Shaft size question.
 

Lookin to bodge together a tandem axle walking beam trailer to pull behind an ATV. Would 1inch shaft be beefy enough to use for the pivot point of the beams? Or should I go with 1.5 inch material? Tires and rims are going to be rated for roughly 1500 lbs total . Will a short 1inch stub shaft ( say 6 in unsupported )handle the twisting and impacts when towing the trailer over rough ground or will it bend too easily. Was planning on builing the frame out of 1x3 tube with a cross member at the pivot point that will accept the stub shaft... so there will be 6 inches of the shaft protruding outsidte the frame work if that makes sense. :rolleyes:

Assuming this is the intended load of the trailer, which would be 750# per side, a lot of the load bearing would depend on - (1) how the axle is fastened to the trailer. (stress point at frame) (2) how much shock the tires will absorb. (cushion tire vs. hard rubber) (3) how much leaf springs will absorb (if any are used) (4) type of material used (HRS vs. tool steel)

Will 1" dia. support 750# over 6" unsupported span? yes
will it take a lot of abuse when loaded? not enough information to form an equation

When in doubt, overbuild

1" what???

1" A-36 hot rolled rod, I would say not.... go 1.5"

1" 4140 sure no problem....

1" what???

1" A-36 hot rolled rod, I would say not.... go 1.5"

1" 4140 sure no problem....

Ehhh you guys gotta start speaking "farmer" :D I was planning on using Steel shaft LOL.. Got some laying around the shop.. no idea whether is a-36 or 4140... or C3P0.... its steel :-] What i was planning on doing was building the frame work .. then drilling a hole through the side.. in line with the cross member.. then just sliding the shaft through... maybe drill a hole in the middle to bolt the shaft in so it wont slip out. Walking beams will be 3ft or so long and will provide most of the 'suspension',, the rest being supplied by ATV style tires... nothing fancy here but it will definately be over built... cause thats what us farmboys do.. we over build things. I also have some 2in shafting but thats gonna add alot of weight to the trailer and besides it $$$$ and I'm cheap. :D

last spring i rebuilt a fertalizer spreader(or more accurate is i built one from parts of another)....made new walking beams and complete frame ....they are 3" shaft for a 4 ton load ........and the shaft went under into couple of pieces of pipe welded to bottom of frame w/ angle pieces to support and a coller then welded to keep from slipping out...at no point was the shaft "unsupported"...the shaft came thru the beam ..thur a 1"plate.....and into the first pipe piece under the frame that stuck out 3/16 to keep the 1"plate from rubbing the frame.....

i have been thinking of building a wagon with walking beams for my 4 wheeler but never have gotten to it (really haven't amassed enough junk at one time to build one) i like them cuz they pull easier

as for your question 1.5" no less

Hey Thud,
post up some pics when you get this thing framed. sounds like a good idea. I might steal the idea from you and make one too. I cheated and bought one of those little plastic trailers. works ok, but not big enough, and has little tires, so it bounces like crazy. your idea would make a good wood/donkey crap hauler.
I know where your coming from about using what you have. I'm a ditchdigger/farmboy, so most of my materials come from the scrap pile. :)

Will do !
 

Not sure when construction will start, probably some time in Febuary... but I'll be sure to get some pics... nothing up close though.. my welding skills surfice for farm maintenence but you guys would laugh me off this board for weld appearance :D Still trying to find hubs and spindles to fit ATV rims.. apparently 4.5Inch 4 bolt rims are an oddball size ( lots of 4 bolt 4in hubs around though)

any junk 3-wheelers around?
 

I was wondering, if you could find a couple junk atv's around, then maybe you could use part of the axle?? I was always going to make a trailer that way, but never came across any "cheap" junkers. and Honda's always seem to last forever. Just a thought.