Hi all,
Well, frustration with not having a trailer has finally overridden all else and I've been making time to work on the trailer again[&:]. Since I last posted I have done several of the remaining "necessary" projects and decided to postpone those that can wait in favor of what's necessary to make it workable. If I don't get my planes out of the way of the work in the shop soon I'll destroy them all just trying to get around.
So I have replaced the taillights, all 5 amber markers (all of them were so brittle you couldn't open the covers to replace a bulb) and re-wired the lighting connection to the vehicle up front to something that was made this decade and can be matched up! Inverter/charger is non-functional [] but I have a deep cycle 12V on board and can live without the charge piece. I also own 2 inverters so will figure out later if one gets installed permanently or what. That takes care of electrical for now.
My wife assisted my in painting the interior [8D] and I have about 2/3rds of the carpet in place now (tonights project, but ran out of daylight). Also have a wing rack in place in the ceiling area (from PVC) that should handle pretty much the entire fleet at the moment.
Also pulled one wheel and examined the bearings and electric brakes and they appear to have been well cared for and in great condition. Tires look pretty good too. Only oddity is that I can't figure out how to get the tires off without deflating the tire first and then a major wresting match ensues because the tire will not fit between the hub and wheel well to get it off! [X(] I'm really screwed if I have a flat!!!
I don't have electric brake connections to the truck right now but will consider it in the future. Trailer is a lot lighter than it used to be so don't feel like it's a big safety issue, especially as few highway miles as I'll be putting on the beast.
Also sealed the whole trailer up tight (especially the lid) with either silicon caulk (side areas) or that self leveling sealant they make for RVs (lid). It's been parked outside now through a couple thunder storms and shows no signs of leakage except a very minor drip around the door that begs for a new seal on the door top. That will get fixed soon.
Anyway, that's about it for now I think. If I can save a few bucks to buy the last few pieces I need this thing could be carting airplanes in a couple weeks. Thanks for the email and PMs I've gotten asking about the project. I'll try to post some pics soon to give you an idea where it's at.