current build

[elmo_cecil]

hey hey,

finally joined the site... visited many times.. got alot of inspiration from the site...

so my current build: i have this silly day dream that once my kiddo graduates i am going to find the time to travel more. i like the mountains. been through 49 states and 5 canafian provinces and want to pretty much go nomad. anyway i was weighing the options of building an rv or trailer. my current "tow vehicle" is sub-par so trailer would have to be small. i came across a dreaded craigslist add when i had funs and the end result was this guy for $450

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an old military trailer some guy bought to try to turn into a dump trailer... was too small for him.. supposedly the bearings were rebuilt by the previous owner...
the guy also included several boxes of amazon wiring stuff:
flat-7 harness
trailer light terminal enclosure
trailer light housings (oval semi style)
led trailer lights
license plate lights
like 10 rolls of wire

so i figured i got a decent deal

i had access to alot of materials
structural aluminum
left over metal roofing
boxes of parts/hardware collected over the years

my rough plan was to build an aluminum frame, plywood it in and make a roof.. probably swap axle

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the front of the trailer had a wall approximately 2' feet tall so my plan was to use 2'x4' plywood panels at the bottom and 4'x4' panela above the wheel cutout for a total height of 6' (the trailer is 6x8'

i slide structure aluminum into channels on the front wall for uprights and used angle bracktes to secure the other uprights.. bolting throught the floor and into the aluminum. then build the frame and used t nuts to secure the plywood

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[elmo_cecil]

more picture of walls going up

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[elmo_cecil]

next was the front wall

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[elmo_cecil]

the roof was a next...

my initial plans were to use truck cap or something prebuilt. tat really didnt work out dimensionally... and i got access to some left ovet metal roofling. i built a 2x4 frame put he metal roofing on one side, 1/4: sanded plywood on other and fiberglass in between. ya got a roof.

i wanted to do some type of sky lights but was worried about sealing them and getting the cut outs right

i didnt mention before im on a limited budget and have just the neighborhood kid helping me after work

i decided to have the roof tilt up as on unit instead of going with skylights

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about this time i had two other project going. axle swap and windows

[elmo_cecil]

windows:

so yeah no skylights...

i found some amazon rectangular she windows with screens cheap and bought 4...

i also found some cheap amazon marine portal windows for cheap and figured theyd be good for front and back as they should seal better

i wanted to do one "cool" window and found a "window" that was designed to be put in a fence to let your dog look around.. a bubble window

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[elmo_cecil]

wheels and axles:

ive been on many long distance road trips. ive seen many journeys totally messed up because of wheels and axles first hand and on the side of the road. i loved the look of the military wheels and tires but they were old i didnt trust them, i didnt think they were dot legal and i wanted to use the same size wheel and tire as my tow vehicle

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funny story: getting the wheels off

first if i remember right the lug nuts were 1-1/2" so yeah two trips to autozone for 3/4'" sockets and breaker bar. then in my hast i forgot to ntoic that the studs were stamped "R" and "L" indicating the thread direction (ive seen this before i dont know why it didnt click) but yeah broke the breaker bar and had to go to auto zone a third time

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for some m/t tires i liked and a dexter axle and bought three more 5x5" wheels to match the new hubs (and tow vehicle)

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[elmo_cecil]

so yeah wheels were off and while it was lower seemed like a good time to put roof on

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the old tires were dated 1960 and still holding air

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[elmo_cecil]

i ended up needing wheel spacers. couldnt find exact match of spring perch width and hub face width so some photos have rims flipped to clear inner fender

also all seams of playwood got 1x3 trim

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[elmo_cecil]

next comes the back wall and door.

similarly to the other walls i attached wood to the floor but dor frame was 2x4's

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for teh door i bought plywood but by the time i got around to using it, it was warped.. anded up splurging and getting 2 24" x 36" edge glued pine project board front lowes and making a door (dont recommend it unless you can seal immediately)

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yay! now i can install a/c and work inside (bought it may 25th was like a month into it and it was hot)

[elmo_cecil]

not for the roof: no skulights but have it tilt or raise... found som 12v 20" stroke linear actuators with a 1300lb capacity.. $65 on amazon match that with some heavy duty hinges and creative sealing?

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[elmo_cecil]

electrically so far:

just one 12v battery (planning on a bank)
all 12v lighting
3000 watt inverter
battery charger
30A 12VDC power supply to run 12v from shore power
120v AC
12v laptop psu
automotive in dash double din dvd/am/fm/cd/mp3
switch is for roof
marine 12v battery selector switch
wiring it up to charge 12v off of tow vehicle too

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[elmo_cecil]

started working on interior walls...
i have a supply of mylar coated bubble wrap bags (whole food curbside fridge bags) using them filled with spray foam inside walls

interior walls 1/4" sanded plywood.. need to trim windows admittedly

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at this point (late june or early july) i had some medical issues and was deb ridden for a month... the trailer sat unpainted and i had to bride kids to get some paint on it so the plywood wouldnt be damaged. but this is how it looked

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[elmo_cecil]

now its moslty painted.. still need some tough ups.... rustoleum gloss oil base

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[elmo_cecil]

wanted to see what it looked like with exterior lights burning

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overall kind of at a slow point motivationally... dont like the direction the interior layout was going (bunk beds) thinking of doing a more traditional lay out. or maybe just selling and moving onto an rv build.. not sure... any input?

[greygoos]

Nice job . Happy Camping