First time builder.....

[suzart24]

Hi all,
I'm new here but have been studying TDs for a while, before deciding to build one of my own. I built a lot of motorcycles in the 70s & 80s....Had my own graphic design and screen printing business for 18 years.....Did custom painting on a ton of vans and motorcycles in the 60s & 70s.
I have been an artist (Painter) my entire life and was the guest artist at Westminster Dog Show in 2010.
I have always done my own carpentry and electrical at home and for my businesses, so I think I can handle this build.....With a little help from all you guys and gals.
I bought a 5x8 basic trailer from Northern Tool and it went together like a snap. I do plan on moving the axle back 6 inches to make more room for the dual doors and some front cabinets.
Being an old sign painter, I'm going to use One Shot sign enamel to paint it. My sponsorship sign hung on the Little League fence for 13 years, before it needed to be repainted. It sat in the Sacramento Valley heat, every Summer, getting sprayed with the sprinklers and rain all Winter. I was sold on it, at that point.
I'm sure I will have lots of dumn questions....so please be kind.....

[citylights]

Welcome! This site is great with advice. Post lots of pictures!

I am kind of up to my ears in wires in my tear right now. I should have stuck with th flashlight camping...

[pigcooker]

Welcome, suzart24. This is the place for Q & A's. Did you get the Black, HD, 5x10 w/5.30x12" tires, their #1 seller.
If you move the axle back 6" on that trailer, the crossmember ( 2nd from rear ) will also need to be moved.
It will prevent you from bolting up the rearmost spring hanger. Un-bolt the crossmember, tap it to the rear
about 3 inches. Bolt on the spring hanger, re-install the crossmember about 2" forward. You will have to
drill the frame rail for the new location of the crossmember, spring hangers, and the fender mounts. That trailer,
goes out of square everytime you move it. Put some plywood on it, or add a few diagonals at the corners.

I hope this will prevent some frustrations. Please let us know what your first name is.

Good Luck with your build. Hope we meet at a gathering one day.

Doug aka Pigcooker

[Junkboy999]

Hey Suzart24

That sound great. We definitely need picture while you doing it. You will be the first to use that printed method if I’m not mistaken. I just stopped off at the local “ Fast Sign “ store here in Wichita to pick up some Coroplastic for a RC plane I building and saw a 4X8 sign they printed for a client. It did not occur to me to use that for a TD build. Or course it probably cost us an arm and a leg, but for you as long as you print on your company logo for advertisement “ Tax right off “.

Welcome to the forums, and do you do T shirts, and own a green coleman camping lantern Ha ahahahaha Green Lantern Corpsmen Creed and Membership!!! T-SHIRT!!

[suzart24]

Welcome! This site is great with advice. Post lots of pictures!

I am kind of up to my ears in wires in my tear right now. I should have stuck with th flashlight camping...

I've been seeing these little AA battery powered LED lights, about business card size. Harbor Frieght has them for about $3.50 each.
Since I'm going to carpet my interior walls, I'm thinking about using them for my interior lighting. Stick a little Velcro on the back and stick them anywhere.
After all, how long do you actually have the lights on, inside, anyway? What do you think?

[suzart24]

Welcome, suzart24. This is the place for Q & A's. Did you get the Black, HD, 5x10 w/5.30x12" tires, their #1 seller.
If you move the axle back 6" on that trailer, the crossmember ( 2nd from rear ) will also need to be moved.
It will prevent you from bolting up the rearmost spring hanger. Un-bolt the crossmember, tap it to the rear
about 3 inches. Bolt on the spring hanger, re-install the crossmember about 2" forward. You will have to
drill the frame rail for the new location of the crossmember, spring hangers, and the fender mounts. That trailer,
goes out of square everytime you move it. Put some plywood on it, or add a few diagonals at the corners.

I hope this will prevent some frustrations. Please let us know what your first name is.

Good Luck with your build. Hope we meet at a gathering one day.

Doug aka Pigcooker

Hey, Pigcooker,
I was listening to the Red Sox-Mariner's game today and one of the Mariner players was cooking a pig in the parking lot before the game....I like "Out of the box" people.

That is the trailer i bought....$477.00 with free shipping. Thanks for the tip, on puting some diagonals to help keep it square. I think I'll put some on the back corners and mount my stabilizer jacls on them.
I'm on a road trip for my work, but when I get home, I'll check what you said about moving the axle back.
I will take pictures as I progress.....or regress... Whichever it might be.

[celticquetzel]

I love the flashlight idea. As I have no desire whatsoever to mess with wires when I build mine. Just got a backup, rechargable battery for travel for my kindle fire (best travel toy ever) and phones and works great. That, and a couple efficient flashlights. REI (and others - that was just the first place I looked) have neat rechargable LED lanterns, although pricey. Maybe play with lightweight solar. My thinking... 1) big batteries are a PITA and expensive to maintain in our dry, cold climate. 2) technology changes so fast I'd like to be more flexible. Note some of the awesome builds of a few years ago with large spaces for TVs. I figure the rechargable and/or solar will just get better. 3) I need lightweight, and a big battery doesn't help. Just thoughts. Good luck and have fun.
Caro

[suzart24]

I jus bought two of these to try out for awhile, before doing my electrical system in the TD.
I'm carpeting my walls and would like to use them as interior lights. I can put a tab of Velcro on the back and stick them anywhere I want.
They're even bright enough to act as outside lights.
Harbor Freight...AAA powered for $3.50 each.