Ok here we go...PMF!

[dales133]

hitch fitted a treat, never done anything like this and the other handbrake leaver was ugly and too wide.
this drawbar styles how its all done here now.

put the springs and axle back on in the next day or two but this is a fairly close chasis hight on 275/75/16's

[KCStudly]

What are the wheels off of? They look nice.

You are doing a great job there; it all looks very nice.

One thing I was wondering about is just having a single plane of flat bar at the front tying the tongue members together. My habit would be to try and tie both the top and bottom of the tubes together; less chance of flex trying to crack a weld. If you are planning to have a tongue jack, maybe you could mount another plate across the top of the tubes just behind the coupler; perhaps similar to the way I did mine.




The fixed jack (as apposed to a swivel style) is a compromise: it was easier to mount in a central location (so no frame twist when in use), but to remove and stow for travel I will have to pull the foot off and unbolt it at the mounting flange (the mounting plate is tapped to make this easier using a single wrench).

[dales133]

The wheels are the stock wheels of my 80 series.
The bloody things weigh a ton but tough as nails.
They are worth 1000 bucks in average condition here ... I spent about an hour a wheel with a wire brush on my drill and removed all the paint and cap back to metal and painted them with rustinhibiting paint similar to factory.

[dales133]

I'll show you some pics from the caravan rv show 2 weeks ago and thier all going 8m plate underneath.
And most welded in a jig without the central member like I have.
I'm planning on an also 8 or 10 inch flip up jockey wheel that clamps to one side of the draw bar with u bolts.
Please don't at all think I'm discrediting your thoughts or advice I have gained a lot from your posts here and elsewhere .
I'll show you some draw bar profiles I saw recently and value your thoughts .
Cheers Dale
I'm not sure if you noticed but just shy of that last photos extremities is a 70x50x3 cross member and just behind that it's attached to the frame 3 times a side at 600 or less intervals.
But I only want to make this once and won't be offended buy constructive criticism offered by anyone, it's what I admire about this place.

[dales133]

just a few drawbar/hitches i took pics of the weekend before last.
i looked more carefully at the new kimberly campers that go for about 80 grand but they are a beautiful well made looking bit of gear.

[KCStudly]

Well, we know they build 'em stout down under, so I am sure you will do fine emulating the commercial builders.

Cheers , and good-ay to you, mate!

[tony.latham]

That's quite the articulating hitch.

I use a similar tongue jack and have the issue of 4" or so of hang-down. On my old tear I had to replace the jack once after finding a rock.

I use 4" of steel pipe and 5" bolts to lift the bottom of the jack. Works well –I still have plenty of lift– and it doesn't look (too) odd.

Tony

[Captain Monkeyshines]

This is going to be a fun build to watch! The drawbar is cool, similarish to the Max Coupler.

[teddy]

Good start i'm, looking forward to your build!

[dales133]

I'll post some pics later but I managed to finish the topside to where it needed to be then flip it back over again and apply 2 coats of rust kill black gloss to the underside so that should be the final flip (it's a pain in the arse. I had to brush paint it as the only compressor I had acsess to gave up the ghost.
I'll look at spraying the sides even though it came up pretty good due to heating the paint and it's self leveling qualities.
I made up the upper and lower subfloor frames as well.

[dales133]

didn't get much done this week except for grab some more steel for my sub floor and weld up the perimeter sections top and bottom.
gave the underside 2 coats of self leveling gloss black rust kill paint and etch primer.
welded on he bolts for the water tank brackets and got ready to cut the trailer frame back to the sub floor.
tank positioning, immediately behind the axle.











hope to get a bit done tomorrow as im working sunday at this stage.

[KCStudly]

Looking good.

I'm sure you have something planned, but I am wondering if you will shorten your tank straps or add some blocking for the tank to cinch up against. The way it is now looks like the tank is just dangling in the straps and could potentially move around. Do you need the empty space above it for the vent and/or fill line, or can the tank be shifted up into the space provided by the frame?

[dales133]

Yea it's just hanging there.
It won't come up alot because the filler and feed hoses will interfere with the suspension so i had to mount it a bit lower than i first intended
I will however do something on top so it actually clamps in

[GPW]

Dale , found ya’ .... Quite Nice eh !!!!

[dales133]

Thank you kind sir