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Building a trailer II
Chris you might want to just stop in at your local DOT and talk to them. Be forewarned though you will get 5 different answers from 4 people. You'll likely end up talking to someone at the state administration level.
As far as brake lights, there is one locality near me that doesn't require brake lights on a trailer less than 4 wide. It used to be that you didn't need a license plate on specialized equipment such as towable cement mixers or trailers made for a specailized purpose. So then guys started driving 100-ton cranes down the roads to get away without plates. State boys put an end to that and now charge "use tax".
My eyes were opened by the MDOT when I wanted to know if I could haul a 10x10 wooden shed down a 4-lane Federal highway. I was told that I could after I paid a $250 permit fee and then the guy asked where where it was going so I told him. He asked how wide my trailer is and I told him 8'-6" which is the legal limit.He say "Oh you can't legally do that because you will be on a County road and they only allow 8'" GREAT, so now what? He said he "could only tell me what the law was", basically telling me if you do it you can't say you haven't been warned. Then he went on to say that 90% of the RV's, motorhomes and the like are not leagal but they don't enforce it! (Then chaage the freakin'laws!!!)
Around here, the DOT won't (or can't???) enforce US or MDOT regs that are applicable to commercial vehicles to non-commercial use. But if they feel it's "unsafe", then you can get a ticket by any ol' cop.
As far as certified welds, that encompasses a lot from an inspection point of view IMHO which means x-raying the welds, and that is costly--if you can find someone to do it. What you may be needing is a "certified welder" which is vastly different. I get calls from people who want something welded, usually commercial guys on equipment. I tell them not only am I not certified, I'm not insured for it. They pass, as do I. I mentioned in another post about my buddy who was sued for nearly a million on a trailer he worked on. He's a BS'er so I have no reason to doubt him but he said in the course of defending himself he found out that at least in Michigan whoever build the trailer---commercially or not is liable for it for 25 years! Many things can happen during that time! But taht was all he needed to hear and promptly shut down all plans to build a manufacturing facility.
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Building a trailer II
I'm curious about the "DOT-Approved Plans". To my knowledge the DOT doesn't "approve" plans but does approve the final product through testing or other verification. Otherwise, that would put the liablilty and engineering responsibility on the DOT and I just don't see that happening. What I do see happening is some guy making a trailer, getting it "inspected" or "approved" by a DOT officer, then making drawings and selling them as "DOT Approved".
To me it's sort of like when you see a health product on TV being "doctor approved". Buuuut they fail to tell you it is the doctor's own product he's selling---that he approved.
KT, if someone has a "VIN number" does that mean they have a "Vehicle Indentification Number number"? KnowhadImean Vern?
And did you take delivery of that new Volvo excavator yet? Reminds of when my not-so-smart female boss years ago said to us in a departmental meeting that "our company got the new Vulva (not Volvo) Truck Sleeper Design account". Being the "classy lady" she was, she had no clue what a vulva was even when the girls in the meeting took her aside and told her NOT to say that. But then again she was also the same one that came to me and a coworker and asked how to turn on the new PC's. His response was "you rub up against it". If looks could kill. Too funny. Ahhhh the mammories...
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Building a trailer II
Man it's times like this that I wished I lived in Tay-has--not really  but about 25 years ago long before things got really legalistic 'round here I made a small utility trailer. Took it to the Secretary of State to get plates and they wanted me to declare the value of the trailer on top of what I had into it. I told them I had already paid taxes on the parts--but that wasn't good enough. I had to pay sales tax all over again on the parts plus the retail value of the finished product. And the value was based on the woman behind the counter coming outside to look at it. Like she had credentials to valuate something!
And those Big Tex trailers, which I saw plenty of down south had decals on the tongues that said "Made in Mexico". Tell me it ain't so!
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Building a trailer II
Mobilus these were in Mississippi at a dealer I was looking at. The sals person gave he speil about being made in America and I about choked when plain as day there was white sticker about 2" x 3/4" "Made in Mexico". She thought it was mislabled but we checke several at sure enough...
They are pretty decent quality for the money.
Chris, we're not here to deter you from building it. And nobody's gonna even care if you do. We were just sittin' 'round the fire and you brought it up and asked for opinions. No harm done, bud.
And Northern Tool used to be the cheap way to go--25 years ago when it was called Northern Hydraulics. Not cheap anymore. In fact they are higher on nearly all the stuff I need. And even more when you add shipping. I've even bought LED traler light sfrom TSC that were cheaper than what I found on eBay and Northern. So look for deals if that's what you're after.
BTW, when I upgraded my 7500lb car hauler to 10,000lb. axles, tires, wheels, springs, etc. it ran me over $1600 and I did the work myself and bought them from a buddy who owns a trailer supply house (retail and wholesale) the price I got was "jobber" which is in between retail and wholesale. I sold that trailer for $1200 and paid $800 originally so I took a $1200 loss. This time around I bought a 12,000GVW for $3200.
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Building a trailer II
Chris the easy answer is: check your Owner's Manual for trailer towing specs. The big thing that will limit your towing ability is the hitch: will it be a "bumper pull"--literally a hitch ball on the bumper or will you be using a reciever hitch? In either case "can" and "should" are the $6M question. Other variables to towing are 4x4 vs 2wd, regular cab versus extended, long box vs short box, axle(s) gear ratio, how many passengers, the gear or "stuff" you carry around with you, etc., etc. Basically for smaller vehicles and even up to some 3/4 tonners, the truck is rated for pulling up to a certain amount of weight. SO the less you and the truck weigh the more you can tow. Regardless of how you "stack" it, that's the limit---if you have a truck that's laden to the gills with stuff and passengers--add up all that and subtract that from the rate towing capacity---that is the weight you can tow safely. Anything above that and you could have poor fuel economy/performance, braking as Hardwood suggested, and unnecessary wear and tear to other vehicle components like the frame flexing; steering parts wearing out; drivetrain issues--trans, engine, axle; tire wear due to heat; springs going flat too soon, etc.
That's why I'm a proponent of buying "one size bigger than you need". That way you have a margin of safety, power, and durability--which to me is peace of mind when you strat towing big, heavy stuff.
But I'm jis' sayin'
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