How do you determine depth of dropped floor on canned ham?

Canned Hams of all types and sizes...and Bread Boxes to go with that ham......

How do you determine depth of dropped floor on canned ham?

Postby lstyles » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:38 pm

I've made some progress on my trailer frame design but I am to the part where I need to design in the drop floor. I prefer the drop floors that come out all the way to the side of the trailer (like Doug's trailer) so you don't have to step down into them. My question is how do you determine how much you can safely drop the floor? I am guessing that wheel size and axle probably play a role in determining this but what is the minimum clearance etc that I should have?
thanks,
Lori
lstyles
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 1:05 pm

Postby doug hodder » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:42 pm

Lori...I asked an open question for just how low people had their dropped floors on either a canned ham or a tear. From the ground to the bottom of the 2x longsill (doorside) on the frame I'm at 6 5/8" when level. This is the lowest point on mine. A flexiride axle is a real + as it's very difficult to determine the exact height if you don't have a fixed weight in mind. You can adjust the axle to bring it up a bit as well as make the dropped floor extend further back and wider since you don't have to deal with spring hangers and their bolts.

Other variables...wheel diameter and in my case, garage interior and garage door height. I've only got a 5" drop on the floor in mine, others are deeper, but I didn't want a really tall trailer. If you go with a short design, you will also need to get the correct tongue jack. Too tall on the mount and you won't be able to get it level, or pull the dolly wheel when it's on the hitch ball and run the risk of dragging it, if the frame sits low. I got one that is a jack only, no mounting system and created my own to customize the jack height.

I worried about dragging something, but so far, haven't had any issues with it being too low and the trip into DMV parking lot was risky, but no drag.

On a side note....it would be to your advantage to install some skid type plates on some of the portions that could drag as insurance. Scotties had them. Doug
doug hodder
*Snoop Dougie Doug
 
Posts: 12625
Images: 562
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:20 pm

Postby lstyles » Wed Jan 12, 2011 12:05 am

Thanks for the response Doug! So then it would seem I should build the trailer and mount the axle and wheels and see how it sits before deciding on how low I can go? That makes sense and I think that is doable. I am thinking that 14" wheels will be best does that sound right (not to small not too big) for a 16ft canned ham (13ft body, 3 ft tongue).
Lori
lstyles
Teardrop Builder
 
Posts: 26
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 1:05 pm
Top

Postby doug hodder » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:11 am

I've got 14's on mine, but the deal for me was that I wanted a 14 with as wide of a whitewall as I could get so that's what drove my tire size. That may not be important to you. I had no idea of exactly how much the whole thing would drop once all the weight was on the flexiride. As it ends up 2500#..set at 0 worked for me. I think I'd get one de-rated a bit if I were to do another, but this seems to ride fine and doesn't shake it to pieces. I don't do a lot of either "off road" or gravel unpaved road travel however.

PS...I am also using automotive type tires, not trailer rated ones. Wide whites aren't available in the trailer ones. Others may think I'm stupid for doing this however. Make sure that your tires can handle the weights you are planning on. Mine is only like 11' long, 1400#. You might want to check what you have for a tire on your tow vehicle and if it's the same bolt pattern, go for that size so that you have a built in spare. 15's would probably be more in line on a 16'. Just my opinion, others may vary. Doug
doug hodder
*Snoop Dougie Doug
 
Posts: 12625
Images: 562
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2004 11:20 pm
Top

Postby cuyeda » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:57 am

doug hodder wrote:...snip...
On a side note....it would be to your advantage to install some skid type plates on some of the portions that could drag as insurance. Scotties had them. Doug


Another side note... Skid rollers!
Image

Check this sample link out.

http://tweetys.com/search.aspx?find=skid+rollers
Why just dance, when you can Salsa!
Cliff & Vanessa
User avatar
cuyeda
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 1924
Images: 17
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 12:09 am
Location: California, Long Beach
Top

Postby 48Rob » Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:41 am

I've always believed that the depth of the dropped floor can be determined by setting the trailer tongue on the ground, and measuring from the ground up at the forwardmost point of the drop floor area.
Next, measure the max spring, or torsion axle travel, subtract that number from the first, then add a couple inches for safety.

As the guys pointed out, skid plates or skid rollers are a wise investment, as is a well built steel front plate or bar to prevent damage to the floor if an obstruction in the road can't be avoided.

Rob
Waiting for "someday" will leave you on your deathbed wondering why you didn't just rearrange your priorities and enjoy the time you had, instead of waiting for a "better" time to come along...
User avatar
48Rob
Super Lifetime Member
 
Posts: 3882
Images: 4
Joined: Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:47 pm
Location: Central Illinois
Top

Postby Mark72 » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:13 pm

doug hodder wrote:
PS...I am also using automotive type tires, not trailer rated ones. Wide whites aren't available in the trailer ones. Others may think I'm stupid for doing this however. Make sure that your tires can handle the weights you are planning on. Mine is only like 11' long, 1400#. You might want to check what you have for a tire on your tow vehicle and if it's the same bolt pattern, go for that size so that you have a built in spare. 15's would probably be more in line on a 16'. Just my opinion, others may vary. Doug


Doug, Coming from my tire business experience, I think the choice to use automotive tires is a good one. The only difference I know of in a trailer rated tire is a slightly stiffer sidewall. What I have experienced is the fact that trailer rated tires seem to be very prone to tread separation resulting in serious damage to many a camper. I will never run a trailer tire on anything I own.

Mark
ImageImage
User avatar
Mark72
Donating Member
 
Posts: 998
Images: 127
Joined: Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:35 pm
Location: Indiana-Fredericksburg
Top

Postby Steve_Cox » Wed Jan 12, 2011 7:21 pm

If it is of any help, traffic speed bump heights range between 3 and 4 inches with trend toward 3 - 3 ½ inches maximum. They just look and feel a lot higher. My gypsy trailer dropped floor has 7" of clearance with the trailer loaded and on the level. Never had a bottom out problem yet, the drop floor is all in front of the axle.
Steve
User avatar
Steve_Cox
4000 Club
4000 Club
 
Posts: 4903
Images: 196
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:46 am
Location: Albuquerque New Mexico
Top


Return to Canned Hams & Bread Loaves

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest