hello from Nor Calif.

[theshoer]

Hello everybody

My name is Tom and here is a little back round about me. I am a 25 years Journeyman Carpenter and am also a Horseshoer of 20 years. My step Dad is a retired Automotive Machinist, I've helped him in his shop on and off for the last 40 years till he retired about 5 years ago. I have mad skills when it comes to building and what I can't do I know somebody who can, sorry a little bragging there.

What I am looking for in a Standy, ya I can't do TD to many injuries that don't let be bend to get in one any more. I do Cowboy Action Shooting, for those who don't know what that is, it is a shooting competition using gun from the 1880 (or replicas) in old west attire. I need to keep the weight down because the tow vehicle will be a '38 GMC 1/2 ton truck with an updated drive train so power and brakes are not a problem just the weight. So as you can see I like old trucks and the old west so I want something that look like it belongs behind my truck or something from the old west. I have thought about a sheepherders wagon ( didn't like the canvas), caboose( think the weight might be to much), also thought about some kind of hi lo type of trailer. Oh ya I have a tandem axle 2 horse trailer that is going to be the donor trailer

[M C Toyer]

Welcome -

When I was a kid I spent a summer at my grandfather's in Idaho sleeping in an old shepherd's wagon. I really like the look and and have seen many with solid roofs. There are several gypsy wagon build threads here that are similar.

Is your horse trailer enclosed, semi enclosed? Does it have a round nose" I'm surprised I have not seen one used like a cargo trailer camper conversion. Around here many of the extended horse trailers have changing rooms / apartments that rival Airstreams and Class A Motor Homes in finish and equipment. Maybe too fancy for your purposes but the concept is the same - you just woundn't have horses in the back.

Here's an old favorite of mine, a ca 1937 Curtiss Aerocar. I've seen them with variety of tow vehicles, both cars and trucks, and one was used for many years by a veteran rodeo cowboy.



Just winging it here - I'm sure there will be many other suggestions.

M C
Texas

[michaelwpayton]

Welcome,

How about a stagecoach look...

[S. Heisley]

Welcome,

How about a stagecoach look...

Or, one with an old-time jail or saloon look? The jail might be pretty easy to do; and, it would be fun if you wore a badge. You could threaten to throw your friends in!

[Vedette]

Saw a cute Bath house here a month ago.
But how about a cook house??
Love your chice of TV.
Mine is a 46 M Series Studebaker.
Check out my Build journal on the link below.

[bc toys]

welcome to site sounds like there is some good ideals here for you well good luck with what ever you decide

[theshoer]

Thanks for the reply's and a big thank you for the suggestion

The Horse Trailer is enclosed with a round nose but the metal is so rusted it would cost me more in time and money to fix then to just strip it and start from scratch. The frame is good and it sits low to the ground, Probably half as high as most of the TD I have seen.

The Stage Coach idea is good and I have plans for one, but I think there would be a weight issue by the time I got it done.

I like the idea of a jail or saloon, after the shooting is done for the day and all guns cleaned and put away, adult beverages are brought out so if I had a saloon motiff I am afraid I would never get anyone to go away

[theshoer]

Here's an old favorite of mine, a ca 1937 Curtis Aerocar. I've seen them with variety of tow vehicles, both cars and trucks, and one was used for many years by a veteran rodeo cowboy.



Just winging it here - I'm sure there will be many other suggestions.

M C
Texas

After looking at this pic 1/2 dozen time, this has sparked ideas. A friend of mine that I shoot with is a crane mechanics and certified welder, hmm 5th wheel/gooseneck

[Lazybones]

Welcome! Where in Nor Cal are you exactly. I live in willits.

[theshoer]

I am in Rohnert Park, the wife and I use to live up your way 21 years ago

[M C Toyer]

After looking at this pic 1/2 dozen time, this has sparked ideas. A friend of mine that I shoot with is a crane mechanics and certified welder, hmm 5th wheel/gooseneck

The Curtiss Aerocars were all hand-made so you will find variations in the surviving models. If you do a GOOGLE search you can find more examples and details on the interior layouts.

As I recall they were relatively light-weight with a cable tensioned hardwood frame but that needed a lot of maintenance. It was probably what permitted the wheels to be placed so far to the rear.

The fifth-wheel for the tow vehicles was fashioned from an airplane tire and wheel.

I note you are an Army Vet - Thank you for your service.

M C

[M C Toyer]

If you are not committed to a trailer here's something else to think about:



Haven't quite figured the motif here: gypsy, hippie, is that the space shuttle painted on the front?

For a more western look I've got an old 3/4 ton truck sitting out back plus a pile of barn siding and some tin roofing - one of these days . . . . .

[theshoer]

After looking at this pic 1/2 dozen time, this has sparked ideas. A friend of mine that I shoot with is a crane mechanics and certified welder, hmm 5th wheel/gooseneck

The Curtiss Aerocars were all hand-made so you will find variations in the surviving models. If you do a GOOGLE search you can find more examples and details on the interior layouts.

As I recall they were relatively light-weight with a cable tensioned hardwood frame but that needed a lot of maintenance. It was probably what permitted the wheels to be placed so far to the rear.

The fifth-wheel for the tow vehicles was fashioned from an airplane tire and wheel.

I note you are an Army Vet - Thank you for your service. I am humbled by your thanks, but it is 3 of my sons who are United States Marines with multiple tours of Iraq and Afgan. your thanks should go to

M C

I looked at a couple of videos on youtube and other images from google search so I am thinking now going with something like the Curtiss

[theshoer]

If you are not committed to a trailer here's something else to think about:



Haven't quite figured the motif here: gypsy, hippie, is that the space shuttle painted on the front?

For a more western look I've got an old 3/4 ton truck sitting out back plus a pile of barn siding and some tin roofing - one of these days . . . . .

That's a possibility if I had a 1 ton but the truck I have is multi purpose