So my dad got this flatbed back in like 06 for a good deal from his buddy that only used it once (basically bought it to move 3 rhinos from Texas to az). My dad used it till I think 2015 when he decided to order up a new aluminum trailer. We worked a deal where I’d sell my old 16ft narrower flat bed to my younger brother and buy my dads for a few bucks more.
Over the years, I really haven’t done shit to it other than just put tires on it and added a winch. My dad put all new brakes and bearings in it just before I bought it. It’s probably due but don’t care cause of what I’m about to do. The deck is shot, the axles are U’ed the wrong way, the back of the trailer is slightly bent from me putting a Dmax on it and not supporting the ass end, the ball hitch is worn out, front jack is shot and spare tires are from 2012 lol. Plus putting my tractor on it pretty much about did it in. So yeah, it was either “kick it to the curb and buy a new one or look at fixing this one up”.
A year ago, I started looking at 10k trailer… my god were they expensive for decent ones. 7-8k for one and I just couldnt justify it. Certainly couldnt find a used one in good shape. So I looked into uprating mine to a 10k. I knew it wouldn’t be as simple as just putting axles and springs under it so I started looking at the frame. What I found was this trailer main frame was basically 1/4” 3x5 angle iron, not very sturdy. The wood sat down in the center with the 5” side sat vertically and the wood on the 3” side. What I figured out is I can take 3x3” .120 wall HREW, build and inner bed with crossmembers that I can weld to the channel and add to the tongue, this should significantly stiffen the chassis up and support it for 10k… I think. I mean, if this current setup help a 5k load and then it’s own weight, I don’t see why the tubing can’t add another 3k to that. We will see, the only place I can thing that would need more support is behind the axles which I can always add down the road. The other plus is I’ll still have 2” to put my deck boards in place and have a little lip left over.
I wound up getting 2 - 5200lbs 6 lug axles with brakes, spring purches, ubolts, springs, shackles, bolts and lug nuts for 1100 bucks. 6 new 6 lug wheels and two new tires for the spares (current tires on the ground are 3 years old). New rear tail lights, new 7 plug connector, new front jack, new ball hitch that’s now 2 5/16 and has more weight rating, 2 rear support jacks, new birch deck boards (I know, not the best but the current deck is that and make a long ass time with no care given to it), new deck screws and I think that’s it.
This is the most recent pic I have but it’s over a year old at this point
And the last load that did her in. Slightly overloaded
Over the years, I really haven’t done shit to it other than just put tires on it and added a winch. My dad put all new brakes and bearings in it just before I bought it. It’s probably due but don’t care cause of what I’m about to do. The deck is shot, the axles are U’ed the wrong way, the back of the trailer is slightly bent from me putting a Dmax on it and not supporting the ass end, the ball hitch is worn out, front jack is shot and spare tires are from 2012 lol. Plus putting my tractor on it pretty much about did it in. So yeah, it was either “kick it to the curb and buy a new one or look at fixing this one up”.
A year ago, I started looking at 10k trailer… my god were they expensive for decent ones. 7-8k for one and I just couldnt justify it. Certainly couldnt find a used one in good shape. So I looked into uprating mine to a 10k. I knew it wouldn’t be as simple as just putting axles and springs under it so I started looking at the frame. What I found was this trailer main frame was basically 1/4” 3x5 angle iron, not very sturdy. The wood sat down in the center with the 5” side sat vertically and the wood on the 3” side. What I figured out is I can take 3x3” .120 wall HREW, build and inner bed with crossmembers that I can weld to the channel and add to the tongue, this should significantly stiffen the chassis up and support it for 10k… I think. I mean, if this current setup help a 5k load and then it’s own weight, I don’t see why the tubing can’t add another 3k to that. We will see, the only place I can thing that would need more support is behind the axles which I can always add down the road. The other plus is I’ll still have 2” to put my deck boards in place and have a little lip left over.
I wound up getting 2 - 5200lbs 6 lug axles with brakes, spring purches, ubolts, springs, shackles, bolts and lug nuts for 1100 bucks. 6 new 6 lug wheels and two new tires for the spares (current tires on the ground are 3 years old). New rear tail lights, new 7 plug connector, new front jack, new ball hitch that’s now 2 5/16 and has more weight rating, 2 rear support jacks, new birch deck boards (I know, not the best but the current deck is that and make a long ass time with no care given to it), new deck screws and I think that’s it.
This is the most recent pic I have but it’s over a year old at this point
And the last load that did her in. Slightly overloaded
. 
12.5k rated though
