Rescuing a little old utility trailer

[AZjeff]

I was given this neglected 4 x 8 trailer for getting it off the property. Aired up the tires and got it home without a license plate. The 2" ball receiver is stamped 07 02 so I guess it's probably 23 years old. 12" wheels with B & C rated weathered tires, tilting, one taillight lit when I plugged it in. Not sure how you could mess it up but the trailer jack was bolted on wrong and really cranked down bending bolts and plates. It's an interesting design, corrugated metal in the center of the deck, plywood (original) on each side that was attached to the metal frame with what looks like cement nails, how can that be? The sides/front were originally removable but have been welded to the frame. The rear panel detaches and when reversed makes a steep ramp. Wife asked if I was going to paint it I told her no way if I end up selling it someone with a rat rod will pay big bucks for the patina to match his ride. And it would be way too much work. I needed a little project to work on so this is perfect. One minor problem is there's no paperwork or license and I can't find a serial number anywhere. I was told that was easy to fix so I'm going to find out before much effort goes into making it road worthy. It would be nice to find that metal and do the whole deck with it but I don't know where to even look. The white wheels are out of place maybe I'll scuff them up and get the dogs to pee on them. Is this how @GON got started?

Has anyone ever seen one like it and what was it meant to haul? It's not DIY, everything fits and makes sense. Maybe haul a quad or a lawn tractor with those ramps?

Metal down the center, plywood on the rest.

Steep ramp.

These nails were how the plywood was attached. It was built that way there's no evidence of other attaching hardware.

 

[GON]

Looks like an awesome little project!

Might be worth addressing the title issue first, before spending $$$$ in parts. I think a COA might be that you are building this trailer from abandoned/ salvaged parts. And then apply for a title based on "homemade trailer". I don't recall the Arizona DMV statutes, but that is something worth looking into sooner than later.

 

[Nick1994]

Nice little junky trailers are great. A lot better than paying for a truck IMO, no insurance, permanent registration etc.

I got an old boat trailer for $100 with a title in 2013. In around 2015 I bolted a RAM truck bed on it I got for free from the body shop my dad worked at, had been rear-ended so the floor has a hump in it. It needed wheel bearings and the part numbers matched up with a late 60’s Cadillac front spindles so somebody got real creative. Toolbox was free from a neighbor. Welded on a new hitch I got for free from another neighbor.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

View attachment 312272

Up here, there's a bunch of trailers that look like that always popping up on CL and facebook. They are all called "snowbear"

 

[AZjeff]

Up here, there's a bunch of trailers that look like that always popping up on CL and facebook. They are all called "snowbear"

Bingo!

This is it exactly. Apparently a snowmobile trailer. Made in Canada eh!

 

[CleanSump]

My buddy has one exactly like it. I put a new LED light kit w/wiring on it for him. The old wires were rotting away and all the grounds were rusted away. It's one solid frame though!

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

Little trailers like that have served me well through the years. I've owned a couple of pickups but utility trailers and motorcycle trailers have been my usual mode for moving my junk around. Nice project.

 

[FZ1]

Bingo!

This is it exactly. Apparently a snowmobile trailer. Made in Canada eh!
View attachment 312283

The wheels are supposed to be white. See.

 

[4wd]

They are handy - mine is so light that I bring it to the hitch …

 

[burbguy82]

wow @AZjeff .....your dog has come serious camo

 

[The_Jeff]

If you can't get it registered in AZ you might be able to mail order a Maine tag through a 3rd party service.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I would put ash planks in where the plywood is and let them weather gray. I wouldn't do metal.

Can you register a trailer as "home built" in Arizona?

Looks better than the junk you buy now. Just the protection on the tail lights speaks to its quality.

 

[supton]

Give it a good looking over--they do not age well up here. Poorly painted and cheap steel. But I'd have snapped it up too, I like small trailers, much easier to use than a pickup for many chores.

 

[AZjeff]

The wheels are supposed to be white. See.

And everything else is supposed to be black!

wow @AZjeff .....your dog has come serious camo

That's Penny. We got her as a foster rescue dog with health problems in February and went through so much to help her get healthy we couldn't give her up. Still trying to get off the Prednisone. We didn't need a 3rd dog but she needed us.

Looks better than the junk you buy now. Just the protection on the tail lights speaks to its quality.

When you look past the patina at the details it really is built well. The trick is going to be not turning a free trailer into a $1000 trailer. The license might be as simple as a bill of sale and a description. I know the brand and year now. You can get a new VIN issued apparently when the sticker is missing, I'll know more tomorrow when I call the title place.

 

[SC Maintenance]

And everything else is supposed to be black!

That's Penny. We got her as a foster rescue dog with health problems in February and went through so much to help her get healthy we couldn't give her up. Still trying to get off the Prednisone. We didn't need a 3rd dog but she needed us.
View attachment 312338

When you look past the patina at the details it really is built well. The trick is going to be not turning a free trailer into a $1000 trailer. The license might be as simple as a bill of sale and a description. I know the brand and year now. You can get a new VIN issued apparently when the sticker is missing, I'll know more tomorrow when I call the title place.

I see no problem with a thousand dollar trailer. You kept the dog. You’re keeping the trailer. This is BITOG.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I would hit up the local Walmart or lumber store and buy some Krylon or Rustoleum and make it look like the other one pictured. Very nice looking trailer. I used to have one when I lived out in the country and had room to park it under the trees. Congrats on the great find and I believe getting a homemade title should be quite easy at the local courthouse.

 

[gman2304]

That is a well built little trailer! The round pipe is much stronger than the thin angled steel seen on most small trailers. I like the way the manufacturer protected the brake/ turn signal lights with steel plates. My 5x8 trailer lights were damaged early on in its life. If it were mine I would make sure the tires, wheel bearings, wiring, and plywood was in good shape. Mine is parked in the woods beside my house but is always ready to use, plus I like the “ patina “ and character it came with.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Little trailers like that have served me well through the years. I've owned a couple of pickups but utility trailers and motorcycle trailers have been my usual mode for moving my junk around. Nice project.

I have one made out of a Coleman camper from the 70s. I welded up some sides and used fenders from a harbor freight trailer. Very useful! It has a boxed 2x3 frame. I was going to make the brakes work but the axle was made by a company that went out of business 40 years ago, so no luck there.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Bingo!

This is it exactly. Apparently a snowmobile trailer. Made in Canada eh!
View attachment 312283

They always struck me weird for a snowmobile trailer. Most are enclosed and have really wide tires so they don't constantly get stuck or drag the tow vehicle down.

I certainly wouldn't mind picking one up some day cheaply to use to replace my coleman popup utility trailer

 

[D60]

My Snowbear was purchased at a Lowe's in SLC circa 2004. It also has the solid strip of metal in the center and I've always known it as a "motorcycle trailer."

Our water tank was not doing any favors for the deck and I added crossmembers underneath, which made a huge difference. Also custom spare tire mount of course
Post in thread '3.6 pentastar as bad as it seems ???' https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/3-6-pentastar-as-bad-as-it-seems.374706/post-7296266

The factory armored tail light mounts are the first indication that the manufacturer actually gave a darn. The overall build quality of my Snowbear is quite good. Now go compare to a Carry On at TSC where everything is the absolute bare minimum to be (barely) called a trailer.

My neighbor also tried to install a bolt-on tongue jack with the plates turned 90*, causing them to deform. It's impressive how some people's minds just don't understand bend planes and rigidity. The same must believe that the floor of a truck bed is pleated for decoration.