Lawnmower Utility Trailer

I have been a follower of Instructables for about a year, and have learned some interesting and handy things here. This Lawnmower Utility Trailer is my first contribution. This thing measures 3'x6' bed, 8' total length, perfect for hauling leaves and yard trash, but has many other applications. Based on tire rated capacity (and experience), I recommend it for up to 400 pound payloads (each tire is rated at 300 pounds, so 400 pound payload PLUS the trailer weight of 100+ pounds).

This is my second Lawnmower Utility Trailer build, and is a step in the right direction. It all started when my wife was struggling to move chicken manure from the chicken coop to my father-in-law's garden late last summer. He said he really needed to get a trailer, and I volunteered to build one if he would buy the materials. I went to the computer and was surprised at how hard I struggled to find anything like I thought I could use when I looked over the Intructables website, so I set out to design and build my own.

If you are like me, welding is not an option. I wasn't worried about building the deck or the sides, but really had to concentrate on how to come up with some type of axle and some type of tongue-hitch combination.

I spent about a day getting mine built, but think it could be done in about five hours. Total investment for me was about $140, maybe a little less.

Materials needed:

• 12 ea 2x4x12 Pressure Treated
• 1 ea 2x10x8 Pressure Treated
• 2 ea 10" Tire and Rim with 5/8" axle hole (Harbor Freight special, $5 each)
• 1 ea 48" 5/8" Cold Rolled Steel (came from a local welding shop)
• 2 ea cotter keys
• 4 ea 5/8" flat washers
• 8 ea rafter ties
• 3 lb 2-1/2" Coarse Thread Deck Screws (at least 150 ea)
• 1 lb 1-1/2" Coarse Thread Deck Screws
• 1 ea 10" Gate Hinge Strap(perfect one at Tractor Supply)
• 3 ea 2-1/2"x3/8" Hex Bolts
• 3 ea 3/8" Flat Washers
• 3 ea 3/8" Lock Washers
• 1 pc Uni-Strut 48" long (available at electrical supply houses)
• 1 ea 3/8" Hitch Pin

Tools Required:

• Circular Saw
• Drill-Driver
• Deck Screw Bit
• Tape Measure
• 1/16" (small, anyway) Drill Bit
• 3/8" Drill or Paddle Bit
• Square
• Wood Chisel
• Hammer
• 9/16" Wrench plus Pliers Socket Wrench
• Jig Saw
• Pencil
• Safety Glasses
• Drill Press (recommended, but optional)

Step 1: Build the frame and tongue, and hitch

I found that my 12' 2x4's were actually 12'-1/2" long, so I cut them 6'-1/4" long to get them exactly in half. To make the deck 10 boards wide, I learned that it needed to be 36" wide.

So here I have:
2 ea 2x4x6'-1/4" deck frame sides
4 ea 2x4x33" deck cross joists

I used a "little bit" to pre-drill starter holes for the 2-1/2" deck screws.

Next, I added the tongue-hitch-frame bottom combination board.

Here I have:
1 ea 2x4x8' tongue and center frame
4 ea rafter ties
16 ea (at least) 1-1/2" deck screws to attach the rafter ties.

I suggest you alternate the locations of the rafter ties. I also "toe nailed" a 2-1/2" deck screw at each cross joist as well.

This is the perfect time to go head and add the gate hinge strap to the tongue for your hitch. I used a wood chisel to chip out a little wood to get the thing good and flush with the 2x4. Bolt in with your 3 ea 5/16"x2-1/2" bolt-flatwasher-lockwasher combos, and tighten with 9/16" wrench or socket or pliers. See the pictures.

ONE THING ABOUT THE STRAP HINGE HITCH: I located mine at the bottom of the 2x4, and would recommend that you either move it to the middle, or even add a second one at the top.

Comments

[chobbs1957]

In the materials list, I forgot to add 3 ea 5/16" nuts for the bolts that hold the gate strap hinge to the tongue to make a hitch.

[kdf.inc1969]

ok thanks i need a home utility trailer too thanks for instructable

[kdf.inc1969]

how much does this weigh? been looking for the same trailor idea but was looking for mine to be highway safe. thanks for the instructable

[chobbs1957]

I would not recommend that this design be used on anything larger than an ATV or garden tractor. My goal was to have something to pull behind my lawnmower for yard trash, chicken litter from the coop to the garden, and hauling a few supplies when I drive the lawnmower to my church a few blocks away to do the yards there.

Thanks for the comment.

[prince-of-weasels]

Check with these guys for springs and axles and you can do double duty towing by car & lawn mower ^_^
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/NTESearch
storeId=6970&Ntt=leaf%2Bsprings

[jj.inc]

That is a very impressive trailer, but I would get some bigger wheels so I can haul more, because that trailer is very heavy duty.

[chobbs1957]

Yeah, bigger wheels would not be a bad idea. The trailer design is simple enough that it would not be hard to put a bigger axle wheel combination. Thanks for the comment.

[jj.inc]

Is it back heavy at all, or is it fairly balanced. Our trailer is made with a large amount of metal with a lot of weight on the front.

[chobbs1957]

I had a goal to be sure it was not back heavy. It's about right. On the assembly, I set the axle to be about 1" toward the back, 2 or 3" would be fine, I am sure.

Use common sense when distributing the load, making sure is not loaded back heavy. Have a clip pin in the hitch pin for added protection against the hitch flying into the air.

[l8nite]

thats a LOT of lawn trailer ! really nice build, thank you for sharing

[chobbs1957]

Yeah, it may be a "LOT", but I wanted something that would handle a big pile of pine straw, a lot of leaves, chicken manure, or limbs. With denser materials, it would be easy to overload.

I sometimes go to my church a few blocks away to do the yards. This is an easy way to haul edger, line trimmer, rakes, and other things with the lawnmower in one easy trip!

We used the first one I built last fall for my father-in-law at the family Christmas gathering for a "feature ride" for the children. We had a blast loading up about five little ones and riding them around the yard in the "wagon"!