I'll bet. I just broke down and bought a welder. Hobart Handler 140....should be plenty big enough for anything I'd want to tackle. (Up to 1/4")
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I'll bet. I just broke down and bought a welder. Hobart Handler 140....should be plenty big enough for anything I'd want to tackle. (Up to 1/4")
Nice work ! I miss my Jeep a lot I shouldn't have sold it in August.
Here are the latest updates...
Making the body mounts. 2" square 3/16 steel with a 1/2 inch grade 8 bolt. This is all epoxied together and will be gorilla glued to the floor. Should be able to remove the floor without having to get to the tops of the bolts.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer39.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer40.jpg
What the floor sandwich looks like. Bolt through 3/16" plate, then 1/2" plywood and finally 1/4" metal tab welded to the frame. With 10 of these, I don't think I have to worry about the body coming off the frame. :rotflmao:
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer41.jpg
Framing the floor and making sure the eletric parts will fit. The black box is a AC/DC power distribution panel. The metal box on the left is the AC to DC power converter with built in battery charger. The bare metal bracket is a hold down for an optima Battery. I will mount this to the floor and use it to hold my Optima Blue Top battery.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer42.jpg
Finally, it's always nice to have the right tools for the job. My wife gave me the portable bench for christmas a couple of years ago. The compound miter saw is from interior trim and molding work in the past.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer43.jpg
Looking good,You going to have a place for a propane bottle up front for heat and cooking?
Nevermind, I re-read the original post and forgot you have dual fuel camping gear. I have always been spoiled to the use of propane.
I have been doing work slowly over the last couple of weeks. I finished the floor framing, and started on the profile for the walls.
First had to extend the walls. Used the router to create a lap joint and glued the pieces together. This gives me a wall blank that is 9 ft. 6 inches long. I only need it to be 9 ft 3 inches for my profile.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer45.jpg
nothing like a bag of old concrete to use as a press.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer46.jpg
After that all dried, I marked out the profile and modified my design slightly.
I cut out the basic profile today. Need to still cut out the door, wheel well and the hatch.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer47.jpg
Went shopping for electrical and building supplies for the trailer today. While at Home Depot I found these hinges.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer48.jpg
They are enamled gate hinges. $6 a piece including screws. Better yet they are simular enough to the design on the Wrangler to look good with it.
Side profile is cut out.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer49.jpg
Remember this is only 4 ft tall and 9 ft 3 inches long from point to point.
Keep the pictures coming. It's looking great so far.
I wonder what bump stops that guy is running.Quote:
Originally Posted by cone-cerned
Great stuff! I like how you are taking your time to do it right, and not just throwing something together. One question occurs to me as I'm watching this masterpiece take shape: How much is this all going to weigh? I fondly remember altiain's coffin... ah,er,um... AX trailer, which was very nice, but very heavy. I suppose as long as the tongue weight is not excessive, the weight of that wood will only add to the camper's stability in crosswinds.
By the way, I understand you'll be putting shag carpeting on the walls, and may even install a mirror ball?
::hippi::
It will weigh less then 1500 lbs loaded for camping. The tounge weight will be around 150 to 175 lbs when loaded. This is all well within the capacity of my tow vehicle.
Naw, shag is to hard to clean up the mess. I am having trouble finding space for the kegerator and beer tap. ;)
Unfortunately the cold weather means I can't do a lot of work. The work pieces have to be a minimum of 45 degrees for the glue to cure correctly. With everything in an unheated garage that is a problem.
Finally after a couple of months waiting for the weather to warm up enough for the glue to cure properly I have made some more progress.
I finally decided on how I was going to seal the rear hatch. Had to make a failry elaborate piece to match the contours of what I wanted. This allowed me to finish up the framing of the walls.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer50.jpg
Test fitting it.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer51.jpg
With the rear glued and clamped, I was able to frame out the door opening.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer52.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer53.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer54.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer55.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer56.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer57.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer58.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer59.jpg
I will route out the frame to match the door opening and some electrical chases tomorrow for the marker lights.
Then need to pick up the insulation and skin the interior of the walls. This way the walls are complete when they finally get mounted on the frame.
Finshed the door opening out. Need to add reinforcements in the walls to support the cabinates and galley shelf.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer62.jpg
Routed out the wiring chases for the marker lights. There will be simular cut made in the floor to keep the wiring from chafing.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer60.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer61.jpg
Okay, finally getting the walls to the point I will be able to put them up.
Installing the inserts for the hinge bolts. I am using the same thing to mount the fenders to the body.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer63.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer64.jpg
Insulating the walls. Obviously the 3/4" insulation I picked up is just slightly thicker than 3/4". You can see the reinforcements that are built into the walls for the cabinate installs
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer65.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer66.jpg
Nothing a belt sander and a bit of time wont fix. The places it still looks like it's too thick is a result of the insulation bowing up.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer67.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer68.jpg
And finally the interior skin is on. The backwall will be where the interior skin ends. This is the first wall finished. The second wall is together and drying right now.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer69.jpg
This wall weighs 51.4 lbs. currently.
I hope you plan to put in a roof vent, preferable with a fan. I have slept in our uninsulated teardrop in 45 degree weather and still found myself waking up in the middle of the night to open up the windows and roof vent a bit. On nice nights, you can open the windows and roof vent all the way and with the fan on, you get really nice circulation.
Yep definately going to have a roof vent and vented windows in the doors. AC as well for those hot summer months in Texas.
Got to spend some more time working on the trailer today.
Wall 1 is Up.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer70.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer71.jpg
Followed Quickly by wall 2.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer72.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer73.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer76.jpg
I could not wait to see if the fenders would cover the wheels/tires. So I put the wheel back on and temporarily mounted the fender. It fits great. The fender is a stock Jeep TJ rear fender flair. They are cheap and can be found virtually anywhere. They just require a few minor modifications and then bolt on.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer77.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer78.jpg
Coming along nicely!
Looks like you'll have trouble keeping the rain/cold out, and the sleeping area seems uneven with those wooden bars across the floor. :(
Rough fit all the panels for the tongue box.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer79.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer80.jpg
:DYou better hurry up and finish so you can go camping this spring!!
It won't be ready for spring. I am planning on having it finished for my Late summer trip to Montana,Wyoming and Colorado.
Got to spend another Saturday in the garage.
I finished up the front lower panels and installed them.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer81.jpg
Used pocket screws to secure the panel to the tongue box.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer82.jpg
I will build shelves and a cabinate front in the cubbys to use the space for storage.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer83.jpg
I also purchased windows and door latches this week. I am still deciding how I am going to lay them out exactly.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer84.jpg
The lower part of the window cranks out to allow ventilation even in rain. Found these on E-bay.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer85.jpg
I like those windows! If you pass through Gardiner, MT (north entrance to Yellowstone) on your trip this summer, stop by the Blue Goose Saloon and tell my my old college buddy Chuck hello.
I will have to see Because of the job change I will not have as much time as I would like. So, I am having to pair down my list of stops. I am going to visit a friend in Bozeman, Montana so Gardiner may be doable.
Built the bulkhead between the sleeping area and the tongue box storage today.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer86.jpg
This indent is to allow me to stretch out and sleep comfortably.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer87.jpg
Test fitting the IOTA AC/DC power distribution box. I decided to mount it here for easy access to the DC fuses and AC circuit breakers from inside the cabin.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer88.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer89.jpg
It's been a while since I posted an update thread here but I have been working on it.
Making more progess even though it feels like an oven in my garage.
Completed the 3 roof panels and test fitted them. I will not permamently mount the top two of them until after I have weather proofed the bottom of the body.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer93.jpg
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer94.jpg
The hole in the top panel is for the fanatastic vent fan. I have the wiring conduit already in place to run the wiring through the panel and into the back wall.
Interior shot from the rear. The panel in the forground is to keep the body from racking when I take it off for weather proofing.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer95.jpg
Interior from the drivers side door.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer96.jpg
Today I also started working on the wheel wells. Will have pics of those hopefully tomorrow.
This is a fun thread to watch, so keep it coming.
I went four wheeling at Hale's Mountain in TN yesterday. It was A LOT of fun. You need to take your Jeep and trailer there some day
Finished the first wheel well today. Have to cut out the other side and put it together.
There were taken when I was test fitting everything.
Inside:
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer97.jpg
Outside:
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer98.jpg
Looks great!
But where are you gonna mount the flat panel TV and surround sound? ;)
That's what the notebook is for. :)
The only civilization I am building in is the vent fan and AC for when I have shore power or genset. Its too hot in Texas otherwise.
I got a pair of these for my house. Might be a good thing when you're in the boonies. http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...rodid=11643502
Finished the wheel wells today. It's now ready to take the body off and weather proof the underside. I pulled it out of the garage to take a quick pick to show it s real size behind the Jeep. There is enough room between the jeep and the body to open the tailgate.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer99.jpg
That's gonna be so cool. I'm jealous.
Great work! They both look good.
Just how strong is a tear drop body. You tell me...
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer100.jpg
And it is not even half put together yet..
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer101.jpg
I have the roof panels complete. Just want to weather proof the underside of the trailer before I do. That is why the frame is disconnected from the body.
What are you going to use to weatherproof that sucker?
kilz oil based primer oll over.
Heavy duty car undercoating for the bottom
and Liquid Roof for the rest.
Bottom side of trailer is weather tight.
Body is permenantly mounted to the frame.
Top side is primed and ready for the roof coating when it arrives.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer102.jpg
Time to start running eletrical and building the doors and hatches.
Another detail that no one will ever see. Laying out the electrical runs in the floor. Each circuit has its own run.
From bottom to top:
driver front marker
Axle brakes
Stop/Turn/Tail
120V AC circuit 1 (Air Conditioner)
120V AC circuit 2 (Extra Outlet for Misc use)
12V DC circuit 1 (Extra for whatever I may want to do)
12V DC circuit 2 (Fantastic Vent Fan)
At the very top of the picture on the left is the chase for the passenger front marker.
http://www.hudsonhawk.net/trailer/trailer103.jpg