[davegonz]

They look good man. Was kidding about the clear coat.

[REZARF]

Originally Posted by Box Rocket

Drew, I've been meaning to ask you about the floor in your trailer. I'm thinking of just welding in my extra sheet of 16ga. but I'm worried it might be very loud. How is yours working out?

Sorry to be so late in replying bud, but fwiw, my floor isn't loud at all. Once you have some gear in there you'll never notice it.

Looking great Adam, keep it up!

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by REZARF

Sorry to be so late in replying bud, but fwiw, my floor isn't loud at all. Once you have some gear in there you'll never notice it.

Looking great Adam, keep it up!

Thanks for the prompt response Good thing you didn't tell me it's louder than hell and that I'd regret having welded it in place.

I'm going to try to wipe it all down with acetone this weekend and get a coat of primer on it. Then I'm on hold until I can get some Raptor liner. Planning on lining inside the tub and up and over the top rail, as well as the underside of the tub and the fenders. Hopefully there is enough liner in the Raptor kit to do all of that.

[sseaman]

The trailer is coming along nicely Adam.

[OlympiaFJ60]

Very nice build. What did you use to support the floor around the edges? Is it just stitched to the frame or does it overlap a little?

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by OlympiaFJ60

Very nice build. What did you use to support the floor around the edges? Is it just stitched to the frame or does it overlap a little?

There is not a significant overlap but it does overlap the edge of the frame slightly. The main support for the floor comes from the frame crossmembers. The edges are stitch welded (on the underside) with a 2-3" bead every 4-5". I am thinking of adding a couple peices of 1' flat stock welded in vertically (on edge) running front to back between the center and rear frame crossmembers to support those sections of the floor a bit more but it's probably unnecessary. I just have a tendency to overbuild. For my uses this frame etc is WAY more heavy duty than I really need. I mean seriously, worst case I'll have 500 lb of camping gear in the thing. And most of the time no where close to that much. But it's solid enough that if the need arises where I NEED to carry more, then there isn't concern about whether the trailer can handle it.

[Box Rocket]

I was hoping to get a coat of primer on it this weekend but I may be getting ahead of myself. I still need to weld in the captured nuts for the drop in plywood sides, maybe add a few more floor braces, weld on the safety chains. Reinforce the tongue opening.

On top of that, the weather has changed from mid 60's earlier this week to high 30s. So it's gonna be too cold in the garage to really put paint down this weekend. Oh well.

[bmb38]

That's a real nice looking trailer. What do you suppose it's going to cost you to get to the finished product? I've been thinking of doing something similar as I'm in the same position with 4 boys...

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by bmb38

That's a real nice looking trailer. What do you suppose it's going to cost you to get to the finished product? I've been thinking of doing something similar as I'm in the same position with 4 boys...

I will probably have about $1500 into the trailer when it's all wrapped up. That's not including any cost of gear etc, but just the trailer. I think it could be done for less if you could get deals on materials or hand a few things on hand already. My biggest cost was steel and the hitch. Moving forward the biggest cost could be having it Line-ex'd if I decide to have it done professionally. If I decide to try some DIY bedliner then it won't be too bad.

I've tried to stay on a pretty tight (cheap) budget with this thing so it could have easily cost more. I mean I already had the tires that I got for free. I stayed with cheapo leaf springs instead of going with trailing arms and air bags. I could have paid to have all the sheet metal bent or cut, but I tackled it all myself with my cutting wheel. I could have spent more on hinges and latches but I'ke kept those pretty simple too.

[Box Rocket]

I got a few things done yesterday (sorry no pics). I was hopng to do more but my neighbor saw me in the garage and stopped to chat. That quickly ate up a couple hours. Then a friend called and needed an extra set of hands moving a TV. But I did get the captured nuts welded in on the inside of the tub for my plywood sides. I also got the reinforcement all welded up at the end of the tongue. I didn't have tube to slide over but I had some 3/16 plate that I cut and welded on. Turned out well. Then I used some of my left over 1x3 that I used for the tub rail and made some little steps at the front and back edges of the fenders. ALso welded a little tab on the steps to bolt the outside of the fenders to. Fenders are rock solid now and I can stand on them without any flexing.

[Exiled]

Originally Posted by Box Rocket

I got a few things done yesterday (sorry no pics). I was hopng to do more but my neighbor saw me in the garage and stopped to chat. That quickly ate up a couple hours. Then a friend called and needed an extra set of hands moving a TV. But I did get the captured nuts welded in on the inside of the tub for my plywood sides. I also got the reinforcement all welded up at the end of the tongue. I didn't have tube to slide over but I had some 3/16 plate that I cut and welded on. Turned out well. Then I used some of my left over 1x3 that I used for the tub rail and made some little steps at the front and back edges of the fenders. ALso welded a little tab on the steps to bolt the outside of the fenders to. Fenders are rock solid now and I can stand on them without any flexing.

That's it? Some lame good samaritan story about moving a TV and we don't get any pictures?!

Looks great, Adam, I am impressed with your fabrication skills and more importantly, your ability to stay true to course and keep it within budget and within plans. I have the unfortunate tendency to get carried away and then end up not finishing stuff.

Can't wait to see it painted!

[Box Rocket]

Gosh, Henry sending me on a guilt trip. I had to go snap a couple pics.

reinforced tongue...


captured nuts, there's one in each of the tub uprights so I can bolt in my plywood sides.


Steps and fender tabs. Nothing fancy but enough for an adequate step and really holds the fender solid.


trailer tucked into the corner nook in the garage. You can see both fender steps and the amount of tire still exposed with these particular fenders.

[GLTHFJ60]

Those steps look great! They're not too big but are definitely functional.

[Exiled]

Awesome, I really like the idea of the plywood to keep the trailer more utilitarian. Question, can you balance the trailer on its "butt"? Mine sits in one of my garage bays, resting against the wall, and I could park a small car against it if I needed to (that space is occupied by a myriad bikes, scooters, wagons, helmets, balls, lacrosse sticks, etc...)!

Pictures are much appreciated, BTW!

[Exiled]

Adam, these fender flares (which others have recommended) might solve the open fenders:

Tumblwd : photos : Newest M100 pics- powered by SmugMug

[OlympiaFJ60]

Originally Posted by Exiled

Adam, these fender flares (which others have recommended) might solve the open fenders:

Tumblwd : photos : Newest M100 pics- powered by SmugMug

Henry, any links to those fenders, either source or discussion? They fill it out well.

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by Exiled

Awesome, I really like the idea of the plywood to keep the trailer more utilitarian. Question, can you balance the trailer on its "butt"? Mine sits in one of my garage bays, resting against the wall, and I could park a small car against it if I needed to (that space is occupied by a myriad bikes, scooters, wagons, helmets, balls, lacrosse sticks, etc...)!

Pictures are much appreciated, BTW!

Henry, do you mean all the way up on the tailgate, or just tilted all the way back with the tongue up? I haven't actually tried it all the way up on the tailgate. Right now it probably wouldn't as my gate latches stick out a little and wouldn't let it lean all the way flat against the tailgate. Maybe I'll have to work on that.

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by Exiled

Adam, these fender flares (which others have recommended) might solve the open fenders:

Tumblwd : photos : Newest M100 pics- powered by SmugMug

Yeah those look great. I assume those are CJ flares. If so I just need to confirm if the radius is the same on my fenders. If it is I think it will cover the tires perfectly.

[Box Rocket]

I got the last bit of welding done (except for the lid) today. That included a couple more floor braces and loops for the safety chains on the tongue and the truck. After that was done I pulled out my magnetic towing lights and hooked it all up and took it for a spin. Ran it down a gravel road near my house at about 40mph. Bounces a bit, but I'm sure most of that is because it's empty, and there were some good potholes. Got it up to about 60mph on pavement. Tracks straight and obviously can't even tell it's back there since its empty. Found a big dirt pile and tried my best to check the lock-n-roll. So far I'm really liking the hitch. Doesn't make any noise that I can hear and I'm sure will work well on the trail.

After the test run I came back and broke out some brake cleaner. I was going to use the acetone I picked up last week, but didn't get a chance to go buy the necessary rubber gloves. So I sprayed the whole thing down with brake cleaner and got a coat of primer on the exterior sides and most of the interior of the tub. I still need to spray more on the inside and underside of the tub, and the fenders. I also sprayed the tongue and main frame with some satin black rustoleum. It's definitely starting to take shape now. I picked up some CJ7 fender flares (thanks to Exiled for the suggestion) and they are even the perfect length for how I trimmed the fenders. They're going to work great and are just the right width to cover the rest of the tires too. Sorry I forgot to take pics of the primer etc.

One more little bonus was a call from Wildyoats who happened to be at NPS (a local discount warehouse) today. I guess there was a sizeable quantity of products from UPOL that showed up at the warehouse recently. One of those products is the Raptor liner that I've been planning on using inside and under the tub. Normally the kits go for $100-$120 and sometimes a little more if the kit includes the Schutz gun. It can be had a little cheaper on ebay I think. It sounds like they had several kits (without the gun) at NPS for $59. That's a pretty sweet deal and Wildyoats was thoughtful enough to call me and let me know and also pick one up for me. I have found the UPOL Schutz guns for $10-$15 so I'll snag one of those soon and hopefully get this thing all painted and lined in the next couple weeks.

Here's a few pics from the test drive.




My temporary magnetic towing lights and I need to get new hooks for my safety chains. The chains have those threaded chain links on the ends and they don't open far enough to go onto the chain loops on the tongue so there is an old ratchet strap hook on it for now. And yes, I'll run two chains not just one.

[smileyfish]

looking good

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Nice job. Enjoyed the entire thread.

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by 24HOURSOFNEVADA

Nice job. Enjoyed the entire thread.

I'm not quite done yet. So maybe I'll have some more interesting bits. Thanks for the compliment.

[sseaman]

Adam, it looks like time for some paint.

[Box Rocket]

I'm hoping to have paint on the exterior panels this weekend. I'm just leaving primer inside the tub then spraying with Raptor liner. If I'm lucky I may get to that this weekend too but it will probably have to wait until the following weekend.

[sseaman]

I would hate to see your hard work start rusting, what comes next after paint?

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by sseaman

I would hate to see your hard work start rusting, what comes next after paint?

Well it's a little drier climate here in Utah than in Tennessee so it shouldn't develop any rust even if it does just sit a little. Also, it's stored in my garage rather than outside so that helps. I have primer already on 70% of it. I ran out of primer or it would all be done. I'll finish that up this weeked and get paint on the outside panels.

After that, its just a matter of spraying the bed liner. Once that is done, I can run all the wires and mount the lights. Also need to install the fender flares that I have. That's basically it, until I build the lid. I will also probably build some brackets for fuel/water cans and maybe a cooler rack once I figure out where I'm going to put all of that stuff.

[Box Rocket]

Only had a few minutes tonight so I got the CJ flares mounted up. Hoping to finish up primer and paint on Saturday. Then spray the bedliner next week.



You can see that these fenders and flares are very close to covering the tires. I think its good enough for me.

[OlympiaFJ60]

They fit great. Just a standard CJ flair? What fenders are those?

[Box Rocket]

Originally Posted by OlympiaFJ60

They fit great. Just a standard CJ flair? What fenders are those?

Yep standard CJ flare. I got the fenders at the local trail supply place. 10.75" wide.

[Volcanic Iceberg]

Great fit on those flares. Looks nice!