6x12, 7x12 Which One...but am close

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

It's sounds like your gonna shoot this thing to the moon, so it better be balanced perfect


I have a friend in FL like you ......
He is a detailed super planner too

Jerry

[lrrowe]

So you have me figured out. Guess it is the engineer in me....always over planning (what others think) and definitely over building (what my wife thinks). I will be dangerous over the next few weeks because it be that long before I head out on my trip up north and to stop by the Car Mate dealer. I am disappointed now as they promised me an internet quote on Monday and I still do not have it yet. The doing something or getting off the pot syndrome will start to take ahold when the reality of dollars and cents kick in. But I can dream can I not?

[lrrowe]

Yesterday, I received my quote back from the Car Mate dealer in Mechanicsburg, PA with the options I asked to be priced in it.
-7x12 Advantage Car Mate with V Nose SA, electric brakes, Barn Doors, 7 pole plug.
-Spare wheel and tire
-Std roof vent
-12V power roof vent (gives me two vents for circulation flow)
-Swing down jacks in rear (might not want these if they stick down to far and hurt the rear ground clearance for off road travels)
-RV door - 36 in -exchange with current door (maybe I can go with smaller width)
-6" added height, but they will do 3 inches (6 inches gives 76" (6' 4") and 3 inches gives 73" (6' 1")-73" might be ok for me)
-Two wall vents
-LED dome 12V
-Wall switch

Ouch, the $5800 price was higher then I had hoped for, but based on what I have been hearing I should have expected it for the quality I will find in it when I go to look at the lot models. I wonder if there is a discount if I go to the factory direct to pick it up?

My choice will have to be ordered special and the delivery time is quoted for 7-8 weeks. The factory must be busy and there goes any chance to have a dry run with it during hunting season this year.

But for my further consideration, I asked for base model prices for the following so I have plenty of options or alternatives to consider.

6x14 Car Mate Custom with SA and TA
7x12 Car Mate Advantage V Nose with TA
7x14 Car Mate Custom with TA

I have been reading all sorts for pros and cons for SA and TA and Flat Front and Vnose, that I am going with the attitude that my final budget will determine what I can afford and not to let the gas mileage issue be a major decision making matter.

This forum has been great for helping me think out loud on the options and choices. Thanks to all for taking your time to share your work, knowledge and opinions with the rest of us.
Bob

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi Irrowe

I would say just go with what you like & the wife likes,
TA is always better, Torsion axel, never adjust elec brakes are also best if budget allows.
I wanna get 100,000 + miles outa mine - if possible time on earth & health permitting.

On mine I figured about $20 total & it's getting closer to maybe $30 ..... I'm scared to add it up.
But a half ass trailer - with cheap junk goes in that range also, airstream bambi is $55
AND MINE IS ONE OF A KIND - I don't have 9 million brothers & sisters.

I'm having some serious depression with the solar because if I raise panels 3-4" it "looks crappie"
The lower panels - heat the roof more - making it difficult to meet my design goal of AC in 100 deg.
Well who gives a crap , I hate the heat anyway.

My advice - just get going, it's gonna look different then what you planned.
You can always change the interior - the rest is a little harder.


Their #1 dealer has 100's on the lot , maybe you'll find something to tow home that's 99% close to perfect.
Don't be a nut case like me I did 6,800 mile round trip


Jerry

[roadinspector]

Jerry is right. You can spend forever picking and choosing. Pick one & get to work. I would suggest getting one just a little bigger than planned and have room to grow instead of wishing you had half way thru you build.

I get tickled at myself & others. Most builders suffer from a case of OCD. I know I do. I gotta beat myself over the head sometimes to remind me of what Jerry said. In layman's terms it was: GET OFF THE POT & GET TO WORK. Also remember perfection isn't all its made out to be.

Good luck on your hunt

Earnest

[lrrowe]

Jerry and Ernest,
Good advice about getting off the pot. I agree, but am fighting time....I cannot get to the dealer who is quite away from me until the end of the September. Guess I will hang in and read and listen to other posts during the meanwhile and work on my "to do" list once I get it.
Bob

[roadinspector]

Jerry and Ernest,
Good advice about getting off the pot. I agree, but am fighting time....I cannot get to the dealer who is quite away from me until the end of the September. Guess I will hang in and read and listen to other posts during the meanwhile and work on my "to do" list once I get it.
Bob

Bob,
Get what fits you when the right one jumps out and bites. I fished around and planned for 2 years before I jumped off into one. The was the main holdup on me. Glad I didn't rush off into it. I saved about $2500-$3000 by waiting. I found a good used instead of buying new. It wasn't as well built as I would have cared for but a feller can be happy if he wants to be. Who wouldn't be happy with saving some

I am looking forward to your build.

Earnest

[hankaye]

lrrowe, Howdy;

From the research I've been doing, I found that the Torsion axles
are better if the majority of your towing will be on paved roads.
If you are the type that wants to do some exploring and will be using gravel
and Forest Service Roads a lot, then Spring axels will suit you better...

hank

[lrrowe]

lrrowe, Howdy;

From the research I've been doing, I found that the Torsion axles
are better if the majority of your towing will be on paved roads.
If you are the type that wants to do some exploring and will be using gravel
and Forest Service Roads a lot, then Spring axels will suit you better...

hank

Hank,
Why do you believe the Spring Axles would be better? I do not have any knowledge in this area. I am going to guess that the vast majority of my trailer will be on paved roads except for some fishing and hunting trips on unpaved roads. On these so called "bumpy" roads, I usually keep the speed down so stuff does not bumped around and the dust stays down.

[hankaye]

lrrowe, Howdy;

I started with a google search
https://www.google.com/search?q=torsion ... ox&ie=&oe=
Then I also talked to a few of the local dealers. When the Wells Cargo dealer
(They do the Torsion axels), told me I didn't want one of his as I intended to
be on Forest Roads in the mountains of Western N.M. and said that springs would
be the way to go.
Reckon it's all subjective and up to personal preference...

hank

[bc toys]

Irrowe I would suggest you take a look at this new trailer it called LOOK brand it was a owner of haulmark I think they have a factory in Ga and Az I got my trailer with
6x10 V nose
Barn doors
Roof vent
1 over head lights w/switch
side door
for 3500$
its build on 24'' center and all steel studs
3/8 wall board
1/2 plywood floor
only took 3 weeks for them to build it for me

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hankaye


WHERE IS THE RESEARCH ? that proves springs are better off road.......vs Torsion ?
I for one would sure as hell like to see that in writing somewhere ???


I believe nothing a DUMB ASS .... trailer salesman tells me

Its just like religion .....only their unit is the best built - "bring you to Jesus" all others suck.....

EVERYTHING from GA is CHEAP, been there done that !!
thats why I had to start over.....


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Airstream switched to "torsion axles" for four reasons, back in 1961.

1. Torsion axles provide a much softer ride than any spring setup, leaf or coil, could every provide.

2. Each wheel is independent from the others. What may happen to one wheel on one side of the trailer, has no effect on the other wheel or wheels on the same side.

3. You can easily remove a tire and wheel from one side, and continue on, without the need to "tie up a spring".

4. "ZERO" maintenance.

Your shops three arguments are invalid.

1. There is nothing to maintain, with a torsion axle. Not so with spring suspension.

2. Four "U-bolts" hold up a single spring type axle. Those four U-bolts use 8 nuts, 4 U-bolts, 8 washers and 8 lock washers. A torsion axle is held in place with less than "half" that hardware.

3. Hundreds of Airstream owners would quickly attest to the smooth ride that torsion axles provide, over all types of surfaces.

Sorry, but your guy obviously does not have much "torsion axle" experience or knowledge.

Andy
__________________
Andy Rogozinski
Inland RV Center
Corona, CA

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Another fact is Torsion rubber would not get hard until after at least 20 years.


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ASK ANY SHOP : do you like torsion or spring DUH !!!!!
they never make money on torsion - guess which one you would recommend if you own the shop ?

[cornfused]

From a logical point of view, I would think that leaf springs would be able to articulate and flex a lot more than torsion axles. Especially in a tandem case because the tandem axle set-up for leaf springs has an equalizing pivot in it that will load the axles more evenly in uneven terrain where the torsion axles will act completely independent of each other.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Im Cornfused ????


Have you actually ever owned one & worked on one & driven one off road
vs. a Torsion so you have some actual real life comparison ?

or do you work for a shop that sells spring axels ?


further more it would defy LOGIC .... that people would spend $500 for an inferior torsion axel vs.
YOUR BETTER quality $200 leaf spring
I really don't follow your argument

[cornfused]

It just so happens I have pulled a lot of trailers and no, I don't sell leaf sprung axles. The advantage of a torsion axle has to do with how it mounts to the trailer and the ease of selecting a ride height based off of that. I have also built trailers and talked directly to Dexter Axle when I ordered custom axles from them for some projects at work.

Think of it like this, driving a car with independent suspension over the road will be smoother and a 4x4 truck with solid leaf sprung axles will be rougher. But, if you take them both down a slower washed out road, the cars suspension will eventually bottom out and be rough and the truck will be smoother because it has more suspension travel.