Central Ohio Build: "Moby" - Updates Oct 6, 2010

[synaps3]

Cool. Good progress.

How do you plan on cooking?

[S. Heisley]

I like the way you are going about designing your teardrop shape. Good Thinking!

[DasBaldGuy]

Cool. Good progress.

How do you plan on cooking?

For burgers/steaks etc I'll use a portable Weber, for eggs/breakfasty bits, I will probably get a portable camping stove.

No galley as I am not used to having one when I tent camp. :-)

For us, camping is more about leisure, smoking a good cigar and drinking libations. ;-)

[planovet]

Have you thought about lowering your trailer by putting the axle on top of the springs?

Keep up the pictures.

[synaps3]

Have you thought about lowering your trailer by putting the axle on top of the springs?

Keep up the pictures.

You can do that!? Without the axle hitting the frames over bumps?

I need to try that. It would REALLY help my height problem on my build...

[DasBaldGuy]

Have you thought about lowering your trailer by putting the axle on top of the springs?

Keep up the pictures.

My trailer is actually pretty low as it is and is perfectly parallel with my towing vehicle. If I upsize to the 12" wheels I may consider it, but with the 8" it sits almost perfectly now.

[planovet]

Have you thought about lowering your trailer by putting the axle on top of the springs?

Keep up the pictures.

You can do that!? Without the axle hitting the frames over bumps?

I need to try that. It would REALLY help my height problem on my build...

Yep, you just mount the axle on top of the springs instead of under them. The axle won't hit the frame. You will get about a 5" drop depending on the springs. It's personal preference but it may make it easier getting in and out of the doors.

My trailer came that way.

[DasBaldGuy]

I have made a lot of progress lately and will be posting photos soon...but here is what has been happening:

1) Finished all the Welding on the frame

2) Remove/unbolted everything and prepared Frame for Media-Blast and Powdercoat

3) Removed safety chain from Tongue and welded Rams-horn syle hooks so I can use a 6' towing strap instead of chains....also welded on a little pedestal and locking caster to replace the little triangle piece for when the tongue is resting on the ground (photos will explain it better)

4) Went shopping (Tractor Supply Company) and found new shackles, UBolts and Plates for mounting the Axle....AND kick-azz metal fenders to replace the plastic ones that came on Moby.

4) Ordered New Springs: http://stengelbros.3dcartstores.com/US-1013_p_2564.html

Tomorrow if the weather is permitting, I am taking the frame to be media-blasted and then powercoated. I am also dropping off my axle at a trailer shop to have the hubs removed, cleaned/new bearings and repacked. I will also be taking the axle for mediablast and powder.

At my trip to Tractor Supply I looked at 8" wheels in 4.8 and the bigger 5.something size...I also looked at 12" in 4.8 and I think I may have decided to go with 12" wheels instead of 8" and flip the axle to the top of the springs (as seen in the image above). I was hesitant to do this at first and didn't mind the little 8" wheels, but they really are small and I'd like to be able to tow far distances, so I think the 12" is the right way to go.

Anyone have 8" wheels on their Tear? Photos? Opinions?

[bbarry]

I was hesitant to do this at first and didn't mind the little 8" wheels, but they really are small and I'd like to be able to tow far distances, so I think the 12" is the right way to go.

Anyone have 8" wheels on their Tear? Photos? Opinions?

There are some folks on here with 8" wheels, especially on smaller tears. However, I don't think you'll ever regret going with a larger wheel, especially if you're considering towing long distances. Those 8" wheels really get to humming along at 65+ mph and you're going to build up more heat in both the tire and the bearing. A 12" or bigger wheel will reduce the revolutions considerably.

Brad

[bbarry]

By the way, if you're trying to decide between tow vehicles, I think the red one will suffice.

Brad

[DasBaldGuy]

By the way, if you're trying to decide between tow vehicles, I think the red one will suffice.

Brad

Thanks! I love that thing...it was a 4 year project on it's own...1.8 litre turbo, all engine bits powdercoated....all custom. 99% of people have no idea what it is....most think it is a Rabbit. ;-)

[mikeschn]

Thats a Rabbit Pickup Sporttruck, right? Is it Diesel?

Mike...

[DasBaldGuy]

Thats a Rabbit Pickup Sporttruck, right? Is it Diesel?

Mike...

Nope....VW Fox Wagon, converted to Pick Up (Saveiro). It was a 1.8 gasser, now it is a 1.8 Gasser Turbo. It started life as a grey wagon, now Amulet Red Pick Up.

[DasBaldGuy]

Ok, above shows the welding work on the Tongue. I didn't like the chains or the ugly triangle thing...so I designed a more pleasing setup... the little foot with caster and "rams horn" hooks. I am using a 6' long "tow strap" which I wrap around the tongue and through those hooks, through the safety chain loops on the TowVehicle and then back to the RamsHorn Hooks. Complicated, but awesome.

[mikeschn]

Nice job on that BaldGuy!

Mike...