Project Siesta

[QueticoBill]

Wayback machine. Amazing.
https://web.archive.org/web/20160530101 ... tear57.htm

[Betonhaus]

Wayback machine. Amazing.
https://web.archive.org/web/20160530101 ... tear57.htm

...does that plan support .5" plywood floors or 1"foam+1/4"plywwod sandwich floors? It might be more stable then i originally thought, but the design of this trailer means the floor doesn't get a lot of structural support from the body, and I'm not able to get full axle torsion bar sets unless I buy a more expensive one rated for higher capacities (so the trailer will bounce too much), so I'd have to modify the design to have a welded crossbeam instead, but it Might be doable. I mostly avoided steel because it seemed i'd have to use tube steel to make things work which is a major rust risk

And finding 5x8" plywood locally is turning out to be surprisingly difficult, looks like If i make a sandwich the best solution is to have a thin overlapping strip down the center and cut a groove in the foam so it fits over it properly.

[QueticoBill]

No I'm not sure that super light frame is well suited to a foamie. I'd have to do the calculations for the stressed skin panel. Probably 1 1/2" or 2" foam and maybe thicker than 1/4" skins - maybe 3/8.

On steel vs aluminium, there was a recent thread here that, iirc, pretty much was pro-steel. I wish could find it.

Discounting the steel vs aluminum, probably the simplest mod for my concerns would be to add two diagonals to brace tongue. From a few feet back of first cross piece to as close to hitch as possible.

[Betonhaus]

I mean i was able to modify the design to support torsion half axles, but that requires welding on a 4x7" plate to screw the axles onto. Most of the load should be in the front half and not the overhang so idk maybe, I'd be drilling holes 6" apart on each bar to screw the floor to.
Going off gut feeling, i added two 2"x.125" straight bars to support the triangle, and extended the ends another 5" and added a 1"x.125" angle bar. Not as simplified, but it should add more support without adding too much weight or cost. Means the unsupported overhang at the end is just under 20"
Readjusted the design so that the flats have overlap coverage, and so that the plate the axles connect to isn't being welded onto an edge, but I'm not sure how to get that angle bar that the axles plate is welded to more secured.

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[Betonhaus]

Hmm, it should be fine. I have a friend who's a good welder and if we prep the edges it's likely to be pretty strong. I'm definitely going to have to pay him in more then pizza tho.

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[Betonhaus]

I think this style of frame should be strong enough for a ~250lb trailer with a max loaded weight of 600lbs... And I figure 1.5" ridgid foam walls would be self supporting at this size but I should really reinforce it with willow wood Framing anyways. I tweaked the design to curve the roof segments a smidge I figured the front surfaces will be reinforced with wood paneling and protected from wind by the car, and those two spots on the back are too small to worry about.

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[Betonhaus]

Ok figured it out. brought it to 1.5" angle iron because it's a lower weight capacity and replaced the solid torsion axle with two angle bars bridged together. Book finally came in the mail which clued me into the somewhat crucial detail that foamie sandwich floors are usually reinforced with 1x6" lumbar. i did have to tweak the tires and door out of the sweet spot for either but it should be fine.

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[Betonhaus]

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After thinking about it some more I have an updated version of my ultralight trailer.

Steel frame with torsion axles, 3/4" plywood for the floor, and the shell is a skeleton of plywood cut into the curves needed with a skin of poor man's fibreglass stretched across it, like a canvas boat. Solid plywood to reinforce weak spots, and soft insulation tucked in between two layers of skin.

The intention is to make it as light and cheap as possible, this should be under 2k, possibly 1k, and weigh maybe 200-400lbs

[Betonhaus]

Think I have a floor frame finalized.

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