Okay, here’s my take on sharing my scissor lift trailer project, blog-style:
Scissor Lift Trailer Build: My Blood, Sweat, and Steel!
Alright folks, let me tell ya about this beast I just finished – a scissor lift trailer. Been needing one for ages, and figured, why buy when you can bleed and build, right?
First things first, planning. I spent way too long staring at YouTube videos and sketchy online blueprints. Honestly, half of ’em looked like they were drawn on a napkin after a few beers. But, I pieced together what I thought would work. Key was figuring out the weight capacity I needed and the deck size to fit my lift. I ended up sketching out my own design, making sure it was beefy enough.
Next up: scrounging materials. Hit up the local steel supplier and grabbed a bunch of square tubing, angle iron, and a sheet of diamond plate for the deck. This part always stings the wallet, but gotta pay to play. Also, I snagged some trailer axles, springs, and a coupler from a trailer parts place. Looked around online for deals, but shipping costs usually kill ya.
Then the fun (and pain) began: cutting and welding. Started with the trailer frame. Measure twice, cut once… yeah, I messed that up a couple of times. My welds aren’t pretty, but they’re strong… mostly. I’m no professional, but I can stick metal together. I built the main frame, then added crossmembers for support. This took a solid weekend of grinding, welding, and cussing.
Decking time. Tack-welded the diamond plate to the frame. This was tricky getting it all square and flush. I ended up using some clamps and a come-along to pull everything into place. Lots of sparks and burning metal smell, but it was worth it. Feels solid as a rock now.
Axles and suspension. Bolted those bad boys on. This was actually easier than I thought. Just gotta make sure everything is aligned properly. I used a level and some measuring tape to get it centered. Torqued everything down to spec. Safety first, you know?
Wiring and lights. Ah, the bane of my existence. Trailer wiring always gives me a headache. I hate chasing down shorts and figuring out which wire goes where. But, I finally got it all hooked up. Brake lights, turn signals, the whole shebang. Tested it all with a multimeter – everything worked! Small victories, people.
Ramps and tie-downs. Built a couple of ramps out of angle iron and expanded metal. Nothing fancy, but they do the job. Welded on some D-rings for tie-downs. Gotta keep that scissor lift secure when hauling it. Don’t want it bouncing off on the highway.
Paint and finish. Gave the whole thing a coat of primer and then some heavy-duty black paint. It ain’t gonna win any beauty contests, but it’ll keep the rust away (hopefully). Slapped on some reflective tape for visibility. Safety orange is your friend!
- Learned a ton about trailer construction.
- Saved a bunch of money (compared to buying new).
- Gained a whole lot of respect for professional welders.
So, there you have it. My scissor lift trailer build. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely rewarding. Now I can haul my lift around without having to rent a trailer every time. Plus, I got a sweet new piece of equipment that I built with my own two hands. Pretty damn satisfying.
Next project? Maybe a custom headache rack for my truck… Stay tuned!
