As you might guess, I’m always poking around and looking at trailers. People can be really creative, so I’m always looking for fun trailer ideas. Things that people do or ways they do it are often inspiring. We can learn a lot from all the smart people around.
Articles – From the Mechanic
Join the discussion with the Mechanic on all sorts of DIY Project topics, including news, tips and about building things. DIY is our specialty. Enjoy the articles, then comment when things catch your attention. To filter the posts, just select a category from the top line. If there is a topic you'd like to see, please request it. This site is for you.Aluminum Trailer Tongue Break – Ouch !!
What is the first thing you think when looking at this image? “Oh My !! That’s Awful.” – was my thought. According to the driver, “thankfully it didn’t happen when I was on the highway ten minutes prior.” This catastrophic tongue break
Stainless Steel Bolts
In the previous articles in our Bolts 101 series, we spoke briefly about Stainless Steel Bolts, but we did not discuss specifics. With typical alloy steel bolts, there are grades (like Grade 5, Grade 8, etc.), but with Stainless Steel
Where Is The Weight In Your Trailer?
What’s the big deal with Weight in my Trailer? Isn’t Weight just Weight? Yes, I know about tongue weight, but the trailer is made to carry weight. So, if I’m below the specified weight ratings, what does it matter? If you’ve ever felt this way,
Building An Offroad Trailer From Non-Offroad Plans
A good question from some of our customers: “I really want an offroad trailer, but I can’t seem to find the right trailer plans to build it. Is it better to buy the “4′ x 6.5′ – 2500# – Off-Road Trailer Plans” and enlarge it, or to buy one of the other trailers and beef it up?“
Bolting vs. Welding for Trailer Frames
How should I connect things as I build my trailer? Welding is the typical practice for most structural frame members, but bolting also has some good benefits. So, this makes me wonder. How do I decide? Since it is usually not an all or nothing proposition, let’s examine
Concepts Of Trailer Air Suspension
If you’re looking for something a little different in trailer suspension, one good approach is air. It’s a little off the beaten path, but not too far, and there is a lot of support for doing it. For a smooth riding trailer suspension, air can do it, but there are
Choosing Trailer Deck Material
“I’m building a new trailer and I’m wondering about what deck material to use? So many choices, all with various advantages and disadvantages. I probably don’t even know all the available choices. How do I decide?”
Rigid Mount – Trailer Axle Without Suspension?
What happens if you hard mount an axle on your trailer – without a suspension? The question has come up a few times, and it’s worth talking about. There are some distinct advantages of eliminating the suspension, but there are also some pitfalls.
National Association of Trailer Manufacturers – Oops?
I really thought I was done with posts about safety chains. We have several of them on the site, but I found a video that begs for comment. I really like the video and subject matter – from the Compliance Director of the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers. This is a good organization because they … Read The Article
NATM Answers : Are You Trailer Safety Aware?
What do you see wrong with the way the safety chains and other trailer safety equipment are set-up in the image? That’s the question we asked in the previous article. The image is a screenshot of a YouTube video by NATM, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers.
Trailer Aerodynamics
What makes a vehicle slice through the wind easier? How does a trailer fit in the mix? The science is complex, but there are some good concepts of trailer aerodynamics that are important to know. Is there anything I can do to improve my rig?
Trailer Frame Crack !! – Let’s Fix It
This is a Customer Story about a crack in a trailer frame. Finding these can be really scary, but finding them at this stage is a whole lot better than finding them after a catastrophic failure.
What Is The Best Trailer Security?
How many trailers are stolen each year? That’s a question worth pondering, because if you put a lot of sweat and love into building a great trailer . . . . if it disappears, it’s heartbreaking. We don’t like to think about such things, but it puts trailer security
Customer Story – Teardrop Camper Build
We see them around, on the highway heading for a weekend away. They always look so cool and just beg you to find your own adventure. Just a cute little teardrop camper set to take someone for a great vacation.
Simple Chain Anchor System – Free Plans
Free Plans for an adjustably permanent Trailer Safety Chain Anchor system. It’s easy to build, easy to install, absolutely solid, yet it allows chain length adjustments fairly easy. The goal is making the trailer safety chains very secure, while also
Improving Trailer Safety Chain Connections
We often joke about safety — Yup, Safety 3rd. While it’s fun to joke, there are a few things we do get quite serious about. How to attach trailer safety chains is one. Today we’re looking at connecting chains on the trailer tongue, so the chain is the right length.
Selecting A Crane Winch For Lifting
There are dozens of ways to lift with a crane. Chain falls are popular. Come-alongs are another common method. There are also a variety of winches – from the hand crank to an electric crane winch for lifting. Is one better than another?
Laser and Water Jet Cutting for DIY
When thinking about DIY, we normally don’t envision big or expensive machinery to do the job. There are times, however, when it’s really nice to have. There are some really good reasons for Water Jet cutting (or laser cutting), instead of the normal DIY methods.
Link Lock Safety Chain Product Review
A couple years ago in an article about trailer safety chains, I mentioned the “Link Lock” system. It looked pretty interesting, and I like creativity, especially when it solves real problems. So, I tried to connect with the company to learn more.