4x8 trailer

[gooseslayer34]

Hey guys I am going to be building and enclosure on my 4x8 ulilty trailer soon. wondering what would be easier to do. 5 or 6 foot high sides? Also what should I cover the outside with. Not looking at spending a lot of money on the outside so anything to keep people out of it.

Thanks for the help

[DSM16428]

Honestly not sure you would wana add any more hight and weight to a basic utility trailer, especially on that is only 4 feet wide but 8 feet long. You are going to drastically change the center of gravity and the towing characteristics as well as most likely reducing the gross towing capacity. If you do decide to dive into this, you should try to use the lightest weight materials you can. The drawback there is strength...and cost. In going light, you usually sacrifice structural integrity and in order to get the strength back, you'll need to buy pretty high end materials. When you're all done, you'll be right about where an enclosed trailer is for price.

[gooseslayer34]

well its not a real ulitly trailer. sorry should of said this earlier but its supposed to be able to haul 2 full size motorcyles so it is a heavy duty trailer. heavy duty springs and big tires. so weight should not be an issue

[gooseslayer34]

come on guys i need help. any suggestions

[DSM16428]

I wouldn't go higher than 5 feet. You'll want to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. As far as materials...if it's set up to make into a stake type trailer then all you should have to do is secure the wall studs and throw some mabey 3/8" ply up and paint her. As far as door access...?

[Jon McGrath]

I wouldn't go higher than 5 feet. You'll want to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. As far as materials...if it's set up to make into a stake type trailer then all you should have to do is secure the wall studs and throw some mabey 3/8" ply up and paint her. As far as door access...?

I disagree, my trailer that I built is a 6X12 with an interior height of 78". It has withstood every kind of wind system we have here and has performed flawlessly. Here are some pics of the war wagon.

The trailer is a utility trailer that I bought at tractor supply. I then found a heavy duty 5500# axle and put it under the trailer. Then I cut off the metal guard that goes all the way around on those types of trailers. I then went and bought 2x6's and bolted those to the main floor of the trailer. From there I just wall studed everything with 2x4's like you would with a house. After that I covered everything in 7/16'' osb and for a final outside covering i put tin on the outside. The tin rolls that I bought come in 2'X50' rolls and were around $75 a piece. I think I had to have 5 rolls to cover everything. Since taking the picture I have finished the inside of the trailer. So it is finally complete. I can put 8 doz Bigfoots, 2 FA S.U.B's, 2 FA Eliminator Express blinds, flags, rakes and shovels in there with room to spare. Overall cost was right around $2300. Which is about a grand cheaper if I were to buy a feather-lite trailer.
Towing this beast is another story, with my half ton I get around 11 mpg average. But, with my duramax I get 15-17 usually. So if I go on longer trips I just take my big truck and leave the half ton for my wife.

[DSM16428]

Yes Jon, but your was 6' wide. The OP's is only 4' wide. I see tipping issues if he goues too high of too top heavy. Plus, his isn't a heavy to bottom utility trailer but a lighter motorcycle trailer. He also wants to keep cost down. I like what you did with yours, but I'm just not so sure that could be done with his. Just sayin.

[Jon McGrath]

Still don't think it would, but to each his own.

[DSM16428]

You would definetely know better than me on this Jon. I took the easy/lazy route and bought an enclosed trailer. Sure, I gutted it and redid the whole interior, but I in no way built one from the groung up like you did. Any idea how much yours weighs btw?

[gooseslayer34]

Thank you guys for replying. But what would you put on the outside over the plywood cause this trailer is going to be locked up outside and dont want it easy for someone to get into all my decoys very easy?

[Jon McGrath]

Thank you guys for replying. But what would you put on the outside over the plywood cause this trailer is going to be locked up outside and dont want it easy for someone to get into all my decoys very easy?

I don't have the problem of someone stealing my trailer. You might just have to rig something up on your own. The outside of the trailer is covered in tin. Works wonders for keeping it dry.

[gooseslayer34]

Only thing is that tin is very expensive. Would you think just sealing it up and using green treated and outdoor paint will work well. My stuff is insured under my guide service so if they are stole i can get money

[Jon McGrath]

Only thing is that tin is very expensive. Would you think just sealing it up and using green treated and outdoor paint will work well. My stuff is insured under my guide service so if they are stole i can get money

Yeah, if you used treated lumber then used some sort of sealing paint I think you would be good to go.

[gooseslayer34]

i was going to back my trailer into a v nose front. do you think it would be smart to put a door right before the v in the front or should i just only have doors in the back because of the size of trailer?

[Jon McGrath]

i was going to back my trailer into a v nose front. do you think it would be smart to put a door right before the v in the front or should i just only have doors in the back because of the size of trailer?

With a trailer that size I think putting a second door on the side would be a waste. Just use the one on the back. Atleast that's what I would do.

[gooseslayer34]

another question for you. here is my trailer and was wondering if 5 foot high sides will be enough. only thing i am changing is that i am going to stack the full bodies in bags on top of each other instead on the whole length of the trailer. anyone know how tall one avery full body goose bag is when standing straight up and down and then one on its side on top of the other one?

[dakotashooter2]

I wouldn't go more than 5" on the sidewalls. I have a custom 4X6 trailer that is heavier than the one shown, with the deck probably 18" off the ground and the axle is set back further than normal. The clearance on it is really nice for back roads and fields. I have about 4 1/2' sidewalls and have been able to run it down fairly steep ditches without tipping but I would'nt want to push the height much further. As far as exterior finish I am actually considering fiberglassing it. I'm thinking camo burlap as the matting.

My FB duck bags fit 2 just short of 3 high in a 4 1/2 foot height if that gives you any reference.

If I were going to do another trailer I would consider using steel studs to keep the weight down.

[gooseslayer34]

okay thanks so much