Ancient Bee-Line chassis questions

[scarysharkface]

I haven't had time to do much with this project lately, and I'm still not certain how I want to configure it.

The motorcycles weigh ~260 lbs. per. Do I want to put one on each end? Should I just put the bikes up front and the living space behind? Vice versa?

If time allows this weekend I'll install lights and have the frame inspected by the police so I can get a plate for it. I don't want to spend too much time/effort/cash on it until I know I can register it!

After I get it plated (or have the assurance that I can do so), then I suppose the next step is to deck and seal it. At that point I can at least play around with the bike loading configuration and a mockup cabin.

John

[Carter]

Some people here express concern using treated lumber for health reasons (the stuff they use to treat it is not the best for you) Having said that my deck is 3/4 treated plywood. Didn't know about the concerns when I built it. It's 6 years old and I'm sure it's done gassing out. After many vices for too many years I have a hard time worrying about Killer Plywood. I put no additional sealer on it and it still looks like new underneath

Jim

[scarysharkface]

I don't know much about treated plywood.

I figured I would buy good 3/4" plywood and seal it with Olympic or some similar sealer, then do bedliner over that, top and bottom. Is this a good idea or a bad idea?

John

[Ageless]

Olympic is oil based and the bedliner may not adhere. I use Thompson's latex stain (contains WaterSeal)

[scarysharkface]

Ah! Okay, good. I wondered about that. Thank you!

[cooterdude]

your hitch should have a hole drilled through it that accepts a barrel bolt lock
i don't know if anyone has tried it but you can buy inexpensive lift blocks at most auto parts stores and a good set of 14" at tires would get you out of the weeds

also i like the idea of one bike front one in the rear you could weld a receiver hitch on back there and use your bike carrier back there
unhook it at the campsite and stow it on the jeep

[scarysharkface]

After much distraction and other busy stuff (trip to Newfoundland, life, etcetera) I had some time to work on it a bit this evening.

I installed LED lights and tentatively a fold-away jack (haven't settled on a final location for it).

Where is a good, inexpensive source for 4-bolt, 4.25" stud-to-stud on center 13" plain steel rims? I've got three, but they're nasty and one of them is bent. I'd like to just start somewhat clean. I suppose the junkyard is as good a place to start as anywhere, but I don't really have the inclination to crawl through a snake-infested junkyard looking for a matched pair..

Thoughts?

Thanks,
John

[scarysharkface]

I bit the bullet today and bought tires and stems for the rims that are on it. I hope they're not too cruddy and that most of the ick I'm seeing is dirt.

John

[scarysharkface]

I am newly reminded how much fun it is to unmount and mount automobile tires using motorcycle tools.

I finally just cut the old tires to pieces to get them off the rims, as they were fully-adhered to each other. A handheld grinder works wonders for cutting the bead, so it can be peeled-away with some effort.

Mounting the new tires (after a quick wire-brushing of the interior of the rims) was a piece of cake.

I think I'm about ready to put a deck on it. My short-term plan is to just make it a flatbed for hauling three motorcycles to Wisconsin and back in a month, after which I'll begin work on living quarters at the mid-point of the trailer (over the wheels with some storage between).

John

[Cliffmeister2000]

I am newly reminded how much fun it is to unmount and mount automobile tires using motorcycle tools.

I finally just cut the old tires to pieces to get them off the rims, as they were fully-adhered to each other. A handheld grinder works wonders for cutting the bead, so it can be peeled-away with some effort.

Mounting the new tires (after a quick wire-brushing of the interior of the rims) was a piece of cake.

John

John, are you going to balance your wheels? I know lots of people don't on utility trailers, but it seems important to me if you are planning trips of any length.

Out here, it's pretty much $15 a wheel mounted and balanced. I've never priced balancing alone.

[scarysharkface]

I figure I will see if it needs it (which it probably will) and if so I'll either do the Slime thing or add DynaBeads (which work very well on my motorcycles).

Today I bought a "modern" hitch, with the intent of disassembling it and migrating the locking-mechanism parts over to the hitch that is presently on the trailer.

John

[scarysharkface]

Okay. Looking at what I've got and spending some quality time with The Google, apparently the "Atwood" coupler is still viable and mine works as though relatively new.

This is essentially it:
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/chassis-com ... uplers.asp

Is anyone aware of a way to lock it to the ball?

Thanks

[azmotoman]

MOTORCYCLE TOOLS? Well, welcome to MY world!

This scared me!!!!!!!!! The metal looked DEAD when you first got it, but it looks as if you have been able to revive the frame. That is amazing.

It looks as if you have a viable starting point and should be well on your way.

Good luck.

[rladams39]

Okay. Looking at what I've got and spending some quality time with The Google, apparently the "Atwood" coupler is still viable and mine works as though relatively new.

This is essentially it:
http://www.atwoodmobile.com/chassis-com ... uplers.asp

Is anyone aware of a way to lock it to the ball?

Thanks

Can you get a good closeup side view pic of your coupler in both the open and closed position, then maybe we can come up with something...


Or you could rebuild the coupler and it will have a lock hole in the new parts, Like this one.
http://www.theoempartsstore.com/store/product.php?productid=18851&cat=0&page=1
Or this one
http://www.tractorsupply.com/trailers-towing/towing-systems/towing-couplers/towing-coupler-accessories-parts/carry-on-trailer-trade-coupler-repair-kit-2-in--1750064

[rladams39]

I went out and looked at my trailer it has the same type coupler on it. see if there is a hole on the passengers side like this. you might have just overlooked it. if there is all you have to do is put a pin or padlock through it to lock the trailer.