Trailer Tire Rack
01-26-2008, 03:44 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Trailer Tire Rack
I have found a local shop to fab a tire rack for my open roll back trailer.
My question:
What gauge/type of steel to use.
If I go with aluminum what gauge/type do I need.
The pic below is the design I'm going to copy (with a few mods).
Thanks,
My question:
What gauge/type of steel to use.
If I go with aluminum what gauge/type do I need.
The pic below is the design I'm going to copy (with a few mods).
Thanks,
01-27-2008, 07:08 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
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I fabbed my tire rack out of 2"x 2" x 1/4" aluminum tube stock. Light weight but strong. If you decided to fabricate out of steel then I would imagine that 1/8" thick square tube or 3/16" thick angle iron would be plenty strong. JMHO
Good luck!
Good luck!
01-27-2008, 09:10 PM
#6
Safety Car
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I don't have a picture available of mine. I used 2" X 2" thin wall square steel tubing. I do not have a deflector, but did use a couple of cross braces for ridigity. Used it three seasons now and no problems.
01-28-2008, 05:04 PM
#7
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One important thing to think about is what that extra weight is going to do to the structure of your car trailer.
I mounted a tire rack on the side of my 20' Pace car hauler. (It was 1.5" 120 wall tubing). It was up high enough so that the car would clear the tires. It held approx 10 mounted tires... approx 500#.
I found that the weight of the tire rack negatively impacted the structure of my trailer. The front roof cap developed cracks and the wall edge supports began to stretch as the subframe moved to and fro.
If I were to do it again, I'd keep the tires centered up front (because it's a short wall) and would put the weight as low as practical. I'd also cconsider dropping a couple of struts down to the tounge to help carry the load.
Your design looks optimum. It has two struts to carry the load to the frame and it uses the skin of the sheetmetal skirting to carry the side to side loads.
I mounted a tire rack on the side of my 20' Pace car hauler. (It was 1.5" 120 wall tubing). It was up high enough so that the car would clear the tires. It held approx 10 mounted tires... approx 500#.
I found that the weight of the tire rack negatively impacted the structure of my trailer. The front roof cap developed cracks and the wall edge supports began to stretch as the subframe moved to and fro.
If I were to do it again, I'd keep the tires centered up front (because it's a short wall) and would put the weight as low as practical. I'd also cconsider dropping a couple of struts down to the tounge to help carry the load.
Your design looks optimum. It has two struts to carry the load to the frame and it uses the skin of the sheetmetal skirting to carry the side to side loads.
Last edited by craig brian johnson; 01-28-2008 at 05:07 PM.
01-28-2008, 07:33 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
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Gents,
craig brian johnson
My trailer is an open trailer but your point is taken. I had some worries whether my "tilt back" would tilt properly with additional weight up front however others have similar racks and no problems.
webz and CHJ.
Thanks for the info.
C5XTC.
Thanks for the PM..very helpful. I'll get back to you.
It seems my fab guy can't get the trailer in his shop so if anyone knows of someone within a 100 miles of Detroit that can help me let me know.
TIA.
craig brian johnson
My trailer is an open trailer but your point is taken. I had some worries whether my "tilt back" would tilt properly with additional weight up front however others have similar racks and no problems.
webz and CHJ.
Thanks for the info.
C5XTC.
Thanks for the PM..very helpful. I'll get back to you.
It seems my fab guy can't get the trailer in his shop so if anyone knows of someone within a 100 miles of Detroit that can help me let me know.
TIA.
