Meet Max...

[dakippen]

I've been lurking, asking questions, dreaming, designing and planning and decided on a generic Benroy. Ordered a 5x8 NT trailer and that arrived yesterday. Today was shopping day - picked up a good majority of my wall materials. The outside side walls will be mahogany, the roof will be white TPO, interior side panels will be covered with maps with the remainder of the interior made up of pine tongue and groove. Still looking at tutorials, need a full day of nothing to get the garage warmed up to work on the trailer and base. I don't now how often I'll post - but this is a start.

[QueticoBill]

I have that same pile of trailer kit parts in my garage. I think you'll beat me to completed trailer. Looking forward to your build!

[dakippen]

I have that same pile of trailer kit parts in my garage. I think you'll beat me to completed trailer. Looking forward to your build!

Well, hubby went fishing, so I went ahead and got started....

[S. Heisley]

I have that same pile of trailer kit parts in my garage. I think you'll beat me to completed trailer. Looking forward to your build!

Well, hubby went fishing, so I went ahead and got started.... Doing at almost 60 what I should have done at 20....

I was in my 60's when I built mine. ...Kept saying, "I must be crazy." It turns out I wasn't and neither are you! You can do this!

[IndyTom]

Great start! Keep the pictures coming!

Tom

[edgeau]

Welcome. Go for it. If you get stuck just ask for advice. Plenty of helpful people around here

Sent from my ZTE T84 using Tapatalk

[QueticoBill]

Well, I'm on Medicare and just getting started with my first build, though I see it as simply an upgrade to s keeping under canvas.

On Max, are you considering moving the axle back or lengtheng the tongue? A lot of advice here that balance is improved and especially maneuvering. I've decided to do both, just one reason you'll be on the road before me. Just a thought.

[dakippen]

Well, I'm on Medicare and just getting started with my first build, though I see it as simply an upgrade to s keeping under canvas.

On Max, are you considering moving the axle back or lengtheng the tongue? A lot of advice here that balance is improved and especially maneuvering. I've decided to do both, just one reason you'll be on the road before me. Just a thought.

Followed the instructions for where things should go on the trailer...so we'll see how it goes.

[dakippen]

So, the trailer is done, lights checked and working. Next step is the flooring. No pictures on the wiring but hubby went the extra mile and beyond the NT wiring instructions. He beefed up the ground wire, soldered some of the connections, used a combination of black liquid tape and heat shrink tape for extra measure. Then as a bonus, we bought 1/4" black plastic channel for the wiring. Just wasn't comfortable with the wiring just tacked in place along the frame.

[dakippen]

Making Progress

Max is about street ready, electrical on the trailer is finished so now he can be out after dark. Hubby was a sweetheart and got the decking and floor ready. Then came the template - after that was done, walls for both the exterior and interior were cut. But not without a bit of blood and bruises....

Since I'm using mahogany for my exterior, I've perused I sweat a thousand posts on sealing how-to and more confused than ever. Hubby is dead set against fiberglass....so that's out. Do I start with a weather resistant epoxy and then varnish or just a marine grade sealer?? Thoughts??

[S. Heisley]

The epoxy is the most important thing; then, something over the epoxy because epoxy is not UV resistant. ...You decide. Be certain to seal all the edges well with the epoxy.

(I went "overboard" (pun) on mine, with 3 coats of CPES, 2 coats of marine epoxy, and 2 to 3 coats of marine paint.)

[dakippen]

So, I couldn't find Henry's Roofing Emulsion in my area, so I went with what Home Depot suggested. Came home and tackled the really nasty job of applying tar to the underside. While I saw the most use rollers or brushes, we found that if we put on gloves, spreading went much easier...now to wait for it to dry and cure...good thing MN isn't in the middle of a freeze right now....

[dakippen]

Until the tar cures and dries, I'm at a bit of a standstill so I started the polyurethane on the tongue and groove interior..I'm really liking the results.

[dakippen]

Lots of progress to date. Spread on the first layer of epoxy last night, today was spent laying out and framing. Max is really starting to take shape.

[dakippen]

Between a nasty kick ass cold and being out of town, progress has been a bit slow, but hubby was awesome in getting some work done while I was out of town, this wkend the interior wall was put up along with the tongue and groove...today the exterior walls are going up and starting work on adding spars.