I am new to this sort of thing and a bit nervous. I have not much experience with building things. I am no stranger to tools but more in the auto mechanics area. I am good with my hands. I rebuilt my fj40 landcruiser and its the rig I wish to pull camp with. It weighs around 4000lbs so I hope to keep the camper under 2000lbs and lighter if possible. I took the profile design found here(first pic) http://www.angib.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/teardrop/widget6-geometry.pdf and eyeballed it in to sketchup using a 12' line I had placed. 12' was a good over all size and the height 6'11"gives me plenty of head room after build materials are added but still keeping the same profile. I did not copy the same line but rather used the imported pictures' reference points to draw my circles and used the scale tool. So after an eyeball import it came out to 12' 3/4" I like it. Here's my design so far.
So I have this trailer that was abandoned near my house. It sat on the side of the road for 2 days until I pulled it home. No plate and a very crude wood "box" design. It had no removable side so you had to get in to unload? IDK... Tore it all off, it was half rotted as well. The frame is a beast very stout. C channels facing out on the sides that held a 4x4 snug but could also hold a 2x4 just as nice. The 4x4s extended out about 2 more feet after the metal stops.The center supports (see pic) were added by the same moron who built the wood box I'm sure. They are very heavy angle iron and very poorly welded if at all. The square of the main frame is again very stout and welded professionally mind you. I would want to cut out all that's marked in red and use much lighter cross bars and maybe extend the frame? Or do you think building out on wood rails enough support? I know for sure that I want to put more weight on the axle. I am defiantly putting the fresh water under the bed and maybe a grey water tank under side somewhere. I know I need weight on the axle rather than it all riding on the hitch. And I plan to have my appliances on the front (hitch) side.
I am not entirely sure I want to use this trailer frame.. Short falls are:
A. While a stout 6000lbs, the axle is strange. I have never seen lugs like that (see pic)
B. The spring perches are unusual. Instead of a shackle it has a box to hold it from extending to far. It just slides in there I guess?
C. This thing weighs a lot. it took me all my effort to flip it over. It'll weigh less when I take the middle parts out but still..
D. It might not be wide enough.
I picked up this old beaten up Shasta for a few hundred bucks. I planed on using the appliances but that old Dometic fridge no matter how many times I flipped it over and jiggleded it around it just would not get very cold at all. But I did score a bigger 2 door 3 way newer model that just needs a new electric heating element. I am tearing this camper down as we speak. The thing was in very poor condition for anyone wondering about salvaging it. Every panel of aluminum was dented all the lower wood panels and structural wood is rotted out. The interior ruined by water and rats. I am scrapping what I can and the rest to the dump. The frame and axles are another story. Maybe I should shorten it and take off one axle? Hummmm.. Maybe I should sell it. or better yet find a welder who wants to turn it in to a nice flat bed trailer and split the profit.. Humm?? It also came with an old 69 atwood hot water heater, is that worth a dime or should I scrap it too?
I am looking for advice on building materials and techniques. I don't have a ton of money so that is a criteria as well as keeping it light. The older appliances are heavy but they work for cheap and they have been working a long time. I am also looking for new knobs for that stove if anyone has a source of old rv parts. Its a Sattler mfg. corp. "Holiday" Sattler went on to become Magic chef (i think)
Well that's it for now I have more to ask and to say I'm sure but I'll stop here. I guess I should get a build thread going?
~Jared
