My scratch built expedition style trailer build up thread (3 Viewers)

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Yeah, I hope to pull it in another 2 weeks then strip it for paint. However, I have to do more than tack the spring hangers on. :eek:

Thanks man!
 
Sheet metal is ONE panel away from DONE! :D

Gotta fab up a tailgate this weekend... then time for a dry run. :bounce:

Just had to share!

Drew
 
Drew

you may have already mentioned this but what are you doing for fenders?
 
Suggestion? Buy some clecos & a set of cleco pliers to hold the sheet metal in place during drilling & riveting it to the tube &/or setting up the SikaFlex. Also, a cheap air riveter from Harbor Freight not only keeps your forearms from looking like Popeye, but also gets a super tight pull on each rivet.

Keep up the awesome work!
 
Drew

you may have already mentioned this but what are you doing for fenders?

If you flip back a few pages I have bent up a set, just need to fit and skin them out, hopefully they'll be done this weekend, and I hope to have the tailgate frame out as well.

Thanks!

Drew
 
Got it! Thanks!

Was there a specific reason why you decided to build the fenders out of tube then skin it rather than use a basic bent sheet metal fender?
 
Strength for one, nor is my sheet metal break capable of building what I wanted. The tubing might weigh 5 pounds each side, which is nothing, when I can mount a shovel/hi-lift to and, and if the trailer flops the tubing should help out there as well.

Thanks!

REzarf <><
 
Well, now that the sheet is on the sides I could get after the fenders and finish welding them up and knocking out the sheet metal part as well.

Here is what I started with this afternoon...

Measured the fenders, marked them in place, and drilled out the holes to mount them into the sides.

Then it was easy as bolting them up with my fancy bolts.

Then I squared it all up (it was only tacked at this point) and welded the seams in.
Fender1.JPG
Fender2.JPG
Fender4.JPG
 
I threw my welding blanket over the new MTR's... glad I didn't have to figure out that one the hard way :doh:

This is how I squared up the tops of the fenders by bolting them to a square :D

Then it was on to the sheet metal, which needed to be cleaned and prepped for the tube work.
Fender5.JPG
Fender5.1.JPG
Fender6.JPG
 
The sheet metal wasn't as hard as I imagined it might be, it took time to get it right but nothing was too difficult, I had to cut out a few tacks to readjust it once, all in all, not too bad.

The idea was to get the sheet square on the tube, tack the flat portion in place then start the bends as I moved the welds to the ends of the fenders. I found that if I didn't use the angle iron pieces the center would bow out in the middle making it sloppy looking, so after I added the L's into place everything smoothed out nicely. Then I just ran tacks down the inner edge of the fender, you can see how nice the curve matched the tubing... 6 clamps will do that for you ;)
Fender8.JPG
Fender9.JPG
Fender11.JPG
 
Here is the shot of the inner fender before I tacked it into place...

After I repeated that on both sides, I notched the sheet in the places it needed to clear the frame and bolted them up for a look... really to step back and admire my work, it is a great feeling seeing it come together.

Here it is in place on the trailer.
Fender12.JPG
Fender14.JPG
FenderDone1.JPG
 
Here is how it sits on the trailer, I wanted full coverage so I don't get rocks to the back of the head in the 40, so I covered the tires entirely. I think they came out nice. I hope you like them... kinda, though, I don't really care :D

Just kidding, going to go after the tailgate tomorrow.

Rezarf <>< :D
FenderDone2.JPG
FenderDoneFront.JPG
FenderDoneRear.JPG
 
that truely is one impressive looking trailer!!!! you should be proud!
 
yes very much so..... way impressed with the mad skills
 
Beauty.
 
Sweet!

Well done!
 
I look forward to seeing it at CM08, I have been following this thread and I must say, Awesome work!!!
 

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