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DIY

What Is The Best Trailer Security?

January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 by Mechanic
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

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Categories Solutions! Tags Best Practices, Cutting, DIY, Safety, Strength, Trailer Leave a comment

Customer Story – Teardrop Camper Build

January 13, 2023 by Mechanic
Building a Teardrop Camper

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.

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Camper, Customer Story, Customize, DIY, Teardrop, Trailer, Welding 1 Comment

Simple Chain Anchor System – Free Plans

December 31, 2022December 31, 2022 by Mechanic
Chain Anchor on Tongue

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

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Categories Plans Info, Solutions! Tags Bolts, Build, Chain, DIY, Free Plans, Safety, Steel, Strength 3 Comments

Selecting A Crane Winch For Lifting

November 29, 2022 by Mechanic
Which Crane Winch?

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?

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Categories Adventures Tags DIY, Force, Free Plans, Solutions!, Strength, Winch Leave a comment

Building A Trailer – Critical Things To Get Right

February 11, 2023August 3, 2022 by Mechanic
Success List To Make A Trailer

There are a lot of little details that go into a trailer building project.  Some big, some small.  Overall, it’s not hard, yet, when we think about the really important things that make a trailer perform well, the list is pretty short.  Give just a little extra

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Best Practices, Build, Chain, DIY, Safety, Trailer Leave a comment

Improve Fuel Economy When Towing

June 11, 2022 by Mechanic
Save Money at the Pump

Gas prices are up.  Diesel prices are even higher.  Since I don’t see those prices changing soon, maybe I can DIY some things to help.  Is there any way to improve fuel economy when I’m pulling my trailer?

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Categories Adventures Tags Best Practices, Cost, DIY, Trailer 3 Comments

Dump Trailer Plans – And Build Video

October 4, 2022March 24, 2022 by Mechanic
Build from Dump Trailer Plans

Need Plans to build a better built Dump Trailer?  How about a 7′ x 14′ dump bed with 14,000 lbs trailer capacity.  I can tell you where to get them, and we know the plans are great, because Synthesis Engineering did them.

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Categories News Tags Build, Customer Story, DIY, Dump, Plans, Video Leave a comment

Car Hauler Trailers — New Trailer Plans

February 22, 2023March 5, 2022 by Mechanic
Looking At Car Hauler Trailers

Where do you get plans for true, tough, Car Hauler trailers.  After a ton of market and product study, we are stepping in and stepping up.  Our niche is engineering better plans for DIY, so read on to learn about our approach to Equipment Transport

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Categories News Tags Build, Calculation, Car Hauler, DIY, Plans, Strength, Trailer 2 Comments

Small Trailer Instead Of A Truck?

October 11, 2022October 6, 2021 by Mechanic
Trailer Instead of a Truck

That sounds like a good idea.  Right?  There are a million good reasons to need the capacity of a pickup truck, but actually, very few people use a Truck as a Truck that often.  Can we get the function we need without all the weight and wasting fuel?

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Categories Solutions! Tags Analysis, Cost, DIY, Trailer 1 Comment

From Cheap Kit to Improved Trailer

March 11, 2023July 26, 2021 by Mechanic
Harbor Freight Improvement

You’ve seen them, the inexpensive bolt-together Harbor Freight trailer kits.  While they pack a lot of function, they unfortunately are often something like a rattle trap.  (Not always, of course.)  While they have a cheap rap, they sell a lot

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Customer Story, Customize, DIY, Trailer Leave a comment

You Don’t Have The Plans I Need. Now What?

March 4, 2022March 26, 2021 by Mechanic
Custom Trailer Design

Sometimes looking for the right plans for the trailer you need is a needle in a haystack.  Every site has something, but not exact.  What’s next?  When you really need a particular trailer that others don’t offer,

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Categories Plans Info, Solutions! Tags Analysis, Build, Cost, DIY, Quality, Trailer 1 Comment

On The Road – Rattle Traps We Call Trailers

October 28, 2021February 2, 2021 by Mechanic
A Scary Trailer Along The Road

Are you ever scared by what you see in tow rolling along down the highway?  I am often surprised at the contraptions that pass for legal.  Join me.  Let’s make a collection of photos here for a few good laughs — Scary trailers on the road.

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Categories Adventures Tags Customer Story, DIY, Safety, Stability, Trailer Leave a comment

Customer Story – A Unique Trailer Build

June 12, 2021January 16, 2021 by Mechanic
A Unique Trailer Project

There is always something to learn when looking at someone’s DIY project.  This customer story about a unique trailer build is no exception.

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Customer Story, Customize, DIY, Trailer, Welding Leave a comment

Customer Story – A Trailer Rebuild

June 15, 2021December 2, 2020 by Mechanic
Trailer Conversion Customer Story

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.

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Categories Customer Stories Tags Customer Story, Customize, DIY, Trailer, Welding Leave a comment

Successful Threads With A Die

June 15, 2021October 30, 2020 by Mechanic
Dies

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.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, Cutting, DIY, Tools 2 Comments

9 Essential Tools For Your DIY Shop

October 28, 2021October 19, 2020 by Mechanic
What Are Your Essential Tools

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.

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Categories Adventures Tags DIY, Drilling, Press, Safety, Testing, Tools, Wires Leave a comment

Get Thread Tapping Straight

December 31, 2022August 26, 2020 by Mechanic
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.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Bolts, DIY, Drilling, Measurements, Tips, Tools 1 Comment

Which Welder To Buy?

October 10, 2022July 24, 2020 by Mechanic
Which Welder To Buy?

“I’m looking to build one of your trailers, but I need to know which welder to buy?”  or  “What type of welder do I need – 110 or 220 volt?”  and  “What about other projects from your site that may pique my interest?”

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Categories Adventures Tags Aluminum, Build, DIY, Steel, Tools, Welding Leave a comment

Threaded Rod For Custom Bolts

June 16, 2021July 9, 2020 by Mechanic
All Thread or Threaded Rod

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.

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Categories Mechanics Tips, Solutions! Tags Best Practices, Bolts, DIY, Measurements, Solutions! Leave a comment

Tricks To Weigh Heavy Things

November 9, 2022June 18, 2020 by Mechanic
How To Weigh A Trailer

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 huge or super heavy duty scale?  Answer:  With some physics and a little math.

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Categories Mechanics Tips Tags Calculation, DIY, Force, Measurements, Trailer, Video Leave a comment
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