Trailer design

[PresTx82]

a WWW button? Where have I been?

[madjack]

a WWW button? Where have I been?

...the mountains in New Mexicao?????????

Roasted, are you talking about a straight up and down chop saw or a power miter saw....either would work but keep in mind that the blow off is red hot metal particles and can make a heck offa mess...especially with anything that can melt and burn...take appropriate precautions....
madjack

[homeroast]

Before I was able to read your reply, I picked up a metal blade and my saw worked just fine. It made a lot of sparks, next time I cut steel, I won't do it in sandals. Here's a couple pics.

[Dean Williams]

Homeroast, looking at what you have come up with so far, this appears to be a light, sensible frame for your trailer. I'm no teardrop guru, but I am a welder, and have built a bunch of trailers. By the time you get the floor and main body(cabin?) on, this will be as ridged as you could want.

Yeah, and wear boots. Maybe round the sharp corners on the outside angle iron flanges just a bit. It'll save a bunch of divots in your shins by the time you get done.

[homeroast]

Thx dean, that's a good idea on savin' the ol' shins. Kudos to andrew and rich on the design tho, I'm just buildin' it.

[homeroast]

I still need to buy an a frame coupler and jig up my tongue.

[bledsoe3]

a WWW button? Where have I been?

I need one of these buttons for teardrop building.
http://tinyurl.com/fv8mx

[homeroast]

I want to use the same tires on my trailer as I have on my tow vehicle so that they look uniform and so that if I blow a trailer tire I'll always have a spare that'll work. Now, I measured the bolt hole pattern on my ford focus, and it's 4 hole on 4 1/4" centres. From what I've seen on most hub selection charts are either 5 on 4 1/2 or 4 on 4. Is the 4" just a nominal number, and it actually measures 4 1/4? Can someone enlighten me?

[asianflava]

That's because it is a metric bolt pattern, 4X108mm.

[homeroast]

Ahh, I see. Well, matching my tow vehicle is just going to end up costing me more money and hassle. I think I'm just going to wuss out and go with 12" trailer tires.

[Joanne]

Simple, light and easy to build.

Then what's the point in building it??? Any project worth doing is worth over-doing!

Joanne

[homeroast]

Just an update on the trailer. Just finished welding it up and drilling axle mounting holes. Just test fitting the axle before it comes off for clean up and primer. As is, the tongue weight is 36lbs and each wheel is 92lbs.

[madjack]

...don't forget to wash the steel down with lacquer thinner, denatured alcohol or some solvent to get rid of all the fishoil on the steel...I would then use a coarse scuff pad to knock the rust scale off and then an acid etch primer before painting...this will give ya a long lasting, durable finish on you frame paint job...
madjack
p.s....you may know all that but it always bears repeating for those that don't..................

[Nitetimes]

Frame looks good but I'd like to make one suggestion. I can't see how your axle mount bolts are in but what I would do is put them in from the top down and weld the head to the frame. It will make it a lot easier to remove if you ever have an axle problem. Of course you could leave holes in the floor but who wants that.

[homeroast]

Of course you could leave holes in the floor but who wants that.

This is the route I will be taking. I will have removable access panels on the floor. They should be fairly inconspicuous before the mattress is in, and hidden once the mattress is in. Not the best setup, but it'll be functional.