making of a trailor out of a truck frame

[80stepsideguy]

Hello all,
tonight i met up w/ a buddy of mine to ask him bout a chevy truck frame he has in his yard.He said i can have it ,its a 1983 chevy longbed.It has no nose/cab/motor/tranny, but has the 8ft bed and rolling frame.I told him ill give him 50.00 n haul it to my house he agreed, and is also taking the 10 bolt rearend out of it (i got a 1980 10 bolt 2.77 rearend from my stepside ready to go in).My question is i know many have done these kind of setup but does anyone have any pics of the tongue area?I am gonna cut the frame right at the bed, install a rearend and cut the cab monts off since i was ripped off my someone here(no need to mention any names since its in the parts section).and possibly sell the a arms and front end parts.
thanks
pat

Edited by: 80stepsideguy at: 4/28/06 5:49 pm

[Lt.Del]

I wouldn't cut at right at the bed.  I would leave about 4 feet sticking out in front of bed and cut.  cut a notch on each rail, both on top and bottom of the horizontal part on each one.  Like the top and bottom of the "C".  That way it will bend.  You can then weld it to keep the bend.  Join the end of the front rails--to meet in the middle.  Then weld the tongue for the ball cup thing.

I have seen many this way.  It seems to work well.

SgtDel    

[Blazin]

If you want to keep the hitch up higher you could cut it at the start of the drop area and the weld on chanel iron to make your tounge.

[80stepsideguy]

thanks guys for the info, i`ll put it to good use when it arrives and we cut it..

thanks
pat

[beaterc10]

I own a trailer made from a SWB stepside bed.  The PO did a good job on the construction, but I would replace it in heartbeat with a commercial utility trailer.  

The biggest problems I see with truck bed trailers are the empty weight and axle placement.  These trailers are stupid heavy and the axle is too far forward for good towing stability comapred to a commercial trailer