Skid Wheels

[cs2kplus]

Having real difficulties getting my trailer out of my driveway. Don't ask how it got in there. I am interested in putting skid wheels on back bumper tubing. I feel these would do the trick. However - I have a 4-1/2" square bumper. I would like to uses U bolts to do a simple install on the tubing. However - I am seeing smaller tubing sizes out there than mine. Any recommendations where to buy with my tubing size? This is a 1989 trailer - which may explain the larger tubing? Hoping to go camping in a week. Stuck in driveway.

[cs2kplus]

I am thinking of Dakota's idea of mounting to the frame.

[cs2kplus]

@Dakota - walls are .100 It is 4.5 x 4.5 square. Frame is 2 I beams that run from rear to front. They are same height as tube. All welded. If mounting with U bolts I would place wheels central to I beams. So the T section would be lifted in unison. The wheels ideally will have a plate on top and bottom clamped with U bolts. My spare tire is mounted this way.

@ Lynnmor - this frame is ala 1989.

@ Barney - understood about clearance. But I was hoping this would help, not hurt in the event the bumper met pavement at any given area.

@piano - I saw deal on axle. I real don't want to go there.

@All - I am like 3 feet from clearance. I am taking all your advice into consideration. I did see good reviews on these skid wheels from people who have installed them. I will think on it some more. Thanks.

[Lynnmor]

BarneyS wrote:
Keep in mind that anything you put on the trailer back there reduces the clearance even more! :E

I would not put anything on that bumper.

I second that emotion. Think about it, you will have the trailer standing on the corner that hits. Even if both rear corners hit equally, considerable weight will be carried at the extreme end of the trailer. Many frames made today are lucky to support the unit under ideal conditions.

[BarneyS]

Keep in mind that anything you put on the trailer back there reduces the clearance even more! :E

I would not put anything on that bumper.
Barney

[cs2kplus]

Roy,
I have a pretty serious bumper back there. But I hear what your saying about twisting. It is true in my case that one side will have the wheel hit first. Maybe if the wheels where spaced a certain way the twist factor may be minimal or none?

I have made a ramp. Tested it today. Failed. Needs beefing up. I just hate relying on this kinda ghetto way out. LOL.

Thanks, the twist thing is in my mind now.

Wayne

[RoyB]

The skids can do some twisting on your frame if both skids don't hit just at the right angle...

That could be alot of weight on something...

I saw one local guy here build up a portable ramp looking thing out of 2x12"... He slips this in place when he is backing the trailer up the driveway... Once it is parked he can remove the ramp rather easy with the riding lawn mower...

Then another neighbor friend of mine has the reverse of this problem. His drive drops down a good foot or so and when his trailer is parked it is very much out of level. He built a similar ramp with a wheel roll stop to roll up on to make his trailer pretty much level on its own.

I don't know if I would have come up with fixes like that on my own or not... pretty clever...

Roy Ken

[Dakota98]

Is the rear bumper tube steel ? Are the walls of it 1/4" ?

How well is it secured to the frame ?

There could be a problem with securing anything of the nature you're talking about to the bumper itself. Better to attach something directly to the underside of the frame.

Or do what pianotuna suggested.

[pianotuna]

Get some scrap lumber 2x8. Put it in front of the trailer wheels and pull forward onto it.

Consider flipping the axles.