Custom trailer for Quad - Completed

stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Well guys, I'm finally getting around to building my trailer to pull behind the RT. Here are some progress pictures.

Parts List: (for those that are wondering the cost of something like this)

1987 Honda Civic Rear Axle (oh ya - the trailer is part Honda) - $45
30ft 3" x 1.5" x 1/16" Steel Tubing - $82.15
24ft 1.5" x 1.5" x 1/16" Steel Tubing - $40.32
4ft 2.5" Steel Tubing 1/8" thick (round - to widen axle) - $43.97
40ft 1" x 1/8" Steel Flat Bar - $24.00
8ft 2" x 2" x 1/8" Steel Tubing (for tongue) - $32.92
12ft 2" x 2" x 1/16" Steel Tubing (for tongue sides and flat pole tubing) - $27.36
6ft 2" x 1.5" Steel Angle (for gas jug mounts) - $11.04
8ft 2" x 1/8" Steel Flat Bar (for gas jut mounts) - $9.92
2.5" Custon U-bolts - $33.11
750lb Leaf Springs, Axle Seats, other misc suspension parts - $100
30ft E-Track - $90
4 Cans Rustolium Black Hammered Spray Paint - $28
10 8ft 2x6's - $30
1 Quart Ebony wood stain - $12
15" Led Tail Lights, 4x Red/Amber Running lights, Rear trailer center lights - $86
Bolts/Safety Chain/Stinger/2" Ball - $78

Roughly - I'm sitting at almost $800 so far not including the ProTech tool box that's going on it.

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All the misc parts for suspension and stuff
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87 Civic Axle cut in half
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Axle welded back together (widened 30 inches)
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Leaf springs mounted
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Main frame - 8x6 feet
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Cross rails welded and mounts for leaf springs welded
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It's kinda low
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I started welding the e-track and got tired - gonna do another on the other side and one right down the middle.

I have a 17x17x48 inch aluminum tool box that's going on the tongue and all led lighting. I'm hoping to have this done next week cause I want to go pick up my new quad that's at my dads house. I got an '07 Honda TRX450ER.

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Comments

  • doitdubdoitdub familEE
    1) Love your custom work man - lookin good!

    2) What do you estimate it will weigh?

    3) Do you think the height of it will be a problem if you hit a bump?

    4) That quad looks freakin rad.
  • ColeCole Wagonist
    Love this project, I want to do the same thing except for to haul 2-3 dirt bikes. My buddies and I go riding up north in the upper peninsula every year and I figured instead of taking a big truck and trailer set up and paying a butt load of cash to rock a v8 all the way from the ohio border to the UP we could just load up my wagon! Great build, I can't wait to see the finished project! :D
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    I'm not sure on the estimated weight. But the steel tubing that I got is lighter than I thought. The whole frame (minus the axle) is can pick up completely by myself. The axle I can lift up by myself as well. I'm estimating 400lbs or less (hoping for less). I'm not too worried about the height. I actually had to raise the bed of the trailer 1.5 inches cause it was around 1 inch from the top of the axle and I'd have no suspension travel, it'd just bottom out on the axle.

    I haven't even had a chance to ride my quad yet - my dad picked it up in Spokane and I'm hurrying to get the trailer done so I can go get it.
  • northwest_war_wagonnorthwest_war_wagon Senior Wagonist
    LOOKS GOOD!!! the only thing i see wrong with your plan is that your putting a trx450 on it :shock: :) :o :D just kidding but really KTM 525 :twisted:
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    he he - KTM aren't bad. I'm just partial to Hondas (see my sig). LOL I might be carrying my 450R and a Raptor 350 out to Dune Fest this year. We'll see.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Here are some updated pictures that I got done today.

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    The frame is pretty much done except for the tongue. All the welding on it is done. Just have to do the tongue, then wiring then the 2x6's.
  • Okiewagon1Okiewagon1 Wagonist
    working on something very close to this were did you get those leaf springs? Trailer supply?

    thanks
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Ya, leaf springs are just standard 750lb leafs. Nothing special. You can get the same ones and D&B supply or any trailer place should have them too.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    Dude make sure you leave enough room for R2D2!! I saw him hiding there under your table.

    Trailer looks nice though! My dad made one just like that for our KTMs back in the day. I had a 125 factory prepped for the ISDE six day enduro in Australia. Then I went to college and my Dad sold it without telling me :(
  • The_HeadThe_Head familEE
    Good work, keep it up.
  • dalowdadalowda New Wagonist
    love it man!!! i want to build one for my ruckus, but i gotta find 2 more 92's so my wheels match lol.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Another update - spend some time yesterday and today finishing the welding and started painting the frame.

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    If you are wondering what the 3 tubes are going at an angle along the trailer, those are for my flag poles that I have to use out on the dunes.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Here are some more updates from today. I got the top of the frame painted and the 2x6's stained and I'm working on the finishing coats of the clear.

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  • judebertjudebert familEE
    I was wondering what the three angle tubes were for. Thanks for telling me.

    Awesome work!
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Well, I spent another 7 hours on the trailer today and pretty much got it finished. All the wiring is done, the wood planks are done and the tool box is on. The only thing I really have left is building the holders for the gas jugs, but I don't have them yet, so that's gonna wait a few weeks. Here are the final pics. I'll post more once I get it out of the garage and in the sunlight and hooked up to the wagon. The LED lights are a lot brighter that I expected which is great, I was worried that they weren't going to be bright enough.

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  • JakerJaker familEE
    That thing looks awesome. Great fab work. What's it going to weigh with your Quad on it? How much more work do you think it would be to have built an 18' long by 82" inside the fenders trailer with a beavertail and the ability to carry 3,000 lbs? Would you build something like that with 2x4 or 3x6 steel tubing for the outer frame? I've got a line on 3,500 lb axles with electric brakes. I just have to decide if it is reasonable to expect to be able to build this for a bunch less than it would cost to buy it outright (about $1,800).
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Well, I have about $800-$850 into this one. I saw some at Lowe's the other night that started at $1000 and had none of the custom work. So if you can build it yourself you will spend less on it IMO. It isn't that heavy. I'd actually estimate the whole trailer as you see it is under 400 lbs. I can pick up the tongue and practically run with it without any problems. I can barely tell it's behind my wagon unless I hit a decent bump. But that's with the trailer empty. I'm hoping it won't bounce so much with a 400lb quad on it. I'm really impressed so far with how well it pulls. Accelerating and breaking doesn't seem to be effected much when empty.
  • ragenasianragenasian Moderator
    Great work. I love seeing projects like this. Breaks the monotony of the usual reposts that we have. Again super nice work on that trailer.
  • JakerJaker familEE
    At 400 lbs, I can understand the unnoticeable change in performance. That'd be like having 2 passengers in the 200 lb range sitting in the car with you. That's well within the capacities/capabilities of the car. Once you throw the Quad on, and maybe 1 or 2 passengers and some luggage/gear, it might start getting a little dicey.

    I guess I'd probably end up spending $1500 or so to build my own car trailer, and then I'd have to do the work. I guess I'll just buy pre-built.
  • udubrx7udubrx7 Senior Wagonist
    That thing looks so nice! Good job!
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Well, after picking up the trailer yesterday I had to fix a few things. My safety chains were too short. I completely forgot to add in the length of my stinger, so they were about 8-10 inches short. Also, my wiring just a little shorter than I prefered so I extended that and bought new chains. Other than that it's working great. I'm gonna get some pics of it hooked up to the wagon this week for you guys and with the lights on. I have some different rims and tires for it as well and I'm looking at putting some fenders on it as well soon.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Well, I did some reading on the trailer laws today. Looks like I'm required to have fenders over the tires. So I took an extended lunch today (since it's slow) and went and got 2 of them at D&B Supply and some mounting bolts. I'm going to paint them the same black as the trailer and bolt them on. Figured if they get banged up it'll be easier to swap them out later with bolts than with welds. I'm leaving this Thursday (March 18th) to head up and get my new quad, so I'm trying to get everything done and the bugs worked out before then.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    Jaker wrote:
    At 400 lbs, I can understand the unnoticeable change in performance. That'd be like having 2 passengers in the 200 lb range sitting in the car with you. That's well within the capacities/capabilities of the car. Once you throw the Quad on, and maybe 1 or 2 passengers and some luggage/gear, it might start getting a little dicey.

    I guess I'd probably end up spending $1500 or so to build my own car trailer, and then I'd have to do the work. I guess I'll just buy pre-built.

    I'm thinking about building a small tow dolly as well. That 86-87 civic axle is low enough that I could use it for a tow dolly. Just mount some ramps on it and some good tie down straps and lights and it'd be golden.
  • 3rd4ce3rd4ce Council Member
    8)
    this is a very nice trailer...
    clean welds :!:
  • wagodizzlewagodizzle Council Member and EDM expert
    dude that thing is tight.
    looks way better then many store bought trailers.
  • stampernstampern Senior Wagonist
    So just an update on the trailer - I haven't posted in a while. I've had it all over Idaho. Trailer easily has a couple thousand miles on it. I'm getting all sorts of gas mileage with it too, but it's all how I drive it. My top mileage was just a couple weeks ago. I drove from Idaho Falls to Mountain Home with just the trailer and my quad and pull 30.7mpg. I was only doing about 60-65, if I try to hold 75-80 my mileage will drop as low as 22mpg - crazy huh. Here in 4 weeks I will be driving from Boise to Portland OR, then down to Winchester Bay OR, and back to Boise with 2 quads behind me the whole way. So far I have had no issues with the trailer or the hitch I build. I did get stuck in the sand with the trailer once - but it was cause I got high centered. I'm working on my suspension spacers this week so I can raise the wagon 2.5 inches. I have the material, just have to finish building them - will put up the pics in a new thread in a few days.
  • tshiretshire Band Wagon
    Impressive.

    Both the trailer, and being able to keep it below 65 mph in order to attain 30 mpg.

    Nice job.
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