Trailer Built "On-The-Cheap"

Trailer Built "On-The-Cheap" WAGONS/TRAILERS Miscellaneous 33-2-17 "I saved money by building my own trailer, and fitted it with some handy features you won't find on most commercial trailers," says Tom Chaney, Chrisman, Ill. The trailer rides on a pair of 15-in. car and measures 9 ft. long by 6 ft. wide, with a 6-ft. long tongue on front. The bed is made from 1/4-in. thick plywood and has an air flow tailgate on back that's off an old Dodge pickup. The tailgate is secured by a pair of hitch pins. The trailer's sides and front are formed by lengths of wired-together cattle panel, which are set inside 1-ft. high channel iron sides. "I use it to move everything from furniture to firewood, saving a lot of wear and tear to my pickup," says Chaney. "I made the tongue 18 inches longer than normal so if I ever happen to turn a corner with the tailgate down, the tailgate won't get damaged. I plan to use the tongue's extra length to add a toolbox on front. "I spent less than $500 to build it. I bought the axle, which is rated to support 5,000 lbs., at Harbor Freight for $275. The axle's 6-bolt wheels have the same bolt pattern as the wheels on my pickup, so if I want I can use the pickup's spare tire on the trailer. I bought the two car tires at a junk yard for $10, and I paid $15 for the jeep-style fenders. The tailgate was given to me." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom Chaney, Sr., 14732 E. 1800th Rd., Chrisman, Ill. 61924 (ph 217 269-3507; tomchansr@yahoo.com).

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