Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

I'm needing a trailer upgrade (7x12 or 14 dual axle) and what I really want is less of all the crap they put in trailers nowadays. No roof vents, cheap interior lights, wood paneling, heck I don't even really want a side door. What I DO want is extra height. I'm 6'4" and tired of knocking myself stupid every time I load my trailer. Also I think barn doors (and a portable ramp) are much more useful to me than a ramp door. I have a lot of venues that have a single 30" door to load in through and you can't land a beaver tail inside a door like that!

What kind of things should I spec for my bare-bones hauler? I'll want e-track, but I don't mind installing it myself to save a few bucks. Other than that I want it to be good for the 25-30k miles a year I'm going to put on it. It's going to live in my driveway under the hot Texas sun year-round. Any materials I should look for/stay away from?

Give me your thoughts on custom ordering a trailer.....
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

Make sure you don't get the crappy factory tires they always seem to put on those things -try to upgrade to higher-ply radials.

Also get whatever you can do for a weight handling increase. They may say 3000lb capacity, but if loaded to that it's resting on the axles -sometimes it seems as though the capacity weight includes the weight of the trailer itself!

If it's possible on a box trailer to get some kind of shocks or air-ride suspension that would really help the longevity of the gear too.
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

I have built 3 trailers over the past 20 years.Last year I built my newest one to replace the 8 x16ft trailer I had for the past 8 years. What I wanted I couldn't find.An enclosed deckover trailer ( wheels under floor).I bought the wheels,axle kits and brakes form Northern Tools.Since I can't weld anymore because I have a defibulator,I helped a friend build the frame,then mounted the axles and coupler.Built a wood frame covered with 1/4 luan and the used contact cement to glue sheet metal to sides,front and back.Used one piece balc rubber for roof.New trailer is 7 x 12 and holds the same amount of gear as my larger trailer because the wheel wells do not protrude into the floor space like the old one did.Picture shows new trailer in foreground with old trailer in background.
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0221.jpg
    DSCN0221.jpg
    221.7 KB · Views: 0
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

You will want that roof vent if your storing gear in the sun. My trailer that I use gets to 130 degrees with the vent closed, 103 open. And that's on a 80 degree day in SD.

Negative. Every roof vent I've ever come in contact with has been broken and leaky. And here in Texas it might get to 150-160 inside the trailer. The heat won't hurt your gear as long as it has a few minutes to cool before being turned on. The trailer I have now has side vents that pull air across the gear when in motion. I wouldn't mind these on the new rig.


Built a wood frame covered with 1/4 luan and the used contact cement to glue sheet metal to sides,front and back.Used one piece balc rubber for roof.

Looks like good work, but doesn't all that wood add a lot of weight up high? It looks like you have the fab skills to make a box with C channel and tin, which would be a lot lighter.


7x14 would be the largest I consider. I don't need or want an 8 foot wide trailer. Too big to park in the driveway....
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

E-track is a must. I know you said barn doors but I recommend a ramp door on the rear with a fold down metal flap at the bottom and another fold down flap over the gap between the door and trailer. Load in and out is quick and no bumps. Also the grip strips on the ramp are an excellent addition, especially when it is raining. I am with you on the no roof vent to prevent future leaks. I have to seal mine each season or so.
 

Attachments

  • trailer 001.jpg
    trailer 001.jpg
    224.2 KB · Views: 0
  • trailer 003.jpg
    trailer 003.jpg
    197 KB · Views: 0
  • trailer 004.jpg
    trailer 004.jpg
    210.9 KB · Views: 0
  • trailer 005.jpg
    trailer 005.jpg
    216.2 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

This is the maiden voyage of the small one. I have had it five years now.
And another one that expands.
 

Attachments

  • trailer.jpg
    trailer.jpg
    174.1 KB · Views: 0
  • trailer.jpg
    trailer.jpg
    232.9 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

Looks like good work, but doesn't all that wood add a lot of weight up high? It looks like you have the fab skills to make a box with C channel and tin, which would be a lot lighter.

By gluing the luan to the 2x4's it gives the trailer alot more strength.Also,since the sheet metal is glued to the luan,it helps prevent dents and cuts that could go through if I only used the sheet metal over C channel.And I tak from experience.The previous 8 x 12 trailer was manufactured that way and I had a tree branch go through the skin of the trailer since there was no backer.Yes,the wood adds some weight,but I think it makes a better job.
 
I had my current 7x12 trailer built by Haulmark. It has a 6'6" inside height.
I got barn doors for the reasons above.
I have both roof and side vents. No problem with either. Would get them again. Axles are 3500lbs each for a total capacity of 7000lbs. Yes, this includes the weight of the trailer and is called Gross Weight. Next size up is pretty much double the capacity.
I should have got it longer - 16' probably. At 12' there is too much trailer in front of the wheels which makes it a challenge to keep the tongue weight low enough.
I had an extra inside light put in and am glad late at night. I also had a loading light in stalled. I should have added backup lights. I had one row of etrack. Should have had 2. I have a plywood inside. I like it.


Sent from my iPhone
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

I had my trailer built for me. It's a Pace 6x12 tandem axle, no side door, no vents, 3 ceiling lights across the top, 3 rows of e-track recessed into the walls, barn doors each with their own latch, and 12" of extra height (I'm 6'4"). I have to duck a tiny bit going in the door, but that's not a big deal.

The extra foot of height brings the walls to 6', and the roof is tall enough for me to stand up straight anywhere inside. I wanted just enough height to stand up in, but not so much it would add too much drag.

The interior lights are 2' from the front and back, and one in the center. I wanted to be able to see all the way up front when the trailer is empty, and all the way in the back when it's loaded full. It works well. You may not like the cheap interior lights, but you could always easily upgrade them if the wiring were there.

I use a 6' aluminum ramp that's heavy as hell, but doesn't bend even under the heaviest loads. For some things I like ramp doors, but I love not having one on this trailer. It's great to be able to back up to a doorway (or my front porch stairs), and put the ramp right inside. Also, the ramp is useful for other things, because you can move it around.

I had the e-track installed at the factory because it wasn't that much more money than doing it myself, and they recess it into the plywood walls. It looks and works nice. I didn't want a roof or side vent due to leakage issues, and there's never been a bit of water in there. I didn't want a side door in part because you can't (or shouldn't) put e-track on them, but mostly because there's usually a small step down just inside the doorway, and I didn't want anything that casters could fall into. There are times it would be nice to have a side door if I needed to get something from the front of the trailer, but I still prefer not having it.

If you're leaving it outside, definitely don't have it painted black. White is always a good trailer color. Also, get a 3/4" floor. Some lighter duty trailers have 5/8" or 1/2", but with heavy sound equipment you'll want a heavy floor. Also, you might want heavier axles. With the trailer weight and a normal amount of gear you can get up to 7,000lbs pretty quick.

FWIW, my 6' wide trailer is about 68 inches wide inside. What that means is that three 22.5" wide road cases fit perfectly across the inside of my trailer, which makes it really easy to pack. That may not be a consideration for you, after all, it wasn't a consideration for me when I ordered it, but it happened to work out really nicely. If I were ordering another trailer I would definitely keep it in mind.

Anyway, good luck with your trailer ordering. It's nice having something built exactly the way you want it.
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

I had a 5x12 built to order. I went with that size, because it's able to fit inside my garage where I can leave it loaded and locked. It's out of the heat in the summer, and out of the snow in the winter.

Ramp door, extra flap on the door, and a gap plate that fills the area between the ramp and the trailer floor. No vents. I have 4" of clearance without a top vent. 2 rows of E-Track at 18" and 41" centers, those heights worked the best for me. 2 lights inside, a floodlight out back. Single 3500lb axle with breaks.

Again, it's perfect for what I need. Order what you want, get exactly what you want.
984cbc97.jpg

36cb9ee9.jpg


Couple interior pics:
C2FB3B5C-97CB-4CE7-89FD-853528D07C7D-15733-00000CD02ED0C281_zps6a8dcbe3.jpg



FD942015-2A75-4C90-8606-C2B68CC3CEB8-15733-00000CD4C5AE5115_zps986c3ad3.jpg


My had truck folds to a 45 degree angle. Easier on the back. My trailer is 5'6" inside. I'm 5'11" so I have to duck. That's the price for being able to store it in my garage. The dolly makes a big difference!!

F0823E25-00EC-49C8-88A6-ED4778983645-880-0000007577E07C40_zpsa0655609.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

12 foot - tandem axle - electric brakes - aluminum floor - side door - rear ramp door with beaver tail fold down extension - torsion axles - V-nose - LED lights - Featherlite

Utility Trailers - 1611 Cargo Utility Trailer - Featherlite Trailers

I installed some 1" styrofoam insulation on the ceiling and it seems to help a little with the heat down here.
 
Re: Anybody had a trailer built for to your specs?

Anyone thinking about getting one, it's definitely made life easier!!!

I love my trailer!!