Posted 2011-05-01 11:05 PM (#133746) Subject: Is widening a trailer feasible?
New User
Posts: 1
I have a 32' stock trailer that I need to have the floor redone on. It's a 1979 model, so it's pretty heavy and solid. I was wondering if it would be feasible to have the trailer widened. It's currently 6' wide, and I'd like to make it 7', or at least 6.5' wide if possible. I know I'd have to replace a lot of stuff on it to do this, but a lot of the stuff that would need to be replaced is stuff I'll have to do sooner or later (probably sooner) anyway, so I'm thinking if I can go ahead and do it all at once and get it widened as well, I may as well.Could this work? I have a guy who is going to redo the floor for me, but I don't want to make myself sound like a total retard by asking him this if it's not doable.
Posted 2011-05-01 11:38 PM (#133747 - in reply to #133746) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Anything made of metal can be built, modified, repaired or replaced. The bottom line is the cost and the quality of the changes. I can't imagine how replacing your trailer with a wider model, wouldn't be the best course of action.
Posted 2011-05-02 8:24 AM (#133750 - in reply to #133746) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
As Gard said, Anything can be modified. But you need to weigh the cost.
The labor to cut down your existing trailer and then basically totally rebuild it. will be much more than the labor to build a new trailer. many of your compenets will need to be replaced or modifed. For example. Your axles are probably the width of your current trailer. You would need to buy new wider axles, And probably heavier axles since the rebuilt trailer will weigh more and be able to carry more.
I personally think it makes financial sense to just shop for and buy a new trailer that is wider. If you have emotional attachments maybe it's worth the cost to rebuild it.
Posted 2011-05-02 8:11 PM (#133771 - in reply to #133764) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Missouri
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Posted 2011-05-03 7:10 AM (#133778 - in reply to #133774) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by loveduffy on 2011-05-02 10:02 PM
would widening the trailer change the regulation on it ?
For one thing, the registration would have to be changed to "home-built"... But to answer the OP's question...NOT really feasible...because the floor supports would all have to be widened as well as the multiple roof seams that would be created...
Posted 2011-05-03 10:52 AM (#133782 - in reply to #133746) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
About $2.00. If you have a chaulk line and a buddy in your local fire and rescue squad, for a half a gallon of gas you can make your trailer as short as you want.
Posted 2011-05-04 11:25 PM (#133837 - in reply to #133746) Subject: RE: Is widening a trailer feasible?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
I've got a friend who raised the roof on his stock trailer 12" 25 years ago. It was actually fairly easy. Cut off uprights at the top rail, weld on 12" of tubing to upright and replace roof and weld together. Trailer is still in use today.
Is widening a trailer feasible?
But to answer the OP's question...NOT really feasible...because the floor supports would all have to be widened as well as the multiple roof seams that would be created...
With all this talk of widening and shortening, I was thinking about raising the roof about 12" on mine - how easy would that be?? LOL
