car trailers

I used to have a homemade trailer made out of I-Beams that they had welded the duel axles on solid. Thing was a tank and served it's purpose for hauling scaffolding but I always made sure the tires were good since they were basically the suspension. Also had to be careful on the up down angles since the wheels didn't articulate.

If they solid welded axles with no suspension I'd pass. Ever ride a hard tail Harley ? Highway speeds are impossible and unsafe, not to mention, giving enough miles, the trailer will shake its self to pieces due to lack of suspension. Keep looking I bought my first car trailer for 1000$, spent bout 300 more loving on it and had a pretty decent trailer. It was narrow, full size pickups had to drive on angle iron frame on one side, didn't have brakes or dove tail but it worked. Kinda miss it some days, the flat surface sucked for cars but was great for loading and stacking larger shred items like fridges.

The old flip the board trick ! Love it, did that on my old angle frame trailer before I sold it and the boards looked brand new.

SuperDave:
Look Into Engo Winches. I got one shipped to my door (10,000 Lb) for about $320 bucks. The guy who started the company is a former Mile Marker Employee. I've had mine and it is a beaut! Dead Pull, Flat Tires, 2 ton vans- Not a problem!

Dave:
I had a 2" Receiver with a plate welded down, My winch was mounted to a Winch Plate and slid into the receiver. After about 20 times of picking it all up (Winch 96 lbs, Plate 50 Lbs, and J Hooks- 20 lbs) It SUUUUUCKED. I just had this fabbed up. Basically the bottom of the box was cut out a little, The guy mounted the Winch to the Plate and Bolted it Down, He also welded the Plate. Plus the box locks. I was unsure when I designed it if it would be enough, but at this stage, They would have to:
Break into the Box
AND
Figure out how to get it all un-attached.
PLUS
The Fairlead rollers are mounted Outside the box, but bolt to the winch plate INSIDE the box.

They would also have to get all of that torn apart to get the wire that is fed.
They would be there a good long while. :-)

Dave-
Mine was built on 3" Box Channel with 3/8" Wall, The guy had to do some working at it- but it raised the box up enough to make it so he could mount the winch in.. and have the fairleads come out between the deck and the crashbar.. He did a heck of a job. I'm posting some pics of the build for you. Also the Box is the one from Harbor Freight. On Sale, with 20% coupon I walked out the door with it for about $99 bucks including tax!

This was my Old Set-Up. I cut a Receiver off a truck I scrapped and it was sturdy.. Don't get me wrong. But after you have gone, hauled the car up, strapped it down and driven home. Lugging this thing all included.. it was just a bear. I never did get a picture of it with the winch and hooks on the receiver.. but that weight at days end was brutal! The second picture is the winch on the plate with Fairleads.. it sat in a bucket in my garage when not in use!

Dave:
I know the $ Never ends on these trailers (BELIEVE ME I know) But if you want to make your life easier.. once you get set with your winch.. Be sure to invest in a set of these J Hooks, BA Products makes them, hook one on each side of the axle and it makes pulling like Butta..

I like those a lot, ive had them in the cart more times than I can count and just never hit the checkout button, we have used our axle straps to pull with since we have gotten them, straps around the axle on both sides, ratchetstrap in between, and another axle strap going around the strap and hook the winch up, it sounds complicated but its really simple and the same as above, yours is better for sure though and after your pic they will be my next order, thanks sledge