Step by Step Trailer Build
 

After a couple of weeks following an inspiring and very good thread on building a small trailer http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_31..._1/key_/tm.htm (link to thread) I can stand it no longer and must have one for myself. The motivating factors are; bidding a fond fair well to my full size Tahoe, gas prices headed for $3.00 per gallon and beyond (just like Star Trek), and not being able to fit any plane larger than a postage stamp into my fuel efficent ride. Most flying fields are a $5.00 trip away in my beloved Tahoe. So owning a trailer for my planes to ride in seems to be a great option. I just can not justify $2,000 or more for a store bought mobile toy closet! Besides that, how many airplanes/engines/radios...????

Here is what I have planned,

1) Trailer frame purchased from Harbor Frieght http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90154 for a cost of 249.99 plus tax ($15.00) total $264.99

I will keep a running total at the end of each post for your reference.

2) Build the box from wood available from the local hardware and painted with off the shelf latex (nose friendly no smell) paint.

3) Tow trailer filled with airplanes to local flying field with my 30mpg car often!

Lets get started!:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

First step a trip to Harbor Frieght and a trailer kit pn/90154.

Unpack the two boxes and take inventory. One damaged part but a quick trip back to HF and a no qustions asked replacement. I love no hassle customer service!

This trailer has a folding option that lets the trailer fold in half for storage. With a box bolted to the trialer frame this option is not usable. My plan is to eliminate the folding option and parts used for that.

Assembly begins. This kit is a bolt together kit and requirres only a couple of wrenches to assemble. I have decided to bolt together the two center cross members where the frame halves would fold for storage of the trailer. This was simple and easy to do as all of the frame members have ample holes in them. I have planty of extra hardware for this step since I will not be using the stake holders or the folding option. I assembled the entire frame less axle and wheels with all bolts just hand tight. I then realized that the plywood for the trailer floor would provide an easy template to make sure the trailer frame bolted together squarley. Off to the hardware total cost at this point $264.99

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

After a succesful trip to one of my favorite stores (hardwares) I now have one sheet of 19/32 4 ply underlayment plywood for the floor of the trailer and 2 sheets of 5.2mm luan plywood for the sides and 4 1x2"x8' top choice pine bords for fraiming the box of the trailer. Cost of trip to hardware $ 44.80.

19/32 plywood on floor with 2x4 blocks to space it off the garage, err I mean Trailer Manufacturing Facility assembly floor, and the same trailer frame placed on the ply for assembly. This time I tighened the bolts to hold the frame together and started to assemble the nose (trailer hitch of frame) using the instruction assembly manual that came with the trailer.

I also have manufactured (2) aluminum straps (1.5x9x1/4") brackets to replace the folding hinge brackets suppled to couple the front and rear of the folding trailer. This was just something extra I did because I have the aluminum on hand, you could still use the kit supplied brackets and they will work just fine.

After the trailer frame is assembled completely I will seal the plywood floor using latex primer and finish paint. I will detail what I do when the time comes. Now back to construction, more later.

Total Cost (running total) $ 309.79

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

JEB, what will the interior dimensions of the trailer be? Your posts are very interesting.


Mike
(Tahoe owner)

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Here's how I built my trailer using the same Harbor Freight base as yours.

I use a custom made vinyl cover to keep the rain out.

It's 4' by 8' outside dimensions.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

The deminsions of the trailer box will be as follows;

length

outside 8' or 96"

inside would be 92"

width

outside 4' or 48"

inside 44"

depth

not sure yet, but I would estimate 5' or 60"

Hope this helps

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Jeb,
Thanks for posting this. I agree on your concept. I am at the same point, I have an old van and a small car. Need to do something in the long term because the van will some day be gone. Keep the post comming.

tonyc

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Couple of things to ponder . . .

Trailers are more than mere toy toters, they are also toy _storage spaces_.

If you enclose the majority of the "A" frame section, you increase the volume of the dry storage area and also reduce the amount of power needed to pull the thing down the road.

Whether you make your trailer a "V" nose or not, add a rock shield across the front - 24" wide 1/8" aluminum plate would serve nicely.

Photo is my store-bought "V" nose 7'X16' tandem axle model airplane hauler.

My model airplane hauler _puller_ is a 2003 E-350 Extended Super Duty van with the three rear bench seats removed and stored. Makes room for a full 4'X8' sheet of half inch ply in the back, and I can haul a _lot_ of stuff in the van.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

One of our club membersmade his hauler from a pop-up camper that the canvas had rotted in. He gutted it, made tie-downs for everything. It had a crank-up fiberglass top, and was about 8 x 12 and about 3 feet deep. He could get three 1/4 scale biplanes and all his flight gear in it. Gave about $250 for the camper, even had a spare. With the low profile, he said you hardly knew it was behind you, no wind resistance.

I'm gonna try to find something like that, with diesel going past $2.45/gal and me getting about 13-14 mpg. The only thing covered I have to haul planes in is sort of a multipurpose affair. We camp in it, haul horses in it, haul airplanes in it, you name it.Here it is:

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Jeb... keep the post comming so I can put the passanger seat back in my Jeep Cherokee Sport!

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Well I have just bolted the trailer together and torqued all of the bolts, and added the trailer hitch connecting rails. Next step is to turn the trailer frame over and begin to build the box and top. Made a real bad mistake this evening by visiting Sears and the tool section. They had a super deal on a battery operated tool set that included drill, light, circular saw, sawzal, and most importantly a nailer. I have most all of these tools in 120 volt with the exception of the nailer. Well there goes $200 dollars of the savings realized by constructing my own trailer! Well show me a guy that does not own enough tools, (if such a person exists) and I will show you a guy that tests tools for a living!

This is not that difficult and is proving to be a great deal of fun! You folks have some great toy haulers!

I am going back to work on my trailer, see ya next post!

JEB:D

Forgot to mention that the picture is of the folding bracket mentioned in an earlier post. The two part bracket allowed for the trailer to fold in the middle. I have no need for this feature so I replaced the bracket with a solid one made from 1/4" aluminum.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

JEB....what size wheels do those trailers come with now ? I think they
come with nicer wheels than the early H.F. trailers.

Dave.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

By what I understand, the stock wheels are too small for practical road use. there is a 12" set that HF sells as an option. Easier on the wheel bearings as well. Hubs arent spinning at 7grand, only oh say 5 grand:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Dave,

The trailer kit comes with 12 inch tires, mounted and filled with air. You can buy the lower capacity trailer and it has 8 inch tires. The 12's should be just fine. No towing at 75 miles per hour though!

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

That's what I was hoping you were going to say. :D

The little wheels were only rated at about 45 mph, and will blow out if you get
them hot enough. [:o]

I wanted to show you some pics of a neat "reach-in" trailer I saw, different
from a "walk-in" trailer....I need to find them.

Dave.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Don't nail the wood parts of the trailer together. Nails only work for objects that don't shake and rattle their way down the road, like houses.

Use #8 fine thread general purpose screws similar to but bigger and longer than drywall screws. Lots of holding power to keep a bouncing box of wood parts in close formation.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Look at these pictures of an inexpensive homemade "reach-in" trailer. This thing
really works nice. ;)

FBD. :D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

FBD,
Nice trailer with lots of doors to reach things through. Not sure how I will build the box yet but all of these pictures gives me plenty of usable ideas. I realy like the simplicity of a pop up lid with a hinge along one side though. Solves the problem of getting a door to seal all of the elements out.

Fred,
Thanks for the advice on nails/screws. On the frame and floor I plan on using wood screws and gorrila glue. The thin 1/4 ply to the frame I plan on using the brads and nail gun with the gorrila glue. The glue holds the parts together the brads are just used to keep the glued parts in contact until the glue sets up. Forgive the pun but the gorrila glue is tough as nails or tougher! The gorrila glue is used in construction of many things including ultralight and experimental aircraft. Again thanks for the reply and helpful advice, keep the information flowing!

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

I have the original trailer that was a project in Model Builder magazine. It was a 4'x8' Wards that was cut and extended to 10' long in the box. It has plywood flooring with a wood frame skinned with thin aluminum siding from a mobile home or the like. The top is hinged on one side and uses gas struts to hold it open, worked great for my needs.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

More progress on my trailer. A trip to the hardware for more wood to frame the sides with. Once the frame (1x2" pine) is completed then the 1/4" luan plywood will be atatched and then the top will be fabricated. All the wood is being glued together using Tightbond 2. I decided to use Tightbond instead of the Gorrila glue. Much less expensive and I do not have to continualy wipe the excess glue away. The polyurethane glues such as Gorrila glue expand and foam a bunch.

The lower box portion of the trailer should be completed by the weekend and then next week on to the top. I have a camp over for the youth at church this weekend so my schedule may take a major detour.

Total cost of wood from hardware $ 48.23. This includes a new carbide tiped blade for my miter saw.

Total cost of construction to date $ 358.02

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

I'd consider adding opposing diagonals in each of the vertical walls for additional bracing to prevent the whole box frame collapsing like a bunch of dominos.

Right now it looks a lot like the stud frame walls in a house, and you know what high winds can do to houses . . .

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

I just realized what's wrong with all these photos: there aren't airplanes and wings and crashed fuses scattered all over the garage!

What's with that?? LOL

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

hey yeah thats a good point what kind of RC guy are you your garage should be too cluttered with RC airplanes to work on that trailer :)
i like the progress. this is what i am planning on doing eventually. it would do you good to treat it like framing a house do some crossbracing even if not for finished strength but strength as your building it.

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

I just finished hanging the airplanes from the ceiling and putting them up on shelfs. Behind the camera is a 16 foot long by 4 feet wide building table with a couple of projects on the table. I built this table when I was constructing some full scale experimental planes. It has served me well.

Thanks for the comments on cross bracing, I will study on that. Remember though that the frame will get 1/4 plywood glued to it all the way around. My thinking here is that the ply becomes sheer weebing and takes most all of the tension and sheer loads. Also this is not a very large trailer and has no doors or windows.

I have got to get this thing finished so that I can get some more flying in this year. I am spending way to much time in this garage.

Keep the coments and opinions coming, thanks for all the response.

JEB:D

RE: Step by Step Trailer Build
 

Not much time to work on my trailer, but I have made some progress. A trip to the hardware for some bolts and nuts to bolt the box to the trailer frame. I chose to use 5/16"x2 1/2" carriage bolts and elastic or stop nuts. The frame is already drilled for these so just drilling through the framework and floor of the wooden box is all that is required. I also purchased a couple of 1/2x8" pine boards for the top construction as well.

Cost of Trip to Hardware $ 15.62

Total Cost of Construction to Date $ 373.64