My new Lowboy
 

I am trying something different on this lowboy I am using a high strength plastic similar to ABS but it is supposed to be stronger but only time will tell. Here are some pics of my progress so far.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0475.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0476.jpg

Thanks for looking
Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

i like it ! are those peices cut on cad cnc , would be nice to offer in a kit maybe ,a lowboy that everyone could afford ! looks good. neil

Re: My new Lowboy
 

This is looking cool!

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Neil that is all cut by hand and I am building two at the same time. It does flex a good amount but I have an idea for some torsion rods that will arch the deck and when it is loaded it should level out and so far not counting tires and rims I have $120 in material to build the two trailers. If it doesn't work out I will have a real nice model to take to the machine shop to get it copied in aluminum.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

this is gonna be an interesting one to watch
plastic frame could be the new thing if this works out:)

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Troy I hope it turns out like I want it to.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks hitachi I have my finger crossed and I am not out much if it doesn't work.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Three axles just wasn't enough huh? Just had to do four eh? Looks good, like the new material.
Ben

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Ben but my old one had 4 axles I just decided to build a new one and try and make it like I wanted the old one to be.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s.../Trucks006.jpg

Doug firefighter30 now owns this one.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Oh yeah? I can't keep all the lowboys and axle configurations in my head anymore.

Ben

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Paul I wanted to try something different with the plastic.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

looks awsome so i see you worked through the earitations from earlyer? looks good so far

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Henry I had to quit on it for today as I ran out of parts I needed to build the axles so I will pick up some more supplies tomorrow.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Wow, that looks really good so far! I think you are onto something with the plastic. Reason being, a lot of the time the machined billet trailers end up weighing 30 pounds by themselves, and they easily bottom out the suspension of a tractor, even when the trailer is empty.

Re: My new Lowboy
 

This looks interesting Travis. I wonder if the MKL will work on this stuff as well.

-Mike

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Travis you have a good start there. Composite plastic do you have to use a special glue? It a new Idea for a lowboy only thing will it be strong enough to hold a lot of weight I guess only time will tell. Ed

Re: My new Lowboy
 

You might need to mill some pockets in the frame rails to lighten it plus give it some strength. Channel or box beam is stronger than solid rod.

Lynn

Re: My new Lowboy
 

You can't glue it the plastic is chemical resistant. As for it holding weight if it holds up my track loader or a truck that is good enough I don't plan on standing on it.:D

Thanks lyn I plan on using tension wire to pre arch it to make it resemble a real one.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

yea that means Travis won't haul my builds around they are all heavy weights :) :P

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Here are some update pic's of the new trailers.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0512.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0513.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0514.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0516.jpg

Thanks for looking.
Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Looks good Travis. Is one of those mine!!:D:D

It looks like that plastic is easy to use. Rims look good as well.

I can see one thing though. I am not sure if you overlooked this or just want to do something different. Generally on these trailers the 4 frame rails sit flush with the wood deck. I noticed that the cross members sit flush with the frame rails so when you deck the trailer the frame rails are going to either be covered or sit lower than the deck. If it were me I would cut the cross members down the same amount as the wood decking material.

Just my opinion. You might have something else in mind.

Have you figured out the sag issue yet, you mentioned making a tension system.

-Mike

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Mike I still have some ideas to help make it stronger. The wood on a 1:1 is slightly raised so your not loading on the slick metal surface and with my new idea to strengthen the trailer the wood deck should be just a little taller than the frame.

Here is a pic of the trailer I am kinda going off of and you can see the deck boards in the pic sit a little higher than the frame. I chose this trailer because we have one at work.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s..._Gooseneck.jpg

Thanks for looking
Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Wow. Great work! It's starting to look like a trailer, that's for sure!

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Got ya... Of course the ones I pulled were WELL used and the wood was level. Or at least where there still was wood.

-Mike

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Re: My new Lowboy
 

they look good Travis can't wait to see my semi tractor in front of one lol he he he you even have my lowboy tractor lmao just can't seem to get my fingers on it yet :p :p :)

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Looking good Travis,and nice wheels!

Re: My new Lowboy
 

looking good...

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Hey, Travis! Trailers are looking great but I have to ask about the wheels. They are plastic? And where did you get them?

Ken

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Really coming along Travis.......

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Thanks Larry

Thanks Ken, The wheels were made by Izzy, td9clyde and me they were an experiment and a learning tool for us on the lathe and for me using a rotary table with my mill.

Thanks Izzy.

Thank you all for the complements they are appreciated.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Here are some more pics and I weighed some stuff today and came up with 75# to test the strength of the trailer and it holds the weight just fine.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0519.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0520.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0517.jpg

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/s...y/100_0518.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Travis

Re: My new Lowboy
 

in most cases the wood sits above the rails because when you load a track machine it wont slide on the wood and also when outriggers are out and you have boards on them the tracks ride on outriggerboard and frame board to keep from sliding metal to metal :)

Re: My new Lowboy
 

the low boys look good travis, can't wait to see them finished. great work.

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Hey Travis, That's definately a concentrated load! LOL Later,doodlebug

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Get's my stamp of approval for sure!

Re: My new Lowboy
 

yep same here lol they will hold the heavy iron lol

Re: My new Lowboy
 

nice trailers, one day I hope that I can build one myself to my D8 (incl a Pete)
Guess a 3-axles trailer will do.
Keep photo coming.
Dan

Re: My new Lowboy
 

Followup on wheels - did you make them from PVC pipe fitting or turn from something else? Very good looking! I'd say your "experiment" with lathe and rotary table was a resounding success. Now, just find a CNC machine and run those babies out in mass!!

Ken