Tentative name for the TD will be the NuDrop (the original frame is a 1990 NuWay trailer, 4x8 folding; widened with new axle due to my destruction of 1 hub on the original axle). Any thoughts on the possible name? I think I like it. Maybe the NuTear?
Most of the work this afternoon was supervised; here's one of the supervisors:
After cleaning the original spring hangers, my son (who helped all day) and I notched them:
The spring perches on the axle would put the TD wall too close to where the 14" tire sidewall would be (marked with blue tape; that factory weld on the spring perch had very little penetration to it, a light grind on the outer side--and a heavier grind inside--and a smack with hammer took it right off; must have been built on a Friday):
Perches were ground off and moved inboard about 1" and since I haven't welded much for a long time, I made a root pass which I then ground down to ensure there was no slag inclusion:
Then a 2nd pass on top of that:
Then a first coat of primer to protect them:
Test fitting looks like I'll have about 1.75" - 2" between sidewall and TD wall (No, I don't plan on using OSB):
The side rails were joined together by nesting them inside one of the original cross members and I cut the 2x2 tube with an angle grinder and cut off wheel:
everything was clamped together:
Checked for square, corner to corner:
and it is out by less than 1/16"
So, I tacked everything together:
And another (etc.):
Almost all tacked:
One more piece (2x2 angle), bent and tacked:
Supper time and then back at it to finish for today. It's all tacked together, though I'll need to cut and fit the angle a bit more at the tongue (hopefully next weekend) before moving forward. I'm glad I took bobhenry's suggestion on adding bracing.
The frame is 58" x 9' long--there will be about 8" of TD hanging over the 4' tongue and a few inches behind to make it 10' long. The axle hangers are currently tacked on temporarily to put the axle at about 46" from where the rear of the TD will be, or about 40" from rear of frame until I can calculate exactly where I want to put the axle:
Side view:
joe
