Started my camp trailer

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trickyrix

Lookin' great!

The axle looks like it's set back quite a bit. Is that a departure angle thing?

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Actually its a weight distribution thing. Most of the weight on these trailers is behind the rear axle. Put the axle too far forward and you get the tongue trying to stick up inthe air.

For Example, In the back of this (behind the rear axle)
window AC unit
Ice-chest with ice, provision etc,
5 gallon water container
camp stove and lantern
Cast iron skillet and dutch oven
fuel for stove and lantern
Most other supplies.

Inside the box will be a foam mattress

In the front tongue box will be a deep cycle battery.

So you can see most of the weight is behind that axle so moving it farther back balances the trailer. The front of the body will be at the front cross member. The rest is the tongue so the body will set pretty far back anyway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ken o

Do you think it would help if you you did a cross bar in each square or a gusset in each corner? I am thinking off-road might be rough.

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Actually there will be a gusset in each corner. It will double as the mount tab for the body.

This is the trailer design I based my build on. The body on mine will be 18 inches longer than this to accomodate the AC and more Galley Storage.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/sawtoothxl.jpg

Basically a teardrop on steroids?

Yup, pretty much. Just with a lot stronger frame than most of them have.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HudsonHawk

Actually its a weight distribution thing. Most of the weight on these trailers is behind the rear axle. Put the axle too far forward and you get the tongue trying to stick up inthe air.

For Example, In the back of this (behind the rear axle)
window AC unit
Ice-chest with ice, provision etc,
5 gallon water container
camp stove and lantern
Cast iron skillet and dutch oven
fuel for stove and lantern
Most other supplies.

Inside the box will be a foam mattress

In the front tongue box will be a deep cycle battery.

So you can see most of the weight is behind that axle so moving it farther back balances the trailer. The front of the body will be at the front cross member. The rest is the tongue so the body will set pretty far back anyway.

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Now it makes perfect sense. :)

Frame almost 100% complete. Spent the weekend putting on the frame extensions. At least now it does not look like its 40ft long behind the Jeep.

I used a large piece of scrap plywood and a clamp to give me a stable surface to fit and tack weld the frame extensions.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer17.jpg

Everyone should have one of these in their shop

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer19.jpg

Eveything together. Looks a lot shorter now.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer20.jpg

I left the box for the rear cross member open and added a piece on the passenger side just in front of the tire to give me a place to mount accessories in the future.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer21.jpg

I still have to do the body mount tabs and the tongue braces. My plasma cutter is down waiting on a replacement part so I cant shape the tongue braces yet.

Time to start making sawdust.

Bought a rack for the Jeep to allow me to get lumber without borrowing a pickup. It's made by Olympic 4x4 and works great.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer24.jpg

Getting ready to lay the keel. More to come later.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer25.jpg

You do nice work, get a lot done in a two car garage.............

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Originally Posted by VFR750

You do nice work, get a lot done in a two car garage.............

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It helps when there are no cars in there. :)

Spent some more time in the garage today. Have the main layout of the floor complete. I don't want to go any further until the frame is completed and painted.

Cut and fit the main floor panels.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer26.jpg

I routed and overlapped the panels to make the floor act as a single piece.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer27.jpg

The tongue box will be integrated into the body. So I used the same technique for joining the panels. I used a hand chisel to square off the corners of the routed area.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer28.jpg

Fits like a glove

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer29.jpg

Shaping the floor of the tongue box.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer30.jpg

And all together.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer31.jpg

Still have to glue everything together. That will have to wait until the frame is completed and painted. I should have the replacement part for my plasma torch tomorrow so I can finish the frame construction this week.

HH

where did you pick up your steel?

Metal Supermarket on Dalton in Dallas.

They are not the cheapest place but they will cut to order and don't mind small lots.

:snack: This is seriously fun to watch! You are quite the craftsman HudsonHawk!

cool! thanks.adding a cover to a patio and wanted to do the columns with channels.

Kestral, thanks. I am finally getting to use the tools I have been hording for years. This is my first attempt to make anything like this. Hopefully it won't fall apart on me on the first trip.

Finally got the parts for my plasma torch so I can finish the frame and get it ready for rhino lining.

Started by fishmouthing the tongue support braces.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer32.jpg

Cleaned up the cuts and closed the mouth.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer33.jpg

Welded the mouth closed. This will provide a ramp to help pull the frame over obstacles.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer34.jpg

Mounting the braces.

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer35.jpg

Now I can at last take it down to the shop and have it rhino lined. Then I can get back to work on the body.

Picked up the trailer tonight. Had Texas Truxx Outfiters in Lewisville Rhinoline the frame. Couple of pics. This stuff even makes my welds look good.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer36.jpg

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer37.jpg

http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer38.jpg

Now I can start working on the body.

Looking good. You have a plasma cutter?

Yes, Its a lot of fun.