Tiny Trailer Build

[NevadaBlue]

We have a floor! It is far from finished, but it is a floor.

847BBB1F-E1AE-4011-9073-3A2D65C0BEB7.jpeg (162.11 KiB) Viewed 3446 times

The only thing holding it on the frame right now is the bolts in the back and the screws in the center reinforcement section. I hope to take the floor off tomorrow, and turn it over and seal it. I will have to take out the rear cross member bolts and the center reinforcement screws, then screw a reinforcement plywood on TOP temporarily. Then I think I can roll the monster off the trailer onto some sawhorses and seal it. When I put it back on the trailer, I’ll then take each perimeter piece and the cross members off, one at a time and glue them in place. I think this will be the easiest way to handle the thing. I’m by myself and this part is BIG.
Once this is done and installed properly, the rest of the walls and such should be OK for me to do, except MOVING the camper shell onto the walls. But my boys will be here for that part.

Since I am moving the fenders up some, the holes in the floor are large. They will be sealed properly when the time comes.

[NevadaBlue]

I managed to get the floor off the trailer and flipped over onto some sawhorses. All the perimeter framing is now glued and screwed to the floor as is the center brace. Two coats of white 100% acrylic house paint cover the underside.

23072BC5-559E-412B-8DDD-F3453F98AD5F.jpeg (138.07 KiB) Viewed 3410 times

Tomorrow I hope to drill the frame for the mounting bolts and at least get the floor back onto the trailer. Only a couple of nice weather days left... gotta hurry. That bare center member in the frame is what supports the joint between the plywood floor boards. It will be screwed down there also.
I just got back from the hardware store with a pile of mounting hardware. I should also raise the fenders tomorrow too, BEFORE installing the floor.

[Dan242]

Looks awesome. Do you plan to do cold weather camping? I glued foam sheets under my wood floor to insulate and has worked well in MT winter. if you ever need a place to park/camp in NW MT, hit me up. know some great spots Dan

[RJ Howell]

Coming along nicely!

[NevadaBlue]

Looks awesome. Do you plan to do cold weather camping? I glued foam sheets under my wood floor to insulate and has worked well in MT winter. if you ever need a place to park/camp in NW MT, hit me up. know some great spots Dan

I’m not sure about ‘cold’ weather, but cool weather will be included. We often get warm spells during winter and since I’m retired, if we get a forecast for some 30/40 degree nights, I may just take off for a day or so.
Thanks for the offer, If I ever get up that way... I’ll holler.

My hope is to do more PNW camping with this rig. More wet than cold probably. I am researching awnings and collecting parts for those.

[NevadaBlue]

Coming along nicely!

Thanks! When I finish this cup of coffee, I’m headed out to try to move the fenders. The same bolts hold the spring/axle assembly to the frame, so it may be a struggle. I do have my torch...

[NevadaBlue]

It was a hassle, fun and work, but... I’m ready to build walls now! I started taking off the fenders so I could raise them. Rusty and tight bolts... the second one broke. That’s the best way to get them off, but I didn’t have anything appropriate for replacements. That meant a trip to the hardware store. And, time to think about fenders. I dedided to leave them off. That is 8.6 pounds of steel... EACH! So, now I can carry more bacon in the cooler.


I got the spring mounts bolted back up, without the fenders and one of my sons just happened by in time to help me get the floor back on the trailer frame. Then I proceeded to bolt it to the frame. LOTS of holes to drill in the frame and bolts to install. I used all nylon locking nuts too. No worries about coming loose.

Here’s what it looks like now. I’ll build my own ‘fenders’ over the holes. Also, it looks like there won’t be any issue with clearance for changing a tire. Good stuff.

602C1942-826D-4A8C-94D9-E9BF2EA603FA.jpeg (115.61 KiB) Viewed 3343 times

7C2371F4-DC94-4000-9CFC-447B3C87350C.jpeg (113.58 KiB) Viewed 3343 times

The floor is VERY solid and will only get stiffer as the walls are installed. I hope to start that tomorrow.

[tony.latham]

The floor is VERY...

I think you need to throw a sleeping pad on that. And grab a pillow and take it for a test drive.

Looking good.

Tony

[ricky herbold]

Make sure you have room to get your tires on/off with the framing around them. Looks a little tight

[swoody126]

Make sure you have room to get your tires on/off with the framing around them. Looks a little tight

SOUND ADVICE!!!

no knead to ask how i know :-O

sw

[swoody126]

The floor is VERY...

I think you need to throw a sleeping pad on that. And grab a pillow and take it for a test drive.

Looking good.

Tony

knot "test drive"

TEST NAP ;-)

sw

[NevadaBlue]

I will be changing the wheels and tires to new ones and there is room to widen the space outside the tire if necessary. But, I really don’t expect to have to do that.

Darn... mother nature and life got in the way. Had to do some repairs on the house, but I did get a good work area set up in the garage. Now I have space to build the walls INSIDE instead of out in the wind and rain when it arrives. Some progress anyway.

[NevadaBlue]

Just for reference, here are pics from the side and top, of the tire area. I can easily make the hole 2” wider if I need to (on the outside edge), but I don’t think it will be necessary.

48148CD7-647C-4171-A2C3-0299FB0178C2.jpeg (95.94 KiB) Viewed 3277 times

7A7975AC-4870-47D8-90EC-A52ED68F3337.jpeg (101.88 KiB) Viewed 3277 times

[NevadaBlue]

I made and installed the last bit of the ‘skirt’ material under the floor. This one filled the space in the hitch triangle and forms another support to hold the floor to the trailer. It is IN the frame at both ends, glued and screwed to the floor.

Then I came inside and read the instructions for the Kreg pocket hole jig. Then... I built a wall! OMG, this tool is worth the money. It is magic, plain and simple.

I decided to celebrate and just rest and read for the remainder of the day.
Here’s the wall. I did glue and screw the front wall frame and decided that is PERFECT!
I’ll put the skin on it tomorrow.

56E1C25A-7E19-4D0D-BA1F-D45E2F9B7FC4.jpeg (111.88 KiB) Viewed 3219 times

The paper under the frame is to keep the glue from sticking it to the table. The Kreg instructions don’t even call for glue. I like glue.

[RJ Howell]

[quote="NevadaBlue"]Just for reference, here are pics from the side and top, of the tire area. I can easily make the hole 2” wider if I need to (on the outside edge), but I don’t think it will be necessary.

First interesting how you did the .jpeg and you can't re-use on response. Weird, yet probably good for bandwidth and group costs. You'll have to teach me what you did.

I do like the spacing you created 'around' the tire. Curious how you will 'cage' the top.
A 'huge' issue I see very often in other groups is tire bow-out and the damage done from not being spaced or caged. You seem to have a good space sideways, curious as to how you may protect vertically?

In my ultimate build, my wheels will be semi inbound. Yours are fully. I will run numbers to see if I could get away with a 1/8" steel cage when I get to that point. You are there and very curious what you will do.

Ya, also watching how the door will incorporate into this.. So cool an idea!