My splitter build

[Rattler05.5]

Check CL for a small trailer or boat trailer

I used a rear axle from a Dodge K car and fabricated some spring hangers to mount it to my frame. I found mine with good rubber and hubcaps at a local junkyard for $80 which is much cheaper than using new trailer parts.

John

I have been looking at both of these options. I went to the junk yard and the lady wanted $150 for a 2wd axle and $250 for a 4wd axle. I tried explaining that it would be neither to get the rear floating beam axle from minivan or something similar. She didn't care, if it was 2wd it was $150. I need to go back and ask someone else to see if I get a different answer.

I have seen a couple of boat trailers, with free boat, on craigslist but I'm not sure it would be strong enough. They are typically a 4 lug, small tire package.

My best buy it looks like right now is a pickup box trailer. $250 seems to be going price for a beat up old dog.

The only other option that I really like is this miniature trailer but I don't know if the axle is able to be widened and if it would hold the weight. My splitter is heavy!
I like all the lights, the receiver, axle, tires, fenders, etc that I could use. Very nice custom trailer, but it's tiny!
MOTORCYCLE PULL BEHIND TRAILER

I hate waiting on parts......

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Don't forget to look at farm equipment too. I got an old 10 ton running gear that had a junk wagon top on it. Ended up selling the scrap and front axle and I have $25.00 in it. Can't beat that for a 5 ton axle and implement tires. This one had adjustable width as well. No weight issue now.

 

[jags]

Kevin - I never tire of seeing pics of that splitter.

 

[Rattler05.5]

Kevin, I would never tire of video of your splitter!

I found one hay rack on craigslist last year and I put it to use. I get your point though. I'm trying to be creative.
I think I gave $300 for it in poor condition. It still needs the bed replaced. It sags and has holes in it.
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[Rattler05.5]

What kind of weight do you think this would hold? I would scrap almost everything but the axle and tires. Maybe I could negotiate the price down because the plywood is rotted.
Trailer

 

[jags]

What kind of weight do you think this would hold? I would scrap almost everything but the axle and tires. Maybe I could negotiate the price down because the plywood is rotted.
Trailer

That could be as low as a 800 pound axle or as high as a 1500#. Hard to tell from the pic.

 

[Rattler05.5]

That could be as low as a 800 pound axle or as high as a 1500#. Hard to tell from the pic.

Sadly, I don't even think it would be good enough at 1500lbs. I guess I need to weigh this thing!

 

[jthornton]

What kind of weight do you think this would hold? I would scrap almost everything but the axle and tires. Maybe I could negotiate the price down because the plywood is rotted.
Trailer

If the springs have 4 leaves I'd bet they are 1750 pound rated each. IIRC the 1200 pound trailer springs had 3 leaves. For some silly reason I went with the 1750's on my splitter build. In any case it looks like a commercial built trailer with some wood tossed on so there might be a rating stamped on it somewhere.

Edit: I looked at your beam photos and it looks like a W10 x 45 so that is 45lbs per foot which means it weighs in at 405 lbs for 9'.

John

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Kevin, I would never tire of video of your splitter!

I found one hay rack on craigslist last year and I put it to use. I get your point though. I'm trying to be creative.
I think I gave $300 for it in poor condition. It still needs the bed replaced. It sags and has holes in it.
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Wagon gears sometimes can be found cheap but the oddball stuff can be had at steals as people aren't looking at the wheels and axles, just the junk on top of it. If your looking for leaf springs, generally the farm stuff is out. Personally I prefer a splitter to be solid so it doesn't sag when you put the big stuff on it. I like the added lift as my beam is at 40 inches which is perfect for me. I don't tow mine for long distances either so highway speeds are a non issue.

Feed grinders, fertilizer buggys, silage wagons go for cheap around here when they are broke or rusted out. Lots of scrap to offset the costs too so check out your local ag stuff is what I try to tell people. Generally you can pick the whole thing up for what the tires would cost you.

 

[dave_dj1]

You can buy a new axle at Tractor supply too. May be the cheapest option. Harbor freight has small trailers too. Sometimes new for a few dollars more will be well worth it.

 

[Jredsjeep]

Another option is to do what I did on my trailer. I made my own axle with 2 1/2 heavy pipe running across. I then took some 6 inch long heavy angle iron and welded it on both sides for the drop. This gave me an area to bolt on some rear spindles from a car or minivan. Spindles will probably be much cheaper than an axle. I can take a pic of my trailer I made this way about 17 years ago and still use all the time.

 

[bigblackdodge]

opcorn:
Really enjoying this build and all the help from you other AS Members! Awesome! I have a 35Ton Huskee, but I would love to do some major alterations on it! First being to swap ends with the wedge and pusher, although it wouldn't be very useful in the vertical postion anymore!

 

[Rattler05.5]

This may be my best choice at $300. It has a nice enough jack but the lights probably won't work.
Trailer- An Old Bed of a Truck,

I looked into building my own axle but the beam, spindles, hubs, wheels, tires, springs, receiver, lights and wiring add up pretty quickly.

I almost had a trailer for $150 that was really ragged so nobody wanted it. Would have been perfect for me.

I went and looked at the motorcycle trailer today. It was very nice for pulling behind a motorcycle but way too light of duty for my splitter. Single leaf spring and the tires were rated for 600lbs each maybe.

 

[Jredsjeep]

thats an old chevy bed and it looks farly straight with only light rust. if it is i am willing to bet you could get more than the cost of the trailer back from it. those 67-72 chevy parts are getting $$$ lately.

 

[dave_dj1]

think that truck bed will be too heavy. Go with a new axle from TSC or such.

 

[Rattler05.5]

I would only use the axle and springs. Maybe the receiver.

 

[Rattler05.5]

adjustable 4-way wedge is done. As it sits it is 6.5" to the horizontal split. Anything smaller than that certainly doesn't need to be split 4 ways.
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I have 15 gallons of oil in it to get enough in the bottom of the tank to be sure it doesn't cavitate. It took almost 5 gallons to just fill the cylinder. Figured I might as well fill it up since the hoses are off. Stay ahead of the air in the oil. I can run the return line and mount the filter and then I'll be waiting for the two dumb swivel 90s. Ugh.

 

[jags]

That wedge looks good, but I would flip it around. Have the angles towards the beam. If the wood grain is not perfectly straight, the angles would allow the wedge to ride up the original. As you have it now, it will try to cut.

 

[nathon918]

That wedge looks good, but I would flip it around. Have the angles towards the beam. If the wood grain is not perfectly straight, the angles would allow the wedge to ride up the original. As you have it now, it will try to cut.

he has it correct, if he flips it, then the bevel on the "wings" will wedge the wood between the underside of the wings and the beam, which would cause the 4 way to ride up the wedge.

look at any other 4 way, its not the prettiest but he has it right!

 

[jags]

he has it correct, if he flips it, then the bevel on the "wings" will wedge the wood between the underside of the wings and the beam, which would cause the 4 way to ride up the wedge.

look at any other 4 way, its not the prettiest but he has it right!

Yeah - I know that the industry usually has them the same way, but I helped a friend that rented a splitter with a slip on 4 way. In wood that was not straight grained it was constantly trying to cut the grain. We found that if we flipped the 4 way, it would allow the 4 way to ride up the original wedge and follow the grain better. YMMV.

Thinking about it - it could have just been on a case by case thing. This was on some pretty tough (twisted) white oak. We probably shouldn't have been using the 4 way to begin with.