It starts with a boat trailer

**tag187** · 11-30-2009, 01:27 AM

OK finally I am done with the Army and can devote more time to my projects. I have been working on my Willy's a lot and will be updating that thread soon, but I have been really wanting a camp trailer to yank behind it. So I found this, it started life as a boat trailer but all the boat accessories just bolt on and off. Well off they came! The trailer itself is galvanized and as you can tell right now a blank canvas. I need to shorten the tongue (it is almost 8ft long!!) and do basic maintenance to the axle first. Not sure if I will be able to find bigger leaves (both in arch and weight rating) for it though. They are only 2ft long from eye to eye. I was going to use the tail end of a Grand Waggy for the trailer body but I will need to do some measuring now to see if that will be possible. If not I will do the trailer out of wood more than likely. Let me know if you guys have any ideas and thoughts. Thanks

**Faol** · 11-30-2009, 03:39 AM

Yesterday, as most days, I was looking for inexpensive trailers on Craigslist. I kept coming up with boat trailers in my search. Since then I have been wondering how that might work for a trailer. I will be subscribing to see what you come up with.

**Toyotero** · 12-08-2009, 08:53 PM

I made a flatbed trailer from an old boat trailer. It had very short springs also, so I used springs and hangers from an Chevy LUV frame. I've been happy with the results. I've since added a small toolbox in front of the tray area.

- Toyotero

**805gregg** · 12-10-2009, 02:34 AM

I bought a jet ski trailer for a cheap trailer build. Big mistake, I got a Zieman, a good brand I thought, I've seen lots of Zieman low bed heavy equipment trailers. I first thought, OK the tongue is bent, I can build a new one. I ended up replacing every piece of metal on the trailer, I will reuse the axle, wheels and tires, fenders and lights.

**tag187** · 12-10-2009, 05:26 AM

Very nice flat bed Toyotero I was looking at a tandem axle a few days back for just that purpose. What was the issue with the zieman 805gregg? Was it just all bent up?

**Toolman** · 12-13-2009, 02:40 PM

don't know much about this build.. I thought about a waverunner trailer I found for $50 and any watercraft trailer gets dunked repeatedly throughout its life..

salt water + metal = RUST.

**tag187** · 12-13-2009, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by Toolman

don't know much about this build.. I thought about a waverunner trailer I found for $50 and any watercraft trailer gets dunked repeatedly throughout its life..

salt water + metal = RUST.

This trailer was used only in fresh water and hasn't been been used in over 10 years. I made a point to only look for galvanized trailers also (these things are tanks). Only issue with that is make sure you use a respirator and have proper ventilation when grinding and welding, if not you can make yourself very sick. This thread is not dead I have just been very busy moving and working on my Willy's. I will update soon though.

**jatibb** · 12-20-2009, 07:50 PM

man, i have replied to others as to why not use a boat trailer. i have sectioned and shortened a trailer i bought that was totalled out in an accident. it started out as a 7000# double axle trailer with a 27 ft boat on it. all aluminum (totally bolted together with 1/2" s.s. hardware). ioriginally it was over 30' long and 9' wide. it is now 12' long with the axle width to match my range rover. if i figure out how to post pics, ill do so...

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