Tiny Cargo trailer conversion...???

[GPW]

Now I don't know about Youze' guys , but it's been too COLD here to do any outdoor work ... Got my extra piece of square steel tubing to do the axle widening ... Been soaking the U bolts with WD-40 .. Waiting for some "warmer" weather ... BRRRR!!!!!
Getting ready to do the insulation ... only problem is the inner ply walls/ceiling are attached with SS pop rivets ... Won't be any fun drilling all those out ... grrrr!!! Hopefully we can find some sheet metal screws to replace the rivets ... The ribs are square steel tubing and must be already drilled for the rivets ... While the ply is down , I'm going to paint and seal it thoroughly , both sides and end grain... The idea being to just screw it back up in the same holes ... hopefully ...

Gotta' warm up sooner or later ... Waiting !!!

[d30gaijin]

Now I don't know about Youze' guys , but it's been too COLD here to do any outdoor work ... Got my extra piece of square steel tubing to do the axle widening ... Been soaking the U bolts with WD-40 .. Waiting for some "warmer" weather ... BRRRR!!!!!
Getting ready to do the insulation ... only problem is the inner ply walls/ceiling are attached with SS pop rivets ... Won't be any fun drilling all those out ... grrrr!!! Hopefully we can find some sheet metal screws to replace the rivets ... The ribs are square steel tubing and must be already drilled for the rivets ... While the ply is down , I'm going to paint and seal it thoroughly , both sides and end grain... The idea being to just screw it back up in the same holes ... hopefully ...

Gotta' warm up sooner or later ... Waiting !!!

Same here. It's 33 degrees out right now at noontime and tonight will get down into the low 20's to upper teens. Week before last we got 7" of new snow over night and then it rained for nearly a week straight. Not very encouraging for CT work. I haven't even opened the door on mine for about three weeks.

Don

[GPW]

Me too!!! ... maybe have to wait a while for better weather , Great to know the CT will do fine just sitting out in the weather..

[dudleydoright]

aw come on and put on your snowsuit, boots, earmuffs and mittens, and lets go out and play in the snow!

[pete42]

Right from one southwest ohioan to another I'm tired of this cold.
I'm too old to play and the neighbor's kids remind me every night as they play fox and geese.

[Prem]

Pete,

So if you don't like the cold (I don't either), why don't you move or at least winter in Arizona in a trailer?

Prem

[d30gaijin]

GPW,

Dude,

Check this video out. I don't mean to go off topic on your thread but hey, it is winter and not a lot of activity going on with our builds so it seemed appropriate since you're a musician and your CT will serve as an instrument hauler for musicians, at least part time. I am a long time Jackson Browne fan, been one since 1972 and this vid (live at Glastonbury, UK June of 2010) is one of the best of him I have ever seen, especially since he is doing one my favorite songs. Please pardon my indulgence on your thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SUSIV3ZNZI

When you pull up the vid do yourself a favor and zoom it to full size because the clarity is incredible.

Don

[GPW]

Wow!!! Great Video ... !!! Thanks Don !!! Always was a JB fan !!!

[pete42]

Pete,

So if you don't like the cold (I don't either), why don't you move or at least winter in Arizona in a trailer?

Prem

Altho you don't need to know my reasons since you ask:
I have too many people that I need to take care of. one with cancer who was given only 3 months to live I visit with her daily.
another with a cronic condition that requires a 125 mile round trip for treatment every week only two places in ohio that offer the treatment she needs.
I feel an obligation to them this isn't the time to only think of myself.
It is easy to ask why someone doesn't do a particular thing until you understand their situation
if you don't have anything or you don't care about something that would keep you home then more power to you
I'm not made to turn my back on loved ones.
so please don't take this the wrong way just try to understand.

[Ctcanuck]

GPW,

Dude,

Check this video out. I don't mean to go off topic on your thread but hey, it is winter and not a lot of activity going on with our builds so it seemed appropriate since you're a musician and your CT will serve as an instrument hauler for musicians, at least part time. I am a long time Jackson Browne fan, been one since 1972 and this vid (live at Glastonbury, UK June of 2010) is one of the best of him I have ever seen, especially since he is doing one my favorite songs. Please pardon my indulgence on your thread: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SUSIV3ZNZI

When you pull up the vid do yourself a favor and zoom it to full size because the clarity is incredible.

Don

That was a good find. Thanks for sharing!

[GPW]

With all this time to think and experiment , I've felt the need to try waterless dishwashing ... There's no room in my tiny CT for a sink ,or water storage for cleaning ...
But there IS room for a portable sink (bucket ) that can hold a roll of paper towels and a large spray bottle filled with common household Vinegar (cheap)

Experiments in the kitchen have shown a quick wipe with a paper towel and a squirt of Vinegar really cleans most dishes , easily and without water ... Vinegar kills germs too ... and I can't tell the difference between soap and water cleaned and Vinegar /paper cleaned ... Plus the Vinegar and newspaper is great for cleaning windows ,floors and surfaces ... No gray water to deal with ...
(disclaimer) ... I've Not tried this on the dreaded fried chicken grease... not on my diet ..

If water is available , then with a bucket , I have that option ... Without , i can merely store the used paper towels in a plastic garbage bag until it can be properly disposed of ... (probably Not a good idea in Bear country ???)

[GPW]

Gosh , I'm so inspired to get back to the little CT conversion ... Got all the stuff, but the weather has been so "unfriendly" (if it's not freezing , it's raining ) grrrrrrr!!! Hope it warms up soon !!! I've got BIG plans for this Tiny CT... Working on the shelving unit ... only thing I can do indoors ... At least it's not snowing ... yet ???

Gotta' get that axle fixed , lengthened ... right off the bat ... been soaking the old bolts in WD40 , once a week for a while ... looking "saturated" now , just haven't tested it , see if they break loose easily ... In my previous experiences with these U bolts , They were all a pretty TIGHT fit to begin with ... even the new ones...

[GPW]

Finally , the weather has become decent (mid 70's) Time to deal with my Tiny CT... The axle fix, then the insulation ... Although I'm not looking forward to drilling out all those SS rivets , It's gotta be done !!! ... I can save the paneling , but thinking sheet metal screws are the way to re-attach it... No way around it , I've Gotta' have insulation ... here .. Once I get that done , I can paint decorate the inside .... and while re-decorating My Jayco (removing the dinette) I now have some cushions that might fit perfectly in the TTC ... Re purposing ... and I have enough that I can double them up for comfort...

[GPW]

Thinking about that axle/ tire rubbing thing ... it would now seem to be a better idea to just replace my axle , rather than get it lengthened... Axles , complete , seem to be fairly reasonable , and affords me the opportunity to update to larger tires and 5 lug wheels ... I now have rusting 12" wheels ,old tires ,broken lugs ... all that's gotta' be replaced anyway ... Might as well start Fresh huh?? Just looking at it , the tires do look a bit small for this CT... as I have it now ...

[bdosborn]

A quick search shows that a new axle is ~ $100. I'd start fresh with a brand new axle.


2000# axle

Bruce