Need some help with a design
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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Need some help with a design -- pityocamptes	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: kelly_bramble ® Administrator 08/20/2005, 08:14:02 Author Profile Mail author Edit

FYI, if you have a Northern Tool in your area, they have a good selection of standard axles, tires and securing hardware.

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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Need some help with a design -- pityocamptes	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: swearingen ® 08/19/2005, 22:45:57 Author Profile Mail author Edit

Give us something to start with: - do have existing materials you want to use? (tires, axle, steel or aluminum bits hanging around) - what do you want to carry? - at what speeds? - over what terrain? - how big do you want it to be? - what'll be pulling it? - do you want/need a ramp?

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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Re: Need some help with a design -- swearingen	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: pityocamptes ® 08/22/2005, 13:12:12 Author Profile Mail author Edit

Ok. Thanks. I am interested in building a small utility trailer that can be towed by an ATV. The trailer will be approx 3 feet wide and I'm thinking 4-5 feet long. What I think would be really cool is if I could build a telescoping frame (don't know how hard that would be) that would go from 3 feet at min to 5 feet max, or so. It would be pulled off road so the terrain would be difficult but not crazy. I'm thinking that max speed would be 30 mph on a smooth dirt road (might be asking too much). I would like to make it out of steel as I don't have a TIG welder for alloys. The lighter the better. I figure I can use the trailer for towing camping gear or game or supplies for a day or week trip. Maybe 500 lb capacity? I don't think it would be safe to tow anything greater than that on an ATV. Thanks again for the help.

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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Re: Need some help with a design -- pityocamptes	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: labtechy ® 09/07/2005, 12:18:42 Author Profile Mail author Edit

Having made a few trailers myself and repaired many, I can shed a little light here. Nothern Hydraulics has two books out on trailer design that could help you very much. They are relatively inexpensive. Making a trailer isn't a problem. Making a trailer that is light, yet sturdy enough to be pulled by an ATV off road with good ground clearance is. On uneven terrain you'll need a very stable platform, good suspension with tires that won't sink in soft terrain. Tires that are outside the bed tend to catch on everything. Raising the bed to put the tires underneath create a top heavy situation. Since you are looking at a 500 lb load, go with stub axles, ATV tires and keep your tongue height the same as your hitch. Keep it light as possible Take a look at what is out there for ATV trailers/off road and improve on them. Somebody already did the homework. I doubt you could make one cheaper than this(see link). It would be easy to improve on. Your telescopic bed would be a cinch. https://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=200055074&R=200055074&langId=-1 Modified by labtechy at Wed, Sep 07, 2005, 12:20:03

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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Re: Need some help with a design -- labtechy	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: tooleng ® 10/03/2005, 11:39:19 Author Profile Mail author Edit

You may want to find out first what the towing cap. of your ATV is. Not sure if they are even rated , but that would be my first question before getting too deep in the design. Just my .02

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Re: Need some help with a design
Re: Re: Need some help with a design -- tooleng	Post Reply	Top of thread	Forum

Posted by: tooleng ® 10/03/2005, 11:45:58 Author Profile Mail author Edit

Here's a cool design for 500lb. towing Capacity on ATV. https://www(DOT)caddventure(DOT)com/atv/trailers-towing/5thwheel_desc.html Modified by Server Admin at Mon, Oct 03, 2005, 12:03:53

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