Looking for Materials

[Samorkand]

Last summer a guy gave me an old TriHull boat. Do to issues with getting a title and the boat being rotted pretty bad I am going to trash the boat and rebuild the trailer. My plan is to enclose it and use to store hunting gear, propane bottles, extra gas, coolers for food and anything else I want to keep out of the weather while on the mountain hunting. The guy I got the boat from also has an old camper he wants me to haul off so I thought about taking the stove, heater, fridge and anything else that works out of it to use on the trailer some how. I have a million ideas going through my mind just not sure where to start first. Here are some of the things I am posting here about and need help with.

Would like to find Trailer axles and hubs with the same bolt pattern as a 1999 Super Duty F250. Would be handy to have same rims and tires just in case.

Where do you all buy your materials and parts to build with? Such as windows and doors.

Need to know how far in front of the axle I can safely build without having towing issues. Any suggestions on books or other resources on designing trailers?

Thought about putting a Shower Surround in a corner of it. Open through the floor to drain in a container. No plumbing to freeze just heat up water on the stove and be able to shower now and then.

Thanks for reading.

 

[Samorkand]

This is a Trailer I built 2 years ago. First thing I have ever really done welding.
Bought the boat trailer off of Craigs List for $50. I figured I had another $300 to $350 in it. The trailer I have now is a bit bigger.

 

[AFBronco235]

I'm pretty sure your weight distribution needs to be at around 60/40. That is, 60% of the weight needs to be balanced forward of the axles, and 40% behind. Keep this in mind not only when you figure out where to put stove, shower, etc, but also how you plan to store your stuff within it. Its not good having a 60/40 ration unloaded, only to make it a 40/60 fully loaded.

You can probably source some axles from the local parts yard/junkyard. Pull the rear axle off a truck that will match. I'm sure you can source some trailer axles specific to the wheels you want. I just don't know them. I do know that those axles have been used for years in truck bed trailers and the conversion isn't hard. You can even pick up the springs for it too and save some time there. All you'd need is the mounts for the trailer. Wait, how wide is the frame on your trailer? And how much ground clearance are you wanting?

You should definitely follow the rule of KISS during this build. (Keep It Simple Stupid for those who didn't know.) The drain sounds like a perfect idea. How big are you planning on making this trailer? Your towing issues question depends on the layout and geometry of the trailer frame. Keep in mind how tight you need to be able to turn so that you won't be hitting the side of the trailer with your truck. You may end up doing a lot of fabrication on this is your plan is to build a mini camper with comforts. How do you plan to skin it?

 

[Samorkand]

I need to go take a bunch of measurements of the trailer. Right now the boat is still on it at a friends house. Been waiting for good weather during days off.

I agree 100% on keeping it simple. The last couple years I have taken 8 5lb propane tanks, 9 5gallon gas cans, 4 coolers, lots of bottled water and 3 generators. Every year I put up a tent and move all that stuff to the tent from the back of my pickup. Then move it all back to my pickup when we leave. The enclosed trailer idea was to avoid moving it all so much. Outside storage for things that vent fumes on occasion. A simple shower. Heat incase we decide to use for extra sleeping. Mostly all storage.

Not sure on what to skin it with. Originally I thought about plywood with a lot of paint to keep it inexpensive. Suggestions? I see guys on this site with all kinds of cool stuff they build their projects with. Siding, roofing, windows, doors all kinds of things but unsure where the best deals on it all are.

Appreciate the comments.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

I was looking to mount the same rims and tires as my 2012F150 but since ford went metric in 1996 there are no commercial companies out there that make an axel with hubs that are metric. So you may have to go the adapter route. There is a company that makes them but they're $109 each just for the hubs. I'll try to find the company for you.

 

[100acrehuphalump]

As for a shower...you could try this. It's just 3/4 " PVC and an Eccotemp L5 on demand hot water shower. Will add curtain later. Shower with the bears in Wyoming.

 

[Samorkand]

That would be really cool if you could post a link for those adapters.

I have the Cabelas Shower tent. Years ago I had an old 12' camper with no shower at all. The ex wife told me once that if I didnt make her some way to shower she would take a bath in the middle of the floor of the camper. Well she won and I bought the shower tent. I have a nice shower in my newer camper. Only reason I toyed with putting one in the trailer was to be able to have a warmer shower when its snowing outside. Last October we were close enough to the lodge we drove and took showers ever other day. This year we are going to camp closer to where the elk are. Hopefully save on gas and driving times.