This post contains affiliate links.
Adding a trailer to your kid's Power Wheels could be what they need to spice up the fun. It could also help your kids move things around, and you could help them make it.
To make a trailer for Power Wheels, you can start by constructing the trailer frame from wood or metal and then simply welding the wheels and gooseneck before connecting the fabrication to the Power Wheels. You could also build a wheel axle before joining it to the trailer frame.
Stay tuned because we'll share the tools you need and three examples of Power Wheels trailers you can construct in the rest of this article.
Things You Need To Build a Power Wheels Trailer
The first step to starting your Power Wheels upgrade is to get all your tools and equipment together. Some of this heavy equipment might require experience, and you might need some assistance along the way. The right tools will ensure you get a sturdy trailer fit for your Power Wheels.
Wheels
The trailer you'll be constructing needs wheels to run on the ground. You would want to get the same size wheel that your Power Wheels have on already. Consider these RamPro 10″ All-Purpose Utility Air Tires/Wheels from Amazon, which come in packs of twos.
Washer, Locking Nut, and Bolts
You could secure the wheels on a metal rod to connect them to the trailer frame. That's where your washer, locking nut, and bolts come to play. You would need to ensure that you get the right state to fit your tires. I suggest going with your tires to the hardware store and trying out a couple to get a perfect match.
1x1x16 Gauge Square Tubing
Several inches of square tubing is necessary to construct the frame of your power wheel trailer. You'll need something thick enough to support weight but not too bulky. Consider a 1x1x16 gauge square tubing. It's sturdy enough but not too thin.
Depending on the size of the trailer you intend to construct, you might use up about two 20ft (6 meters) long square tubing. These tubings have to be cut to size to build the frame.
You could use the square tubings to construct your trailer's gooseneck and make the axle. You'll also use them to build the trailer gate.
Plywood
If you're constructing the trailer using wood, you'll need some sheets of plywood to make the floor. You might need 4x8x3/4 or 4x8x5/8 plywood sheets. You need to cut these sheets to the right shape and size for the base.
Saw
When you get the square metal tubing, it typically comes in a single large size. To fabricate it to the proper shape, you would need a saw to cut it to the appropriate dimensions. If you don't already own a saw, you could purchase one from amazon or your hardware store for a reasonable price.
You'll also need to invest in protective gear. Goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands from iron shards are essential. You'll ruin the fun in having the trailer if you get hurt while trying to make one. If you're having trouble cutting the iron rods or you've never done it before, I suggest getting professional help.
First, cut the rods into two 64 inches (162.56cm) pieces and five 26 inches (66.04cm) pieces. These pieces will be spaced evenly in the construction of your Power Wheels trailer.
A hand saw to cut the plywood is necessary, of wood is your material of choice.
Expanded Metal
After creating the metal frame from rods, you will need a base cover. That's where the expanded metal comes in. You could cut through the metal sheet to get the perfect fit for the frame.
You'll need to verify that the metal sheet's thickness is enough to hold up the weight you intend to carry. The metal sheets usually come in bulk sizes, so you'll find that you might have to buy much more than you need.
Welding Tools
The metal frame of the Power Wheels trailer has to fit securely. You'll need to weld the pieces of metal together with the expanded metal for the trailer base. Like with the saw, you might want to leave the welding to the professionals if you're a novice. That's because of the risk of injury associated with using such tools.
Drill
You'll need a drill to put holes into the Power Wheels to help construct the gooseneck linking it to the trailer behind. If you're handy around the house, you probably already own a power drill. You could use what you own, but if you don't already own one, a simple power drill like the DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill off Amazon will do the trick.
Metal Rod
The gooseneck for the trailer requires a metal rod oriented vertically on the Power Wheels to link with. You'll need to find something sturdy that you can drill through.
If you happen to have a discarded metal plumbing pipe lying around, you could use that instead. You might need to cut it to the desired length if it's too long.
Hinges
You'll need hinges to connect various metal components. For instance, you can attach your trailer's metal gate to the main trailer frame using hinges. You might need your power screw to screw in the hinges. These hinges would add flexibility to your structure.
Gooseneck Trailer
This gooseneck trailer will require you to construct an improvised axle for the wheels. The process begins with the trailer frame construction.
- Cut the square tubing to two 64 inches (162.56cm) pieces.
- Cut five 26 inches (66.04cm) pieces of the square tubing.
- Align the 64-inch (162.56cm) tubes to lie vertically.
- Place the five 26 inches (66.04cm) tubes horizontally between the 64-inch (162.56cm) tubes; ensuring they're equidistant.
- Weld the metal pieces together.
- Smoothen the edges.
- Attach the wheel to a square tubing using bolts and nuts to form an improvised axle.
- Weld the improvised wheel axle to the trailer frame at the side.
- Cut the expanded metal sheet to size and place it over the frame.
- Weld the expanded metal sheet to the frame at the edges and several points within.
- Construct an extra section of trailer frame using the rods and expanded metal.
- Use hinges to connect additional sections to the main trailer frame.
- Fold up the added section and connect it to the mainframe at the sides using pins and hinges.
- Check for any loose areas and secure them tightly.
After the construction of the frame comes the making of the gooseneck.
- Drill a hole through the Power Wheels’ rear end.
- Secure the hitch to the Power Wheels.
- Drill a hole at the end of the metal rod serving as the gooseneck bar.
- Weld the metal rod to 1x1x16 square metal rods to create the gooseneck.
- Add an angle bracket to the gooseneck for security.
- Connect the metal bar to the hitch and secure it in place by passing a pin through the hole you drilled at its base.
Here's a video from MMFC on a custom Power Wheels gooseneck trailer for the peg to show you how the parts fit together:
Trailer With Wheel Axle
You can create your Power Wheels trailer using a wheel axle. The process proceeds similarly to the gooseneck trailer; however, the main difference is with the wheels' attachment. You would first have joined the wheels to the axle before attaching them to the trailer base:
Low-Boy Trailer
If you're making a low-boy trailer, wood is usually the choice material. Here are the steps you'll need to follow:
- Assemble the necessary materials.
- Lay down the wood for the floor and glue the floor stops in place.
- Clamp and glue the coupling arm to the trailer floor.
- Attach the wheel axle.
- Secure the wheels to the axle.
Final Thoughts
You can make a trailer for your kid's Power Wheels yourself. The construction process involves using power tools like drills and saws. You might also need the expertise to use some heavy-duty equipment and to carry out the welding step without causing injury to yourself or others.
The process involves:
- Building the trailer frame and gate
- Constructing the gooseneck
- Linking the trailer frame, gooseneck, and Power Wheels vehicle.
