Thread: flat top small truck tray for trailer

Originally Posted by .RC.

Can small truck trays be turned into a trailer...

I was given one of these (attached photo) some time ago as payment for a job I did.. It is all aluminium... Can they be turned into trailers capable of hauling 1.5 or more tonnes?

Hi RC, they certainly can be made into a trailer, to take a 1.5T or more, I would recommend a dual axle set up with brakes.
For the chassis perimeter frame, I would suggest using 100x50X2.5 or 3MM to mount the suspension to, 75X50X2.5 for the cross members, on top of the main frame, mount uprights 50X50X2mm RHS, the same material could be used if required, to go along the top, to take the Aluminium tray. For the drawbar, I would use 150X50X3 mm RHS, make them long enough to go to the front spring hanger, to which I would add a plate to connect the two.
Kryn

Thanks for the advice...

The other thing that comes to mind is that it's going to be quite a high trailer, as I'm guessing the wheels will need to be in under the tray.

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Hi RC, they certainly can be made into a trailer, to take a 1.5T or more, I would recommend a dual axle set up with brakes.
For the chassis perimeter frame, I would suggest using 100x50X2.5 or 3MM to mount the suspension to, 75X50X2.5 for the cross members, on top of the main frame, mount uprights 50X50X2mm RHS, the same material could be used if required, to go along the top, to take the Aluminium tray. For the drawbar, I would use 150X50X3 mm RHS, make them long enough to go to the front spring hanger, to which I would add a plate to connect the two.
Kryn

Wow!
There's plenty of trailers out there, rated at 2.0 tonne, with lesser sized drawbars. RC, you'd be perfectly fine with a 100 x 50 x 3mm.

Originally Posted by RustyArc

The other thing that comes to mind is that it's going to be quite a high trailer, as I'm guessing the wheels will need to be in under the tray.

.
Most of these trays are 8' wide, which is only 2" under the maximum legal width without permits and pilot cars. So Yes, the wheels will need to be under the tray. But if you're going tandem, then 13 or 14" Holden/Ford will do. If you're thinking of single axle, then you have to keep in mind the tyre rating, and I'd go for 14" VB-VH Commodore (not VK onwards), a light truck tyre, and a 45mm Slimline axle will give you 1450Kg for the trailer's GTM.
The next step (and price jump) would be a 50mm Parallel bearing'd axle, with either 10" Electric or 10" Hydraulic brakes, but this also requires a 6 stud pattern wheel. Early Commercial vehicles had 6 stud 14" such as Holden KB Rodeo, Holden Shuttle, Ford Courier, Mitsubishi L200. With the right tyre rating, this will give the trailer a 1600Kg GTM.

What would you be towing this trailer with?

My angle is if possible look at matching your rims to your tow vehicle.

As for passenger car rims I wouldnt use anything smaller than 15 in. Cause when it comes to picking up tyres for it there's more available.

Only my opinion.

Originally Posted by jatt

What would you be towing this trailer with?

My angle is if possible look at matching your rims to your tow vehicle.

As for passenger car rims I wouldnt use anything smaller than 15 in. Cause when it comes to picking up tyres for it there's more available.

Only my opinion.

While in most cases I would agree about matching sets, in this case where the overall height needs to be as low as possible, a 15" Commercial tyre is both tall in profile, and fairly expensive. A 14" L/T tyre is still quite common and under $100 ea.

If the tandem option was chosen, then just about any tyre size will have the carrying capacity, but the larger diameter the rim, the lower the profile tyre required. And the lower the profile, the more expensive the tyre. But 205/65R15's are fairly common, so that's an option. My reasoning for the early Commodore (VB-VH) is the thickness of the steel the wheel is made from. A bare rim weighs over half a kilo heavier than an equivalent 14 x 6 from either HQ or Falcon, so in my opinion, this is a stronger wheel option when combined with a L/T tyre. And there were over 250000 VB-VH Commodores made... so that's over a million wheels.

fair call.