I have been thinking about making or modifying an existing 5ver for the last 2 or so years. My plan was to have 2 opposing slides in the back hydraulic actuated running full length on the lower level and no bed slide. Using 2 7000lb axles with 8 bolt Dodge rims and make the exterior walls from aluminum like an Airstream trailer but painted.

I have come and gone on this project but now with the price of fuel it would make sense to have an extremely light 5ver. I also noticed that they are now making full length slides from the back all the way to the very front and stepping them up for the bathroom. When I first started thinking about the project I was looking at new trailers and the dealers told me that it was "impossible" to make a trailer with even full length opposing slides in the back on the lower level.

Anyone else done or thought about doing this? Comments or suggestions....

 

The shape of the nose is more important than the weight factor as far as the millage goes.. look into a nose bubble or tapering the front..

If you build it to low or flimsy then taking it off road might not be an option..

Here's a video that might give you some ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJQmwusgU5M

 

There is a guy that posts on RV.net that built a fifth wheel completely from scratch.

The guy did an amazing job.

I'm sure if you look in the archives there,you'll find his posts.

 

I wanted to see the homemade fifth wheel again,so I looked it up.

He has a website called Chadsprojects.com

Check it out.

 

It is the same guy who is in the video posted above.

Hub

 

I have seen that before but he used wood studs and sheeting then fiberglass hard side, thats where I would like to cut down the weight. I have been looking at the Titanium and Travelaire both with the aerodynamic fronts that have the extra 5 feet up front, it seems that these tow much better that other fronts out there. However it would be too difficult to make. It's too bad airstream don't make a 5ver. By sticking 7000lb axles and LT285/75/16 under it it gives height for hooking to our 4X4 trucks and strength by using rectangular tubing for the unexpected.

 

Why not buy a used aluminum stock/horse trailer and then modify to your specs? The frames are plenty strong enough, and most of the engineering work is already done. Not having any installed tanks or pre-set plumbing gives you a lot of flexibility for a floorplan too.

 

Don't want to hijack thread, but if you folks wouldn't mind keeping in mind, I'm looking for a 3H with LQ trailer / 8 ft tall and wide, while you folks are checking out stuff.

I thought about building LQ in a used horse trailer, but all the extra modifications required to put in windows, AC, and such, really wasn't going to save me any money than just buying one already designed for it.

 

I had thought of that and even commercial trailers with aluminum sides. The stock trailers are I think too low as we would want the bed up front over the 5ver hitch, and I understand that the floors rot quickly from the animal pee.

Anyway for the time being my wife found a Titanium with 2 rear opposing slides that we bought on the weekend so I'll be trying out the patented front end to see just how easy it tows. Thanks for the input and maybe I'll look again at stock trailers for the future if the Titanium doesn't work out.

 

Most alluminum trailers have alluminum floors and they will last a long long time. It is important to wash out the animal pee and other leavings though.

 

Where's the pics?

 

I got back last night from a trip up North and used the old trailer as it was already loaded to go, so I haven't had a chance to tow the new one yet. I'll get some pics posted of the nose of the trailer as they are different. Glendale has a patent on the design.