flatlander offroad project

[aalbinger]

Picture the springs mounted in the conventional manner (fixed point up front, pivot shackle in the back). When you're moving forward and you hit a bump, the spring compresses and as the shackle moves rearward the axle actually moves slightly towards the rear. It is a smooth motion as the suspension soaks up the bump.

Now picture your suspension with the shackle mounted up front. Again, you're moving forward and you hit a bump. The spring compresses, but it jars the rear fixed mount, and as the suspension is trying to soak up the bump the axle is actually trying to move forward against the bump (the shackles and axle move forward). It makes for a harsher ride.

I agree 100% this is what happens. However, having towed it around for a while I can tell you that the amount of harshness imparted by the slight forward movement so far seems negligible for a non-passenger trailer in on-road conditions.

This is what has me pausing about cutting the current setup off and redoing it. Since I'm quite sure I can drag it from Iowa to Colorado and back on the interstate without issues I really need to get some first hand experience driving it on a slower and rougher surface to decide if the 1/2" forward movement at full compression imparts enough force to care about when moving slowly on the trails.

I'm in no way advocating that anyone else setup a leaf spring in this manner. I just haven't yet seen evidence that it is so bad it requires fixing. If/when I do I'll be sure to get video footage of it and post it here so that an example can be made for future generations of dead-end trailer project recovery experts.

-Andrew

 

[aalbinger]

I guess I better get busy finishing this up. Today's arrival:

 

[aalbinger]

One ground off, four to go. I may need a bigger grinder.

 

[aalbinger]

And then nearly 2 months of kidney stone issues happened. Been "under" 3 times and had probes where no man should have them 5 different times. THAT is hopefully done now and none too soon. My trip to Colorado with my 17 year old son is at the end of July.

I have finished up the leaf spring swap which ended up requiring new spring hangers as well as removing, gridning smooth and installing new spring perches on the axles to get everything done properly. Finished that up yesterday morning and as of about an hour the bulk of the work of installing and trimming some etrailer fenders is complete. I was going to make my own fenders out of 1" steel pipe and hand rail weld on corners but time is becoming short and I really want to have fenders on before the trip. I think they look OK and I still plan to add pre and post fender side steps on the sides of the trailer with the pipe and steel in the future.

Next up is the "roof rack" for the RTT. Hope to make a bit of progress on that tonight.

 

[indiedog]

I really like these types of trailers and this is looking good. Simple and bombproof. I do have a question though. The floor looks like it's only supported at some points around the edge, at the corners via the cross bracing and midpoints on some tabs, unless I'm reading it wrong. For me this isn't enough support and when you load up the floor the edge of the floor sheet will flex. Depending on how you load the trailer there could be a lot of load on those tabs on the side too. Any way you can add an angle on the inside of the chassis side rail to better support the floor? I think if you added edge support all round it would be pretty solid.

Hope that's of assistance. And hope the "man" prob's get sorted too!

 

[aalbinger]

The floor looks like it's only supported at some points around the edge, at the corners via the cross bracing and midpoints on some tabs, unless I'm reading it wrong.

I think you are reading it correctly. There is a full corner to corner X brace that the floor sits on. Then an angle iron tab in the middle of each side. So along the perimeter it only has 8 contact points.

For me this isn't enough support and when you load up the floor the edge of the floor sheet will flex. Depending on how you load the trailer there could be a lot of load on those tabs on the side too. Any way you can add an angle on the inside of the chassis side rail to better support the floor? I think if you added edge support all round it would be pretty solid.

Hope that's of assistance.

I'll have to pay really close attention to it on my July trip. So far my John Deere snowblower and several other slightly heavier loads haven't caused any flex but I haven't packed it full side to side yet. I suspect you are right that for the long term I may need to create more contact area along the edges of the floor going forward.

Thanks!

 

[aalbinger]

A bit more progress this weekend. Hole are drilled in the trailer bed rails. As soon as I get a couple more coats of paint on and dry it's time to mount this rack and then mount the RTT!

19 days till my drive to Colorado.

 

[aalbinger]

One bit of cutting to do on the hitch on my Jeep and I'm ready for a 250 mile highway shakedown run tomorrow.

 

[aalbinger]

Had to pop it up and climb in. Apparently I couldn't be bothered to find level ground.

 

[aalbinger]

I'm now less than a week from heading to Colorado. I was thinking of mounting a hitch tray on the tongue of the trailer for mounting jerry cans and the like.

I have some room for that when jacknifed to 90 degrees:

But not so much when truly jacknifed:

In fact, barely enough room for just the jerry cans:

I guess that saves me some time this weekend. I'll have to load the jerry cans in the trailer itself.

I'm assuming I want to be able to jacknife it to full lock instead of just 90 degrees. Am I being too conservative?

 

[aalbinger]

Down to 3.5 days till we leave on our trip. Time to fish or cut bait!

I've tossed together a temporary tail gate held in with turn buckles.
Added a cross brace inside the trailer to keep the fuel and water Jerry Cans upright.
Found my cable I'm going to use to lock the Jerry cans in the trailer when parked.

The rest of the contents will only be secured in a cargo bag and below a tarp for the duration of this trip.

Added a coat of paint or two to the fenders and I think it is time to roll.

Also had to test out my new cast iron griddle.

 

[Ngneer]

Love it man. Please continue with updates. What are the dimensions? Nice

 

[aalbinger]

Maiden voyage is in the books: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/146278-Flatlander-Offroad-Trailer-s-first-adventure-(more-vacation-that-overlanding)

 

[aalbinger]

I gave the obstacle course at the Iowa Jeep Show a run with my trailer this weekend.

[video]https://www.facebook.com/mick.smeltzer/videos/10156024175220322/[/video]