can buy a new one for. The trailer pulls great but im worried about the reliability of the mobile home axles and tires on long distance trips. We are planning to make some 6+ hour hauls to wheel with you guys this coming year. I know that the axles do use standard 6000lb trailer bearings and standard 12x2 brake shoes.

Opinions on what I should do?? We will be hauling a v8 juggy on tons and 42's

If I go the new trailer route we are either looking at a standard 18/20ft car hauler or a 24' enclosed trailer. we like the idea of an enclosed due to having a place to sleep and stay dry and warm, plus tool storage...etc just don't like the idea of the extra cost of diesel pulling the enclosed. Also with the enclosed I will have to put rollers on the front of the juggy to fit between inside fenders. Then on a standard car trailer I will have to build drive over fenders or removeable fenders. Thats a good thing I see with the trailer I have now...just drive it on the trailer and go.

That looks like a pretty stout trailer as is.
I'd look into just swapping a set of new Dexter 7k's under it and calling it a day. or doing so and then selling it, to use proceeds for that enclosed.
As is, seems like a lot of people wouldnt give the trailer another look if it were for sale due to the mobile home axles.

Re: Re: Deckover Trailer Options

If the bearings and brakes and tires are in good shape, and you have spare wheels, then I'd just run it as is.

Looks like you've done the research on bearings and brakes already, so no old bastard parts there...

If you don't like the "look"of the mobile home axles, then put some full moon style wheel covers on it.

Have you thought about 5200 lbs axles? That would give you plenty of strength to haul your rig. Their much cheaper then 7000lbs. I would have to find it but I'm thinking 2 5200 lbs axles (one with brakes, both hub to hub)was going to run me 600$ ish shipped(i looked into it for my crawler hauler project)I bought a home made car hauler this year with 2 regular 3500 lbs axles and have pulled my rig on it a few times now on 3-400 mile trips. Then again my truggy only goes about 3000. Its nice for what it is but by the time i put four tires on it and a electric jack (handy) i was in it for about 1200$.What I'm getting at is your going to be hard pressed to find a trailer with axles heavier then 3500 lbs under it in decent shape cheap because everyone grabs them up for moving bobcats and such. It sounds like the 5200s might be a good option for you, cheaper but stronger. But then again if its just looks of the Mobil home axles you don't like the "moon" caps look a lot better.

the one i just built has the 6 lug 6k torsion axles and there working good so far, i think the only difference between the 5200 and 6000 is the bearing size

Do you remember where you got the axles? I did some quick pricing online and looks like a 5200lb axle complete with brakes is around $600. Then the axle with no brakes was about $400. Thats already $1000 and doesnt include new springs or wheels and tires. So im looking at $1500 to swap axles. I was going to price trailer for $1500 as it sits if I went with a new trailer

I priced a new 18' car hauler with 3500lb axles locally for $1795

here is the enclosed I was looking at getting
http://www.enclosedtrailersforless.com/black-8-5x24-ta-w-5200-lb-axles/

brand new 8.5x24 vnose with 5200lb axles for $4449.00 no tax due to out of state sale. I can add an extra 6" height for $200 or 12" for $300

http://abctrailerparts.com/bigaxles.html

Maybe this will help.

i know its more $$ but i would never buy another car hauler with 2-3500 axles unless i was only hauling a 3500 lb buggy. my experience is they just dont hold up very well

look at the torsion axles, no springs and hardware required. just weld them on and go

If you go the open trailer route, TBItoy has a pretty sweet setup with a factory built Larimore "car hauler special". Has 12"x1" channel added to the outside for added width and drive over fenders.

Can't remember the length of the trailer though.

I say get axles for your trailer if you like the way it pulls. Most are not going to buy your trailer due to the mobile home axles.
If you do buy axles go to a local tire store and they should have some take off wheels or steel wheel that should fit and will prob almost give them to you.

Also to add never buy 3500 pound axles. You will have it overloaded fast like most do. Most people don't factor the weight of the trailer in the 7,000 pound of weight they can haul

Re: Re: Re: Deckover Trailer Options

ridered3 said:

If you go the open trailer route, TBItoy has a pretty sweet setup with a factory built Larimore "car hauler special". Has 12"x1" channel added to the outside for added width and drive over fenders.

Can't remember the length of the trailer though.

Click to expand...

It was 18'

The way they used the channel for width and fenders was pretty neat. I sold tsar trailer to Gabe, I only have the 34' tag now.

If I were to buy a new trailer lawrimore would be it. If your local to north Alabama go check out redneck trailer supplies in muscle shoals Alabama.

STROKERYOTA said:

the one i just built has the 6 lug 6k torsion axles and there working good so far, i think the only difference between the 5200 and 6000 is the bearing size

Click to expand...

OMG thsi trailer is soooooooooo geigh

wont work said:

Most people don't factor the weight of the trailer in the 7,000 pound of weight they can haul

Click to expand...

If you put 5000 lbs on a trailer that weighs 2000 lbs, it doesn't put 7000 lbs on the axles as 10% of that should go on the tow rig.

If you decide to sell, pm me a price

xjcrawler said:

If you put 5000 lbs on a trailer that weighs 2000 lbs, it doesn't put 7000 lbs on the axles as 10% of that should go on the tow rig.

Click to expand...

True but wasn't gona get real technical with all that.
Axle placement and tongue weight also plays a big roll in that

http://www.ebay.com/itm/7000-LB-TRAILER-AXLE-77-FC-91-5-HF-8-LUG-12-ELECTRIC-BRAKES-7K-EQUIPMENT-/331094910595?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d16cb6683&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5200-LB-6-LUG-SPRING-TRAILER-AXLE-12-ELECTRIC-BRAKES-70-FC-84-HF-UTILITY-DUMP-/350963923893?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51b7147bb5
Check out these guys. Its where I get my axles from and it is the cheapest I have found. Shipping isnt that bad either but it does have to be freight shipped to a business. They also carry wheels and tires to at a good price.