Donor trailer reconfig question #2

[hankyknot]

Ok so my donor trailer is now naked

the starting dimensions are as shown below

Starting dimensions

Starting dimensions.JPG (20.41 KiB) Viewed 736 times

My question is what do I need to add in the way of metalwork, if anything, to the trailer?

I'm planning to have the trailer hidden if that makes any difference.

[emiller]

Do you mean you want to hide the trailer chassis so you dont see it.

[hankyknot]

Yes thats what I'd like to end up with

[KCStudly]

Just a few things that come to mind, I have some of these things, but not all;
1. Body mounting tabs, unless you plan on screwing down into the frame tubes (I prefer to keep my frame tubes sealed).
2. Method to attach hitch safety chains (I welded on some round bar loops threaded through the chain ends before welding).
3. Axle mounting provisions (spring hangers & shackle mounts, or torsion axle mounting plates).
4. Tongue jack mounting plate.
5. Rear stabilizer jack mounts (some people like to have them at all 4 corners).
6. Tongue box and/or battery box mounting provisions (mine are the same style tabs as my body mounts).
7. Shock absorber mounts (optional).
8. Bump stop mounts (optional).
9. Inside drop down storage box or foot well cradle (optional).
10. Water tank mounting provisions (optional).
11. Propane tank and/or gas line mounting provisions (optional).
12. Under body storage provisions (optional... some guys hang capped PVC pipe to use for tent poles, fishing rods, etc., others have hinged drop down boxes or drawers).
13. Wire run mounting provisions (if you plan on running your trailer light wiring underneath, it would be better to weld some small hex bolts on heads first to use as studs, than to drill and tap holes, then use Adel style clamps or zip ties with bolt hole provision).

Like I said, just a few ideas.
Good luck.

[hankyknot]

I'll try and answer these in the order they were raised, thanks for the list

1. The frame has three uprights each side that help the original wood sides in place that are pretty much inline with each cross member. The can be cut and folded over to give me three body mounting tabs on each side. I was thinking of running a 2x4 skirt around the frame, insulating the voids, and then sandwiching the frame with glued and screwed plywood, weatherproofing the underside then attaching my sidewalls to the skirt.
2. safety chains are already in place as is the front wheel thingy
3. springs etc already in place too although I am planning to relocate the axle from hanging beneath the spring to sitting inside the spring
4. already there too
5. need to get these sorted out in such a way they do not compromise the integrity of the sealed underside. If I'm sandwiching the frame can I simply bolt the jacks onto the frame and silicone the heck out of the bolt holes? (bearing in mind they will be coming through the plywood and the holes will be drilled to fit)
6. not got as far as the tongue box yet, that will most likely be a commercial purchase that can be mounted after the trailer is built, yes/no?
7 & 8 Not necessary I don't think
9 & 10. I'd like to store as much water as is realistically and safely possible, but wanted to get a handle on balance points before I made a decision about this. I was thinking about having a dropped container for water but it gets real cold up here so maybe that would be better in the galley compartment rather than strung underneath.
11 & 12. was thinking, if I did run propane, I would run PVC pipes under the trailer and have my gas lines in the pipes for extra protection rather than run them inside the sub-floor or just running them under the trailer.
13. Same as above but in a separate run to the gas line.

Hopefully this makes sense, please let me know if you see any major errors in my thinking.

[KCStudly]

After posting my reply I saw that you had separate, but related posts. I had worked only based on what I saw in your OP here, so...maybe it's time to pull it all together and start a build thread? Or did I miss it? That way when you have questions that are appropriate for these specialty forums you can at least link them together so that we can all see the bigger picture, so to speak, putting your whole effort into context. Just a friendly suggestion.

I'm not a big fan of sandwiching the trailer frame between wood. Seems to me that it will be harder to seal that way, problems will be harder to spot early, and future mods may be unnecessarily complicated. I'm going offroad though, so my motives may be different from yours.

[RandyG]

I was thinking of sandwiching my frame for structural and corrosion reasons, but I don't think I would use wood on the bottom. I will probably use diamond plate Al. since I can get it easy and cheap, and seal the hell out of it. And KC has brought up one of my fears with doing this... FUTURE MODS, I know after one or two seasons I will want to add something and a sealed plate will make it a hassle.

[hankyknot]

After posting my reply I saw that you had separate, but related posts. I had worked only based on what I saw in your OP here, so...maybe it's time to pull it all together and start a build thread? Or did I miss it? That way when you have questions that are appropriate for these specialty forums you can at least link them together so that we can all see the bigger picture, so to speak, putting your whole effort into context. Just a friendly suggestion.

I'm not a big fan of sandwiching the trailer frame between wood. Seems to me that it will be harder to seal that way, problems will be harder to spot early, and future mods may be unnecessarily complicated. I'm going offroad though, so my motives may be different from yours.

Never thought about a build thread before but sounds like a good idea, will do that and then post links to it from here and links here to it