Building the "Heart of Gold" - Done 3/9/2014

[drewh1]

Inspired by Citylights "Cooler" project, I decided to take mine out of the garage for the first time. It tows well, don't really notice it breaking. It bangs around a bit on bumps. Do any of you have an idea how to quiet the slip in to hitch? I think that is what is making the noise.

I need to turn the hitch ball around to raise the front. I think it will be basically level then. It is really easy to back up and park, got it in the little bat cave garage, first try! This week, I'll finish the tongue box and hopefully the hatch, then I am going camping.

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[dano]

Looks good. Lets go camping !!!!

[PKCSPT]

Looks really nice.

[drewh1]

thanks!

[Transit80]

Just one word describes this build and that is SUPERB!!!, going to pinch loads of ideas for mine .


Chris

[drewh1]

Thanks Chris - Pinch away, that is how I did it and that is the great thing about this forum. I'll look forward to seeing your build!

drew.

[drewh1]

Not much time to work, but I did make some progress on the tongue box. It is turning out nice.

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[KCStudly]

[bc toys]

you can get a pin that fits tight in the holes for the hitch and the noise should go away and make sure the hitch is on the ball tight there might be a adjustment nut under the tounge on trailer tighten it tell it fits good and snug.

[aggie79]

Fantastic! The tongue box really completes the design!

[jeporter25]

Wow Drew this looks great. where did you source 5 foot wide aluminum? I am in Fremont and I have been looking without much luck.

[drewh1]

Wow Drew this looks great. where did you source 5 foot wide aluminum? I am in Fremont and I have been looking without much luck.

jeporter - Thanks to Dano, I got my aluminum at South Bay Metals in Gilroy. I thought the price was pretty good, about $80 for a 5' x 12' piece. I bought 1 5x12, 2 4x10's and 1 5x8 for the hatch, all .040. easy to work with. I can't find the number but will look when I get home. they don't deliver so a built some 10' supports for my Lexus and tied it down (see build thread), drove it home with no problems.

you can get a pin that fits tight in the holes for the hitch and the noise should go away and make sure the hitch is on the ball tight there might be a adjustment nut under the tounge on trailer tighten it tell it fits good and snug.

I did tighten the ball and ordered a lock for the pin, so hopefully that will help. Thanks for the tips!

Fantastic! The tongue box really completes the design!

Tom - thanks for your complements. I am really glad I put the extra effort into building the tongue box, plus I had a lot of wood and aluminum left over anyway. Wait till you see the lid . . .

Almost done!!!!!

[dodgedartgt]

From your comment "...bangs around a bit on bumps...", I'm inclined to believe you don't have sufficient tongue weight. Be sure there is no play between the coupler and the tow ball. Also, when you flip the tow bar to raise the ball, simply raising the nose of the trailer will by itself reduce tongue weight even further. As previouslt mentioned, there are drawbar pins and locks which will elininate any play between the drawbar and the hitch. Still, my mind comes back to it banging and rattling around because it doesn't have enough weight on it.

Mike in FL

[drewh1]

From your comment "...bangs around a bit on bumps...", I'm inclined to believe you don't have sufficient tongue weight. Be sure there is no play between the coupler and the tow ball. Also, when you flip the tow bar to raise the ball, simply raising the nose of the trailer will by itself reduce tongue weight even further. As previouslt mentioned, there are drawbar pins and locks which will elininate any play between the drawbar and the hitch. Still, my mind comes back to it banging and rattling around because it doesn't have enough weight on it.

Mike in FL

Hi Mike,

That sounds right to me too. I took it out before adding the tongue box and battery. That is going to add about 80 lbs I suspect. (I think the battery is 60 #'s by itself). Hopefully that will create the proper ratio of tongue to wheel weight. It seems to me the NT trailer does have it's axle a bit more forward than many of the designs I have seen.

[citylights]

Looks great! I really like the star view window up front. I wish I had dine that! Maybe a remodel project in my future? Hmmm.

You got lots of advice on the trailer tongue. I was going to suggest the same, there should be a nut to adjust the coupler on the ball to make it tight. One thing I did not see mentioned, make sure you have the right size ball for the hitch!