need help on finishing interior of trailer

S

Snowrydr01

Observer
Im still in the design/conceptual phase of my trailer design. After weighing a bunch of different styles and how i will use it i think i have settled on what i am calling an exoframe trailer (im sure there is a real name for it) similar to this one for both ease of construction and cost affectiveness for how often i will actually be using it.


trailer030.jpg


so here is my question...How do you finish the interior corner on the leading edges?

frame.jpg

yes i know, Im amazing in MS Paint :coffee:


Do you just seal the two edges from the inside and leave a small edge visible from the outside where they meet and just not worry about it? Do you put a 90degree bend on one of them?

I understaand they will be secured on the top and bottom frame but wouldnt that edge rattle since its not actually monted to anything?
 
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Snowrydr01

Observer
its not really the support im thinking of since it will be attached at both the top and the bottom rails, but how to finish off where the two piece meet so it doesnt look sloppy from the outside.

I was thinking maybe L brackets on the inside to pull the two edges together for a tight seem but then there would be bolts on the outside in those locations and no where else.
 
lowenbrau

lowenbrau

Explorer
If you don't support the checkerplate in the middle a shifting load may bow it out, break the seal and make it look bad. I do understand the aesthetic concerns about fasteners. How about having the whole piece of checker bent into a U shape? Would look clean, as well as strong and sealed.
 
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Snowrydr01

Observer
Thanks for the insight. I went over to metalsdepot and the longest section of AL or thin guage steel i could get was 10 feet long, maybe ill check a local supplier to see what the largest sheets they carry are (but then how would i get it home?). For one long piece i think i would need around 14 feet or so.

Its weird, i see these online all the time and just never thought about it untill i started sketching it out. Its one of those things that people dont realy cover when they build on either. I think the guy from the one i pictures above simply overlapped his and fastened them at the front since it wasnt seen as much.
 
Box Rocket

Box Rocket

Well-known member
Do you think the trailer you posted pictures of looks sloppy? It has the same problem you describe, and having seen that trailer in person I wouldn't say it looks sloppy at all. Definitely not watertight, but by no means sloppy.
 
Box Rocket

Box Rocket

Well-known member
I'm building a similar trailer with an exposed frame like the pic you posted. One other thought is to use steel sheet instead of aluminum for the skins. The weight savings of aluminum would be minimal at best when compared to steel sheet. The only downside is the rust proof aspect of the aluminum, that is lacking with the steel. However, that corner seam that you are talking about could be welded with steel. I suppose you could have aluminum welded to but for the DIY'er that probably can't weld aluminum it's something that's doable.

At least that is my plan for my trailer. Just a thought.
 
lowenbrau

lowenbrau

Explorer
I thought about the length problem after I posted. How about having two 7' pieces bent with an 'L' and joining them in the middle at the front, center support?
 
S

Snowrydr01

Observer
Box Rocket said:
Do you think the trailer you posted pictures of looks sloppy? It has the same problem you describe, and having seen that trailer in person I wouldn't say it looks sloppy at all. Definitely not watertight, but by no means sloppy.
Click to expand...

I dont think that trailer looks sloppy at all. Im was just reffering to it to give a visual of the type of trailer i was talking about. Looking closer at his site he actually has a 90degree bend at the front of the side piecesinstead of a raw edge to edge contact.

I was simple saying that having an edge that does attach to anything would be considered sloppy in the context of overall finish and having a tight seal in that corner.

I would be using a thin guage steel also not Alum. I had thought about welding it as someone else had mentioned but i would just be scared that such a thin sheet over such a large area would have a tendancy to want to warp no matter how slowly you stiched it.
 
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Box Rocket

Box Rocket

Well-known member
Like I said before, I've seen that trailer in person, and I don't think there is a 90* bend in the side skins at the corner. I could be mistaken but I'm pretty sure the 3 skin peices on the box are just butted up against each other at the corners.
 
S

Snowrydr01

Observer
no problem, ill take your work for it. Besides, i was just working of pictures anyway trying to break down the contruction of certain parts.
 
C

cyclic

Adventurer
Another option, in the corners add a piece of flat steel on each side. When viewed from above in a sectional cross would look like this.............

<><

giving you a flange on seach side and a place to put a bead of calking as you build it.
 
Rezarf <><

Rezarf <><

Explorer
Even easier is to build the front frame out of 1x1 and the sides out of 2x1 and you will end up with a "L" in your inside corner leaving you a nice semetrical outside and two surfaces to weld/bolt to on the inside.
 
Box Rocket

Box Rocket

Well-known member
Rezarf <>< said:
Even easier is to build the front frame out of 1x1 and the sides out of 2x1 and you will end up with a "L" in your inside corner leaving you a nice semetrical outside and two surfaces to weld/bolt to on the inside.
Click to expand...


That my friend is a good idea. Now I know why your trailer trailer is so **************.......
 
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