Harbor Freight Folding Trailer Build & Modifications - Raft Trailer

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The Trailer: www.harborfreight.com/1720-lb...
The Raft: stealthcraftboats.com/
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[@jeSuperfly]

Got the same trailer for my little 12ft jon boat. I ended up taking the whole axle/wheel/frame bracket assembly back off and flipped it around so that the axle sat further back. Been a decent little trailer.

[@adamk7631]

Exactly what I was getting drawings together to do, then I find your video, awesome!

[@AcumenTV]

Looking to do the same thing and found your video very helpful in my planning. Thanks guys!

[@donalddavis8652]

I'm glad you made the winch part of the video that's where I had my problem I bought the same winch

[@ethanmacheras5967]

Pretty cool

[@barrywingler418]

I basically did the same thing but I spent a little more and bought the tractor supply trailer kit, its all galvanized and wont rust as fast as the steel trailers plus it came with the bearing buddies.

[@Wrangler98]

Full sized pickup coming lol! Drift boat is sick!

[@maxjoey197]

nice job

[@michaelbandeko3519]

I have one that I use as a utility trailer on my farm. Its 20 years old and still going strong. I have filled it up with firewood and it survived.

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Great to hear

[@matthewknobel6954]

I have had this trailer for nearly 16 years with the original bearings. I have had loads of nearly 2000lbs in it. The only mod that I did was to put heavier duty casters so that when it folds it moves around easier.

[@jadeblanco2896]

How does it travel down the road? Can it travel at highway speeds?

[@matthewknobel6954]

@@jadeblanco2896 I would make sure that the tires have proper level of air and the bearings are greased. But I did a trip from OKC to San Antonio with it as max capacity doing highway speed the entire way. When I stopped for fuel I checked the wheels to make sure they were not getting to hot (no issues). Tow vehicle was a 2006 caravan.

[@travishaskell6897]

Can't wait for some new fishing videos! Cool trailer mods!

[@olheghtt]

I'd like the idea of adding those joists to raise the floor. I was thinking, with a little bit of basic carpentry, you can actually add some pull-out drawers underneath that floor. these trailers around of stock at harbor freight right now. When they come back I'm going to get one and I'm going to do the same thing, I think I'm going to add some drawers underneath.

[@MiniatureChickenChannel]

Cool channel dude....just came upon it after searching how to get your gopro to record for long durations. I see your doing the amazon affiliate thing and assume your monetized with adsense. Keep rockin it man....👊

[@garrisonh]

nice lob!

[@gcnphilly]

Great video. Just discovered this as I'm putting together my own trailer. Had you given any thought to extending the tongue of the trailer? I've heard people say that's a beneficial modification.

[@glock19gen3]

What were the part numbers for the new bearings?

[@Mike-lh4wn]

Got a 10 foot dinghy. Looking at something like this.

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

Any videos about the raft?

[@CRDODGE47]

Hope that deck on the trailer works for y'all, I was using a wooden decked trailer for a flat bottom boat went to launch it in the river ,the father back I went the trailer started floting up to the top of river like a raft itself

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I won’t be doing that. Just parking close and pulling it off

[@stanlucas665]

Just a quick question. How wide is the axle on your trailer?

[@bkreativfilms]

What size galvanized pipe and pvc did you use for roller?

[@inkman2244]

bought my harbor trailer in 2003... never had a problem with wheel bearings they have grease fittings.

[@lord_vader87]

Did you keep the original bearings or replace them

[@TrialsDirtBike]

so, I have a crazy thought, not sure if this is something you think it will be ok with. I plan on making it 8ft by 9ft so i can fit 2 quads on the trailer and most of the weight will sit on the tongue of the vehicle (diesel truck) the PL capacity of the trailer is 1700 lbs so has me a bit nervous being exactly close to 1700 lbs with 2 quads plus the wood I am adding. my friends been doing it for a few years with no issue. the axle and wheels seem to support the load also just fine

[@trentvandekamp1388]

do you have any pictures of that build? ive been thinking about doing the same for mine.

[@jdpriv1]

Any issues with the tail lights getting in the water? I have the same trailer and wanted to know if you swapped out or sealed them for waterproof versions?

[@Wrangler98]

Sick fender delete

[@willymaven1626]

The wood splinter may puncture the raft, add a carpet😄

[@JoseLopez-go3kb]

What did you replace the wheel bearings with exactly? I have heard the same and am planing on buying a trailer just want to know what to get for bearings .

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I just went to the auto parts store and they took the number off them. Mine were from NAPA

[@jorgejaimes4115]

Deck boards 1x6x8ft ?

[@philos212]

Nice work! Did you use pressure treated lumber or just regular lumber?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I did

[@leemowers9395]

Nice trailer build, trash the tip pins, you can always pull the bolts on the rare occasion to tip the bed.

[@luigiprovencher8888]

Has anyone thought of using solid tires or turning the one's that come with it into solid tires instead of changing out the rims and tires all together.

[@bradfriesen560]

How did you attach the cross braces(2x4) to the frame of the trailer?

[@tywheeler7131]

I’m curious as well. Lags is the bottom?

[@tightlinefishaholic8277]

cant you use this trailer for boat and back it into the water? will the trailer float?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I wouldn’t. I expect it will float and the bearings/hubs are made for that. The lights either

[@bradfriesen560]

How long is your raft, my raft is 14 ft long, I was thinking If extending it by one foot on each end. Do you think that is possible?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Mines 14ft. Could extend the tongue. It’s pretty damn short

[@shawnp001]

do you keep your raft inflated all the time I am thinking of getting one

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Yes, just let some air out of it when you’re done Incase it gets hot and expands

[@donaxe9246]

Why not pressure treated 2by 4s

[@benkanobe7500]

Did you replace the HF Bearing Races or did you just replace the bearings?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

All of it

[@6honolulu]

Where did you purchase the bearings. Do you still remember the part number?

[@G_The_Fishing_Reel_Tor]

I need that bracket for the winch!!!!! Where did you find it!!!!???????

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I made it

[@G_The_Fishing_Reel_Tor]

@@mainetroutwhisperer I really need one… I’m not a welder. I cant find something similar anywhere

[@jeffreyjohnson8315]

So I have 13ft raft and the same trailer. Is the length ok with about 3ft or raft hanging off?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Yup works great. The roller bar helps. I put it on with the front of the raft facing the vehicle. And have the front overhang some too

[@jeffreyjohnson8315]

@@mainetroutwhisperer thank you. I am going to pretty much mirror my build after yours. Any other tips?

[@erichgross7644]

I gotta say, my raft has about 3 foot of over hang off the back of my trailer. Similar setup as this. After a while, I noticed a fine crack on the floor of the raft. Almost as if someone took a razor to the floor and sliced it across. Turns out the floor split because of the over hang. It’s not leaking, but if I was to fab a new trailer I would try to minimize the amount of over hang as much as possible.

[@ia6980]

Harbor freight trailers are 45mph limit, wont work for freeway or longer distances

[@ratoneJR]

You found bearings at the auto parts store? Absolutely no one can get them here. I had to order from Amazon.

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

Yup. NAPA. Also check tractor supply. They sometimes have them

[@shaker3459]

Maybe I missed it, did you get rid of your boat?

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I did not. It’s still in storage

[@EliteGeeks]

I have 6 HF Trailers, 20 over the last 30 years, the Bearings are fine... the grease is Blue Lithium High Temp high Pressure grease, also fine, I suggest you just mount and pack with more... waste of time and money replacing them

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

I took one of the bearings out when I replaced them and if completely fell apart in my hand. Junk

[@4truth69]

They are $549.00 now.

[@mp-xt2rg]

Bearings are fine just grease them and they are good.

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

That’s why they fell apart when I took them out of the hub.. lol. Didn’t show that it happened off camera

[@mp-xt2rg]

@@mainetroutwhispererthe rollers fell out of the cage? I have the 4x4 and it's held up well for about 5 years now. I use every other week.

[@mainetroutwhisperer]

@@mp-xt2rg yes.

[@benkanobe7500]

I live in CA and there are at least HFs within 1 hour driving from my house. I have been trying to buy one of those trailers for about 6 years on and off. I especially want to use a coupon. Every time I go, they say: "We don't have any but we should get restocked in (3-6months)". "Can I preorder one?" No "Can I put down a deposit?" No. "How do I get one?" You need to just come in when we have one in stock. So how the heck do I get one? (I even looked at used on CL but they are trashed or overbuilt and the owner wants too much). Thanks!

[@stevemizera3891]

HF gets re-supplied every Tuesday. So call the store and they will let you know if one was on the shipment.

[@bigeverett04]

First

[@bigeverett04]

Hell of a rig you got there guy!

[@MGshorty304]

Can I pay you to make me the wench for the same trailer? Lol