Step Deck into a Four car?

[Tosch88]

So I have been thinking about making my stepdeck into a four car open carrier. It would look similar to a Kaufman Four car. I will start by changing the rear dove angle (complete rebuild) cause in its current form the breakover sucks for loading cars. Any thoughts are where to get the self contained Hydro system. I was thinking of using a system from a Dump trailer with 12k of lifting ability. I would also like to make the unit removable so if I had a job that absolutely needed the full stepdeck I could have one in 30 minutes using my tractor to lift it off. Any thoughts on the idea of suggestions. Selling the trailer is not an option as people don't seem to want to pay anything for a trailer. I would rather put a few thousand into it and make it how I want. I will not be paying anyone to do this (the last time I paid someone to do some trailer work was a joke, I'm no certified fabricator but I think my son could of done a better job) so I will just have steel & a hydro system to buy.

[cosgo]

if you like kaufmans hydro system, you can buy it direct from them, and since they move so many, they have decent pricing. otherwise, farm and fleet sells all the same stuff - but are more expensive.

[Slim]

Why couldn't you build a bolt on steel sub frame assembly for the rear to correct the new dove requirements for cars. It would be a simple structure to fab. This would allow you to return the trailer to it's current configuration and much less labor intensive as a rear section rebuild would be.

[Tosch88]

I won't be returning the rear dovetail to the original configuration ever. Just the hydro lift in the front of the trailer. The original dovetail on these trailers are a joke as they suck for loading anything including equipment and drag on the ground everywhere, which is hard on the trailer. I like the idea of just buying the hydro system from Kaufman if they don't try and rip you off.

[Slim]

I like the idea of the multi use trailer but I'm wondering about the final weight after mods. That hydraulic system is commonly used on many applications, lift gates, dump beds, roof truss trailers etc. The fluid reservoir capacity would have to be adequate to operate the 2 cylinders, but that's all that would be special about it.

[Tosch88]

The trailer weighs 9400# with the folding ramps (about 200# each). The ramps are gone and replaced with aluminum and I will be getting rid of the self cleaning dove tail and replacing it with a car type dove that will probably weigh 20% less. As long as its around 11k of less it will be fine as a lot of the weight when loaded will be pin weight which is fine (SA Semi) and its a 24k trailer with 12k duals. It would leave me with 26k of loading capacity (which I doubt it would ever see) and still be under the 54k Irp weight. Thanks for the hydro advice. My brother in law is working on a design (engineer) so its strong and light enough for my needs. Hopefully I will get this underway over Christmas vacation.

[Slim]

Monarch makes a good pump and I saw them on ebay with 25ft remote and the 2-1/2 gal reservoir for 365 or best offer. Fenner is the other brand leader, but they are twice the price but use a steel reservoir vs plastic on the Monarch. These are the power up gravity down models. Not knowing the cyl. dimensions makes the reservoir requirement a guess, but I would assume the 2-1/2 gal. would do it. The next size down is 1-1/2 gal. capacity. They're all 3000 psi pumps. Sounds like a fun very worthwhile project.

[cosgo]

I bought stuff from Kaufman direct. Back when i used to have 2 of their trailers. they were always fair on price. Especially, rims and tires. they were cheaper than what i could find near the house.

[ccoop769]

Monarch pumps come standard on kaufmans. As for kaufman prices, they are they best on everything from tires/rims and axles. Youd be amazed on the discounted price they give you compared to everywhere.

Just for a ezlube 7k axle hub to hub which includes hubs, brake assemblies, bearings, and even includes the leaf springs attatched, a full bolt on item for roughly $350.

Its hard enough finding hub to hub by itself for $500, let alone leafsprings are usually another $100 on top of that.

Cant wait to see your build..................

[oregon]

I would just get a hold of this guy, looks like he knows what he is doing, LOL,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecCM5LCqBU

[Brisco]

I would just get a hold of this guy, looks like he knows what he is doing, LOL,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecCM5LCqBU

That guy didn't design that trailer.........

These trailers were made years back when the "Mobile Mechanic/Mobile Oil Change" services were just starting to be a fad. This was not built to be a "Car Hauler".

There was probably a tool box installed up in the front of the trailer at one time. There's a guy here in my area that's still using this exact same trailer for his Mobile Muffler Shop. He's got a pipe bender installed there in the front of the trailer, and is pulling it with his F350 Dually Flatbed that has a big ass Generator and a Welding Machine on it. He's down at my buddys Body Shop all the time. I'll get pictures next time he's down there.

[Haul-A-Round]

I would just get a hold of this guy, looks like he knows what he is doing, LOL,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecCM5LCqBU

what a pos !

[Tosch88]

I would just get a hold of this guy, looks like he knows what he is doing, LOL,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecCM5LCqBU

I'm gonna save that sweet trailer design for my uship tow rig special edition. I could make millions of the uship haulers.

[NDanecker]

I would just get a hold of this guy, looks like he knows what he is doing, LOL,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecCM5LCqBU

I'll give ya one guess what's gonna happen when he does a quicky stop or God forbid a front end collision????? Hope he has a full bottle of Advil handy!