OREGONtrial_2013

[co.adams]

The beginning.

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102442&view=no_count


(Click pictures to see it larger in a new window)

to those it may concern and to explain the past tense; I am begining this build journal nearly midway through construction. I feel i've come over the hump of uncertainty and the pace is starting to quicken.

I knew i wanted to fit a queen size bed in my trailer and therefore I needed a 5 foot wide frame. As some of you may know the only 5 x8 trailer available for under $500 is the northern tool trailer for around $420 and that seemed a little pricey to me, and i thought i could save some money if i found the right used trailer. I found a 5 x 7 for around 200, but it desperately needed a rebuild and still needs new tires (the northern tool trailer would need new tires for a speed rating over 45mph). It was a lot of work and time. And in the process I thought i messed up, blew my budget and was starting my build off way to heavy. But after i finished, i came out with a solid foundation that fit my needs exactly.

The Rebuild

Cutting that nasty tongue off

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102454 gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102453


gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102430

New Tongue

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102456 gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102457

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102458



Adjustable Coupler

-extremely convenient if you are switching tow vehicles
$50 ebay

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102461 gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102462




Attachment
-tacked on

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102463http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102465









BEFORE_____________________________AFTER
gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102445http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102444






BEFORE_____________________________AFTER
gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102442http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102443



BRINGrecycling
the goodwill for the creative and adventurous


Galley suports, door handles,

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102449http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102448


Windows

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102447http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102446


Solar Panels, shattered but they work

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102450http://www.tnttt.com/gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102451

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102452

Floor


Framed with 1 x 3 and 1/4" *no added urea formaldehyde* plywood

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102466

Insulated with ridged closed cell foam

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102467

Extra insulated with a emergency radiant heat blanket

gallery/image.php?album_id=2875&image_id=102468

[NebraskaTeachr]

Looks like you have a pretty good start. Enjoy the build.

Tim

[KCStudly]

Looking good.

Do you have a profile in mind?

I know sometimes pictures make things look different than what they are in person, so I am sure that you can judge better for yourself, but I have a small concern about your tongue. In this pic it looks like the grinder took quite a chunk of the wall thickness just ahead of the point where the "A" comes together, just to the left and above the vice that is visible in the background (behind the cage), and to a lesser degree on the other side.

Maybe on the side not shown in the picture, too(?).

With the somewhat longer single tongue extension ahead of this point this will be an area of high stress concentration, and a good part of the reason I am concerned about the material loss there. It wouldn't be too much trouble to scab on a couple of fish plates to reinforce this area.

Maybe you could tell us how thick your main tongue tube is and gauge how much material was lost there. There have been a couple of tongue failures and near misses posted up on the boards and they do not look like fun experiences to me. I would hate to see you have a problem down the road.

[co.adams]

Appreciate the concern. I went way over board on the steel for my tongue and it was a little thick for the welder I was using and I got a little carried away with beveling the edges. I think it was 5/16. I might reinforce it when I put a toolbox mount on. Thanks for the heads up

[co.adams]

The plan

[co.adams]

Chugging along here, piece by piece. Just started construction on the walls. I got a great deal on these hatch doors for twenty buck that i'm going to use for doors. Way lighter, much faster and painless. Also made my decision not to do the front window. This profile most likely looks confusing but keep in mind its unique. i will be attaching a trunk style galley to the back if you can see in the sketch above.

This is the frame, I still need to make insulation voids.



Window and Door



more to come, starting to make progress

[co.adams]

insulation voids and galley support

[co.adams]

More ridged foam insulation and emergency thermal blanket

[co.adams]

getting the floor snugged up before i go and get it sprayed with truck bed liner

[Cummins01]

Lookin good so far, keep it up

[co.adams]

Fish plates on and painted. I'm pretty glad I did it, makes me feel better just lookin at it. Thanks for the advice KCStudly.



Finally the walls

[davidniebeling]

Lookin' good. I'll be following your posts. I love watching trailers that are a little different than the "standard" teardrop and I also love the idea of "recycling" parts. It makes a trailer more unique.

[co.adams]

Thanks David and everyone else has replied. My plan kinda evolved into itself and i'm really happy with it. I really enjoy the aerodynamics of the tear drop and i'm glad my build discovered a way to do that. It all fell together at the right time. Right now i'm focusing on making it road worthy and water tight. I'm stuck on what to seal with. I don't know if regular caulk will work on the seams or if i should get a heavy duty rv sealant. Also i have a couple small holes to patch and i'm wondering what to use.




Before_________________________________________________________Currently


better view of the rear


better pictures to come