You are very much like myself. We completely over engineer and over plan everything down to every last little detail. Then we go all out and build everything to a point of complete overkill to make it far more durable than it needs to be, far more detailed than it needs to be, far more secure than it needs to be, try to make everything as convenient as possible to use, and in the end exactly like we want it. It also unfortunately quite offten ends up being far more expensive than it needs to be, but nobody said happiness and satisfaction was cheap. 😉
There are a lot of us out there like that. Dad always taught me to measure twice and cut once and to over build so that it can grow with your needs. If you can’t afford to build/buy it once, how can you afford to build/buy it again? I miss my Dad…
Dude, your fabrication skills are awesome. All of your improvements are spot on! Glad to see your helpers taking interest, it's always a positive influence on kids to introduce them and teach them. I treasure the time I spent with my dad and the things he taught me, I'm sure you are making some quality memories!!!!
You are an inspiration to many energetic people. Unfortunately I'm lazy. Maybe I can muster up some strength and make my trailer a little bit like yours. Thanks for the vid. Keep up the good work.
Projects like these give you useful skills as you learn things along the way and also will give you a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Just give it a shot. Pick something you already own or maybe something you have thought about doing at some point. Make a little list for parts and tools and see what you can do. It doesn't have to be fancy or intricate. If it's really bad for you, start super simple. Change filters, light bulbs or the oil in your vehicle. Make a little box or shelf out of wood. Replace the hardware on some cabinets. There are virtually an infinite number of ways to occupy your time in a productive way, it just takes one little moment of action over thought to give you a new sense of direction. A few minutes or hours well spent during the week working out or building something can offer huge benefits mentally and physically. You got this man, just go for it.
I love the kids helping. Any imperfections are imperfectly perfect! That's overkill for my needs on my smaller trailer, but as someone that used to work in a sheet metal shop and some wood working, I watched the entire video. Some really nice ideas and a job well done.
I’ve also avoided cutting/drilling into the framework of my trailers. It may not seem like much, but those intrusions can have long-term unforeseen consequences. I used to live in Washington several decades ago. Watch out for that rust! Don’t knock yourself on your theft-prevention measures. Trailers get stolen all the time. I run separate locks through all wheels, lock a 2 inch steel ball inside the coupler, lock the safety chains so they can’t be used to drag it away, lock the (customized) rear jacks in place with the wheels off the ground, and keep the trailer behind a fence and parked in a portable garage so it’s not visible unless you’re inside it. Yeah, it might be overkill, but I’m hopeful that a potential thief just might be incentivized to look elsewhere for their next target. Love that you’re having your kids involved in the process! Great work!
I love the steading jacks, that's a game changer. I've seen crazy stuff happen with heavy loads moving off the trailer or the trailer tips, or rolls. Awesome Idea, great execution once again!
Yeah, I'm with you on THAT one J H. I almost dropped a fridge off the back while loading it because the hitch was not attached and I got a sea salt effect by it not having anything to secure it. First lesson in trailer loading. So that idea Ratha came up with is something that should be automatically incorporated or offered for purchase. Hey Ratha, a business venture opportunity ( *hint-hint 😉 ).
Good job Dad on the trailer and the kids! Those kids will be just fine growing up with the attention and skills you are handing down to them. You should be proud. Great job!
I've had a 7 x 10 trailer for 20 years one of the best things I've ever purchased. Allows me to have SUV's instead of a pick up truck. I've never modified it because I never wanted to make it heavy. With the big gate it's counter balanced and I can push it any where when empty. It's the best $900 I've ever spent and is probably due for some new tires and some new boards.
Impressive and well thought out. I built my trailer years ago and use it extensively for general yard work, hauling miscellaneous items. More importantly it’s used for primitive hunting and camping trips. Your build gives me some great options in my future modifications. Thanks for sharing! Outstanding!
My parents have had our current trailer since '94, it's so useful, my cousins use it too, going to be replacing the floor boards for the first time in it's life time this week.
I'm really glad the algorithm found this video for me. Someday in the near future I need to finally make a decision on buying a trailer and this really helped. It is reassuring to see the versatility possible with a utility trailer when I was debating a much more expensive type. The U-bolt idea is great for someone like me that hasn't learned to weld yet.
Love the mods, but especially the tongue jacks !! They are a great idea !! Not just for support when loading as you said an ATV, but if you have a larger trailer version say, with a rooftop tent for camping, you can use these for leveling on sloped ground !! Fantastic.
You are fantastic. Love your attention to detail. Wish we were neighbors to share ideas. I appreciate your can do attitude and ability to fabricate details. Nice work.
Nice job, looks real good! I've modified a couple of utility trailers myself, and something I've found that comes in handy is changing the light fixtures to LEDs. They last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs and have far less current draw off your tow vehicle.
Thanks for the upgrades. I have an 8 foot trailer with a single tongue (like your boat trailer) rather than many V types. I have attached a hand crank cable winch to the tongue exactly like your boat trailer. This not only helps with loading, but after loading I use it to hold the tarp down.
I have a 10’ that is also a single tongue. Looking into the best place to attach a winch( help loading a mower etc. that won’t start). Did you weld it on or can it be bolted down. I can’t weld so I’m hoping to be able to bolt something down. Also did you attach yours to the tongue itself or to the trailer frame?
I would recommend using vinyl fencing for the material for the side boards to cut down weight and long term life. Moving your stabilizer jacks forward to nearer to the wheel will keep from destroying them because of clearance and won’t effect function. Do not use them to lift the trailer to change a tire many RV owners have made this mistake .Also would make removal and storage much easier. Very cool helpers by the way.
I considered vinyl fencing but was concerned with it warping. Plus im not a fan of when the plastic gets hot especially when sitting in the ☀️. With the wood i don’t think it’s that much heavier. So far I haven’t had an issue with clearance on the stabilizer jacks but I understand the concern. Also I didn’t put them in closer to the wheel bc you lose access to adjusting them at the bolt with a cordless drill. Lifting was just a thought but if I had a RV i definitely I wouldn’t do. Especially when comparing the different in weight. Luckily I have light duty trailer that I easily move and lift by hand compare to a fully on “heavy” RV. I appreciate your thoughts and feedback. 🙏🏽
Just a PSA, every pound you add in modifications is that much less capacity you have for whatever items you're hauling. So choose wisely...... Also modify your chains to remove them while your trailer isn't in use. The chains can be used to wrap around the tow hitch by someone that is desperate.
Involving your boy and girl in these types of things is so great for them. My 17 yo daughter is in her jr year and has been in woosshop all 3 years so far. Her experience working with tools set her apart, and she has basicallyy been the teachers asisrsnt the whole time. Teaching the boys jow to SAFELY operate the shp tools. Have fun
Love that mentality of doing our part even though something is insured. Of course, insurance will cover but the process is a pain in the butt and not to mention all the time lost on projects due to waiting for settlement. New sub earned.
Really love this. I have the same trailer and have been trying to figure out how to add sides so I can haul debris without it falling through. So thank you for the video.
Stumbled upon this randomly, browsing the interwebs, had to come on here afterwards, to compliment your work. Trailer looks great, and i totally dig your "lets not drill into this brand new trailer" way of thinking. Fantastic work man 🙏
I see you didn't want to drill or weld onto the new trailer. But after decades of owning one, you will rethink that idea I'm sure. And than some really great ideas come to mind. I have a 5 x 8 foot trailer, but have plans to lengthen mine to 10 foot. And add a longer tongue so it will be easier to back it up into tighter areas. But since I am also planning on totally refinishing my trailer with new primer and paint, I can customize it however I want. And everyone has their own ideas about that as well. Nice project that almost never ends with new ideas. Thumbs Up!
Great to see you involved your kids. Hooks on the sides to use a rope over top of the tarp. This way you hold down the tarp. Not reliance on bungees traveling on the highway.
Great Modifications! We started out with a 5 Ft. X 8 Ft. Trailer, and over the Years it turned into a 5 Ft X 12 Ft. Nice Work, and Nice that the Little Ones Helped Out!
@@RathaSochenda The First add on was to the Front, added 1Ft. Then the last add on was to the rear, adding 3 Ft. And Yes, after Doing the Additional 3Ft. to the Rear, the Axle had to be moved.
alot of work on that trailer. good stuff, all upgrades are well thought out and help the versatility of the trailer. will pass this video along to trailer owners i know.
Nice Job on the trailer mods. I recently picked up a brand new Carry On utility trailer for our Harley. Pretty much the same as yours except it's a 5' X 8' wood floor with the ramp at just over $1,000. I am enclosing the sides up to the factory rail with polished aluminum diamond plate around the front and two sides. The one mod you did on your trailer I am going to copy is the rear stabilizer jacks which is a great idea as if you ever watched someone unload a Harley from a utility trailer after un-hitching from their vehicle, you would understand and BTW that guy wasn't me! P.S. I like that CNC Plasma table it's very versatile. 10 years ago before I retired as a 50 year CNC Machinist, (When I started, it was "NC Machinist") I bought and moved a Mori Seki SL-1 CNC Lathe to my garage on a little bit bigger utility trailer, 600 miles. The other 3 CNCs that were in my garage were a Haas VF2 & VF1 plus a Makino Vertical Mill. I wanted a CNC Plasma table but ran out of room.
These are such great upgrades. I was trying to decide how to add removable side panels to this exact trailer. Also, had mine tip backwards a few times. Thanks.
Great video! I was impressed with the care you took on all of the modifications. Video was fantastic in the way you've mixed drawings into your presentation.
Don't know if you plan to haul gravel, mulch etc ... But for my little trailer I bought yhe pickup truck bed hand cranked slider that in a truck bed allows heavy objects like sacks of concrete to be laid upon this material that I'd hand cranked to roll it up as it slides the concrete to the back of the bed at the tailgate and so a small tweak it goes on the back of the trailer and as my wife idles the tow vehicle I walk along cranking the slider and things like gravel don't have ti be shoveled put onto the driveway and then spread out...it simply pours out at whatever speed I crank the handle. Works with all kinds of material and is a back saver as well as a time saver.
Ratha, Thank you for making this video. I’m going to Home Depot today to buy one of these trailers. I know I need wood sides for it, but I was not sure where to begin. I appreciate your instructions and attention to detail. Also, I will be towing my trailer with my 4 Runner. I’ll be looking for more of your videos
We have the same trailer, one thing we found necessary was fixing the loading gate. The space between supports was large enough that loading things such as lawn mowers and four wheels cause the grating on it to bend a lot. So we welded in 2 more supports in. That gave it all the strength it needed.
Very nice work man! You took an already great little utility trailer and made it just about perfect! A couple of great little helpers you've got there too! Thanks for sharing!
Solid build with some great additions, and nice job with the instructions. Also saving some money, going to your local Harbor Freight for some of your trailer items, is even better, nice job!
I'm so glad I came across this video just now literally yes I went to tractor supply looking at this very exact trailer will be picking one up next week.
You do great work. Opportunity for people like you is endless. I'll take some of these pointers when I get a house and can have my own trailer. Unfortunate how many thieves there are, here in Houston, never seen so many thieves in my life.
Very nice video. Good job. Really like the jacks you added. I need to do that. Only thing that jumps in my mind is there is a risk of bottoming out when pulling a trailer up a steep driveway as you lowered the ground clearance in the rear. I think for your purposes it was an excellent mod but I have a rental house with a steep driveway, and I have to already come in at an angle so I don't scrape. But each person had different requirements I guess. Thx for the video. :)
Great video. You put a lot of time and money into that brand of trailer. We bought that brand of trailer made by trailer plus and had a bad experience with wheel bearings and the welds. This was years ago. I hope you have better luck with yours than we did. Your pretty handy so I’m sure you can fix it but it’s nice not to have to fix your trailer like we had to and we only had it for eight months. Used it to haul one Dirt bike and other items like cabinets, couch, tables and other home improvement items. One cross beam weld was coming off and was not welded completely. I had to get it fixed. They told me I overloaded it and that’s why it broke. The welder said it was never welded as it should have. Since then when I buy trailers I get-underneath and look at the welds around areas that they are welded. No one should have to do this when buying a trailer. I like trailers plus cargo trailers style but don’t want to go through that again. Great video I like your u-bolt ideas for no drilling.
I sorry to hear about your experience. Time will tell how this trailer will hold up. So far it’s been 3 months and so far so good. When I looked at this karavan trailer it looked very top notch.
Some of my basic changes were front tongue swivel jack, toolbox @ front also, but I used a treated sheet of plywood for trailer bed as I don't haul small loose items or dirt. My spare tire goes in bed of truck or trailer as no room on front tongue. I like the wheel dock and will probably buy one. ( Just bought one from Amazon as Tractor Supply didn't carry any - this is where I bought my trailer) Great video and ideas.
Great Job Sir you have a nice trailer there. I would have installed the tie downs to the outside instead of the inside of the trailer but I load mine up most of the time and wouldn't be able to reach them on the inside as they would get covered. But that's more a preference on my end .
Wow TH-cam suggestion spot on. Just got myself the same trailer but 5x8 for hauling my ATV. First thing I'm definitely going out to buy a jack and tongue box today. I love how on Karavan trailers you can remove the side rails. Thinking about turning mine into enclosed to keep my ATV in all year round. Good ol' central New York winters rather keep my ATV out of the elements as much as I can
Fantastic! Unfortunately English is not my mother tongue so I didn't understand you (I use a translation program) but it was fun to watch you. Thanks very much.
You do very nice work. You should offer to modify other trailers as a side job. You never can tell it might turn into a lucrative business. I would look into getting Air Tags for the boat and the trailer.
Dude, you got that trailer secured down tighter than a prison. Sucks that it's come to that nowdays. Awesome video! I want a utility trailer for hauling my SxS, but also want to be able to use it for other purposes. Can't justify a dump trailer, so this video will help me make the utility trailer an ACTUAL utility trailer.
You are very much like myself. We completely over engineer and over plan everything down to every last little detail. Then we go all out and build everything to a point of complete overkill to make it far more durable than it needs to be, far more detailed than it needs to be, far more secure than it needs to be, try to make everything as convenient as possible to use, and in the end exactly like we want it. It also unfortunately quite offten ends up being far more expensive than it needs to be, but nobody said happiness and satisfaction was cheap. 😉
Yessir I guess you do your best to make it the best you can with the resources you have. You said it on 🎯!
Please send me easy street! I invested in that also! Awesome trailer!
There are a lot of us out there like that. Dad always taught me to measure twice and cut once and to over build so that it can grow with your needs. If you can’t afford to build/buy it once, how can you afford to build/buy it again? I miss my Dad…
My wife: I thought you just fixed that last month
Me: I did.
H: Then what are you doing to it now?
M: I'm fixing it better.
😂
The best part was how you were showing your kids how to work with their hands. OUTSTANDING!!!
Appreciate it
Agreed, nice work and very clean install but your kids participating and learning is the best part
The only thing more admirable than your skills is you teaching your kids practical skills. I salute you.
🙏🏽. Hopefully they pick up a few things here and there
As a dad myself, i can confirm that this is one of the most dad things i have seen in a while. When you know you know.
💯
I LOVE that your kids help you with your projects
Appreciate it!
you’re good at making videos, good at editing, good at welding, good at woodworking, good at involving the kiddos. good at CAD, Good all around!
Appreciate it!
Dudes is a robot
@@codyrojas4462 he pretty much is! I was very impressed. I modified my trailer some, but not at this guys level
Old farm boy here. I currently own three different size trailers with some mods. Your parts list is gold. Thanks.
That’s quite a collection 👍. Glad the video helped!
Dude, your fabrication skills are awesome. All of your improvements are spot on! Glad to see your helpers taking interest, it's always a positive influence on kids to introduce them and teach them. I treasure the time I spent with my dad and the things he taught me, I'm sure you are making some quality memories!!!!
Thanks! Your absolutely right always good to get the kids involved and build memories.
Those stabilizer jacks are something else. Never seen that before.
You are an inspiration to many energetic people. Unfortunately I'm lazy. Maybe I can muster up some strength and make my trailer a little bit like yours. Thanks for the vid. Keep up the good work.
Thanks.
@@RathaSochenda Really a very nice job, and a couple of ideas for mine when I get one.
Awesome!
Projects like these give you useful skills as you learn things along the way and also will give you a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Just give it a shot. Pick something you already own or maybe something you have thought about doing at some point. Make a little list for parts and tools and see what you can do. It doesn't have to be fancy or intricate.
If it's really bad for you, start super simple. Change filters, light bulbs or the oil in your vehicle. Make a little box or shelf out of wood. Replace the hardware on some cabinets.
There are virtually an infinite number of ways to occupy your time in a productive way, it just takes one little moment of action over thought to give you a new sense of direction. A few minutes or hours well spent during the week working out or building something can offer huge benefits mentally and physically.
You got this man, just go for it.
I love the kids helping. Any imperfections are imperfectly perfect! That's overkill for my needs on my smaller trailer, but as someone that used to work in a sheet metal shop and some wood working, I watched the entire video. Some really nice ideas and a job well done.
🙏🏽
I’ve also avoided cutting/drilling into the framework of my trailers. It may not seem like much, but those intrusions can have long-term unforeseen consequences.
I used to live in Washington several decades ago. Watch out for that rust!
Don’t knock yourself on your theft-prevention measures. Trailers get stolen all the time. I run separate locks through all wheels, lock a 2 inch steel ball inside the coupler, lock the safety chains so they can’t be used to drag it away, lock the (customized) rear jacks in place with the wheels off the ground, and keep the trailer behind a fence and parked in a portable garage so it’s not visible unless you’re inside it. Yeah, it might be overkill, but I’m hopeful that a potential thief just might be incentivized to look elsewhere for their next target.
Love that you’re having your kids involved in the process! Great work!
Thank you! Someone who finally understands the reasoning behind all the things I did to this trailer!
@ You’re welcome. It’s good stuff! 👍🏻
I love the steading jacks, that's a game changer. I've seen crazy stuff happen with heavy loads moving off the trailer or the trailer tips, or rolls. Awesome Idea, great execution once again!
Yeah such a simple upgrade but effective one for those heavy loads. 🙏🏽🤙🏾
Yeah, I'm with you on THAT one
J H. I almost dropped a fridge off the back while loading it because the hitch was not attached and I got a sea salt effect by it not having anything to secure it. First lesson in trailer loading. So that idea Ratha came up with is something that should be automatically incorporated or offered for purchase. Hey Ratha, a business venture opportunity ( *hint-hint 😉 ).
Oops.. typo..sea-saw effect
That happened first day too when I got the trailer. Definitely learn that day 😂
👍👍👍
Good job Dad on the trailer and the kids! Those kids will be just fine growing up with the attention and skills you are handing down to them. You should be proud. Great job!
Appreciate its
I've had a 7 x 10 trailer for 20 years one of the best things I've ever purchased. Allows me to have SUV's instead of a pick up truck. I've never modified it because I never wanted to make it heavy. With the big gate it's counter balanced and I can push it any where when empty. It's the best $900 I've ever spent and is probably due for some new tires and some new boards.
I totally agree. One of the best things I have paid for. I didn’t realize how useful it was to have one until I finally got one.
900?!? From where. I can only find them as cheap as 1500
😂 this was 20 years ago bro
@@RathaSochenda oh right I forgot that part lmfaooo
@@StevenTheGreat_ $1500? It’s over $3000 for trailer with beds that is longer than 10ft here.
You are very talented and are an excellent example of what a good father is all about.
Appreciate it!
As a 15 year SolidWorks user I can appreciate you drawing up the trailer and all the hardware. I do the same thing with my larger home projects 👍👍👍
Got to love SW
Impressive and well thought out. I built my trailer years ago and use it extensively for general yard work, hauling miscellaneous items. More importantly it’s used for primitive hunting and camping trips. Your build gives me some great options in my future modifications. Thanks for sharing! Outstanding!
Glad it helped
Love the modifications, the attention to detail and your incorporation of your kids in the process! Great job!
Appreciate it
My parents have had our current trailer since '94, it's so useful, my cousins use it too, going to be replacing the floor boards for the first time in it's life time this week.
Yeah trailers are so useful. I realized it completely once I owned my own
Dude you turned your trailer , into a “Git R Done MACHINE” !
Yessir! It’s been getting stuff done for sure!
I'm really glad the algorithm found this video for me. Someday in the near future I need to finally make a decision on buying a trailer and this really helped. It is reassuring to see the versatility possible with a utility trailer when I was debating a much more expensive type. The U-bolt idea is great for someone like me that hasn't learned to weld yet.
I’m glad you found this video too! I’m glad the video is helping.
Love the mods, but especially the tongue jacks !! They are a great idea !! Not just for support when loading as you said an ATV, but if you have a larger trailer version say, with a rooftop tent for camping, you can use these for leveling on sloped ground !! Fantastic.
Thanks
You are fantastic. Love your attention to detail. Wish we were neighbors to share ideas. I appreciate your can do attitude and ability to fabricate details. Nice work.
Thanks!
Extremely well done. Also fun to see your helpers in action. Definitely some ideas to consider.
Thanks! Helpers got to love them 😍
Love the way you involve your children in the work , bonding , education and fun all at once .
Thanks
Nice job, looks real good! I've modified a couple of utility trailers myself, and something I've found that comes in handy is changing the light fixtures to LEDs. They last a lot longer than incandescent bulbs and have far less current draw off your tow vehicle.
Good tip
I was a pipefitter and my sons are welder/fabricators. That was journeyman quality work. A job done right is a thing of beauty.
Thanks!
Nice add ons and attention to detail. My only concern is the lack of legal weight it can now haul for a single axle.
Thanks for the upgrades. I have an 8 foot trailer with a single tongue (like your boat trailer) rather than many V types. I have attached a hand crank cable winch to the tongue exactly like your boat trailer. This not only helps with loading, but after loading I use it to hold the tarp down.
I have a 10’ that is also a single tongue. Looking into the best place to attach a winch( help loading a mower etc. that won’t start). Did you weld it on or can it be bolted down. I can’t weld so I’m hoping to be able to bolt something down. Also did you attach yours to the tongue itself or to the trailer frame?
I would recommend using vinyl fencing for the material for the side boards to cut down weight and long term life. Moving your stabilizer jacks forward to nearer to the wheel will keep from destroying them because of clearance and won’t effect function. Do not use them to lift the trailer to change a tire many RV owners have made this mistake .Also would make removal and storage much easier. Very cool helpers by the way.
I considered vinyl fencing but was concerned with it warping. Plus im not a fan of when the plastic gets hot especially when sitting in the ☀️. With the wood i don’t think it’s that much heavier. So far I haven’t had an issue with clearance on the stabilizer jacks but I understand the concern. Also I didn’t put them in closer to the wheel bc you lose access to adjusting them at the bolt with a cordless drill. Lifting was just a thought but if I had a RV i definitely I wouldn’t do. Especially when comparing the different in weight. Luckily I have light duty trailer that I easily move and lift by hand compare to a fully on “heavy” RV. I appreciate your thoughts and feedback. 🙏🏽
Rear screw-jack mod is unique ! Solid addition !
Just a PSA, every pound you add in modifications is that much less capacity you have for whatever items you're hauling. So choose wisely......
Also modify your chains to remove them while your trailer isn't in use. The chains can be used to wrap around the tow hitch by someone that is desperate.
You did a fantastic job perfecting your trailer. The best part of the modifications is having your children help during the process.
Got love those little helpers
Involving your boy and girl in these types of things is so great for them. My 17 yo daughter is in her jr year and has been in woosshop all 3 years so far. Her experience working with tools set her apart, and she has basicallyy been the teachers asisrsnt the whole time. Teaching the boys jow to SAFELY operate the shp tools. Have fun
🙏🏽
I love how you involve the kids.
Me too!
Always good to include your kids in life skill activities. What a great dad you are!
Thank you! 🙏🏽
Love that mentality of doing our part even though something is insured. Of course, insurance will cover but the process is a pain in the butt and not to mention all the time lost on projects due to waiting for settlement. New sub earned.
Yessir!
Really love this. I have the same trailer and have been trying to figure out how to add sides so I can haul debris without it falling through. So thank you for the video.
Glad it helped
WHOA this is exactly the content i was looking for. got a new karavan and wanted to add sides (in a not-terrible way) without drilling.
Glad it helpeds
Stumbled upon this randomly, browsing the interwebs, had to come on here afterwards, to compliment your work. Trailer looks great, and i totally dig your "lets not drill into this brand new trailer" way of thinking. Fantastic work man 🙏
Appreciate it
Just got one of these 5.5x9 for my business. Solid so far….bolted some D-Rings to the floor for strapping down cargo
Very nice!
One of the best HOW TO videos I've seen in a long time. Glad you got your children involved with tools. thanks for sharing, RT
Thanks!
I see you didn't want to drill or weld onto the new trailer. But after decades of owning one, you will rethink that idea I'm sure. And than some really great ideas come to mind. I have a 5 x 8 foot trailer, but have plans to lengthen mine to 10 foot. And add a longer tongue so it will be easier to back it up into tighter areas. But since I am also planning on totally refinishing my trailer with new primer and paint, I can customize it however I want. And everyone has their own ideas about that as well. Nice project that almost never ends with new ideas. Thumbs Up!
Yeah probably down the road as I grow with the trailer I’m sure that will be the case. 🤙🏾
My 5x8 Karavan is a workhorse I use it as tree debris haul trailer on my land, love these trailers
I know I love mines too
You just increased the value of that trailer by about 4-6K . I love all the updates and improvements.
Thanks
Great to see you involved your kids.
Hooks on the sides to use a rope over top of the tarp. This way you hold down the tarp. Not reliance on bungees traveling on the highway.
Thanks. Good tip!
Good job buddy. Congratulations. I admire such handy people. You seem to have all your toys to be a happy man.
Thansk
Great Modifications!
We started out with a 5 Ft. X 8 Ft. Trailer, and over the Years it turned into a 5 Ft X 12 Ft.
Nice Work, and Nice that the Little Ones Helped Out!
That’s awesome. How did you add more length? Did you end up moving the axle location?
@@RathaSochenda The First add on was to the Front, added 1Ft.
Then the last add on was to the rear, adding 3 Ft.
And Yes, after Doing the Additional 3Ft. to the Rear, the Axle had to be moved.
That’s awesome might have to looking into doing this too
Your energy level and attention to detail is impressive...
🙏🏽
alot of work on that trailer. good stuff, all upgrades are well thought out and help the versatility of the trailer. will pass this video along to trailer owners i know.
Nice Job on the trailer mods. I recently picked up a brand new Carry On utility trailer for our Harley. Pretty much the same as yours except it's a 5' X 8' wood floor with the ramp at just over $1,000. I am enclosing the sides up to the factory rail with polished aluminum diamond plate around the front and two sides. The one mod you did on your trailer I am going to copy is the rear stabilizer jacks which is a great idea as if you ever watched someone unload a Harley from a utility trailer after un-hitching from their vehicle, you would understand and BTW that guy wasn't me! P.S. I like that CNC Plasma table it's very versatile. 10 years ago before I retired as a 50 year CNC Machinist, (When I started, it was "NC Machinist") I bought and moved a Mori Seki SL-1 CNC Lathe to my garage on a little bit bigger utility trailer, 600 miles. The other 3 CNCs that were in my garage were a Haas VF2 & VF1 plus a Makino Vertical Mill. I wanted a CNC Plasma table but ran out of room.
Congratulations on the new trailer. That’s awesome you got some serious equipment 🛠.
Awesome job involving the kids. Teach them a " you can " mentally and a skill as well. 😊
🙏🏽
A great video, one thing I would suggest is some cross members etc. on the ramp, rolling anything heavy up on there over and over will "puddle" it in.
I have built many trailers but it good to see ideas and updates. Did not know about the trailer pods, here on the farm those will be a good find.
Glad this video helped
These are such great upgrades. I was trying to decide how to add removable side panels to this exact trailer. Also, had mine tip backwards a few times.
Thanks.
Glad I could help!
Great video! I was impressed with the care you took on all of the modifications. Video was fantastic in the way you've mixed drawings into your presentation.
Thanks I’m glad you liked the video!
Don't know if you plan to haul gravel, mulch etc ...
But for my little trailer I bought yhe pickup truck bed hand cranked slider that in a truck bed allows heavy objects like sacks of concrete to be laid upon this material that I'd hand cranked to roll it up as it slides the concrete to the back of the bed at the tailgate and so a small tweak it goes on the back of the trailer and as my wife idles the tow vehicle I walk along cranking the slider and things like gravel don't have ti be shoveled put onto the driveway and then spread out...it simply pours out at whatever speed I crank the handle. Works with all kinds of material and is a back saver as well as a time saver.
Ratha, Thank you for making this video. I’m going to Home Depot today to buy one of these trailers. I know I need wood sides for it, but I was not sure where to begin. I appreciate your instructions and attention to detail. Also, I will be towing my trailer with my 4 Runner. I’ll be looking for more of your videos
That’s awesome. Glad the video helped
We have the same trailer, one thing we found necessary was fixing the loading gate. The space between supports was large enough that loading things such as lawn mowers and four wheels cause the grating on it to bend a lot. So we welded in 2 more supports in. That gave it all the strength it needed.
Makes a lot of sense especially if your rolling heavier stuff onto the ramp.
Very nice work man! You took an already great little utility trailer and made it just about perfect! A couple of great little helpers you've got there too! Thanks for sharing!
Appreciate it 🙏🏽
Just purchased and 18' trailer and this video is exactly what I needed, Thank you sir. PS, looks like you are a Great Dad, keep up the good work.
That’s awesome! Congratulations on the new trailer. Glad this video helps
So glad you got it, it’s so useful for the family!
I know right!
Great video! Very informative and thorough. I also liked that you included the babies in the build!
🙏🏽
Solid build with some great additions, and nice job with the instructions. Also saving some money, going to your local Harbor Freight for some of your trailer items, is even better, nice job!
I'm so glad I came across this video just now literally yes I went to tractor supply looking at this very exact trailer will be picking one up next week.
That’s awesome. I still have my trailer and I love this thing it’s paid for itself over and over.
You do great work. Opportunity for people like you is endless. I'll take some of these pointers when I get a house and can have my own trailer. Unfortunate how many thieves there are, here in Houston, never seen so many thieves in my life.
Yeah I know what you mean. Tough times
Also a good mod. I cut the ramp in half and hinged it so it was more compact works great
Good tip! I thought about doing it too but I use the ramp as a visual guide when backing up. 😅
Great video...just picked a 5x10 Karavan ....like new. I appreciate you documenting the mods...nice job!
Awesome!
Very nice video. Good job. Really like the jacks you added. I need to do that. Only thing that jumps in my mind is there is a risk of bottoming out when pulling a trailer up a steep driveway as you lowered the ground clearance in the rear. I think for your purposes it was an excellent mod but I have a rental house with a steep driveway, and I have to already come in at an angle so I don't scrape. But each person had different requirements I guess. Thx for the video. :)
Yes steep driveway are always a problem for trailers. Just got to approach backing up diagonal
I have 5'×8' Caravan but didn't know how to do since purchased now got it !
Great video. You put a lot of time and money into that brand of trailer. We bought that brand of trailer made by trailer plus and had a bad experience with wheel bearings and the welds. This was years ago. I hope you have better luck with yours than we did. Your pretty handy so I’m sure you can fix it but it’s nice not to have to fix your trailer like we had to and we only had it for eight months. Used it to haul one Dirt bike and other items like cabinets, couch, tables and other home improvement items. One cross beam weld was coming off and was not welded completely. I had to get it fixed. They told me I overloaded it and that’s why it broke. The welder said it was never welded as it should have. Since then when I buy trailers I get-underneath and look at the welds around areas that they are welded. No one should have to do this when buying a trailer. I like trailers plus cargo trailers style but don’t want to go through that again. Great video I like your u-bolt ideas for no drilling.
I sorry to hear about your experience. Time will tell how this trailer will hold up. So far it’s been 3 months and so far so good. When I looked at this karavan trailer it looked very top notch.
Those rear stabilizers are awesome 😎
I know right!
Some of my basic changes were front tongue swivel jack, toolbox @ front also, but I used a treated sheet of plywood for trailer bed as I don't haul small loose items or dirt. My spare tire goes in bed of truck or trailer as no room on front tongue. I like the wheel dock and will probably buy one. ( Just bought one from Amazon as Tractor Supply didn't carry any - this is where I bought my trailer) Great video and ideas.
Nothing like a trailer. You made it more useable.
👌🏾. Makes it so much more useful for wide range of applications
Looks like you have plenty of help! Good job being a great father!
Thanks!
Great Job Sir you have a nice trailer there. I would have installed the tie downs to the outside instead of the inside of the trailer but I load mine up most of the time and wouldn't be able to reach them on the inside as they would get covered. But that's more a preference on my end .
Good point !
Your skills to do work and introduce kids into it safely is remarkable. You have new subscriber.
Appreciate it!
Well done, your a true perfectionist, love the way you engaged your little ones to help you.
Thanks!
Ratha, amazing video man, I rarely comment ever on any video, but great mods and upgrades. Great Video. You have a gift in making these videos
Thanks really appreciate the kind words!
Love how well you thought out function and clean design to add on items! Great video.
Thanks!
Well done sir. Love that you included the little helpers.
I will borrow some of your ideas.
Wow TH-cam suggestion spot on. Just got myself the same trailer but 5x8 for hauling my ATV. First thing I'm definitely going out to buy a jack and tongue box today. I love how on Karavan trailers you can remove the side rails. Thinking about turning mine into enclosed to keep my ATV in all year round. Good ol' central New York winters rather keep my ATV out of the elements as much as I can
That’s awesome!
Good work
Great tips!! I'm going to add wood sides to mine as well. I'm going to coat all the wood with boiled linseed oil as well to prevent rot.
Your welcome!
Nice I really like the welding table you made and this trailer modifications is awesome thank you
Love that the kids are helping
Me too!
I enjoyed your presentation, I like the way you fixed up your trailer.
🙏🏽
i don’t own a trailer but i’m still watching this
Fantastic! Unfortunately English is not my mother tongue so I didn't understand you (I use a translation program) but it was fun to watch you. Thanks very much.
OUTSTANDING. Really well done. I like the cad application. Great job dude!!
Thansk
Definitely will incorporate those stabilizing jacks to my rig, neat setup! Cheers.
They will work great for you. Thanks
You do very nice work. You should offer to modify other trailers as a side job. You never can tell it might turn into a lucrative business. I would look into getting Air Tags for the boat and the trailer.
Very clean set of mods you have there. 😊
Thanks! 👍
Great Video! Love the multifunctionality of what u have achieved.very inspiring
Thanks! It’s help out a lot and has given me so much flexibility
Good job brother! I’m looking to get a 4X8 utility trailer and probably do some of these mods.
Great ideas! Your assistants were adorable.
Thank you!
Dude, you got that trailer secured down tighter than a prison. Sucks that it's come to that nowdays.
Awesome video! I want a utility trailer for hauling my SxS, but also want to be able to use it for other purposes. Can't justify a dump trailer, so this video will help me make the utility trailer an ACTUAL utility trailer.
Yeah man thief in my neck of the woods is a real thing. Even the nicest neighborhoods get hit up.
Glad this video gave you some ideas! 🤙🏾
Was looking for ideas to upgrade and close in the sides of my trailer, great video!
Glad the video helped!
Oh man , love it as it does increase its versatility.
Yes it does 🤟🏾