Some INFO: chassis currently weighs 200lbs (axle and frame) and I think gvwr is 1200lbs (Does anyone know? I can't find this info anywhere--the vin sticker is not legible at that spot and my registration just shows that it weighs 200lbs). It currently has 8 inch tires, but since I need a new hub and I'd like larger tires, I will replace both hubs and move up to at least 12" tires, though maybe another axle and hubs to get 14 or 15". (I really like the larger tires, but also want to minimize my costs). I want to keep weight down so will laminate and insulate. I'm shooting for 5' wide (with the current axle, this would bring the body to the midline of the tires, with body hanging out ~6' beyond the frame on the sides) by 9' or 10' long with perhaps 5' height. If I do all of those though, I probably should go with a 2000# axle.
I started with this:
Then I used the cross members to lengthen the frame-currently it is just roughly laid out and needs to be cleaned, modified a bit, painted, bolted and then I will also weld it together. I also need to narrow it slightly (~1") so the frame will drop down on the spring hangers. This is because the cross members have a flange on them (it is ~3/16 channel with flange on one side) and the flange needs to drop down on the inside of the spring hanger channel. I have painted a few things black in some of these pictures to highlight various areas of the chassis:
Lapped cross member closeup showing flange:
Lengthened--black cross member--shows slight narrowing needed to drop down on spring channel:
Full side view (lengthened to about 9'2"):
Full front view:
My 4 QUESTIONS:
1) If I use 12" or larger tires, they will be wider than the 8" and I will need to narrow the frame enough so the tire will not hit it. This would mean moving the springs in slightly, but they sit on a pin above the spindle that is welded in the channel that makes up the axle. Is it OK to weld on a new pin and move them in a inch or two or would this increase bearing stress in ways similar to what wheel spacers would do?
2) I'd like to lengthen the tongue about 18" so I can put a tongue box on. Currently the tongue is 38" long forward of the frame, 5' long forward of the 2nd front cross member, the black portion of the Y goes forward of the frame about 10" and the angled sides of the Y are each 3' long. The 2x4 under the tongue shows about where I'd like the new tongue to end. Currently, the tongue is Y shaped (painted black) with a longer channel inside (painted red) that folds by removing a pin. I don't think it would be strong enough if I removed the red tongue and replaced it with longer channel (or should I use tube?) steel, would it? The piece that would go in could be 2.5" o.d. wide. If I did that, would I need to lengthen the legs of the Y (currently angle steel) to bring them up further forward on the tongue or could I just lengthen the tongue? And, should that tongue attach at the cross member 2nd from the front (as it currently does) or should I carry it back to the cross member that is 2nd from the rear? I imagine, I could dispose of the current inner channel portion of the tongue if replaced with something longer.
3) How do I move the springs in a bit to gain additional tire clearance for larger tires? Is it OK to weld a new pin to hold the spring on this axle or would that create bearing stress that would be better dealt with by getting a different axle?
4) The axle is about 40% of the frame length from the rear. Does this look OK? Will it be strong enough or should I move it back a bit further? Just by looks, it seems to me it ought to be closer to the cross member that is 2nd from the rear. Also, I'm still spinning floor plans in my head so don't have any weight distributions, but intend to try to balance the load out as I design it--tongue box to hold battery and such--probably with room for tent(s) for the kids, 20# propane on tongue, water tank under floor above or near axle, sink, stove in galley. Possibly air conditioner centered lower interior rear which would put it close to the axle. Not sure whether I will use a cooler or shoot for a fridge, but I think they would be close in weight loaded and in the galley, so....
THANKS for your help, advice, and guidance--you folks have some great looking Tear Drops!!!
joe
