Trailer metal?

[Megacummins]

Is 12 gauge steel square tubing strong enough to build my trailer out of? I found some cheap and would like to use it as cross braces with 3/16 channel as the sides? I am putting a 250 gallon tank with a 100 gallon tank attached behind as fire box. Roughly 2400 lbs.

[Frank_Cox]

TQ is the tubing guy.... he uses it all the time. I use mostly angle iron mostly. I would think it would be ok for cross members on a light trailer like that tho especially if you are going to use plate for the deck on the trailer.

[TuscaloosaQ]

Absolutely, I usa tubing on all my trailers. i generally us 2by3 11Gauge or 14gauge 12gauge will work just fine.

[pitbull8151]

Hey TuscaloosaQ . What is 3x2 tubing going for in T-Town? I may go to Slay Steel in Meridian is not much difference.

[TuscaloosaQ]

I paid a litle over 35$ astick for 14 gauge 20ft lengths. I can drive about 30 miles and get a better price and the lengths are 24ft. Where do you live, if you are building it for yourself you can get seconds that aint a thing in the world wrong with them just did not pass QC some of them are as long as 26ft

[pitbull8151]

I am in Butler. About 1.5hr from Tuscaloosa

[TuscaloosaQ]

Where is the nearest steel supplier to you????? Let me know I will prolly go to supplier monday and check out some prices,steel is like gas up and down!!!!

[pitbull8151]

Slay steel and Henderson Steel Meridian Ms.

[Mettle]

Absolutely, I usa tubing on all my trailers. i generally us 2by3 11Gauge or 14gauge 12gauge will work just fine.

Do you use it just for the cross braces or for the entire trailer. AND if you use it for the entire trailer do you the have to add a plate floor?

Sorry for the newbie questions.

[TuscaloosaQ]

Yes i use for the entire trailer adding a floor is all abt preference. i do because i do not want the bottom of the cooker to have road trash all over it, though a lot of people do not have a floor, the cost is minimal in my opinion

[Puff]

TQ....I have learned A ton from this discussion. It was my plan to buy a old trailer to mount my 275 oval oil tank smoker on. After reading this, I can see it makes sense to just do it custom. I can control every part of it regarding size and capacity
Maybe the next few lines should have its own post ...not to hijacked the thread. But. Heck, I'm already here typing

Here are a few questions: I will be picking up enough 3x2 12 gauge tubing for about a 9 footer. The tank is 62" long plus the fire box is 24x30. What might you suggest for a floor material is it bolted on or welded on and do you need to add gussets on the t- joints.?

Next I'll need springs, axle and wheels, can you suggest a kind of place to order from. Any insight you might have is graciously accepted. Heck, I am way out of my element here but if you wanna ride an old Harley or build an acoustic guitar, I'm your man!

Really, if you can help, thanks. Al, central NJ .....yup, I've been Huntsville several times

[Puff]

Went to steel store today,picked up materials for the smoker insides...priced the 2 x 3" tubes ... They are 11 gauge and run $30.27 per 12' piece. Reasonable or not?

[SmokinFF]

Doesn't sound too bad to me.

[The Czar]

Sounds about right.....

[Rodcrafter]

It seems like your losing some money by not buying the whole stick. It usually comes in 20' - 24' long pieces.

[Puff]

What about transport? My f150 is it...do you buy it and they cut it there? This is new to me

[Big T]

I know that my suppliers will cut it to what ever length you want it, if you're buying plate they'll cut it to any length or width.

[Puff]

I did ask, they have a chop saw but they told me that they did not have a shear, would that make sense?

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

It really depends on the supplier with what equipment they have for cutting metal. Most of the larger suppliers will offer many types of cutting services. RC is correct, you will pay more for anything less than full length sticks. Do you have other suppliers in your area? It may be worth calling around.

[Puff]

This is New Jersey ... I'll bet there are quite a few. I took the easy way out though and started with the place closest to the house. I know if I go to north Jersey, there are some much bigger places...time to start calling around, it's just the driving that Really stinks

[TuscaloosaQ]

Puff Sorry I have not been around here, Just saw the thread I would go with a 3500# axel width is all about preference but I would think 4ft wide would suffice. generally it would be a 46 inch spring center. with the 3500# axel you would need 1750# springs all mine come as one unit already attached. If I were going to floor it I would use 1/8 inch carbon steel diamond plate. Runs 110$ a 4x8 sheet in bama. You lost me on gussets. Heck clover Ridge decked his with wood I think,
I know it looks good. I use to get all my trailer parts from Q trailer they changed their name to Rockwell extremely good pricing for me but I do purchase a good bit of stuff from them.

[Puff]

Thanks TQ,

As I posted the wrong thread...there's a lot of details you gave me in that paragraph and I'm going to use it all ..tomorrow!

Al

[Puff]

Update: my axle is Rockwell #3500 46" spring centers $200, free ship and came with springs and hardware. The steel is all 2x3 box tube and 11 gauge . So, it will be a bit overkill but who ever complains about too strong?