My Frame is Done!

[cablerunners]

Hi All,

Well, I got the Frame Done!

I'm hoping to get some temp lights on it and take the trailer out to see how it pulls and to get the 5 by 8 plywood for the deck tomorrow!

-phil

[SkipperSue]

Looks nice Phil! What size tires are on there?

[bledsoe3]

Phil, that looks great! I hope it's strong enough.

[stjohn]

really nice work

[cablerunners]

Thanks Guys!

Right now my main concern is that it doesn't fishtale down the road

The tires are 185 75 14.

The wheels came with center caps that I liked, but they don't fit with the hub dust covers on...

I may try baby moons if I can find some that fit.

-phil

[Nitetimes]

You could always find a punch or hole saw just a bit bigger than your dust cap and punch a hole in the hub cap so the dust cap can stick thru.

[Joanne]

Nice looking trailer Phil! I'm betting it pulls just fine. If it's like mine it bounced a lot until I got the cabin on it. The weight helps load the suspension the way it's designed to be.

Joanne

[cablerunners]

On my way to the lumber yard, a lady rearended my trailer while waiting at a light! It was a good bump. Enough to make me hollar "What the @#$!" Anyhow, no damage done... geeze.

It towed like a champ! Hardly knew it was back there!

Rich, I owe you a beer! Take a look a the cut out hub cap. A great idea you had there. Thanks!

-phil

[mikeschn]

Yea, that was a good idea... That hubcap looks sharp with the cutout.

Mike...

[Nitetimes]

Rich, I owe you a beer! Take a look a the cut out hub cap. A great idea you had there. Thanks!

-phil

Glad it worked for you. Nice job on the cutout too. Looks like it was made that way.




.

[doug hodder]

No kiddin'...that appears to be factory!!! Good idea Rich and good execution on it Phil!!...Doug

[SkipperSue]

That hubcap shore is purtty!

[cuyeda]

Phil nice job on the trailer! It's looks so clean, it must be a custom trailer. Did you build it yourself, or is it a kit? I don't see any springs in the picture, so it must be a torsion axle. Judging from the 5 x8 wood loaded on it, is it a 5 x 8 finished trailer dimension? What design shape/dimension will you build on it?

Sorry for all the frame questions. I look forward to the frame build guidelines someone is puttin' together for the group. Was that Doug Hodder working on the frame manual?

I just hooked up 220v in the garage for the welder! Pictures like yours, just makes me more anxious to get started.

cliff

[cablerunners]

Hi All,

Thanks! I am happy how the Hubcap turned out. I happened to have a holepunch "knockout" set and one size was really close to the dust cap diameter. I also had a grinding stone for a drill that was a tad bigger and there you have it.

Hi Cuyeda,

Thanks! The trailer is made from scratch.

I was going to have a trailer builder build me one, but he went AOL after giving me a great price. (hmmm under bid?)

I got the steel from a steel yard and they cut the 45 degree angles and the lengths I needed. I went there set on 2x2 tube for the frame, but the yard worker talked me into 3" channel instead. His reason was that there is about the same amout of steel in both but the 3" channel is "stiffer" down the length and less likely to refect road vibrations along the length... (Hope I relayed that okay).

The tongue is 2.5 x 2.5 tube steel. All pieces are 1/8" thick.

Anyhow, I rented an ARC welder for $27.50 for a day and welded up most the frame that day. I also rented an angle grinder $17.50 a day and a long extension cord for the ARC welder for $15.00 a day (all said and done it cost me $60.00 in rental). Later, I decided to buy a used ARC welder for $80.00 since I had more welding to do.

You're right it is a torsion axle at 45 degrees. Probably the only thing I'd do different so far, it get a 22.5 degree axle. The trailer would sit a bit lower then. I think the hight of ours is fine though.

Cost: Steel $220.00; Axle $185.00; Wheels and Tires $100.00; Coupler, Jack and Chains $80.00; temp Lighting $20.00 = $605.00
This is not counting rental and other needed goodies.

-phil

[cuyeda]

Probably not appropriate for this thread, but a good subject for a new thread. It is an interesting subject regarding the use of channel vs. tube. After Phil's comments about less road vibration, it stirs my curiosity.

I can think of other advantages using channel steel. You can tuck wiring harnesses into the frame easier. The possibilities of building recessed tail lights into the frame, depending on which direction you face the channel.

Phil-
Thanks for your build process notes. It gives me an idea of general costs. I was reading the manual for my new dual mig wire welder. Hopefully, I will learn to lay a good bead down.