I have a great trailer, but it feels a bit flexy, maybe even rickety . . . How can I strengthen a trailer frame? How can I stiffen it?
It’s not uncommon to repurpose a trailer, or to find a reason for a trailer frame that needs new life. And, some trailers just feel a little rickety, so let’s look at ways to stiffen and strengthen a trailer frame.
Where To Start?
First, let’s make sure we’re in the right place. There are two different needs for greater strength or stiffness. The most common is a trailer that’s flexy, or feels a bit rickety. The other is to increase load capacity. Both are needs to strengthen a trailer frame, but the approaches are different.
- A trailer that feels flexy might be a frame that is repurposed, or a bolt together design that’s seen tough miles. Or, it might be an inexpensive trailer that folds up. Whatever the source, it now feels under designed. In this article we’ll look at stiffening aspects to strengthen a trailer frame.
- A trailer that needs greater load capacity may well be sturdy for its current capacity, but now you want it for more. If you need higher capacity, please read Increasing Trailer Load Capacity.
Please Note: Sometimes the two strengthening needs will mix, so we recommend you read both articles.
Two related needs for strengthening are when making a trailer longer, or wider. Changing the existing configuration is different from strictly strengthening or stiffening, but they are related. Follow the links to the articles for each of those.
Reinforcement To Strengthen A Trailer Frame
Rickety and Wangly are a couple of fun words to describe something that is not all together solid feeling. These words don’t mean falling apart, though something falling apart certainly will feel rickety or wangly. The solution to falling apart with trailers is to put them back together — tighten bolts and/or fix broken welds.
On the other hand, making something just feel more solid is one reason to reinforce a trailer frame. After fixing the broken or loose things, then we examine other areas to reinforce and strengthen. This article is about making the trailer feel stronger or more solid when it is all together. Some good background reading is the article on Using the Right Materials for various parts of the trailer frame. Also read about Safety Factor in choosing trailer frame materials.
By The Way: If you’re building a new trailer, include generous stiffening. It will pay big dividends later when you’re using it. Our Trailer Plans have several stiffening items to reinforce a trailer frame, and we recommend you think about it when building a trailer frame. This is especially true when your trailer will carry something really important like a Tiny House.
Corners And Intersections
Typically, the most flexible portion of the trailer frame is at bolted connections. Next is the corners or intersections of beams. If the flex is in the beams themselves, then change directions and read about Increasing Capacity.
The way to tell which areas to reinforce is by making the trailer flex. Test it by jumping up and down on a corner of the trailer, and see if ONE corner moves a lot more than the others. Or, perhaps when jumping on one, then the opposite corner moves a lot. That’s a trailer that needs stiffening.
Reinforcing the trailer frame corners is the First Step to a more rigid trailer. And, as seen in the image, a corner may not be a true sharp corner. This image shows a gusset installation on a beveled corner. This gusset is mounted on the frame bottom (it’s shown upside down) because it will also serve to support the recessed deck.
The next place to look is the intersection of beams such as cross members. Adding support at key cross beams will strengthen and reinforce a trailer frame significantly. Another place of intersection is where the tongue mounts into the frame. You don’t have to reinforce every one, but definitely the ones that carry extra pressures or stresses.
Gussets & Angle Braces to Strengthen A Trailer Frame
If you like building stuff, gussets and angle braces are big-time friends. They come in hundreds of varieties, and they all strengthen and stiffen corners and intersections. They’re great on trailer frames and just as necessary in avoiding Gantry Crane Failures. Use them to stiffen things, and to strengthen corners.
Here are several styles with some info on where they serve best.
Flat Plate
The First incarnation is the simple flat plate of steel bracing the corners. These are ‘Horizontal Flat Gussets’ and they give strength to the frame laterally.
Usually they are cut with 45° ends to weld in, but make the angle fit the need.
Best Use: Short spans, and tight spaces.
Flanged Flat Gusset
The Flat Horizontal gusset is great if your trailer bolts together, yet needs strength in the joint. Choose this because you can easily fabricate a gusset with flanges to bolt in. These drastically stiffen a corner.
Best Use: Bolt-Together trailers.
Flat Vertical Gusset
This Second flat option is similar, but places the gusset vertical. This gives more “twisting” rigidity to the trailer frame joint. ‘Vertical Gussets’ like these provide much of the lateral stiffness of a Horizontal Gusset, but also add a little more twisting stiffness.
It’s also easy to make a bracket like this as a bolt-on by adding bolt tabs on each end, but bolting does negate some of the added twist stiffening.
Best Use: Short span, and welded designs.
L-Angle Gusset
A Third type uses ‘L Bar’ (commonly ‘Angle Iron’) to give stiffness with a combination of the above two options. The big advantage is the L shape adds stiffness to the gusset itself allowing a longer gusset or a little thinner material. It is not as easy to bolt in, however.
Best Use: Longer spans, stiffer than flat.
Tube Gusset
And a Fourth type is a closed section beam which gives stiffness in 2 directions as well as in torsion. This is a combination of all the above plus some.
If you have a choice and want a lot of bang for the buck to stiffen and strengthen a trailer frame, weld in gussets like this. Use square, rectangular, or round tube.
Best Use: Longer spans, and maximum added stiffness. Also, thinner tube material for the same strength.
Crossmembers And Beams
The beams of the frame also help with stiffness. Not just the main beams, but the cross members too. They carry vertical loads, and they carry a torque load when the forces are uneven. That is one aspect of how a trailer is stiff when jumping up and down on on corner. All frames will flex a little, and that’s OK, but it should not be a lot.
Each beam shape (profile) has a purpose. To increase the torque carrying capacity, add tubes as cross members — rectangular or round. These are sometimes called torque tubes because they carry torque from one main side frame rail to the other.
Note that round tube crossmembers are not as easy to connect to — like to bolt the bed material down. Squares of similar size give nearly the same torsional stiffening effect.
Finally, continuous sides (especially when welded) will strengthen a trailer frame.
Welding vs. Bolting
It may be obvious, but the biggest stiffening effect for a trailer frame comes with welding rather than bolting — especially when reinforcing with a few gussets. Bolting is nice for taking it apart, and it is easier to assemble. Yet, often the only reason for bolting is for shipping prior to assembly. If getting it to you is the only reason for the bolts, then weld it.
Yes, welding means removing paint, then re-painting after. The decision to do that is a matter of how much you want stiffness and strength. However, as noted above, welding is not the only way.
Bolt-on gussets add both strength and stiffness, so if you don’t want to weld, add some bolt-on strengthening members. See above for some simple bolting gusset ideas. Also, a great example of a strong bolt-on gusset is in the image from this blog about his project.
Bolting does require some added thought and some common sense for getting it right. Sometimes the best answer is to have some areas welded, and others bolted.
Fold Up Trailers
The folding trailer(s) sold through retailers like Harbor Freight have been popular for years. They fill a light duty niche in the market with an inexpensive, functional product. As much as people love them, they are also the target of a lot of complaints about stiffness.
A common need to strengthen a trailer frame comes with these fold-up trailers. Harbor Freight type trailers are not bad when they’re new, but after being used a bit, they typically do become a little rickety. See above about bolting and welding.
Note: According to someone on Bogleheads.org, Harbor Freight folding trailers are no longer available. Interestingly, it appears folding trailers from Northern Tool are also not available at time of this writing. Let us know why if you have inside information. Seems like that’s a niche to fill.
Strengthen The Fold Up Trailer
In order of biggest bang for the buck to strengthen a folding trailer frame like the above, do these things. Do or skip the steps as make sense for the function you want:
1st and easiest — install new plywood decking and tighten all the bolts. The decking is a very effective gusset if it’s tight and secure. Thicker plywood will give more stiffness. Use washers on the plywood for better clamping (so it does not just pull the bolt head into the wood).
2. Add in gussets. If you’re bolting them in, use the Second style of gusset as above. If you are willing to weld, do the Fourth type.
3. If you ARE willing to weld, weld all the joints — except the folding joints (if you want to preserve the fold-up feature). Welding joints that are not involved in folding will not harm the function of folding, yet it will stiffen and strengthen the trailer. When done, you can still fold it, you just won’t be able to take it apart.
3. If you are NOT willing to weld, tighten bolts. If they don’t have them already, use Nylock or other locking fasteners. Maybe even add a few bolts if you see good places for them.
4. If you don’t need the fold-up feature, weld stiffeners (like strips of metal) over and under the joints extending at least 16 inches either side of the joint. The folding joints are a big source of “rickety” on these fold-up trailers. The other option is to bolt the joints better.
5. Permanently attach the sides and make them continuous from front to back. This will reinforce the trailer frame as well as the sides.
Good Luck As You Strengthen Your Trailer Frame!
I purchased a brand new folding trailer on 12-28-18 from Harbor Freight. But there’s more to the story. I had to go to 5 different stores, one store that did have it was blocked by their system from selling it to me. There was a recent recall on HF trailer tires and they have been telling people they were discontinued. Also I had a coupon for one that expired feb 2019 and this add made specific mention of dot approved tires. The information and stock is not quite flowing just yet but if people call around and give them the part number to check they can be had. But I’d they don’t issue you a original owners cert as the counter your in for a pain apparently dealing with the Chinese manufacturer
Thanks for the info update. Much appreciated.
Had to call several stores…but finally found one in the Chicago market. They are far and few in-between, but can be had!
my 18′ tandem utility trailer is supposed to be good for 7K gross, but based on the rails underneath, maybe that is only for a very distributed load, like mulch. The cross ribs are 3×2 angle and maybe only 1/8 thick. Thinking of backing them with square tubing. I want to haul a 5500 lb tractor and am a little concerned.
That’s great that you took the time to look at it. Well done. Based on what you say, sounds like you are correct in making changes. Point loading like a tractor wheels is a much different use case than evenly distributed loading. You are right there. I am frequently disappointed with factory cheap trailers. Good luck with the project.
I’ve got a great video here (I should post it) that shows the stupidity of the triple torsion. I don’t get why “engineering” doesn’t do their engineering before building and selling these trailers. Oh well. If you’re light and flat, they do OK, but don’t ever approach the loading limits.
I have a 20 ft rv trailer. I would like to extend he frame out the front to build a deck to haul my Polaris SXS. extending the frame about 7 feet.
The main frame is 4″ channel. I plan to stack the frame rails and build the dech on top of rails in front of living quarters.
Is this method recommend or should I drop the idea?
You possibly could extend the front of the trailer for a SXS BUT my only concern would be total tongue weight in comparison to what the nanugacture Intended. I know it could be done but today’s UTV’s get fairly heavy. You may consider moving the axkes forward a touch to make up for the extra tongue weight or possible even moving your fresh water tank to the rear of the trailer and keep some In it to help offset the added tongue weight. This can only be achieved if all of the combined weight doesn’t exceed the manufactures recommended combined axle capacity. I’m no engineer and I dont claim tobbe. I’m just a poor farmer that has some experience with this sort of stuff and giving a couple recommendations on what would need to be accomplished before a task if that multitude can be completed safely.
Can u send a book in from of PDF file I want start to built a trailor single axle please
All our plans come in PDF format, and you are welcome to purchase the ones you need.
I backed up into a bank and warped my trailer, how do I sraighen it?
First, I’m really sad to hear that. What a bummer.
Second, straightening is tough. There are automotive frame shops that have lots of hydraulics and ways to measure straightness that might help you. That’s where I’d start.
DIY is much more difficult — depending on how it’s bent. You will need to build some framing to use with hydraulic jacks and such to tweak it back. Try to put all the forces from one area of the trailer to another and measure often to see what’s happening. Good luck.
Hello,
I have really enjoyed reading the various articles regarding trailers, especially as I am about to embark on purchasing my first trailer, which is used and will be needing some upgrades, including strengthening the frame. I was wondering if you would be able to clarify some things for me please:
-Under the category “Gussets & Angle Braces to Strengthen A Trailer Frame”, you list and show drawings of the various types of metal that can be used for the intended purpose. I have some nice angle iron that I would like to use for this purpose, but I have a few questions. Regarding the pictures in this category, you show the metal facing inward (open side) and in the middle of the frame, but in the diagram in the section below “Crossmembers And Beams”, you show the angle iron (blue) facing outward but located toward the top of the frame.
Silly question, but should the open face of the metal be facing inward, or outward, or does it matter? Also, is it an issue to weld it higher up on the frame versus being in the middle? In regards to the middle or higher up, my logical preference would be to weld it higher up only to add additional support in the corners for the flooring of the trailer.
Also, is there a rule of thumb or formula for figuring out how long the corner gussets or braces should be based on the size of the trailer? The angle iron I have is 1/4″ thick. Any help or guidance you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Interesting question. The amount of strength by a gusset depends on a lot of things. Orientation, plays some role, but more important is length, and strength of the main pieces you’re connecting. Generally longer is greater strength, but within reason of the strength of the material. If your main pieces are light material, putting a heavy walled gusset is just overkill. As far a vertical position, I think it’s fine to put them at bed level to support it. Several of our designs do just that. Just remember, these handle the weird transitions and forces. How well they perform is largely dependent on other conditions of the trailer, and what kinds of activates and load you’ll be using it for.
I’ve never liked to place flat strap type gussets in the middle of a face on rectilinear tube. I have seen such gussets act like an old fashioned can opener on the face of the tube due to the major frame member’s flexing. It doesn’t take much flexing to start to see this problem. The tattle-tale is usually rust at the tips of the long side of the gusset.
My own preference it to place them on the edges or the tube face parallel to the faces of the gusset. Second best is to lay a piece of strap flat and centered on the face of the tube and put the end of the gusset plate/strap centered on it. Ideally this piece of strap is 1/2 the width of the face it lays on, is a little longer than the length of the gusset edge in contact with the tube, and is no thicker than the wall of the tube.