A utility trailer is a must to have vehicle for every house and as well as for commercial use. Utility trailers are the most convenient and suitable vehicle and are used for multiple purposes.
The utility trailers are mostly used for transporting items from one place to another, especially for hauling large size items and products.
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Is Making a Utility Trailer Worth It?
Having a utility trailer is a valuable asset as it helps you in your day to day life. A lot of work is made easier by the use of utility trailers.
Whether you want to carry heavy machinery, shifting furniture, transporting construction reserve, or any other type of material, a utility trailer is perfect for carrying all items safely and easily.
We cannot deny the fact that utility trailers are the most useful and handy vehicle one can have. Purchasing it from the market is an option.
Still, we will not suggest you to go for it because the utility trailers available in the market are not made with the proper set of equipment, making them dubious and unreliable, plus they do not last long.
You need to keep repairing them to make them useful. With low quality, they are much expensive in terms of price.
So what can you do to have a reliable and long-lasting utility trailer? What if I tell you that with a bit of knowledge and expertise, you can easily make a utility trailer with your own hands.
You don’t have to worry at all, as here we are going to present you with a comprehensive guide for building a utility trailer and that too without the need for welding.
Identify Your Requirement
The first thing you need is to write down the things that why you need a utility trailer and for what purpose you are going to use it. Doing it will help you in determining the type of utility trailer you need to build.
Generally, there are two types of utility trailers; open and closed. For example, if you are going to use it for transporting valuable items and machinery, in that case, you need an enclosed utility trailer to prevent from theft, similarly, if you need it to use it in rainy seasons, you need an enclosed trailer, and if you are going to use it for transporting large items such as timber and building materials, you need an open trailer with large space.
So it is a good idea to analyze your need and requirement before actually starting to make a utility trailer. Here we are going to proceed with the steps to build an open utility trailer with removable parts by which it can be enclosed when needed.
Design Phase
When you have reached to this step, it means that you have decided that mainly for what purpose you are going to use this utility trailer for.
Based on the above points, here we are going to finalize the dimensions of the trailer, items we are going to need, such as deck boards, coupling, rolled fender, tires, trailer jack, safety chain, and other necessary items and tools.
After having a list of items, you need to select from where you are going to get those items and, above all, the method we are going to use for building this utility trailer.
Choose the Appropriate Method
Formulating the above list will require you to have a basic knowledge of mechanics, carpentry, and constructing abilities.
If you are good at it and have sound knowledge with experience, you can build this utility trailer from scratch, and if you are not contented with it, you can build the utility trailer with complete ready-made utility trailer kits, which are easily available.
It is obvious that we are not going for the welding process for building this utility trailer, so whatever is beneficial for us, we are going to use that technique and will apply the method which is more suitable and reliable.
Starts Assembling
Before moving on further, make sure that you have enough time to complete the building process and have a complete set of tools and gears so that it is not leftover in between and is not disturbed by the unavailability of any part and equipment.
- Coupling the Frame Rods
You can start by building the trailer frame first, for which you need four steel angle-iron rods or any other material frame you want to use. Based on the dimensions you have selected, two side rods will be adjoined with front and backside rods.
As we are not going to opt for welding for this, we can use the Riveting method for joining the frame. Rivet acts as a fastener shaped like a cylindrical shaft with a head on one side. While connecting the frame rods, make sure that it makes a square shape and is according to the set dimensions.
Once you have got the frame, you need to attach it with the bed; for that, you need to drill holes in the frame and the bed. With bolts and screws, you can fix it tightly and securely.
- Fixing Tires and Axles
Now comes another important part of adjoining the bed with tires and axles. For this, you need to raise up the surface bed, which can be done easily by using a hydraulic jack.
The axle then should be connected in a way that it distributes the weight equally. It can be achieved if you place the axle with 60 percent of the frame in the front and remaining at the backside. As the axles are fitted with the frame, you can now place the tires using nuts and bolts.
- Finishing
As you have done with the frame and fixing tires, you are done with the difficult part; the only thing you need now is to finish the other necessary parts, checking bolts and jack are attached properly. Besides, you can place electrical wires for signals and brakes. Springs can be added for a smooth ride.
Finally, you are ready to use your utility trailer, take a test ride, and check if there is anything that needs to be fixed. If you found anything which needs to be fixed, you should set it before using it further; after that, you are good to go with your own utility trailer.