Opinions needed. Service/Utility box trailer: what frame material?

[jbyrd]

Hello all.

Picked up a Royal Utility box for a song and am going to convert it to a trailer for a mobile welding rig. Need help on the frame to support it. What thickness and type of material would you build the main frame out of? C-channel? Box tubing? What wall thickness.

Normally I would over build something, but I trying to keep costs down. My theory is that the utility box is going to provide a substantial amount of rigidity to any frame that I build so I would like to save on steel costs.

Utility box weighs in at 1000 lbs. and is 8 feet in length. Thanks!

I am posting this on other forums, so I apologise if you run into this elsewhere!

[tenfingers]

jbyrd,

Whats the gross weight of the trailer going to be?

If it were me I'd use 6x2x.1875. Miter the corners and run the light/brake wires inside the tube.

Consider a rubber torsion axel (if you can find one heavy enough) for a smoother ride for your equipment.

If you can't find a torsion axel big enough, consider a dualie axel off a one ton or better pickup.

LT Tires for the load rating.

You will need brakes to keep it legal/safe.

Overbuild it. You will end up carrying a lot more than you plan for now.

Put a cap on it that you can stand up in. Protects your stuff from weather and thieves. Being able to stand makes it easier to load/unload.

Exaust the welder through the floor so it dosen't smell up the trailer and no hole in the roof to leak.

As far as cost saving, It's cheaper/better to build what you need now than to rebuild later.

[MMW]

You will most likely be overweight unless you put a 5000/5200# axle under it. With a utility body you will most likely fill up the boxes with lots of stuff.

I would use tube 2x4x1/4" minimum. 2x6x3/16" as stated will work also