Would love feedback on my original, tiny trailer design

[deleted]

Ah. Got it! Thanks for pointing this out.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5976742_inert ... llers.html

[Corwin C]

Don't let the brake question intimidate you. Once installed it is easy to adjust them so you will not have to ever worry about a locked wheel. It is something that I do every time I pull a trailer (even if nothing has changed since the last trip) and with practice only takes seconds. The procedure can vary a little with each controller, but essentially you hold the manual braking switch on the controller at maximum and adjust the gain while rolling forward slowly until you find that point where the wheels just start to lock. I then reduce the gain just a touch from there.

If you are driving a small, light tow vehicle, I would absolutely suggest brakes especially if you live or camp in an area with mountainous terrain. I tow with a Chevrolet Tahoe with a 10,000 lb tow capacity and my tear will have brakes even though I really don't need them. If I ever changed tow vehicles (or if the trailer ever changes ownership) they may become necessary. As with many things, it is easier to install them in the first place than to retrofit them later and in my opinion, the added cost compared with the increased safety it is an easy decision to include them.

Also, I believe that the ability to accelerate quickly is somewhat optional, the ability to stop quickly often isn't...

[deleted]

Hi Corwin,

Thanks for those insights and the detailed description of how a controller works. Yes, I definitely want brakes due to the curves on HWY 17 to Santa Cruz. Sorry it's taken me so long to reply. Somehow your response slipped past my email notifications.

So a BIG update. Make that HUGE. Due to frustrations and disappointments at the place I was planning on learning how to build my trailer at, I've had to trade in my trailer build adventure for a new great road trip adventure to pick up my custom made trailer when it's done! I'm still going to build my interior cabinets but I'm hiring a pro to do the actual trailer build for me.

http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/2012 ... nd-of.html

[deleted]

Well, thanks to Alaska Teardrop for allowing me to hire him, my trailer is well on its way to being built and completed this spring. I thought I'd share that I've been posting blog updates on the build. They're all posted in one category so if you visit this link it will show all of the build posts from most recent to oldest: http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/sear ... 0-%20Build

Here are a few pictures just for fun:

[webbaldo]

wow! that's fast and it looks great!

[deleted]

Thanks Webaldo. It really is turning out exactly like the vision in my head, rendered in Photoshop. Fred is obviously a skilled builder and I'm really lucky to have met him here on the forum. Now I have to get down to building the interior cabinets, the only part of the build I did reserve for myself.

[BillZ]

Very cool!

I just found this thread and it has a lot of great info. Makes me want to build one even though I don't need it.
Thanks for documenting all your thoughts and questions on this thread, Stacie. I'm sure it will be a great resource for others.

[deleted]

Thanks BillZ. I'm glad the thread has some info that may be useful to others. Just posted another update with the following photos Alaska Teardrop just sent me that show the aluminum skin, wood floor, awning rail, and mounts for solar panel if I decide to get one:

[KCStudly]

Looking good!

(from Alexandria, VA)

[S. Heisley]

It looks like he is doing a good job! You should be pretty happy with it.

[deleted]

Thanks KCStudly and S. Heisley. He's doing a great job.

The worst thing is that he's probably going to be done before the threat of snow clears from CA to MI so it'll have to sit there waiting for me until I won't get caught in a storm or in snow on the road! The anticipation may kill me.

[deleted]

Several new posts since my last update here. Here are a few new pictures. Lots more on the blog:http://theflirtyguide.blogspot.com/search/label/Trailer%20-%20Build

[Roo Dog]

Stacie,

I like the construction method.
Looks really great.

RD

[AlgoDan]

I must say you have a sweet looking build going on, good job Stacie....

[Wolffarmer]

Looks like "first camp" is not far away.

Looking good

Randy