Smooth belly pan

[dwgriff1]

Somewhere mention was made of making the trailer pan smooth, without any extensions for frame or axle.

I am using a torsion axle, so I could do it. Would it be worth the trouble to recess the axle beam (about 2" square) inside the floor assembly?

Would I gain enough effeciency to ever be worth the construction trouble?

My tear will weight around 400# and will be pulled by a small coupe', but would that matter?

dave

[madjack]

...just my /02 worth...unless a belly pan is completely and totallly sealed to the bottom then you are asking for moisture retention problems with your floor...you are much better off with no belly pan and a well sealed floor than a belly pan that has any way for moisture to get under it...once under a pan, moisture has no way out and will rot your floor...........
madjack

[angib]

Would I gain enough effeciency to ever be worth the construction trouble?

Nope, never, in my opinion. Your trailer will be sitting in turbulent wake coming off the tow car and so there is little point adding a belly pan.

To minimise drag, make sure your trailer fits inside the 'hole' made by the tow vehicle, so you don't want the trailer extending above the tow vehicle's roof or below its underside or beyond its sides. Also make sure the trailer is sitting level, not sloping up or down to the hitch.

If you are using a small coupe tow car, the trailer will probably be sticking up above the tow car - anything you can do to lower the trailer (as long as its ground clearance stays more than the tow car's) will help.

Andrew

[dwgriff1]

Thank you both.

I could figure a way to make it drain I think: (leave it open, so there is no place for water to collect).

But, it is easier yet to not do it at all!

You saved me a lot of work.

dave

[Arne]

I plan on cutting the windward edges of the x-members at a 45 degree angle. Don't know if it makes any difference, but it makes me feel better. They will be laid flat and only 3/4 or 1-1/2 inches tall... still deciding on that one.

I would have no problem with covering the bottom if that was my plan. With roofing tar on it, I am quite certain no moisture would get in from the bottom, but if something were to get in via the interior (spilled drink, roof leak), that would definitely present a real problem. Since the mattress covers 80 percent of the floor, and I have a rug on the rest, I see no good reason to do so, unless it were for strength, as it would add considerably to the rigidity of the floor.