by down under tech » Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:44 pm
Hi Dave: Look real close at the two front cross members. I welded pieces of 1 3/4" angle cut to 1 1/4 long (HF cross member is 1 1/2" wide) and welded them to the extension so I could bolt them to the cross member in the pre-existing holes drilled in them from the factory. That is why you can't see them, but you can see the bolts though. At the center cross member I welded a 2 1/4" long piece of the same angle iron on the top of the 2 1/2" wide extension behind the cross member and through bolted it. I welded the tongue to the lower HF front mount triangle only, this way it is removable for say primer and paint or whatever. I told you I was going to cut off the "Bump" (coupler mount) off the top piece of the HF triangle. In the pics you can see I cut it off & flipped it over and the top part of that had the bump on it is facing down now, what is left of the bump holds the extension in place and keeps it centered on top. The bottom triangle piece is welded to the tongue extension I added.
The (trailer) wheels I got on Ebay for $41 each including shipping. I bought 3 of them and they are galvanized 14"X5.5". I had to get a different axle that is 3.5" wider (at 60" hub to hub) than the stock one (56 1/2" hub to hub) so the tires would clear the frame with 195/70R14 car tires (3/4" clearance to the frame, same as stock but with the new wheels & tires) I had from an old car I junked out a few years ago. The axle came with the spring brackets loose and once I got it centered (with the wheels & tires on it) I welded the brackets in place. I got the 2000# axle from Southwest Wheel for $122 W/S&H. It is an Al-Ko w/1 1/16" HD bearings. Does that answer your questions ???
See Ya,
Last edited by
down under tech on Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.