Newest Build, # 5, Road Ready

[M C Toyer]

Thanks guys.

I don't think I've posted these before but here are some pics from the prior rendition with the teardrop shaped EMT and canvas top.

I had 4 watertight plastic truck boxes attached to the inside of the trailer; the back two hinged and swung up to load/unload the motorbike and served as chuck boxes. All were fully accessible from inside or out with the motorbike loaded or unloaded.

The bed/tent platform hung off the side of the trailer on a collapsible 2x3 cedar frame or could be placed inside on top of the truck boxes. I still have the option to hang outside on the current fully enclosed shell.

The shade tarp is supported by the teardrop frame and a few tent poles.







M C

[GoTurtleGo]

Hi M. C.

You've made all kinds of clever solutions for your different builds; I really like your tilting and swinging chuck boxes. I enjoyed reading about them and studying the photos.

I have a question on your "predecessor" (EMT teardrop shaped shell) - do you remember where you got the fittings for that? I am building a portable garage out of EMT and am so far not satisfied with the options I have for fittings. I noticed that yours looked very nice on the predecessor.

Thanks!

Kathleen

[M C Toyer]

I have a question on your "predecessor" (EMT teardrop shaped shell) - do you remember where you got the fittings for that? I am building a portable garage out of EMT and am so far not satisfied with the options I have for fittings. I noticed that yours looked very nice on the predecessor.

Thanks!

Kathleen

I bought most of them online from a greenhouse supplier in east Texas but the quality was not that good.

They are simply short sections of 1" EMT tack welded together. The joints on the Ts and right angles were butted, not mitered or formed to match the profile, and the welds were not even ground smooth.

To make them fit more tightly I wrapped the 3/4" EMT with rubber electrical tape. All the fittings are pop riveted in place.

The diagonal braces are the standard screen door turnbuckles w/ threaded rods. On something as large as a garage you could probably use light gauge steel cable or wire but by all means uses plenty of diagonal bracing.

I attended a demonstration for making pipe frame greenhouses and they had some cast aluminum connectors with internal set screws but I suspect would be quite expensive and they were a bit bulky. I've seen others made from stamped steel plates with bolts and nuts that would probably be cheaper.

A google image search for greenhouse tube frame connectors (don't use quotation marks) will give you plenty of examples and sources.

You could also just flatten the ends of the EMT with a hammer and drill holes to make connections with bolts and nuts.

M C

[GoTurtleGo]

Thank you, M. C. That is helpful information. I was looking at some designed for tents, awnings etc. that were a bit pricey and then I found Kee Fittings, which might be the ones you were referring to, that were very pricey. Yikes. It was a bit discouraging since I am building this to save money! Now you've given me a whole new area to explore.

Thanks again,

Kathleen