7'*18' V-Nose Cargo Trailer Toy Hauler Conversion

[flboy]

I got the hitch on. I followed the directions. The trailer looks level and same with the truck I think it is okay? Anyone know about load balancing hitches. What is the worst that can happen if I have it a little off? Shouldn't be any worse than without? Comments please. I am new at this one.



Trailer backed up fine into the driveway. That was one of the design criteria. I had to be able to get it into the driveway for loading and etc..






View into the back from the garage.. Will be able to load her up right from there. Yay!

[m.colley]

Don,
The awning looks great as usual. The weight distributing hitch "looks" right. The only real way to tell is take your rig to a set of scales and have it weighed, see if it is balanced.


Martin

[hankaye]

flboy, Howdy;

Just a few things this evening.
What McD said about the awning, I've seen some strange things in my life but the shapes that
the wind can create with a big sail and some "not up to the task" metal arms can win ya a spot
in the Guggenheim Museum. Whenever I travel with my 5th wheel I use some heavy zip ties to
keep the awning arms from trying to break dance along the roadways. Some folks have some
Velcro straps made to secure the arms.

If you can find a level area there in lumpy ole Fl. Un hook the trailer from the truck and measure
the height of your trucks wheel-wells (front & back), hook back up to the trailer and re measure
the wheel-wells. Is there a bunch of difference from the first set of measurements? Where is the
difference? Which direction is it, up or down? Same amount of up at one end and down at the other?
The set-up sheets should tell ya how to compensate if not then get on the phone and call'em. The
one I had for my old Tow (Equai-i-zer Hitch), was a different one from yours. Here's an informative article
to help ya get yer head wrapped around this stuff.
https://www.etrailer.com/faq-weightdistribution.aspx

Hope it helps.

hank

[flboy]

Thanks Hank on the hitch information. I did measure the before and after. Less than an inch sag difference from load to no load. Prior to the hitch, it dropped near 2 inches. Wheel wells dropped about the same all the way around which I'd think means the weight is distributed correctly. I am anxious to see how it handles at highway speed. I have a anti-sway bar to install.. but I want to see what it is like before I install it. I'll have a road report later this week.

[flboy]

I picked up the cushions for one side of the dinette from my sister tonight. She is going to have the other side ready by Tuesday. She did a great job! The covers can be removed for cleaning when needed.

It is all coming together for the maiden voyage Thursday! I'll have to do the trim on the dinette seats when I get back. Don't need that done for the first trip.

[retep]

Hello Don. You have done an incredible job. You have set a new bar in what one can expect. A lot of planning and thought went into this and it really shows.

Enjoy your maiden voyage this weekend you certainly deserve it. Going to miss the updates on your progress. I really am grateful for people like yourselves that share their build. So many great ideas.

Many Thanks and congratulations again.

Peter VE3KAI

[flboy]

Hello Don. You have done an incredible job. You have set a new bar in what one can expect. A lot of planning and thought went into this and it really shows.

Enjoy your maiden voyage this weekend you certainly deserve it. Going to miss the updates on your progress. I really am grateful for people like yourselves that share their build. So many great ideas.

Many Thanks and congratulations again.

Peter VE3KAI

Thanks Peter. BTW... do you ever get on 20M SSB PSK31 on 14.070Mhz? I chat with quite a few folks up your way on a regular basis. Sometimes later in the evening I can get on 40M 7.070 Mhz. It would be nice to have a QSO. My call is KE4EVL if you ever see me calling CQ on the waterfall. . 73's. :-)

[flboy]

I got a few little things done tonight in preparations for Thursday.

I Installed some safety items.... This is the First Alert Smoke and CO2 detector I bought back in September.



I mounted the Fire Extinguisher in a convenient place and close to where I am most likely to have a grease fire when I am cooking that bacon! :-)



Well.. this isn't for safety, but it is for emergencies. Need that TP Holder! I also put the bottom back in the cabinet to cover all that plumbing into the gray water tank and fresh water hookups. It needs a bottom in any case to make it usable for storage. It is not bolted down, so it is easily removed to access the plumbing below.



My sister delivered the last two cushions for the dinette. She did a great job upholstering the foam I cut. That 4" High Density foam may be overkill, but it sure is nice for sitting.




Lastly, I got this roll around cart for $5.00 at a surplus sale. I plan to keep all the Motorcycle tools, oils, etc.. in there and use it as an end table also when we are lounging around in back. It has castors, so I can roll it over to the eTrac, lock the wheels and secure it with a strap for travel. I may sand it down and paint it with a gray "hammered metal" finish in the near future.



Where the tool cart will be strapped for travel.

[CoventryKid]

Hey Don:

That is one suh-weeeeeeet trailer you have there!! You have certainly raised the bar!

Thanks for sharing all the info and pictures!

Now if I could just get one of those awnings shipped across the border, I'd be real happy!

Have fun on your trip!

[retep]

Hello Don. You have done an incredible job. You have set a new bar in what one can expect. A lot of planning and thought went into this and it really shows.

Enjoy your maiden voyage this weekend you certainly deserve it. Going to miss the updates on your progress. I really am grateful for people like yourselves that share their build. So many great ideas.

Many Thanks and congratulations again.

Peter VE3KAI

Thanks Peter. BTW... do you ever get on 20M SSB PSK31 on 14.070Mhz? I chat with quite a few folks up your way on a regular basis. Sometimes later in the evening I can get on 40M 7.070 Mhz. It would be nice to have a QSO. My call is KE4EVL if you ever see me calling CQ on the waterfall. . 73's. :-)

Hello Don. Regrettably I have not been active on HF for a while. Life just kept getting in the way. As I just recently got back in to the hobby. I am actually thinking of resurrecting the the HF shack as I do miss it. And in which case I will be looking for you, I would thoroughly enjoy a QSO with you. I have spent more time investigating VHF Digital modes recently. But I must admit I do miss HF. Driving back home today as I have been in Orlando for a while enjoying some sun. I'll wave as I drive by lol.

Again, such a fabulous build. Looking to do a similar build. You have so many excellent ideas along with such an efficient layout.
Peter VE3KAI

[facethewolf]

aggie79, Thanks for the nice comments. I have found that cutting the holes is easy. The hard part is making sure they are the right size and in the right place.

I have to cut the AC intake vent on the roof and the exhaust vent on the side soon. I will have to do this anticipating how the interior walls will come together and where the Air conditioner will sit in a cabinet yet to be built.

I should make some progress this weekend. More pics to come. :-)


Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

My biggest fear/ mental block to cutting holes in a perfectly good trailer would be the fear that i am destroying the seal/weatherproofing. I am terrified that won't be able to get it sealed again and I'll just be exposing wood and metal to rot

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

[flboy]

My biggest fear/ mental block to cutting holes in a perfectly good trailer would be the fear that i am destroying the seal/weatherproofing. I am terrified that won't be able to get it sealed again and I'll just be exposing wood and metal to rot

Sent from my SM-T230NU using Tapatalk

Just use good Dicor tape sealer and caulk well.... it will be fine.

[flboy]

Loading up for the first trip. There a ton of little things to finish and the major task of building the loft bed, but it is done enough and everything is working well enough for a shake down trip. I have a Twin size double high blow up mattress I'll use on the floor in the back to sleep. It is plenty comfortable. I'll have some time between Christmas and New Years to fabricate the loft bed.

Fridge is on cooling down. I just need to fill the water tanks, add food and clothes tomorrow night and I'll leave from work Thursday. :-) We'll have some pics of the adventure!

[flboy]

My wife came out while I was loading and snapped a few pics. She captured the moment.. looking in with the dirtbike perspective (one of my passions) and the satisfied look of getting to enjoy the fruits of many weekends and evening hours of hard work.





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[Donut757]

Would have figured you wore a cape based on this awesome display of worksmanship.


Enjoy your trip.