Trailer Plans Information

There are dozens of trailer plans available from many sources.  We have looked at several and found that quality varies quite a bit.  How do you choose which plans to use?  Here are several things to consider: First, and most important, is the function of the trailer. Buy plans for the trailer that will best fit your individual needs.  It doesn't matter how good or bad the plans are if the product won't do the job.   What type of trailer?  (Utility trailer?  ATV trailer?  Other?) What load will you carry?  (How much weight?) What size trailer do you need?  (Is the bed height, width or length a factor?) How long should it last?  (Should it be built tough for long faithful service?) Does it need sides?  A top?  A tailgate?  Ramps?  Tie-down attachments?  Other options?   What do you get for your money? Completeness of the Plans -   2, 3, or 4 sheets are not adequate to detail and describe a trailer design.  Our plans include several pages with lots of detailed illustrations  (16 to 28 drawing sheets plus 10 to 16 pages of instructions). Some plans include only the base trailer (with options costing extra), and some (like ours) include lots of options in every set of plans to customize and personalize your project. Some plans have a woefully inadequate list of materials.  Ours are detailed by name, size and options if applicable. See more of what our plans contain, including sample pages.   Accessibility -   Most other plans come only in a paper format.  If you spill something on them or otherwise damage the paper what do you do?  Our plans are available in an electronic PDF format that can be printed in any size (8.5 x 11 up to 22 x 17).  A paper format is also available.   Delivery -   Most plans are available only through the mail which can take weeks.  Ours can also be downloaded in just a couple days after ordering. Almost everyone charges for shipping and handling -- it's a cost of doing business.  If you want to avoid that, order our electronic format and save the S&H charges.   Finished Trailer Design: Trailer Strength -   Some utility trailer designs require short sides for adequate strength.  These make a fine design if you will never need a flat surface or if you don't want taller sides.  However, if the short required sides ever get damaged, the load capacity (strength) is compromised.  Our trailers are designed with strength in the frame so you can choose your options for sides (or not) to meet your needs. Some trailer designs appear quite wimpy -- perhaps not able to handle the rated load if it were evenly distributed -- or more importantly -- if not evenly distributed.  Trailer strength is much more than simply being able to hold the load.  A trailer must be designed with safety factors making it able to handle the load over potholes and other unavoidable obstacles.  Our trailers are designed tough for long, faithful service.   Utility Options -   What options do you need on a trailer?  Are options available with the plans?  Many plans do not include ANY options.  Others have options at an additional cost. Our plans include lots of options like tailgate options, ramp options, tie-down options, sides options, axle options, motorcycle stands, bed options, and more . . .   Trailer Weight -   A lightweight trailer is certainly desirable.  There are many out there that are light -- some because of clever design, some use lightweight materials like aluminum, and some are under designed.  Care should be given to choices of weight because a hundred pounds less can cost a lot more to build, or a mean a weak trailer. Our trailers are a little heavier than some because we have chosen strength, and long life as a worthy trade-off for a little weight.  A little extra weight in the right places is worth the extra strength and worry free performance.   Prices: Prices for plans range from cheap to expensive.  Look at what you get (like how complete the plans are). Some places make you order options as separate items costing more.  Our plans have a bunch of options all included. For mail order plans, there is the cost of shipping and handling.  We do the same for printed plans.  However, we also offer the option of electronic delivery, which saves the cost of S&H. Our prices are not the lowest, but our plans are of the best, and include lots of options.  We also offer electronic delivery that's free of extra costs for shipping and handling.   What makes our Trailer Plans better? A lot of little things that add up.  We don't have plans for everything, but the plans we offer are intended as a great value to you, our customer. >>>  See our Plans Sample Page for a peek at what our plans look like.  >>>