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ranger longbed trailer

racsan

4xford
took my rolled 97 ranger and made a useable trailer out of it, bed is from my 94, still want to put a tool box on the front.
the beginning, the 97 i bought for 500 that had a bad trans (no 1st):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37162757555/in/dateposted-public/

97 when it was a flatbed, before i rolled it in a field:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37947557526/in/dateposted-public/

after i rolled it, took off flatbed and cut crushed roof off, actually drove it this way a few days, was kind of fun:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37020992712/in/dateposted-public/

time to cut the frame, made the cut right behind the trans crossmember:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/36378342533/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/36794688540/in/dateposted-public/

bent frame rails in to each other and welded in a 3x3 beam for a tounge:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37192297985/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37192306865/in/dateposted-public/

added a jack, primed and painted frame, added coil helpers to axle:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/36378417833/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37192421435/in/dateposted-public/

bed back on, fits nice behind my 42 allis C :
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37037750156/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37037737426/in/dateposted-public/

made trailer a 2-tone, might do it like the allis someday:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37271699046/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/36609583174/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/37288396882/in/dateposted-public/
 

racsan

4xford
almost finished, have side racks and a tool box on now, great to have a lockable dry-storage for saw, oil/gas and other gear. working on a tailgate right now and i going to put a back bumper on, miss having a step on the back when i want to get in the bed. havbe used it a few times getting wood, works really well.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/38301245184/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/25146702328/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/25146726508/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/27239878409/in/dateposted/
 

racsan

4xford
back bumper on and a matching 2-tone tailgate. bumper is a little bent up but will work as a step and to hold a licence plate. used the back 2 bed mounting bolt location for back bumper mount, about a 10" bolt all the way through bed through both ears of the frame and to the bumper. cut 2 4" peices of pipe to go between upper and lower frame rails, also have a peice of heavy angle on bottom side of frame for support. might someday drag a small spliiter behind trailer when going to the woods for firewood. overkill? yes, but i wont have to worry at all about losing the splitter, and if whole rig were to get stuck, id be more confident in useing back bumper as a spot to hook a chain to.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/154582078@N03/39086063232/in/dateposted/
 

racsan

4xford
Untitled by dave bird, on Flickr


just weighed mine today, since trailer licence fees for non-commercial trailers are based on weight of trailer, i took off everything i could to make it weigh as little as possible. no side racks or cap, no tailgate, no toolbox or rear bumper, and i took off my 235/15 tires on the 15x8 steel rims and put on some skinny 13" rims/tires. i even tiik the brake drums off of the ranger axle when i changed tires. i considered buying a "trailer axle" to save even more weight but thats $100 that i dont think would be worth the licence fee reduction. plus id be replacing a 3,000 pound rated axle for a 2,000 pound axle. even if i really would be ok with a 2,000 pound axle, its nice to know i have plenty of "overloading" reserve with the stock 7.5 ranger rear end. weight as i "stripped" it down to was 748 pounds. no doubt id be over 800 with bumper, brake drums, bigger tires, tailgate & toolbox. sure, i only saved a few bucks to be in the 700-800 pound range, but every bit helps. and i can fix a few things while its all apart. (like how the toolbox wasnt quite level when the trailer bed was)
 
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