Attaching to Frame

[sharp21]

Ive got the Kuffel creek cubby plans.
Is it possible (advisable) to build the unit completely & THEN mount it to the trailer? I have kind of limited indoor workspace...
S.

[madjack]

...Sharp...many have done exactly that...including us...build it, then set/attach it to the frame........

[sharp21]

What about the mounting bolts? Do you leave room in the floor to attach them?
Im wondering if I should just take careful measurements of the trailer I am going to buy & then build before the actual purchase...
S.

[Ira]

Are you going to build on the bolt-together Harbor Freight frame?

If so, I think you can assemble all of it except the tongue (not sure), and that's really not going to take up any more space than just the body.

I myself would be afraid to do it separately, because of my skill level. Having everything squared up right is pretty important, and I wouldn't want to try to get the body on the trailer and see it doesn't match.

[Steve_Cox]

If you're building it, you can do it any way you want. Some only see the trailer as the foundation the house is build upon, others don't.

[sharp21]

Steve that is a great trailer you have there!
Thats a good point about building it without the tongue... Test fitting will probably save some hassle down the road as well..
S.

[Ira]

Sharp--and Steve's a very cool and such a HANDSOME man too! We hung out at a recent gathering in Florida. But that's not his trailer in his avatar--check his album. (Where are you from?)

The other thing about building it off the trailer, and of course EVERYTHING is doable, is what kind of walls you plan to have. For instance, if you're doing sandwich walls (with or without insulation), and you close them up before raising your completet shell onto the frame, I don't know how you get back into those walls to drop the bolts. Know what I mean?

Maybe it's just a matter of pre-drilling those holes, matching the holes to the frame, dropping the bolts in, and then closing the wall. But even in this instance, you still have to have the frame assembled to mark the holes.

I don't know--just throwing out some thoughts. Yeah, guys have built it off the frame here, but I don't know what the advantage to doing it that way is. Experts like Madjack who do it this way probably have that system all down pat and it's no big deal for them, but it would personally scare me.

Finally, the other thing about building on the frame is that you can see exact axle position which will help you best determine door placement and maybe cosmetic elements.

[madjack]

Sharp, I feel dry fitting before assembly is essential to haveing a "professional" looking build............

[sharp21]

Ira
Those are some good points. Being a first timer I think it would be wise to build it right on to the trailer...
I live in Alberta at the foot of the rocky mountains!
S.