2bit build #2 "The Deuce"

[2bits]

Well this build will hopefully end up being the how-to for a cool, low buck and FAST build! All three having equal emphasis! A totally different approach than my last build but it is a means to an end, and gonna be fun to pull it off!

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

Head in the sand? Nah, I just turned the world over and it ran off my shoulders!

[bonnie]

Head in the sand? Nah, I just turned the world over and it ran off my shoulders!

Well said!

[starleen2]

OK I finished the trailer today and turned it over haha. I went ahead and attached the fenders and the tongue just so I wouldn't have loose bolts and parts floating around. I will be pulling the tongue off and adding a couple feet to the length in the front at some point.... nothing special, but here's a pic.

How about adding some angle iron to the sides when you extend the tongue to give you an "A" frame look and add stiffness to the extended tongue?

[campmaster-k]

Looking good Thomas. I hope this thread goes long like the last one.

[aggie79]

Well this build will hopefully end up being the how-to for a cool, low buck and FAST build! All three having equal emphasis! A totally different approach than my last build but it is a means to an end, and gonna be fun to pull it off!

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

Head in the sand? Nah, I just turned the world over and it ran off my shoulders!

Thomas,

With your #2 build you're tempting me to start my #2 build.

(As hard as it is to type with 9 fingers, I guess I'll have to wait until my middle finger is healed before I start making sawdust.)

Take care,
Tom

[2bits]

How about adding some angle iron to the sides when you extend the tongue to give you an "A" frame look and add stiffness to the extended tongue?

I hadn't planned to extend the tongue, just extend the square frame and move the tongue forward to follow the extension, but you got me thinking that the tongue really is pretty short so I just measured it and it is only 2' 6"!



I actually like the clean and classic look of a straight tongue and it is going to be super light (and skinny) so it should not be a problem but it looks like I am now adding an extension after seeing how frighteningly short this one is. Using the stock tongue was starting to become a pain to plan around anyway since it was a fixed length so I had to make sure I placed the cross frame bars in the right location. You make a good point about strength too so I am thinking to just to get a 6'-8' section of some 2x2 1/8" Square tube like I used on my last frame to make a 4' tongue and that will give me the longer length as well as being much stronger, and that will actually be less work than trying to mate angle up to the existing one which would look ramshackled.

I plan on just renewing the tags on my old Teardrop's plates, so I am not concerned with the VIN tag that is on the stock tongue, but I can use the original tongue as the additional front crossbar I will need which will keep the VIN# on the trailer so I will be covered in case the TRAILER PO PO do a spot check!


(cat protected photo)

[2bits]

OK so now I like have the bug to build really bad so I am taking my aggression out in the design stage, since I really need to be focusing my time on my "big" trailer move... one needs it's vices I suppose.

One main reason I wanted to get the little HF trailer built was to get all the measurements that the manual doesn't tell you.

Since I got the smallest trailer available at 3x6 wide and 4' long, my issue is maximizing the length and width. I have the length figured out easy, but the width is a challenge. I do not want to cut the axle so this leaves me with a 3' 6" wide, and i want to use a full 4x8 sheet of plywood for the floor and do a 4 wide but the fenders are in the way.

The wheel to fender travel is a total of 3", 2" of that is above the floorline. So if I just lower the fender to the floorline, 1" of wheel travel is not going to cut it especially since the teardrop is not built yet, so the axle has to be lowered. It will be quick and easy to make spacers to lower the spring mounts 2" so the top of the fender is flush with the bottom of the floor, problem solved with four welds. I was worried about the look being too tall, but we are only talking 2" plus it will make it more accessible to off road camping environments too as well as it having the small 8" wheels, the height will help. This will also leave 2" of leftover fender sticking out on each side which will still give it that "fender" look.

just my mod thought of the day, looking forward not to sawdust, but to some flux welding!

[KCStudly]

Had you thought about doing waht Zach did on #2 and just use 2x4's to space the floor up over the fenders? I think putting a lift on the suspension is a good idea, for the reasons you mention, and is likely the right solution for you. Just offering an alternate solution that you may not have (but probably did) think of.

re: World off your shoulder - Atlas shrugged. (Sure hope everyone took that head in the sand barb in the friendly joking spirit in which it was intended... you know, the whole trailer upsidedown thing.)

[StandUpGuy]

...The wheel to fender travel is a total of 3", 2" of that is above the floorline. So if I just lower the fender to the floorline, 1" of wheel travel is not going to cut it especially since the teardrop is not built yet, so the axle has to be lowered. It will be quick and easy to make spacers to lower the spring mounts 2" so the top of the fender is flush with the bottom of the floor, problem solved with four welds. I was worried about the look being too tall, but we are only talking 2" plus it will make it more accessible to off road camping environments too as well as it having the small 8" wheels, the height will help. This will also leave 2" of leftover fender sticking out on each side which will still give it that "fender" look.

just my mod thought of the day, looking forward not to sawdust, but to some flux welding!

I will be interested in how you approach the added clearance. I was considering this also at one point. Of course my trailer is complete so it will not be as easy to accomplish. That and I do not weld. Sonds like your simple fender protrusion will be similar to mine.




Where will you add? Does your trailer have a different set up than mine? I have a kind of loose floating connection on the back mount of the leaf springs.

[Loader]

Sounds like you have it all figured out Thomas, look forward to watching the build.

[2bits]

Thanks guys, Earl, I *think* I have it figured out! We'll how it works out though!!!

Standup, you have the larger trailer and I have the smaller 3.5 x 4' trailer, and it looks like they have different spring hangars. In this pic it shows them (Ironically as the only item not labelled), but they are bolted onto the axle with 2 bolts each. I plan to put spacers between the frame and hangars.



KC, I am going to give that some thought as I had not thought about that option. At first glance I did not see any benefit, and I still have to "suffer" the extended height with only extra dead weight and dead space. The spring extender would at least provide me a benefit with more off road ability. Another drawback would be that I would have to give up interior height since my aluminum would need to cover the sides all the way to the bottom of the frame so raising the body lowers the roof, but lowering the springs, doesn't affect the sides. The idea that you have just given me to consider is could I use that dead space like Alan and Lianna's teardrop... create a space to slide in a table... So I will ponder this one... hmm now that I think of it... by losing the height by using the 2x4 method the increased height is actually hidden because the trailer frame is not raised... Dang! These are some good ideas!

I am still bound by the quick build factor for this build with so much going on, so i might default to the spring extender since it is a 15 min solution, but this is an interesting option... thanks!

[StandUpGuy]

Thanks guys, Earl, I *think* I have it figured out! We'll how it works out though!!!

Standup, you have the larger trailer and I have the smaller 3.5 x 4' trailer, and it looks like they have different spring hangars. In this pic it shows them (Ironically as the only item not labelled), but they are bolted onto the axle with 2 bolts each. I plan to put spacers between the frame and hangars.

Ahhh! on your trailer, adding spacers will be very easy. Looks like you have a good plan to make your trailer as big as possible on a modest frame.

[2bits]

Thanks guys, Earl, I *think* I have it figured out! We'll how it works out though!!!

Standup, you have the larger trailer and I have the smaller 3.5 x 4' trailer, and it looks like they have different spring hangars. In this pic it shows them (Ironically as the only item not labelled), but they are bolted onto the axle with 2 bolts each. I plan to put spacers between the frame and hangars.

Ahhh! on your trailer, adding spacers will be very easy. Looks like you have a good plan to make your trailer as big as possible on a modest frame.

Yeah, those mounts are pretty straightforward, so even though there is potential for a cool idea from KC, will probably stick with this one in the end. The take-your-time build will be the standy, I am just trying to build as much cool into a 2 mo build as possible at this point. I like this little trailer too because the fenders bolt into the sides and not through a bracket that puts two bolts on top, so I like that. (You obviously don't need to worry about that!

This 3.5 wide 4' long will be a 4x7 when I am done with it.

[2bits]

Thanks guys, Earl, I *think* I have it figured out! We'll how it works out though!!!

Standup, you have the larger trailer and I have the smaller 3.5 x 4' trailer, and it looks like they have different spring hangars. In this pic it shows them (Ironically as the only item not labelled), but they are bolted onto the axle with 2 bolts each. I plan to put spacers between the frame and hangars.

Ahhh! on your trailer, adding spacers will be very easy. Looks like you have a good plan to make your trailer as big as possible on a modest frame.

Yeah, those mounts are pretty straightforward, so even though there is potential for a cool idea from KC, will probably stick with this one in the end. The take-your-time build will be the standy, I am just trying to build as much cool into a 2 mo build as possible at this point. I like this little trailer too because the fenders bolt into the sides and not through a bracket that puts two bolts on top, so I like that. (You obviously don't need to worry about that!

This 3.5 wide 4' long will be a 4x7 when I am done with it.

[KCStudly]

Your reply to my post pretty much nailed it for me. Your original idea of lifting the frame with a spacer sounds to me like it fits your needs better. Quick and easy, more head room.

What little storage space you might be able to hide would be not much more convenient than just stowing what you can where you can. Your intended simple style of camping for a weekend here and there while working on other projects trumps the unnecessary complication of some minimal under floor storage.

I actually feel guilty for distracting you from your predestined path.

S'all good. You are leaps and bounds ahead on thinking this through. Go for it.