The Dog House *It's done!!!! 6/20/2015"

[KCStudly]

That looks GREAT! Nice color choices.

[Ron Dickey]

Figured out what happened to my hosting site so here we go.

Went for a short drive today. The trailer pulls great and tracks nicely behind the Jeep.



Close up of the Lock-N-Roll hitch.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/t ... -Questions

[jss06]

It has been a while since I posted any updates to this thread.

I was sidetracked for the last 8 months with various issues and just plain laziness. I have some camping trips coming up and decided I needed to finish up the galley.

I permanently mounted the folding table and made the extendable leg for it.

Table in the stored position:


It is held in place by a brass surface mount latch from Home Depot. I had to modify the table to support the brass catch for the latch. That is why the one piece of wood is a different color. I have not had time to sand and seal it yet.


I have to admit I cheated on the leg. I cut the bottom off of a pair of crutches. Then, I drilled two 3/4" holes in the cross piece in the end of the table. The crutch pieces are a press fit and stay in place even when the table is in the up position.



I think it is going to work really well.



To stow the table, I pick it up, remove the leg and stow it on top of the air conditioner and latch the table in place.
Now I just need to mount the hatch supports and it is done.

[KCStudly]

Nice!

[rdraider]

Nice build! Can't wait to see how you finished the interior.

The tongue box is wicked cool! That's about the best version i've seen of somebody integrating one with the front wall. And especially on a grasshopper design.

I'm stealing some ideas!

[jss06]

Started interior cabinets and installed solar.

Solar panel is 36v 190 watts and I am using a Blue Sky MPPT controller. This should be enough power to keep my 12v fridge running, recharge my battery and generate some excess power during the day.

Solar panel at Yellowstone campsite:


Interior Cabinet with MPPT controller installed:

[felixx]

I have to admit, at first I wasn't that keen on your design, but by the time I finished reading your build, I loved it!


WELL DONE on an amazing build

[jss06]

I decided to install the Timbren Axle-Less suspension on my trailer. I go tired of how noisy the old sprints were and the trailer rode rough. I hope this helps smooth thinks our.

So I spent last weekend, last night and today in the Garage. I am really kicking myself for reinforcing the frame for the spring hangers when I first built it. I should have just welded them to the frame. I spent last weekend cutting off the reinforcement and cleaning up the frame so I could mount the hardware this weekend.

I had to make a bracket to sandwich the frame for the new hardware. Luckily I had a piece of steel left over from when I originally built the trailer that I used to check the fit before I drilled the frame rails.



Yes my frame rails are 1/4". This is way overbuilt for the load it carries.







Drilling 1/4" steel is a pain and takes forever when you can't use a drill press.



Spring assembly mounted



Spindles and brakes mounted. This is the 4 inch lift kit so it sits a little higher than the old axle.



As you can see the install is very clean as there is nothing between the wheels to catch or rocks or whatever may be in the trail.



Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to take it for a test tow today. That will have to wait until next weekend.

[pchast]

How is the alignment?

[jss06]

How is the alignment?

That took about 3 hours. It is adjustable and they include shims to help. It takes lots of measuring to get it set right. I have it set so there is a slight toe in. At least I think so. I still need to take it out for a test tow before I can be sure it good to go.

[noseoil]

Very nice build! Looks like it's ready for a cross-country trip, just to see how it rolls. I know your target weight was about 1600#, did you get a chance to weigh it now that it's complete and all mods are done?

[jss06]

Very nice build! Looks like it's ready for a cross-country trip, just to see how it rolls. I know your target weight was about 1600#, did you get a chance to weigh it now that it's complete and all mods are done?

It is close to that. Probably a little over when packed for a week long trip. I have not had it on a scale to find out.

[jss06]

Finished the brake wiring and took it for test tow this morning. The trailer rides a lot better. I went down a really nasty road to really test it. It was way smoother than the solid axle.

[jss06]

I finished the front cabinets and installed some LED lights. Need to paint the rest of the inside of the trailer.



The switch panel controls the LED lights and the 5V USB ports in the top cubby of this picture.

[jss06]

Back cabinets are done. Interior paint is almost finished. Just need to do the floor. YAY!