Enclosed Trailer Build, toy hauler, camper, etc. |
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m38mike
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2007 Location: Colorado High Country Status: Offline Points: 3794 |
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Rick, this is looking great! But I have a question. Why are you insulating it? Will you be using it for shelter in the winter when you travel north for Christmas? Are you planning on buying a big V10 gas engine for your truck to haul the extra weight?
I would propose to you that if you seal the outside skin so it's water tight, and you seal any gaps in the inside wood sheeting, you will be able to heat the trailer easily and it will retain that heat well. To cool it, just open some windows and roof vents at night. In my car hauler I have no insulation yet the inside stays comfortably warm through the night if we close it up. My ceiling is not closed in like yours will be. Only my walls and floor are wood. I have a small propane heater installed on one wall and it does a good job of warming the whole trailer up. This could save you some $$$ and some weight. Maybe save enough $$ to buy the grade A clear plywood??? |
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M38Mike
46 CJ2A SAMCJ2A 4?-5? CJ2A/3A/M38 Jigsaw 51 M38 Green Jeanne 52 M38 Blue Mule, 51 M100 Blue Mule Tale 52 XM38EV1 Electro-Willys, 52 M100 Juice Box |
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Avis
Member Joined: 27 July 2010 Location: Arizona Status: Offline Points: 80 |
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Dang, that's a lot of work! Looks great. I've built quite a few trailers but have never tried my hands at an enclosed trailer. Awesome job!
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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Thx, Avis. It has been a lot of work, but mainly because I'm altering an existing trailer. If I built it from scratch I'd probably be finished by now. There's a lot of little modifications to make and that takes time and thought.
Mike, I'm insulating mainly for the heat (to keep it out). It was 104 here yesterday and supposed to be 108 on Saturday. Days like that or any where within 20 degrees of that makes a metal box into an unbearable oven . I hope with the polar white, insulation, two tinted and screened windows, and two roof vents that this metal box will somehow be cooler inside than out. I will use it in the winter to hunt out of also, but the cold isn't as much a factor as the heat for me. The weight increase I've calculated to be less than a thousand extra pounds so no v10's or diesels are expected. |
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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Made a little more progress on the rear cargo ramp door. Got the hinge and spring system fabricated and it works really well. My 900 lb estimate of additional weight for this trailer build is a little bit low after completing the ramp door. I like to build heavy duty when I think I may need it, and man, is this ramp door heavy! This door alone is on the other side of 200lbs. Fortunately, the springs I installed make easy work of lowering and lifting
Here's the finished hinge and spring system, except that the bottom springs legs have not been cut to length. Here's a shot of just how strong the springs are; they are completely holding up the ramp. A gentle push and it goes right to the ground. This is 1" cold roll steel rod I used for the hinge. I used two of equal length so that it would be easier to remove. I noticed after I finished that the torsion of the springs caused the existing thin angle iron to bow out and away about 3/4" (see compared to the white line when the ramp door is closed.) So, I welded up three of these braces underneath and that helped close the gap to about 1/4". I think the angle iron was sprung at this point and I didn't try to "persuade" it back into place. Welded these cubes of tubing in place to have something to attach the aluminum panels to from the outside. All the angle iron flats were oriented to the inside to have a flat surface to attach the osb and help distribute the weight a little more evenly. Initial fit of the osb ramp deck. Not completely installed yet because I still need to insulate, but I think it will work well. Ramp door siding in place! Now on to the roof and trim. |
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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Working on the trailer has been hit or miss the last week or so. I began working on the side door, welding on the weatherstrip frame and getting it ready for hinges, latches, and skin.
Then, to my delight, the big brown truck arrived and delivered this much awaited gift from the magic of interweb shopping. Just what I was waiting for: roof vents, hinges, latches, and lights. Now time to get busy. Framed up for the roof vents. I bought vents with aluminum covers instead of plastic. Maybe these will fair a little better against the onslaught of hailstones. Then back to the side door. Got the hinges installed and checking fit. Here's the hinge reinforcement on the inside. I had to grind down the angle iron here because it was 2"x3" and my frame is only 1 1/2"; otherwise my inside panels wouldn't fit properly. Then it was on to installing the skin and the RV latch. (the osb here was just a scrap piece I used as a template for cutting around the fenders for the outside skin. I used it to mock up the inside latch fitment). It's starting to look like something. Next, I installed the cam latch for the side door as an extra safeguard. Plus, the rod portion of the cam latch will serve as an assist handle when climbing aboard. Here's the inside bracket for the cam bar. And here's the outside with both latches installed. The plastic coating is still on the door skin. I just haven't removed it yet, because it has my perimeter frame screw locations on it. Stay tuned...
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m38mike
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2007 Location: Colorado High Country Status: Offline Points: 3794 |
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Beautiful work! And well thought out too.
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M38Mike
46 CJ2A SAMCJ2A 4?-5? CJ2A/3A/M38 Jigsaw 51 M38 Green Jeanne 52 M38 Blue Mule, 51 M100 Blue Mule Tale 52 XM38EV1 Electro-Willys, 52 M100 Juice Box |
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Lee MN
Member Joined: 13 Aug. 2008 Location: Harris, MN Status: Offline Points: 4923 |
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X2 on that!. Lee |
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LEE
44 GPW-The Perfected Willys 49 2A “If you wait, you only get older” 67 M715 American Made Rolling History |
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JeepFever
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 07 Aug. 2012 Location: VA Status: Offline Points: 2735 |
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X3 . . love it! |
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1947-cj2a
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Sep. 2015 Location: MISSOURI Status: Offline Points: 670 |
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RICK
YOU COULDN'T GOT ONE LOOKING BETTER THEN THAT. GREAT JOB!
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RICH
1947 cj2a (Toy From Hell) |
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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thx fellas. Your compliments are encouraging
Lots of work left to do. Getting a little chipped away each day, tho.
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tumbleweed
Member Joined: 31 Jan. 2011 Location: Bedford, Texas Status: Offline Points: 651 |
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Hey Rick,
I really enjoy seeing the progress. You are doing some nice work - once you remove the protective skin you will need sunglasses! Are you putting any windows on the sides?
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49 CJ3A - Smokey
53 Willys Wagon - Wylie |
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Oilleaker1
Member Joined: 06 Sep. 2011 Location: Black Hills, SD Status: Offline Points: 4406 |
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Hey, your new enterprise should have a name like our Jeeps. I vote for: SPACE G TRAILERS! Looking good. You may think about a equaliser hitch next. Maybe you have. I don't envy you working on that in Texas heat. Wow. John
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Green Disease, Jeeps, Old Iron!
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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thx, George. Yes, I'm planning on a 30"x22" sliding window on each side, but I've got to do some design layout on the inside before I install them.
SPACE G TRAILERS....that's funny. I'm hoping I don't need an equalizer hitch, John, but I'm planning on a sway bar for sure. Didn't get to work on the trailer yesterday, we had another granbaby instead
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64CJ5
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 15 Nov. 2013 Location: NE Wyoming Status: Offline Points: 941 |
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Congratulations!! Boy? Girl? Particulars?
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64CJ5 "Eeyore"
01TJ "Tigger" 52 M38 Severely demilitarized, "Popeye" The Coast Guard Jeep. 14 JK "Jake" To Trust Government Defys Both History and Reason. PUBLIC LAND Owner/User |
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tumbleweed
Member Joined: 31 Jan. 2011 Location: Bedford, Texas Status: Offline Points: 651 |
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Congratulations Rick and Donalee!
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49 CJ3A - Smokey
53 Willys Wagon - Wylie |
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Katiedid
Member Joined: 26 Oct. 2014 Location: NE Colorado Status: Offline Points: 480 |
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Congratulations!
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Katiedid
48 CJ2A Waltzing Matilda |
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Rick G
Member Joined: 17 May 2015 Location: Amarillo, TX Status: Offline Points: 1467 |
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It was a girl! Silver is her name. She told me she loves jeeps (especially blue ones) and can't wait to go for a ride
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Oilleaker1
Member Joined: 06 Sep. 2011 Location: Black Hills, SD Status: Offline Points: 4406 |
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Congratulations, and enjoy your family! We have a doodle board up stairs in our house. My Grand daughter always leaves Gram and Gramps a nice note on it after each visit and overnighter. We never erase it. Makes us smile.
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Green Disease, Jeeps, Old Iron!
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