What is the bolt pattern on your trailer wheels? For the most part it doesn’t matter because you’re not changing wheels that often, yet when it does matter, it really matters. Here is some good info to measure and calculate
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.Customer Story – A Unique Trailer Build
There is always something to learn when looking at someone’s DIY project. This customer story about a unique trailer build is no exception.
Where and How to Attach Safety Chains
What are the best ways to attach safety chains on a trailer? That’s a simple question without a single best answer. Don’t you hate it when the answer starts with “It depends . . . “? Unfortunately, it does depend on many other things
The Trailer Breakaway Kit
What in the world is a Trailer Breakaway Kit? If you pull a “larger-ish” trailer, you should definitely know, because it’s a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.
Customer Story – A Trailer Rebuild
An excellent customer story about a complete trailer rebuild. We talk about it once in awhile, and we give some advice, but this is the first customer story that is truly about doing a full rebuild and reformat.
Introducing Plans For Deck-Over Trailers
More new plans, and even more coming. You’ve been asking for robust Deck-Over Trailers, so that’s what we’re working on. Now they are here, and we’re not talking about another “Me Too”.
Wheels And Tires For Your Trailer
There are a million tires out there with a ton of classifications and designations. What tires do I choose for my trailer? That is not a silly question at all.
Successful Threads With A Die
While the Tap & Die go hand in hand as threading tools, they’re very different in the way they work. There are also different tricks for success. So, let’s talk success tips for making external threads with a die.
9 Essential Tools For Your DIY Shop
We’ve been asked many times about “What are the most essential tools for your shop?” Well, that’s a hard question, because frustration and wailing are the result when the right tools are not available.
Engineering: Welding Trailer Spring Brackets
There is some disagreement in trailer building about how to weld-on trailer spring brackets (also known as spring hangers). Some of you have sent questions about which techniques are best, especially
Get Thread Tapping Straight
A Tap and Die set is a near must for a DIY fab shop. While the thread creating functions are pretty easy to visualize, sometimes getting the tread to start straight and run true is a different matter.
Reasonably Accurate Way To Bend Metal
There are a bunch of ways to bend metal for a bracket. Do a search on YouTube and you’ll likely find several techniques. Well, we don’t want to dis any of those because
Drill Matching Bolt Holes
So many times we need to make matching holes to bolt something on. You purchased something to mount on your trailer or your workbench or some other project, but now you need the exact
Which Welder To Buy?
I’m looking to build one of your trailers, but I need to know which welder to buy? What type, and do I need 110 or 220 volt? What about other projects from your site that may pique my interest?
Threaded Rod For Custom Bolts
You can use threaded rod (often called All-Thread) for a million things. Make a long bolt, or just the right size fastener. It’s also good for special brackets if you weld to it. And, if you’re not careful, you can make it fail in a million ways too.
Tricks To Weigh Heavy Things
Do you need to weigh something really heavy but don’t have access to an industrial scale? How can I weigh heavy things — like a trailer frame — without a special super heavy duty scale?
A Tiny House Size Quandary
OK, so you want to Live Tiny. That’s awesome. What can you do without? What do you really want to have? And how about that claustrophobia?
Which Trailer Plans Should I Buy?
I want to build a trailer, but there are so many possibilities — and some are mutually exclusive. How do I narrow my needs, and how do I choose which Trailer Plans to buy?
4 Pressing Issues
A shop press is a fantastic tool, and when you need it, there’s not much that can really substitute. On the other hand, we need to keep things in order because when things go bad, they can easily go really bad in a hurry.
DIY House Crane
A reader submission showing creativity in his lifting Solutions! A big Thank You to “A Treehouse Dweller” for this story about building a house crane to access his tall home. Of course, this is pretty cool in my opinion.