The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop making a trailer

I'm making a trailer from an old junk 49 chevy 3100. I have cut the frame free from under the cab and removed all unneeded stuff (running boards, brake lines etc) I want to know what to do with the torque tube. If I have to remove it what are the steps? can you remove the guts to the differential? Do you cap the end?

There is no real good way of making a trailer out of them. The third member needs to stay in there because the axles center themselves in the side gears. I have seen people torch the torque tube and take the u-joint out and weld something over where they torched it. Your gears will be running all the time. As cheap as axles are these days, I would get rid of the torque tube and put a trailer axle in its place.

I build a trailer using a '54 bed and frame and a 60s axle I happened to have. That saved me the problem you have with the torque tube but did not result in a satisfactory trailer. It stands much higher than I like and as a result I've hardly used it.

Since I built it mostly because I had the parts and wanted to practice my welding skills on the frame material it doesn't matter. I currently plan to use the box on another project and scrap the rest. Having that bed mounted on the frame and axle makes it easy to move the bed when its in the way...

I've got a 1/2 ton AD bed trailer, just started using it to haul firewood.
Someone else made it and used a newer axle looks like a rear tube axle from a front wheel drive vehicle cut in the middle and welded to the right width.

Problem with the whole thing is weight distribution, even if I stack two rows of firewood in the very front, and double high, with nothing in the back 1' of the bed the trailer still has very little tung weight.
The empty trailer probably has 30 lb tung weight, if that.
So if you can always haul something in front of the axle it'll work, but if the weight is at or behind the rear axle could be difficult and dangerous to tow.

I'd suggest buying or making a more normal trailer and use the truck bed for a truck, or sell it.

I bought the one I have for the near perfect fenders, but figured I'd try it as a trailer to start with, it works but not very well.

Grigg

Since building mine I've learned that you should have the axle located 60% of the total length back from the hitch to achieve proper balance.

If I ever decide to turn mine into a real trailer I think I'll build a frame from raw steel and buy a trailer axle. Other alternative is cut down an old camp trailer for its frame and trailer axle.

Most likely it will stay out back for occasional utility usage between my shop and back lot.

I just sold a trailer that used a front axel with the steering link welded up to keep it centered. It was the best trailer I'd ever had, but hadn't used it in years. I finally sold it because I never used it.