You've been contemplating this build for a long time, Paul. Good to see you finally starting on it, should be pretty cool. Looking forward to the build. By the way, what do ya want for the TJ swaybar???
You've been contemplating this build for a long time, Paul. Good to see you finally starting on it, should be pretty cool. Looking forward to the build. By the way, what do ya want for the TJ swaybar???
Sweet Paul, Coming Along Nicely!
Java (January 25th, 2014)
Nice to see you back, Paul!! The receiver I got from you is now red and on the back of my Jeep, I liked it better than the one I had.
I need to fab a mount for the lunette that can swivel. This pic is from a guy back east who's videos I've posted here before http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxBQz85Lptg
it's his trailer and it's been from the east coast to Moab repeatedly so I know the design works. Anyone have any ideas about it? I'm always open for fabrication advice!!
"A welder friend of mine fabbed the plate and gussets, drilled the big hole, then tacked on the nut.. If I get really paranoid about parking the trailer, I just spin the ring out..."
so last night I wrapped the hitch ball in ProtectoWrap (the stuff used to seal windows), it's an experiment but I'm very optimistic. It has about 30 layers of various sizes and the lunette fits very snuggly.
Sweet! The only thing I'm curious about is how well it will turn. The wheels are connected by a single rod so would they rotate at the same speed? Or did you put something else in there that I just skimmed over to quick?
The hubs have bearings in them. You can see a picture of the hubs in the first post.
___________
The Lost Boys motto: We don't know where we're going, but we'll be there for awhile. :)
Looks good so far Paul!
Java (February 22nd, 2014)
Might be a little late now, but keep in mind that the Tacoma springs have a tendency to crack. The earlier model Toyota springs are much stronger.
Java (February 22nd, 2014)
Thanks, Jeff, I'll keep an eye on them. They're in great shape and I'm expecting my little trailer fully loaded won't match the weight of an empty Tacoma bed, so hopefully they'll last for me. Thanks for the heads up!
Working on the coupler, the tounge is 2x2 square, this coupler is made from receiver stock so it will fit over it. I'm trying to add tounge weight to it, so I used some heavy pieces deliberately. It's a 6x6x6x3/8 angle up front; next is a short section of 2x2 square with a 1-1/2" i.d. tube tacked inside, and the spaces are filled with JB Weld so it resists crushing. The screw is going to be replaced by a zerk so I can lube it. After that is a piece of 3x3x3/16 angle. You can see a 7/16" hole where it meets the tube, that is for the 7/16" grade 8 bolt in the pic to through bolt the angles to the tube. That alone should hold it together; I'm welding it too, but I'm still a rookie welder and I want to be sure it's safe. I researched the bolt size because I'm anal http://www.boltscience.com/.
Everything is tacked, today I'm using a better welder than mine to burn it up. I have to say that I'm digging my HF 90amp welder (but an uprade is coming) more and more as I get used to it. I've found that deep clean bevels and surface grinding go a long way, and if my prep is good I can do up to 1/4" with it. It seems that in my limited experience good prep makes my welding better. And PAM smells great!!
Looking good Paul!
Java (February 24th, 2014)
Looking good, a buddy of mine had cut the front end pretty much from the firewall forward off an old Cherokee and welded a tounge on, gutted the inside and turned it into his off road trailer/camper, had the same size lift as his tow rig Cherokee and he painted it the same with tires and all it looked really cool.
Java (February 24th, 2014)
Got it welded up and did my best welding so far... which still was kinda ugly after multiple passes, lots of highspots. Practice... I didn't want to grind any of the welds down, I don't want to lose any strength in them, so I got the bright idea to build them up with JB Weld and sand it smooth. Mega PITA, won't be doing that again, it's tough to sand and it makes it look like massive welds. Fail! Tip for sandpaper- tape the backside. It makes it last all day, you can see the first piece I forgot to tape that tore long before it was used up next to the one that finished the sanding and still has some life in it. While I was at it I added a handle as well, which is welded on but I drilled out the mounting holes for 7/16" bolts that will hold it to the tounge and back up the handle welds.
It's like Weld Bondo!
looks good!
Java (February 25th, 2014)
found some time to get into this again, so much for finishing in February! I cut the TJ receivers down for front and rear crossmembers; two more crossmembers are coming, but one of them is tied into the suspension brackets so they're in the next round or two. I'm working on gussets and diagonals too. The outside rails are 4x4x1/4" and the suspension brackets will sit inside them for a low center of gravity. The top of the rails and the top of the tounge are flush, it will have a flatbed. The frame is upside down in the pics and it's tack welded only so far. I got about $45.00 worth of Grade 8 hardware to back up the welds (I redesigned the huckbolts out of it, too much work / expense). I'd dip the whole thing in Grade 8 sauce if I could! You can see some of the holes are already drilled in the crossmembers for them, I have to drill through the sides still and do final welds next, but it's tarped up for the night now.
Measure diagonally, from corner to corner. If it is square, the diagonal measurements will be the same.
___________
The Lost Boys motto: We don't know where we're going, but we'll be there for awhile. :)
Java (March 4th, 2014)
Did that Mike, over and over and over again. I'll do it again before I do final welds too, I'd hate to screw that up.
All trailers in CO must be registered/license plated, right? How's the process for a homemade trailer work?
Java (March 5th, 2014)
Coming along nicely! Good to see one of us putting that welding class to good use. I am thinking of building my own bumper for the 98.
Java (March 5th, 2014)