My scratch built expedition style trailer build up thread (6 Viewers)

[REZARF]

Here are a few new pics.

Pic one: A little overall veiw of where I am at.

Pic two: How the front rack will sit once the lid is created.

Pic three: Rough placement of fenders and how they will eventually look. They will be cut down to sid on top of the cargo box bottom rail and will be bolted to the sheet metal.

 

[REZARF]

Two more

Pic 1: Wheel that I attached using some grade 8 bolts to the bottom of the skid. I need to finish it up still but it does the job. Makes life SO much easier. I got a pnuematic wheel rated for 1000 lbs and it swivles with a greasable zirk fitting.

Cool thing is, unbolt 4 bolts and I still have the skid.

Pic 2: Where the propane tank mount will eventually live.

Enjoy!

Drew

 

[sseaman]

progress is looking good

 

[spressomon]

Drew: Looks great! I think you should plan to attend one of our Nevada off-road tours/excursion/adventure trips next spring for your break-in cruize!

 

[Jacket]

Lookin really good Drew! Amazing work there.

 

[sseaman]

what are you using for bending your tubing?

 

[REZARF]

Drew: Looks great! I think you should plan to attend one of our Nevada off-road tours/excursion/adventure trips next spring for your break-in cruize!

We'll see, spring should be about right. However, I am mending a broken tailbone and I have a ways still to go. That was one reason I started this build this year... I couldn't wheel the season.

Lookin really good Drew! Amazing work there.

Thanks Jacket! Hope to see you at the next NSTBC for a round of biscuits and gravy!

what are you using for bending your tubing?

My buddy's bender, it is a JD2 with a square die.

Rezarf <><

 

[AxleIke]

Looking great.

Heres to hoping your tail bone mends in time for you to use it this next summer.

 

[REZARF]

Need a little help here.

I am debating between two options for mounting my RTT on top of the trailer. I have two possibilities and I need your advice.

I own a Yakima Rack system that can be attached to a rain gutter. I like the off the shelf parts, the finished look and the fact that I already own it. Downsides to this are, the RTT doesn't mount that well to it, and one or the other will need to be modified (probably the RTT). I also need to fab up a rain gutter onto the lid, which is starting to add pounds by the minute.

My other option is three or four fixed bolted or welded crossbars on the top of the lid. This would allow me to mount the tent in a super solid fashion and it would be permanent, and to make a custom slot for a fold up table. It would also double for hauling plywood or sheet goods in the future. Downside is weight and I would have to fab them up, no biggie just one more thing on the list. I would bend the same square tubing I used for the fenders while I have the die...


...what say you!?

Thanks in advance!

Rezarf <><

 

[Degnol]

What about a stake pocket right in front of your fender and one right in front of your rear bumper that could serve as mounting points when you wanted to fit the RTT or just a naked rack to carry plywood?
OTOH, if your tie down rail is going to be mounted to the outside like your last pic, can't you fab up a simple attachment to it?

Ed

 

[Exiled]

My vote of for custom *bolted* crossbars. You've come this far to get a complete, custom solution, why tie yourself to a solution that doesn't quite work because it's off-the-shelf parts? Sell the Yakima!

 

[REZARF]

My vote of for custom *bolted* crossbars. You've come this far to get a complete, custom solution, why tie yourself to a solution that doesn't quite work because it's off-the-shelf parts? Sell the Yakima!

Henry, you got me into this mess! I am leaning that way, but I like the Yakima system a lot, it just doesn't work well with the RTT I have.

If I make custom cross bars, there is a lot of steel being added up high, 12' worth of tubing at least, but I would probably make provision for 4 crossbars to spead the load, that'd be more like 16'.

Ed, I like the idea of a rack, the stake pockets are a good idea, but I am going to keep the mounts on the lid so they will move with the lid, instead of "holding" it down.

Thanks Ed and Henry... anyone else?

 

[Degnol]

OK, then I would fab some welded-on mounts to the lid and just make sure the sides bear the load. You can still use some sort of "plug-in" stake pocket to allow it to be removed from the lid when you did not need it.
You can figger it out as you have already done some great engineering on this thing already!
Ed

 

[J-man]

Need a little help here.

I am debating between two options for mounting my RTT on top of the trailer. I have two possibilities and I need your advice.

I own a Yakima Rack system that can be attached to a rain gutter. I like the off the shelf parts, the finished look and the fact that I already own it. Downsides to this are, the RTT doesn't mount that well to it, and one or the other will need to be modified (probably the RTT). I also need to fab up a rain gutter onto the lid, which is starting to add pounds by the minute.

My other option is three or four fixed bolted or welded crossbars on the top of the lid. This would allow me to mount the tent in a super solid fashion and it would be permanent, and to make a custom slot for a fold up table. It would also double for hauling plywood or sheet goods in the future. Downside is weight and I would have to fab them up, no biggie just one more thing on the list. I would bend the same square tubing I used for the fenders while I have the die...


...what say you!?

Thanks in advance!

Rezarf <><

after what mine went thru, definately bolted/welded bars are the way to go. Just keep remembering - trailers get bounced and beat to hell and back, so what ever's going to be the strongest.

and along those lines, speaking of strongest, i got some thicker tubing for my rtt rack and hopefully this week ill be fabbing up a new rack like the one you illustrated for me in the pics.

 

[REZARF]

Howdy folks.

I am at a crossroads...

I am at the point of adding sheet metal to the frame I built up and I am trying to decide between steel and aluminum. Here are my thoughts on each. Care to chime in? I hope so :thumb:

Aluminum:
First, I like the idea of no rust on the aluminum panels, that and the fact that it wouldn't require a paint finish for protection is a huge plus, and offsets its initial higher purchase cost. The weight makes good sense too. My only concern is fastening the aluminum to the steel frame. I have been researching a combo of marine grade adhesive & rivets... there is also a product for the semi trailer industry that is a sealing "tape" that replaces mechanical fasteners... it is wild stuff for sure. 3M amazes me!

I may still make the lid out of 18ga. steel to "hide" the rivets.

Steel:
If I were to go steel the costs are much cheaper and I can always come back and weld things to it and modify it easier... that might be nice. The idea of rust on a trailer and my 40 isn't appealing However, steel can take a beating and keep going strong as well. Painting/undercoating will keep the rust at bay but in all reality it might be an uphill battle.

Let me know what you thinks! :hill:

 

[Degnol]

I vote steel. Weldable and the weight is not going to make that much difference.


Ed

 

[spressomon]

FYI...the Yakima crossbars are steel. Granted they are vinyl coated but you could either paint your steel crossbars with epoxy paint, powder coat or have them Rhino'd (or equiv.).

Do you foresee carrying anything other than your RTT on your trailer lid/top? The Yakima would be beneficial if you are going to carry bikes, canoe, even lumber...otherwise I think it's a toss up.

What RTT do you have/are you going with? You just want to plan for any overhang...so that when the top is tilted to the 'open' position the RTT won't snag/bind/hit/catch any part of your trailer. I had to raise the effective crossbar height on my AT Horizon when I went with the Maggiolina...otherwise when open it would hit/bind on the side box...

 

[REZARF]

FYI...the Yakima crossbars are steel. Granted they are vinyl coated but you could either paint your steel crossbars with epoxy paint, powder coat or have them Rhino'd (or equiv.).

Do you foresee carrying anything other than your RTT on your trailer lid/top? The Yakima would be beneficial if you are going to carry bikes, canoe, even lumber...otherwise I think it's a toss up.

What RTT do you have/are you going with? You just want to plan for any overhang...so that when the top is tilted to the 'open' position the RTT won't snag/bind/hit/catch any part of your trailer. I had to raise the effective crossbar height on my AT Horizon when I went with the Maggiolina...otherwise when open it would hit/bind on the side box...

Actually my lid flips up from the rear with the hinge on the leading edge. Weight isn't as much the issue as function.

 

[spressomon]

Actually my lid flips up from the rear with the hinge on the leading edge. Weight isn't as much the issue as function.

Drew: If you are thinking about a Maggiolina/Columbus (not saying you are...just pointing this out if you are...) you just need to make sure you will have enough crossbar height to keep the hinge side of of either from hitting your nose box when you tilt it open...

 

[REZARF]

I have a Mombassa tent... no upgraded tent in the near future. Don't let the trailer fool you this is still being built on a tight budget.

Drew