Guy wrote:When you consider your tongue take a look at the possibility of including a tongue box as part of the structure.
That's pretty much exactly what I've been doing, except the 'tongue box' is all there is. Here's the profile so far:
Guy wrote:Also, remember, this is a design for Mike and not those of us privileged to drive without major potholes in California and England. I do not know the last time you drove here but by spring, in Michigan and thirty other states, we have potholes the size of UK caverns on many of our roads. Therefore the twisting moments will be greater than normal.
This gives me the chance to repeat what I thought was one of the best jokes I've been told. While driving down a road through the dock system in Calcutta (Oops, of course I mean Kolkatta) (India), my colleague said "It gets dark in the bottom of some of these potholes, doesn't it?"
I would hope that the Ultralight might actually be stronger than other tears, not weaker. The true measure of suspension strength is more like a strength-to-weight ratio and the reduction in the weight of the Ultralight is a big benefit. Building heavy is
not necessarily building strong, because the extra weight puts extra load on the structure.
Guy wrote:As an additional thought, could you please give us a lesson on the real and imagined difference between half torsion axles and full ones. You often write that in Europe half torsion are the norm but we on this side seem to have the same aversion to them as we do for all wood construction rather than steel.
I don't think there is a functional difference between half axles and full axles and the choice between them involves loads of other factors. It's just as easy and cheap for you guys to buy full axles, whereas here they're much more expensive - that's just market tradition, I guess.
In the US, I would tend to go for full axles. I go on about half-axles just because people are inclined to say they mustn't be used because they're impossible to line up, or some such thing. To me, this is like a red rag to a bull!
And don't let me give you the idea that all-wood construction is any less unusual over here - it isn't. It certainly isn't an easy way to build a trailer, as it can't be done as simply. It is a just an interesting challenge and I get ornery when given a challenge.
Obsessed, moi? As Miss Piggy would say.
Guy wrote:Whilst I am at it, I wish to add that besides shifting the paradigm from House building we might also consider changing the notion that woody details are merely decoration appliedto the exterior. They should be thought of as more integral to the structural design, sort of , the framing on the outside.
I understand. The one thing is that with woody framing, you are limited to what looks OK and it tends to have to be the same all over - if I want just 2 or 3 vertical frames and some 1x4s above and below the door, and no other framing, it's going to look awful if done on the 'woody side'.
Andrew