alia176
SILVER Star
ahhh, got it.
My mobile base camp build
- Thread starter Arya Ebrahimi
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #82
Finally getting back to this project lately. Been working on it a couple hours for the past several nights and finally have some progress worth sharing!
I had been going round and round in my head about the trailing arm connections to the frame. After 3 revisions I finally settled on a working design. Unfortunately the adjustable mounts went by the wayside. I think the concept is sound, and if I have problems in the future I may redeploy the idea, but for now it was not going to work.
I built the bushings mounts onto the trailing arms, my thinking being that if I have to R&R the bushings it will be easier to do by pulling the arm from under the trailer than trying to do them under the trailer attached to the frame.
I started with two pieces of 3/16" cut to cradle the bushing sleeve. These got welded inside and out and then ground flush on the outside. I then took some 1/8" plate and wrapped the joints to provide lateral stability and really lock them down. I think they should be fine. You'll notice a circular cut out in the 1/8" wrap. That is for the grease fitting for the bushings.
For the frame end I decided to go with some simple 1/4" tabs. I will brace these a bit when I pull the frame out from under the box to finish weld/paint everything, but for now they're fine. I conceptualized, drafted, and had these 8 tabs cut on the Torchmate in less than 20 mins total
I had been going round and round in my head about the trailing arm connections to the frame. After 3 revisions I finally settled on a working design. Unfortunately the adjustable mounts went by the wayside. I think the concept is sound, and if I have problems in the future I may redeploy the idea, but for now it was not going to work.
I built the bushings mounts onto the trailing arms, my thinking being that if I have to R&R the bushings it will be easier to do by pulling the arm from under the trailer than trying to do them under the trailer attached to the frame.
I started with two pieces of 3/16" cut to cradle the bushing sleeve. These got welded inside and out and then ground flush on the outside. I then took some 1/8" plate and wrapped the joints to provide lateral stability and really lock them down. I think they should be fine. You'll notice a circular cut out in the 1/8" wrap. That is for the grease fitting for the bushings.
For the frame end I decided to go with some simple 1/4" tabs. I will brace these a bit when I pull the frame out from under the box to finish weld/paint everything, but for now they're fine. I conceptualized, drafted, and had these 8 tabs cut on the Torchmate in less than 20 mins total
- Thread starter
- #83
I then moved on to the airbag and bump stop mounting. I wanted the airbag outboard as close to the hub as reasonably possible to reduce the leverage effect on the trailing arms. I then gave the bumpstop second priority, placing it slightly ahead of the axle centerline on the trailing arm. I will need to space the bumpstop down slightly to properly limit max compression on the airbag.
Next up is shocks and limit straps. Then I need to reattach the tongue as it had to come off to allow the suspension crossmember to go in the right place.
I'm optimistically hoping for a test tow this weekend
Next up is shocks and limit straps. Then I need to reattach the tongue as it had to come off to allow the suspension crossmember to go in the right place.
I'm optimistically hoping for a test tow this weekend
- Thread starter
- #84
Couple more pics showing the bumpstop location
nice! I have seen some of the manufactured trailers with a setup like that and really like the idea. The nice thing about the bumpstops that you have is that if a bag would tear, you'd still be fine out in the sticks.
alia176
SILVER Star
looking good. Your shock type, valving, mount and orientation will be critical. Looking forward to see what you come up with!
- Thread starter
- #87
Shocks are important?? I thought just any old shock would do 
Shocks are important?? I thought just any old shock would do
it's a frickin trailer...throw some doestch tech shocks on there and call it good....you'll just have to figure the max and min stroke.
alia176
SILVER Star
if it was a set of leaf springs, I'd say this is not as critical. However, having independent air bagged suspension, a proper set of shocks will be critical. Just look at Adventure Trailer's progression of various shocks and spring component used in their design. Their initial design started with shocks practically laying down which really didn't contribute much to the damping characteristics. Now, compare that to the shocks on a Kimberly Kamper trailer (coil sprung), you'll see a huge difference in the suspension behavior while off roading.
So, do your homework on this one dude!
- Thread starter
- #90
My sense of sarcasm was lost on you guys
I'm looking at Fox 2.0's
Rebuildable/revalveable
I'm looking at Fox 2.0's
Rebuildable/revalveable
- Thread starter
- #92
Wow...this is quite the project, can't wait to see it completed
Thanks
Half-assed is not my style
- Thread starter
- #93
The air suspension works!!! 
I pushed hard tonight to get the bracketry all finish welded and the bags installed. I just put temporary schraeder valves on each bag for now, but it's a HUGE milestone for me to see it all working
I pushed hard tonight to get the bracketry all finish welded and the bags installed. I just put temporary schraeder valves on each bag for now, but it's a HUGE milestone for me to see it all working
Very nice workmanship....glad to see you back on this project!
- Thread starter
- #95
So after I got the air suspension working I put the tires on and dropped the trailer down on the bumpstops to see where things ended up in terms of kitchen counter height. One of the main reasons in doing the airbag suspension was to allow me to deflate the bags in camp, bringing the trailer down to a reasonable working height. I'm happy to report that it was a success! The counter top height WITH 1/2" cutting board material on top is 37.5". It's 1.5" higher than a standard kitchen counter, which for me (6'3") means it's just about perfect.
I made a little vid of airing down and back up last night, I'm uploading it to youtube right now.
I made a little vid of airing down and back up last night, I'm uploading it to youtube right now.
- Thread starter
- #96
Here's the video. Kinda lame, but I was excited
I anticipate that the bags will deflate much faster once the proper air system is installed. In the video I was depressing the needle of the schraeder valves with the tip of a speed square
YouTube - Testing the air suspension
I anticipate that the bags will deflate much faster once the proper air system is installed. In the video I was depressing the needle of the schraeder valves with the tip of a speed square
YouTube - Testing the air suspension
looking good it has a lot more lift than i thought it would its comeing along very nice
That is totally nerdy! Almost as nerdy as guy making videos about his rack lift system... I love it! Congrats on seeing it thru to this point. I saw a truck with that style of box on the back the other day and thought of your trailer and how nice and organized it could be.
Loving the build, keep it up, and stay nerdy, videos rule.
Loving the build, keep it up, and stay nerdy, videos rule.
alia176
SILVER Star
Good job dude. Nerds RULE!!!!
- Thread starter
- #100
The tongue is on, and the trailer is now sitting on(only) its tires and a jackstand under the tongue!
I need to finish the coupler attachment and then I will take it around the block tonight for its first tow! I'm super excited
I need to finish the coupler attachment and then I will take it around the block tonight for its first tow! I'm super excited
