Converting a trailer

[Sandmannd]

Hey kids,

Wasn't sure what forum to put this on and thought this would be a good bet. I have an old 5x8 Uhaul trailer I picked up a couple of years ago. I put a topper on it to keep the snow out but it looks ghetto and my wife hates it. I was going to tear it down to the frame this summer and enclose it so I could keep my wheeler and ice house in there during the winter and be ready to go whenever.

Well I got to thinking more and more about it and I want to convert it to an enclosed utility trailer/fish house. My plan is to put double doors in the back so I can load my wheeler in it as well. Kingfisher's Dad said he would work with me on welding. What I want to do is extend the frame so that the wheel wells will be inside. Also, thinking of adding a couple of feet to the length plus make it a v-front.

What do you all think of this idea? Is it something that would be worth doing? Any sugestions? Will the lifetime license I have for it still be good, or do I then have to license it every year. I know I will have to get a shelter tag every year, but that's not a big deal. Here are some pics of the hillbilly trailer as it sits.

[Jameson]

A man with that trailer and a wife....must be one very understanding wife!

 Originally Posted By: Sandmannd

...extend the frame so that the wheel wells will be inside. Also, thinking of adding a couple of feet to the length plus make it a v-front...

If you want to make all the mods you are thinking of, I would suggest starting with a different trailer. I am sure you could do all the modding to this trailer you want, but in the long run you would be way ahead if you started with something a lot closer to your finished dream.

[Sandmannd]

 Quote:

A man with that trailer and a wife....must be one very understanding wife!

Yea, she jus makes fun of me. It was an experiment to see if I could enclose it cheaply and it failed hard on the looks end, but it did work for what I needed it to at the time.

 Quote:

If you want to make all the mods you are thinking of, I would suggest starting with a different trailer. I am sure you could do all the modding to this trailer you want, but in the long run you would be way ahead if you started with something a lot closer to your finished dream.

I can totally see where you are coming from and would love to take that approach. However, I am strapped for cash right now in a big way so I don't have much for expendable cash. I just thought this would be a way to get something extra out of the trailer. If I can't do any extending, I'll just enclose it how it is and use it that way. Could still fit 2 folks and haul my wheeler.

[john.wells]

Wow! the way it sits now, I am sure it could win some kind of ugliest trailer contest. Functional, though, and that is what counts. For what it's worth, I don't think it would take hardly any money to mod it. For steel parts, go to a scrap yard. They usually save decent scrap iron and sell it at a flat rate by weight regardless of type (channel, angle, flat). Wood parts aren't all that expensive, especially now that demand is down. As far as paint, I just heard of a program here in Chisago county that folks can go to the hazardous waste disposal place and choose from a variety of stuff. Apparantly all kinds of paint and other chemicals deemed in good usable condition are set aside and can be had for free! Who knows, maybe there is even green treat lumber saved. Also, check out some of the free stuff ads on local w.s.'s. Also might be able to find roofing and siding stuff for free! One man's trash is another man's treasure!

[Iambjm]

Sandmannd

Did you know that there is a HSOforum in the Twin Cities where you can list things you are looking for or want to give away free. I often see wood and other building supplies on there, or you can put up a listing asking for materials you are looking for. It was a godsend for us when we sold our house and had some items to get rid of.

If you want the addy send me an email at [email protected]

[shizzy]

shouldnt be all that hard / spendy to convert. I have done my share of "making something work" with what money I had. I spent most of last summer ressurecting a bent, broken and cracked Fiberglass canoe I got for free because I was so desperate to get out on the water. I had way more time then money for a boat. a solid 3 months of work and maybe $100 in materials and I was out on the water fishing.

My "portable" fish house was made with scavenged plywood and materials from my work. its kinda heavy, but works like a charm and I have about $35 invested.

what did that topper come off of? you could try to sell that off for 50-100 bucks and put that money into materials.

Always keep your eye out for materials. you never know where they might come from. Im always eyeballing things destined for the dumpster at work.

[Sandmannd]

John and shizzy, you pretty much hit on what I was thinking. I had no clue about the scrap metal and such, that sounds like an awesome idea. lambjm, I sent you an email, I think I know what you are talking about.

I got the topper off of craig's list for next to nothing. It served it's purpose for this last winter. Just want to redo it now.

Saw about the fish house licenses and that you can't get a perm one with ATV door. What if it's just two regular doors that you open.

[john.wells]

I perform commercial vehicle inspections as part of my job, and the law is pretty clear that a "special purpose vehicle", such as wood chippers, cable pullers, log splitters, and the like are exempt from licensing. The minute you use any such trailer (as in an ice fishing house) to haul something else (such as a four wheeler) it needs to be licensed for road use. I am not sure about the DNR rules for using a fish house for hauling, but now I have to a little digging.

[Big Buck Buster]

You still have the "ability" to Hall a wheeler, or other things in it. They're still going to make you put a commercial license on it.

[Boogaard]

The man will always try to get you down! dont forget it. if theres a way to get money from you they will do it!

[john.wells]

I just got done finding the new reg on the DNR site, but was unable to find anything on the DPS site. Obviously, there is a new rule, but I see a gray area in the law (no surprise). I guess to play it safe, a guy should spend the money for both, but there is the clause on special purpose vehicles which is intended as a towed unit not normally used for transport of goods or products, but is incidental to use on the road for the sole purpose of getting from one place to another. I know that business trailers fall into this category, so why not a fishing shelter? There needs to be a clarification.

[Sandmannd]

Go figure, grey areas in our laws. I'll just license it, it's cheap enough and not have to worry about it. Other other help in thoughts on converting it would be nice.

[john.wells]

I have a few thoughts, but they are hard to translate into words. I'll see if I can print off a copy of your pictures and do some pencil work to them and then re-post. One more thing on the license, anything 3000 pounds and over gross vehicle weight (fully loaded) needs to be stickered every February. Your trailer by the looks of it, even when modified, should fall well under that range. Keep in mind that when lengthening, you should maintain 10% tongue weight ratio to overall weight to prevent the trailer from swinging around and sending you into a spin. Example, if your entire trailer weighs 2000 pounds, then you would want 200 pounds of down pressure at the hitch when connected to towing vehicle.

[Sandmannd]

Thanks John, that would be appreciated. I was thinking for lengthening, if I do, I would add a foot or two to both the front and the back at the same time to keep it the same balance. Do you think that would work or would add more to the back to keep the tounge weight around the same?

[john.wells]

I would try to keep the axle further back if possible. You can add length to the rear, but make sure to counter this with weight at the front. The "V" you want to incorporate should add enough, but don't make the rear so long that the frame has a hard time holding up.

[Sandmannd]

Hey John,

Where would I find a metal scrap place and what would I be looking for once there? I like this idea, just not sure where to look.

[john.wells]

there are a few places in South St. Paul. I don't know the names right off hand, but I'm sure a search for "scrap yards" or "metal recycling" would be a good start. Or the good old fashion phone book. In Forest Lake, there is a business called Winnicks (sp?) that sells steel at flat rate, as well as new steel sales.