My newly acquired Log Transporter...

Ted J · Dec 16, 2009

I found the ad on craigslist, after a few emails, we talked and decided on a price. I don't have a gooseneck hitch yet, so the gentleman even offered to deliver it to me...

It needs a little work as far as paint and wiring, but it's solid and it is a home made trailer, with mobil home transport axles (7K per axle). The previous owner used it to move and transport granite monuments, and claimed the most he loaded up was around 12K.

It's a 16 foot trailer, and there's a huge tool box mounted up on top, these are the only pictures I have right now, I haven't taken my own pictures yet. It was right before it starting to get dark outside when it was delivered, with no time for me to take any pictures.

So far after looking over the trailer, the modifications I want to do is raise the I beam about 18 to 24 inches higher, for a little more head room.

Ted

woodsrunner · Dec 16, 2009

I have thought many times about that exact kind of trailer. It should be perfect for hauling logs and should be relatively easy to load. It also should pull good. Just don't let logs hang out the back. Even goosenecks can get squirrely on you if you have then loaded to heavy behind the axles. I think it will be the perfect rig for milling. :clap:

Scott

mtngun · Dec 17, 2009

Hate to rain on your parade, but "mobile home axles" generally suck, with clamp-on rims instead of normal bolt-on wheels, and brakes that aren't necessarily designed to be maintained. Mobile home tires generally don't have a high rating, either. The axles and tires are designed to last just long enough to deliver a mobile home, not for continuous duty.

I've got a homemade flatbed made with mobile home axles and hate it. The original owner/fabricator gave me the same story about how it has a high load rating which is BS. The load rating is limited by the tires and the flimsy sheet metal wheels. I've had 3 flats in one day. I've had clamps wiggle loose. I've had studs break off or strip. Almost every time I use the trailer, something breaks or goes wrong.

If you have the clamp-on's wheels you might eventually become motivated to convert them to bolt-ons. There is a conversion hub available that allows you to use bolt-on wheels instead of clamp-on. However, it can also be difficult to find brake parts for mobile home axles (assuming it has brakes) because they were not designed to be maintained.

If you are only using this trailer occasionally, and not going very far, and don't mind changing flat tires, it might be OK for your purposes.

I agree that the overhead beam would be pretty handy not only for logs but also for machinery.

woodsrunner · Dec 17, 2009

I agree mobile home axles and tires leave something to be desired. But, years ago I pulled a really nice homemade thirty foot equipment trailer with them on it and really didn't have a lot of problems with them. Hauled some pretty heavy loads on it too. the last sets of those tires I bought were 14 ply rated tires. They held up fairly well if you kept them inflated and they weren't dry rotted.
Still they aren't the best. But I wouldn't have buyer's remorse over this issue at all. I still think you got a handy dandy rig there. If the tires and/or axles don't work out you can always swap them out. Lots of places on line sell good quality trailer axles. You can even order them custom sized. And they really aren't very expensive. So run it and see how it does for you.
:cheers:

Scott

Ted J · Dec 17, 2009

I have no buyer's remorse over the purchase of the trailer, and I already knew the issues with mobile home trailer axles, and what was expected from them.

I was already planning to replace the axles on down the road with axles that will have brakes. Even with putting on two new axles I think I still come out ahead.

My only dillema is deciding on electric brakes or surge brakes, as I hear there are pro's and con's to each system.

Ted

OH..... the other issue that came up was what color to paint it?