The Joy Of Information Overload

[The1Brewster]

Hello everyone. I am officially addicted to learning all I can as I prepare to build my first TD. From YouTube to Pinterest and everything in between I'm soaking it all in. The decisions I've made so far are the 5 x 8 Heavy Duty Ironton Trailer instead of the Harbor Freight 4 x 8 trailer. My woman and I want the queen size bed. My woman and I are hobby woodworkers so we want our TD to be finished wood inside and out. I'm still vacillating whether to buy doors or build my own. If I build my own, I'm still gonna have slider windows in each door and I'm gonna have a sunroof like the Wyoming Woody.

I live near Seattle and we plan on making some serious long trips around the country in our future so I want it to be weatherproof. My woman and will be pulling it behind my RAV4.

I'd like some opinions on extending the 5 X 8 wooden floor to 9 or even 10 feet long on the 5 X 8 Ironton. I was thinking about doing this with wood. I'll split it to some degree with the front and back. I might change my mind though after I hear some opinions from you seasoned TD builders and users.

Okay, I have the gift of gab so I'll bring this to a close for now. I'm so glad to now be a part of the TD community.

The1Brewster

[kykate]

Welcome, Brewster! We are in south central WA, in the Columbia Gorge, and just starting on our build. We are using a home built trailer, from a previous project. it is currently 4'-8" by 6'. We are going to extend it to 10' long. My husband will be welding the additional length on. We were just talking about those details last night. I will see if I can get him to post a drawing of how he wants to do it.
Kate

[jschrotenboer]

I am totally in your same boat as well! I haven't officially started my build thread but my Ironton 5x8 arrived a couple days ago and I am still trying to decide how to extend it properly. I'd like to start building a Grumman 2 style on it but would like not to totally sacrifice galley/storage in length if possible. I may have some ability with wood, but steel/trailers are out of my league. Whatever I do, I don't want it to compromise the strength of the trailer and end result.

I've seen three different approaches so far that may work for me:

• Extend forwards/backwards with wood - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rqF3zNDOcs
• Use crossbeam members to extend the back and replace crossbeams with wood support - viewtopic.php?f=50&t=66429
• Get help from a steel fabricator to extend the back properly - My brother in law says he's got a guy

While I am at it, I am also going to:

• Extend the tongue longer to give better clearance to my vehicle - http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=1065563#p1065563
• Change out the axle to a Dexter Torsion Axle (maybe add brakes too?)
• Upgrade the tires (15"?)

I will need some more help choosing those items as well! Does anyone have recommendations? I'd really like to make some decisions and place some orders!

Josiah