2007 Red Trailer 4X8 Utility Trailer

[sgtsandman]

I've talked off and on about my utility trailer and figured it might be time to make a post about it so people have a better idea what I'm talking about. First, like all build it yourself trailer kits, it's Chinese. Red Trailer has gone out of business a few years ago. So, if you are looking for something other than the Harbor Freight design, it's no longer available. At least not through them.

There really isn't super special about the trailer. The basic 1,000 pound kit, has a GVWR of 1,450 pounds and weights 287 pounds before adding wood for a deck or sides. It did have the upgrade option of a 2,000 pound axle for added carrying capacity but there was not other difference between the two options. The only option I did get for the trailer at the time was an extended tongue bar for carry canoes.

Here are pictures of the original build.

The rack for carrying a canoe was built the following year.

 

[sgtsandman]

By 2015, the galvanization on the frame was giving up the ghost and the plywood sides were rotting from the inside out.

 

[Dirtman]

Explain this...

Why is this guy staring at you like your a stranger taking the picture while hiding in some bushes?

 

[sgtsandman]

Frame rebuild in progress and tire upgrade.

The entire frame was disassembled and everything was wire wheeled and brushed. Then sprayed with self-etching primer, the frame was reassembled with RTV in all joints and mating surfaces. The entire frame was coated in bed liner before being painted. Spacers were also added so that the deck was better supported this time. Reinforcements were also starting to be installed to protect against hitting a tree of something solid and provide steps.

 

[sgtsandman]

Explain this...

Why is this guy staring at you like your a stranger taking the picture while hiding in some bushes?

View attachment 48810

Former boyfriend to my step daughter.

 

[Dirtman]

What are the casters behind the wheels for?

 

[sgtsandman]

Basic fabrication and construction of the deck, sides, and tongue box completed.

 

[sgtsandman]

What are the casters behind the wheels for?

The trailer can be folded up, put on the casters, and stored. They work, sort of. If I had a better garage and garage floor, they might work better.

 

[sgtsandman]

Panel bed lining and painting getting further along. The spare tire was moved to the left rear because the tongue weight was too high. At this point, the front, tongue box, tail gate, and ramp middle section have been fully completed. The tongue extension was also shortened. The original length was just to long.

 

[sgtsandman]

Ramp support legs fabricated and assembled. The ramp is finally usable. The ramp is composed of the tailgate, front, and middle section (slung under the deck where a spare tire would be on a truck). The ramp length is 6 feet for a nice, low angle for loading and unloading.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

ok. Thats cool af.

 

[sgtsandman]

What are the casters behind the wheels for?

Found a picture of what the trailer originally would look like folded up.

 

[sgtsandman]

ok. Thats cool af.

Thanks. A lot of work and time has gone into it. So far, everything works as planned.

 

[sgtsandman]

Finally remembered to take a picture of the support structure for the tarp. The bows are repurposed from a truck toneau cover and the center ridge is all hand crafted sections. Everything is held in place by pins made from construction nails. The attachment points on the sides are small hinges so they fold out of the way when not in use.

The pieces of angle on the tailgate are the support arms for the tailgate when it is dropped. They hook onto the upper tailgate latches and pins in the sides of the trailer. They also can be used to hold the tailgate up if the sides are removed and there is nothing for the tailgate to latch to otherwise.

 

[sgtsandman]

This was the first long trip on the highway and in city traffic since it was rebuilt. It handled things well and was well behaved and predictable. It also handled the trail ride up where the camp was to be set. The guy behind me was convinced the trailer was going to flip a couple of times. I guess he isn't used to how trailer leaf suspensions handle uneven surfaces and rough roads. The hitch does need to get upgraded to a proper off road type but for a standard ball and hitch configuration on a trail pretty much like a fire road, it did well.