New from Greenville South Carolina

[mikeschn]

Dayhiker,

Did you download the free Generic Benroy Plans up there in the menu?

Mike...

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

[Dayhiker]

Yes we were sitting here going through them as we speek.

Thanks Russell

[doug hodder]

Russell...think about how you camp and how much room you need...an idea, lay out the sleeping compartment on the garage floor, move some boxes into the lines to close the space off on what would be the walls and lay down in it to see if it is going to work for you. I think your best bet is to build something comfortable size wise for sleeping, the fun of camping in one can wear off quickly if you are uncomfortable sleeping in it and, you can stuff the rest into just about any profile if you're creative. Built 3, owned 4...Doug

[Ira]

Russ, the Northern Tool trailer(s) is/are basically the exact same thing as Harbor Freight, but the HF one(s) is/are a lot cheaper.

I built according to Cubby plans more or less (Kuffel Creek), and that calls for HF's 1175 FOLDING trailer (12" wheels), and you slightly modify the assembly of the trailer so the thing DOESN'T fold.

Because folding on the interstate can be quite inconvenient after you've built a TD on top of it.

And remember that although these utility trailers have rated max weight values, that's meant for a center load. On a TD, where most of your weight sits right on the perimeter steel rails, that number isn't all that significant. Also, you're gonna be way below that rated weight anyway after you're done building.

But as far as the big wheels versus little wheels debate goes, I vote bigger is better. I only have 12", and believe me, I have wheel envy for the 15" guys.

Maybe someone's tiny tires haven't exploded and it ain't ever gonna happen, but you can't argue with physics:

Bigger tires make less revolutions, and their respective trailers come with higher maximum speed limits for that very reason.

And again--5-feet wide.

I may have made a stupid mistake, but you don't have to.

[Dayhiker]

Cool thanks for the info I am going to keep an eye on the prices at both places to try and get the best deal, maybe Ill get another one of those discount coupons from harbor freight....

Russell

[Ira]

Cool thanks for the info I am going to keep an eye on the prices at both places to try and get the best deal, maybe Ill get another one of those discount coupons from harbor freight....

Russell

That's what a BUNCH of us do here:

We wait for a sale price at HF on the trailer...wait for Saturn to align with Mars for the 10% or 15% coupon...and buy.

I think I paid like $175 for mine (1175 pound, 12" wheels, folding model).

Be aware that my wheels have a 4-bolt/hole pattern, compared to the more common 5. (Causes some problems in finding the wheel covers you want, if you want them.)

But like I said, if you have a choice, go with 15" wheels. Those are all gonna be 5-bolt and there's a lot of cooler stuff out there for 15" as opposed to 12", which is really limited.

Wheel covers, or the wheels you buy (CHROME!?) may not seem like much now, but they really affect the total look of the TD. Just check out some of the fantastic stuff peole did here with the wheel treatments, including fenders.

I had to BUILD my fenders because Kerry (Toypusher) didn't start selling those great fiberglass fenders for 12" wheels until after I was done. He made originals, made a mold, and now sells them.

If that son of a bitch wasn't so lazy and did it sooner, it would have saved me a LOT of aggravation.

I even went so far as to previously throw in the trash Northern-Tool rounded fenders that I bought, because I just didn't like the look of them.

[Kens]

Think again on the trailer. TSC trailers have a title are welded and the bearings are in inches. the others are flimsy bolted and bearings are metric. Think about it. Your pick.

[neal b]

HI Russell and welcome aboard this fall iam starting build #2 i downloaded the generic benroy plans this afternoon been looking at them they have all you need in themiam going 5 wide just to have the extra space its just me and 2 little yorkies they dont take up too much room i think 5ft. wide is the way to go

neal b

[Tear Les]

Think again on the trailer. TSC trailers have a title are welded and the bearings are in inches. the others are flimsy bolted and bearings are metric. Think about it. Your pick.

Hmmmm Maybe we should take all the semi-trucks off the road since their frames are bolted; and all the import cars since they use metric bearings.

[Dayhiker]

Buying the trailer localy is the reason for going with northern or harbor freight since they sell service parts there ( well I know northern does) so if I set it up the same as our utility trailer it will have a spare hub/bearing ussed as the spare tire mount so aside from a catastophic trailer failure I should have the parts on board to do a mobile repair...

Russell

[Chip]

Russell ,,,, welcome to the forum,,, Glad to see another Greenville native building a trailer,, I live just across the Pickens county line and would be glad for ya to take a peek at my trailer and try to answer any questions ya might have,,

holding weight to a minimum is not much of a prob if ya dont over build,,, (common mistake) my first was a 4'6"x9' and weighed HEAVY,,, the current one is 4x8 and is about 650 lbs with a medium load of gear,,, I am running 14" tires with a 4" drop axle, and 750lb springs,, rides just fine,,

shoot me a pm or e-mail, I will be glad to meet up with ya,, there are two other home made ones in the area also,,,

I look forward to meeting ya

chipper

[Dayhiker]

Chip sounds good I would love to see one first hand maybe on a saturday we could drop by and take a look we are about 5.5 miles north of TR.


I do have a question for you where do you get the sheet of aluminum to cover the roof. Did you get it localy or have to have it shipped in?

Thanks Russell

[Chip]

Russel,, the 4x10 sheets are available several places locally,, now 5x sheets are a different story,,, I understand they can be special ordered out of Columbia,,,

As far as I know Ill be around all weekend,,,, also there is a dealer of Lil Guys in Mauldin on Main street, if ya want to look at some manufactured units,

chipper

[Dayhiker]

chipper sounds good If we can work it out to get over that way sat I will give you a call. Can you tell me some of the local places to get those sheets of aluminum? I have no clue who to call also what does it run a sheet. and which is cooler epoxy paint or aluminum?

Thanks Russell

[Dayhiker]

Card board cut out of a rough pattern.

Let the fun begin............
Russell