Trailers: How to Design and Build

Steps to prepare a custom trailer design is followed with supporting chapters on suspension (axles, hubs, springs, hardware), couplings, fenders, lights & wiring, paint welding and even a few strength calculations. This first book in a series of three is without a doubt, the most complete and only book available to guide you through the maze of putting your dream trailer together. Engineering subjects have been simplified to be understood by most anyone who has a mechanical aptitude.

The processes involved in creating a trailer are more complex than first glance indicates. This book has been written as a response to the ever flowing questions posed by those attempting to build a trailer. Full of guidelines for designing and building the trailer you want, your end result will be much more predictable, something you can now understand and also be proud to own.

From specifications for commonly used parts to contruction how-to's, this book provides a step-by-step approach to arrive at the most desired design. Guidelines for laying out the trailer on paper will give you a glimpse of your future tag-a-long before it is built. For anyone thinking about or planning to build a trailer, this book is indispensible.

M.M. Smith is a mechanical-structural engineer whose unique trailer designs have become an industry standard, copied by many. A background which includes a design engineering position on Indy and sports type race cars and project manager/engineer on a Land Speed Record car, influenced Smith's high strength, light weight approach. Other engineering design work has included highway construction, heavy equipment, transmission and machinery.

Smith spent 17 years as CEO and chief engineer of IRD Trailers developing trailers to suit the discriminating demands of specialty vehicle owners. IRD Trailers became known not only for their lightweight, high strength designs and sleek appearance but also for their sway-resistant towing. Smith has been granted 14 patents relating to trailers improving their structure and usability.

Besides designing trailers and publishing how-to books, Smith also consults with major automotive companies and performs accident analysis on automotive and trailer related accidents. Smith's long time secret desire is to find creative and artful ways to build things out of metal, saving the trees for their work in providing shade and cleaning up the environment.