by wannabefree » Thu Jan 14, 2021 10:31 pm
We built the Paskett Case on the "high-end" HF frame 11 -- no, 12 -- years ago. On our first long trip we replaced the tires after my sister-in-law said "Is the tire supposed to look like that?" I did what I always do; bowed to the East and said "Thank you, China," and we went on our way, grateful the local tire shop in Nowhere, Idaho had a couple of those little tires in stock and that nothing bad happened when the tread flew off. The old guy running the shop said, "How much air you put in those things?" I told him 80 pounds, like the manufacturer said. He gave a chuckle and said, "No more than 55 from now on, OK?"
Next I decided I needed to lengthen the tongue after having to pull a U-turn on a narrow dirt road that came to a sudden end. The extra eight inches I added saves a lot of dents in my bumper and possible crushed corners on the tear as I make sharp turns. I am a poor welder, but it has held for 10 years.
Then we hit an unavoidable chuckhole in an LA freeway which bent the spindle on the right side. This is not a heavy trailer, about 1200 pounds fully loaded. It wasn't too bad and we drove it for the rest of our 3-week trip, but as soon as I got home we got a new Dexter axle (which cost almost as much as the trailer). The spindles on the HF axle are about 3/4 inch diameter, those on the Dexter are 1-1/8. The bearings are better, too.
The only thing left of the HF trailer is the steel frame and I probably don't need it because I built a torsion box floor so as to raise our living quarters over the wheels and permit a full-size mattress.
Did I use Locktite? No, between the locknuts and lock washers provided it seemed a bit too belt and suspenders even for me. I have had. no trouble with them working loose.
I have no idea what the cost of a custom trailer frame would be, but if I ever do this again (I won't) I will have one built. I would have a wider axle which would mean I would not have to build up over the wheels and I would have a more aesthetically pleasing trailer.
Sorry for the long winded reply. I have been off the forum for years and just can't resist unloading years of experience in a single drop.
In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.
-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery