Weekend #2 - A solid foundation and fixin’ stuff

So a couple details and finishing touches wasn’t as little as I was expecting.. turned out to be 5 hrs of work.  What I am quickly learning is there is so many small details that must be figured out before anything is cut or assembled or whatever.  And if you know anything about me, I thrive (borderline obsess) over figuring things out.  Finding solutions and fixing things… I love the challenge!  So here are some of those thingys

1.  Simple is Better

So this camper will have electricity.  Not just for conveniences, but also for safety.  When we’re traveling to our campsite and our car’s lights turn on so do my camper’s.  Turning signals, brake lights, safety lights.  These will be located on the sides and rear of the trailer obviously.  But how do go from my car, across to the trailer, and to the sides and ends?  I can cut holes and grooves through the entire length of the trailer and hide them in the walls.  I can get wire mold and tuck it out of sight... or if you don’t want to go over it, or through it, you just go under it!  Weld/tack on screws, attach tubing to screws, and push the wire into these tubes, underneath, from front to back and around the sides.

 

2.  Support the Pumpkin

So the axle that came with the trailer is an actual axle from a car.  We’re assuming it is from an old 60s or 70s Ford or Chevy car.  Which means at one time an engine made these tires move.  At the center of the axle is a large, round gear assembly that moves when the tires move.  Oh and its heavy and awkward.  As you saw last week, the axle is now suspended below the frame on springs and is held by U-Bolts and brackets.  But the pumpkin has no support anymore.  It is just floating.  It needs to be supported and held as close to vertical as possible so the gear oil doesn’t leak out or be allowed to roll down and make contact with the road.  So keep solid, but flex.  A door hinge! 

3.  Raising and Lowering the front end

This trailer is not that heavy yet, but it will soon be.. and its gonna be difficult to raise it and lower it the front end to connect to the hitch of my car.  Picked up this bad boy on one of those big sidewalk sales at Harbor Freight back in December for like 70% off.  When its not raising or lowering the front end, it easily rotates up and out of the way.

4 Cutting + Welding + Drilling + Steel = Rust

I was surprised how a little bit of snow caused such immediate rust.  Solution.  Well that’s not too hard.  I do this all the time at work.  A can of Cold Galvanized Spray does the trick.  Seals, protects, and looks good.  One coat of that, and a layer of enamel and boom!

So that’s about the extent of the action for week #2.  This weekend my plan is to cut off those round, unattractive fenders and put on new awesome beefy “jeep-style” fenders that I picked up earlier today.  It has been really fun going to all these small, family-owned businesses this week to check out parts and ideas.  Hopefully I’ll have some down time this upcoming week to jot down a little bit for you guys.  It really has been an adventure!

Oh and I also am hoping to get the flooring framed, cut, and installed this weekend as well.  With the help of my neighbor I was able to pick up all the plywood (plus extra for the unforeseen boo boos) today as well.  I’m so excited.. can you tell yet?

Yes.  So here’s some more action shots of Gerald welding and me cutting down the extra long U-Bolts!  Thank you all for your support and comments.  Until next time..



Total money spent so far:
250   Trailer
60     Hitch and Accessories
15     Magnetic Trailer Light Kit
106   Leaf Springs
28     1500 Lb. Capacity Dual Wheel Swing-Back Boat Trailer Jack
6       1 Can of Rust-Oleum Professional 20 oz. Flat Gray Cold Galvanizing Compound
4       1 Can of Rust-Oleum Stops Rust 12 oz. Protective Enamel Spray Paint
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$469.00