Heavily Modified $239 Dollar TRAILER (Deck, Rails, and Ramp)
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- I wanted a compact but practical trailer to pull behind my scooter as well as our minivan. I decided on a $239 Harbor Freight/Northern Tool kit trailer as the base for my customizations. I packed a lot of features into this tiny trailer (40" x 48")
1. Added a v-nose extending the deck to 68 inches.
2. Added 6" high rails on all sides.
3. Welded the previously bolted joints.
4. Converted to LED trailer lights.
5. Added a kick stand rather than a jack.
6. Expanded metal decking instead of wood.
7. Custom ramp with under mount storage.
8. 2 1/2" rear receiver for a bike rack or kayak trailer extension.
9. On board ammo box for tie down and ratchet strap storage.
10. Wheel chock on the front for towing my scooter.
I'm adding up the receipts and will update with a total price. I'm guessing somewhere around $325-350 dollars.
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Ten years of watching RUclips DIY videos has left me hard to impress. But these trailer hacks were pure genius!
Good project
That ramp is gorgeous! Well done! A double-use trailer is awesome!
My only real advice to you would be to add two pins to the lip of the ramp cannot slip (spit) out from under the scooter as you load/unload it. I'm pretty sure a couple of 1/4-20 bolts with nylock nuts would be plenty. Then drill a couple of 1/4" holes in the rear of the trailer to receive the bolts protruding from the ramp. Also, as a side note, HF wiring insulation breaks down very quickly from exposure to sunlight. To save yourseld some frustration with possible blown fuses & wasting time rewiring the trailer, put some wire loom over the wiring.
Nice build but I have a few suggestions. Please go back and redo that weld with the hairline crack going down the middle, consider mounting the license using rubber or something flexible so if you drive up a sharp transition it will drag but not snap off and lastly mount the scooter front wheel slot using wing bolts and then weld some nuts to the fender so it can be mounted out of the way if you're carrying longer cargo.
I strongly recommend you take a second look at the weld you call "a pile of metal" in the video. There appears to be a fairly large centerline crack in the weld metal. That type of defect can be addressed fairly easily with some practice and technique changes. Just a tip from a welding metallurgist.
That's really awesome. Not to be a huge safety nerd but you really have to keep the ramp from pulling backward when loading the scooter. I load quads all the time and i have seen plenty people not secure the ramps and have them kick out.
why did you add a receiving hitch at the back of the trailer? you building a train? lol
Sorry I cut that part out of the video. It’s just for more possibilities. We have a hitch mount bicycle rack we could put on, or one of those cargo trays for even more deck space, or a kayak extension tube if we wanted to haul those.
Ok cool, good idea, You did a nice job overall
Mike and Lauren I have a hitch mounted cargo tray for my SUV. I use it often enough to make it worth having. Especially after finding a couple of cargo boxes that fit it perfectly and a net that was made to go over it and hold random items in.
Unless there is significant weight near the tongue to counterbalance the weight of the bikes and rack in the rear, the trailer will be quite unstable.
Mike and Lauren.. lawsuit alert!! 🤔
To make your welds better you need to clean your steel, grind ALL paint, mill scale and anything off until you have bare steel no oil or contaminants. :) but cool ideas with the trailer :)
Great job. The mods you can do to HF trailers are limited only by your imagination and weight capacity. Two things- what's up with the crashed mail truck? And scooter riding in Florida, the state that leads the nation in pedestrian deaths- there are just tons of old, infirmed or distracted drivers there. You are a braver man than me.
nice skill you got!
Dude thats freaken awesome! I love it. Im thinking on buying the harbor freight mini trailer to convert into a three bike trailer for my electric mtn bikes.... (i dont trust the wimpy regular off the ground bike racks) anyway i was hoping i find a video of someone using one for the same purpose and your video has surpassed my confidence. Thanks a doz 👍.
Cool vid. I have the Honda Forza 300. Suprised yours can tow that.
Love it. Trying to think up an idea similar for my 250l
Didn't see it on there, but when you load the scooter on the trailer, you need a strap from the ramp holding it to the trailer. Otherwise you risk kicking it backwards, off the trailer while you load it.
SomeDashCams a strap or a couple of pins/bolts going through the lip of the ramp into the rear crossmember. This method works very well and is quicker than strapping it each time.
I said the same thing. Ramps have to be secured to the trailer when loading or you will eventually kick it off the trailer with the rear wheel.
That trailer is awesome. Tow and be towed. Genius, Mike.
Make sure to check your tires with Harbor Freight. A few million were recalled for not meeting DOT specs. HFT hasn't sold any trailers besides the lawn tractor one in months because of those tires.
I have to ask what is your total bed length now?
Also Since increasing the bed length, have you run into any issues when backing up or sharp turning, if you cut the trailer to Sharp Are you possibly risk damaging the vehicle by hitting the trailer?
Hey Mike, GREAT video, and awesome skills man, I wish I knew how to weld. Anyway, can you please tell me the total length pf the scooter? TY
The ammo box is genius! great work on the whole trailer man!
I'd weld a couple of pins to hold the ramp on the edge of the trailer while loading the scooter, you might shoot it back while accelerating..
roland lebrun no need to even weld them. A couple of 1/4-20 bolts with nylocks on the ramp and two simple receiver holes in the rear crossmember of the trailer would work fine in this case.
The only concern i have with the trailer is that the brakes on the scooter weren't designed to absorb that much energy that quickly on a continual basis. Please keep an eye on your brake pads and rotors.
Well, it IS a scooter designed to carry two adults... so if it's just him and the trailer loading the brakes I'd say it's NBD.
My 3 year old and I watched this series together. Always enjoy your videos. Thank you
Shoot! I skimmed every comment and still haven't found where you got that kickstand for the tongue. Please tell us.
I have the same one on my ebike.
Pletscher Two-leg Kickstand from www.modernbike.com/pletscher-two-leg-kickstand-black
Big like 👍 💝 💝
What kind of welder do you use to do those type of trailers
One suggestion? One more strap for the rear wheel, to hold it to the deck, but I gotta say, man, almost a decade as a professional tow operator, you did really well with the tie downs. Good looking build guys!
What brand and model is your top box. This is where the fun begins. I have a 2022 Honda pcx 150.
Why did you cover your trailer license plate? It isn’t like it used to be, normal people don’t have access to dmv records anymore. If someone with access runs the plate it will be documented in their account. Plus a simple google search can find any of us pretty quickly, usually by public voter records.
You should mount a popcorn maker on that trailer so you can give out fresh popcorn to everybody spreading goodwill and cheer !! ✌😂
You would get better mileage if you pulled the car with the SCOOTER
I have a small trailer that someone made to pull behind a motorcycle but I want to use it to haul a motorcycle behind my truck, it’s about 30 to 36 inches wide , do you think that’s too small ?
There nothing not to like about this whole project. Nice work
i might just get myself a scooter
What kind of spray paint did you use for the metal?
What a badass really really like it outstanding!!
Pulling a trailer behind the scooter seems pretty cool. I already distrust other motorists on the road... I'd be super nervous pulling a trailer. (Anyone else see that demolished USPS truck at 4:05?)
A Grinder and Paint make me the Welder I Aint!
What is weight of trailer
I really like what you did with your trailer. I have a sport bike and am always looking for new ways to transport it behind my truck. This trailer may be small enough to fit in the bed for when I don't need it to be pulled. Thanks
You need something to hold that ramp
That is so weird, my daily transportation is also a red 2011 Honda PCX 125, lol it looked like you were riding my bike! I am pretty impressed the PCX pulled all of that without issue, I suppose it isn't really more weight than riding with a passenger but still.
What are the dimensions of the bike
I didn't think you could still buy Harbor Freight trailers. Where did you get that one?
Out of curiosity, whats the max wheelbase your trailer can support? Thinking of selling my truck and getting a Rav4 or something, so I'll need a trailer to haul my homemade electric motorcycle!
It was easy to get a license/plate to put on it?
Felt like pinky n the brain after watching this. Im almost ready… 🛵
Dude you're killing it. I've never ridden a motorcycle, but now I want one of these scooters.
After my son completed the MSF [motorcycle safety course] to get his motorcycle endorsement, i purchased a used 2015 Honda PCX-150 for him. It rides like a dream. i have not one thing bad to say about it. It's a fantastic scooter.
Where did you buy the trailer at???
Awesome trailer! Do you think something like this can work for a 650 lb cruiser motorcycle?
just add a back up camera to the minivan Mike, Lauren will have no issues backing that thing up then... Short wheel base on a trailer like that makes it so touchy when reversing.
There's a reason they put all those holes in the rails. They make couplings for a reason. You've decreased the versatility so much. You made something simple into something complicated.
Binge watching all the episodes, loving to watch the family growth, and now with two babies Lauren can’t possibly keep up with each of Mike’s projects. She’s been busy with the more difficult task, “kids”! This video is that turning point. The lines cracked me up.... Lauren:“That came with the trailer?” Mike:”I made the whole thing Lauren”
I was introduced to this family through the finance videos but just find them all a delight to watch. Keep up the good work!!!!
Are you guys still doing the newsletter?? I think it might be a great way to keep people updated with the warehouse. Or make it apart of your pathreon!! That way you make extra cash.
Secured incorrectly, do not attach anything to the handlebars, that can break off or bend.
Heck yeah! Great idea.
when i get back to the states and have room for a shop i have to get a welder, doing fixing up a HF trailer like this has been on my list!
You never want to pull a trailer behind a 2 wheeled vehicle becuase if that trailer sways (caused by too much weight and high speeds) the trailer will try to go around the 2 wheeled vehicle causing the trailer and 2 wheeled vehicle to flip and roll. This can be stopped by trailer brakes so please do that. My fathers friend passed away from that
You did a nice job.
Nice video! Great ideas ! Thanks for sharing this video build and review!
Very clever but how is that even legal, hauling a trailer that's half the weigh of the scooter, not including a payload.. electric brakes? Also, you might consider adding a hook to your ramp, so it can't kick out while loading, which brings me to, why didn't you just buy a MC carrier! mounts to your class 3 hitch, then add a leaf total cost.. about $125.
Awesome project! Reading some of the comments and your answers you have thought through this project pretty well. !
Good job
Nice work
Good job!!
Excellent
Very cool. Where do you buy your metal (square tubing, angle iron, expanded metal)?
Alro steel. They have several locations around the country.
Kick ass job Mike! I've kinda been RUclips'd out lately, but when I see one of your videos I'm excited.
As someone who’s also a little youtube’d out, that’s a great compliment. Thanks!
Nice 👍 welds are prob still holding fine
This is probably the most modified trailer. Great job
If you do the math, you were getting 85 mpg when you were driving with the trailer.
Thanks that’s good to know. If you want to do the exact math I drove it 75 out of 113.9 miles. So that’s actually 66% of that tank not 70%.
The exact math gives 83.8 miles :)
(91-105*.34)/.66 = 83.8
That’s still pretty good
Love the videos on the scooter! Keep up the good work
Very well done i am very impressed love your content.
Damn that poor mail truck😮
4:32
Lauren: "That came with the trailer?"
Mike: "I made the whole thing, Lauren."
HAHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
Lauren: That's cute!
Great stuff, make more videos please.
I want exactly the same :D
What is the size of your scooter?
2011 Honda PCX 125cc
Very cool! Nice work as always.
6:10 wasn't curious at all :)
Brilliant idea.
It’s legal to tow a little trailer with a motorcycle?
In 1965 enroute to Alaska on the Alcan Highway I saw a guy towing a 14' motorboat behind a Harley. That doesn't address the legality question but does suggest why some jurisdictions have made it illegal to trailer behind a MC.
"I made the whole thing" lol... yep
Listen again...
4:35 what did I misunderstand?
I was saying it's funny that she thought it was just something you just bought. (which means it looks pro enough to sell)
Ahhh! I’m so sorry. Clearly trolls have gotten to me. I thought you were saying I shouldn’t have told her I built it because I bought the kit, which I said in the video but it was really soft.
You’re the best. Thanks for the compliment.
Mike, don't let the trolls get to you.
While I obviously don't read all the comments, those that I do or overwhelmingly positive, and those that might seem critical are only attempting to help.
바이크 상/하차 하다 넘어질듯....
What's up with that mail truck?
A body shop rents space from us at the warehouse. Apparently the driver walked away as mail trucks are limited to 35 mph. They don’t want to pay for the repairs though so they are taking it to the scrap yard or something.
Cool idea!
What makes me cringe the most is that he’s welding this with GTAW.... at least weld it with GMAW, or FCAW, or literally any other welding process other then Tig. 😖
hector garcia why ? Tig is fine for this. He's not building a 7000lb capacity trailer using 1/2" material. He's using .120 at the most. His results would likely be better if he got all of the powdercoat of the HF parts and the mill scale off of the new steel.
ROTAXD ya but you have to remember Tig welding isn’t meant for this. The size of the bead that’s produced by Tig Welding is to small. I just personally feel it would crack with one bad bump in the road.
LOL, what?
"Tig welding isn’t meant for this" ?? The only thing the other processes have over this is speed. The weld is just as strong. A small weld can be built up with more passes or larger filler rod. And it can be more precise. No need for grinding away a bad start or finish like with the other processes. We have welded heavy wall pipe using tig.
? TiG can go a lot bigger than this! Even my crap chinese TiG welder can run an arc at 200 amps with the correct tungsten... (it gets really hot).
My issue is that he didn’t clean his weld surfaces, probably didn’t clean the filler rods right before use. I also have had issues with dirt on my gloves, or bits from cheap gloves contaminating welds.
TiG is fantastic as long as you’re practiced and are willing to work within its finicky nature.
Lmao Did you get done for a dui?
No, I just really like the wind running through my thinning hair.
1
Love your content!
see what happens when a woman drives
Excellent idea and execution!