FlashHole's M416 trailer Build

[Adventure Copan]

Looks great and yes I'll take those samples! I'll text ya.

-Daniel Kent

 

[Flashole]

Nice! And yes, never a bad thing to have a sheet metal contractor living next door, or a welder too.

Yes, wish I knew that before I spent a bunch of money at his shop.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

ha ha...

 

[balu4k]

Now for the Axle decisions. The old axle was in decent shape, but lik everyone else, I wanted to run the same size tires and wheels that are on my Jeep. That means either adapters, or a new axle. Since the hand brake was already missing and I wasn't doing an accurate restoration anyway, a new axle was a no brainer. For what it would have cost me to replace the hand brake mechanism, rebuild the brakes and bearings, I was able to purchaes a whole new axle with electric brakes. A quick call to Red Neck trailer supply and a 4 day wait I have a brand new axle with a 5 on 4.5 lug pattern and electric brakes.

Hey,
What's the clerance / gap between the tire walls and trailer frame. I am trying to get an axle and finalizing the measurements. Based on my wheel size and offset if I go with 56" hub face and 36" spring center, I end up with having 2" of clerance between the trailer frame and tire. Is 2" is too much of gap? Or ok?

Thanks for the help..

 

[Flashole]

Hey,
What's the clerance / gap between the tire walls and trailer frame. I am trying to get an axle and finalizing the measurements. Based on my wheel size and offset if I go with 56" hub face and 36" spring center, I end up with having 2" of clerance between the trailer frame and tire. Is 2" is too much of gap? Or ok?

Thanks for the help..

Right now, I have 33 x 10.5" tires on there and there is about 3 5/8" between the tire and frame. I will eventually put 33 x 12.5" tires on there to match my jeep, so that gap will shrink a bit. I kind of wish I had gone with a 55 or 56" axle, but I don't think it looks bad at all the way it is.

I bought a 57" axle BTW.

 

[balu4k]

Right now, I have 33 x 10.5" tires on there and there is about 3 5/8" between the tire and frame. I will eventually put 33 x 12.5" tires on there to match my jeep, so that gap will shrink a bit. I kind of wish I had gone with a 55 or 56" axle, but I don't think it looks bad at all the way it is.

I bought a 57" axle BTW.

Thanks.

 

[balu4k]

Couple more updates today

Mostly tacked up


That's as far as I got tonight because I ran out of welding gas for the 4th time on this project. Guess I will be doing a bunch of welding for the next few days.

Are you planning to mount a rack on the lid for rtt? How good the lid / frame will handle the weight? I am trying decide on the lid frame structure to handle the weight... Still not able to conclude one

 

[Flashole]

Are you planning to mount a rack on the lid for rtt? How good the lid / frame will handle the weight? I am trying decide on the lid frame structure to handle the weight... Still not able to conclude one

Been thinking about the rack, but haven't decided what to do yet. Can't decide if I want to build one, or buy something that looks nice and is more versatile. I don't plan on ever doing a RTT, but I may end up selling this things some day and the next guy might want one. I just can't decide what to do.

As for what the structure will handle, it's pretty stout. I'm sure I could walk on it. The sheet metal might take some damage, but I don't thinkg it would cave in or anything like that. I went with 14 gauge sheet metal, so t's certainly heavy. I think it wold depend on what you put on it. It seems pretty stiff. Once I finish welding it up, maybe I'll lay it on the ground and test it out a little.

Sorry, I know that wasn't much help.

 

[3d fj]

Just throwing this out there... Ever think about possibly getting something like a Thule track that can bolt to the top, and then you can use Thule feet and bars and mount whatever you want on there. It's pretty flexible in terms of versatility.

 

[Flashole]

Update

Finally got the lid all welded up. That was a lot of work! I'll grind off the welds tomorrow and re-weld any place that might not be water tight.


So, I'm trying to figure out what weight and length of shocks I should order for the lid. I've looked into it in the past, but still haven't really figured it out. I did bring out the bathroom scale to give something to go off of.


Based on this, it looks like the lift weight would be around 85 lbs., and I'm sure it will gain a few pounds after paint, latches, handles etc.... Of course, I'm not entirely sure this is the best way to go about this. Anybody have any advice?

 

[Flashole]

Just throwing this out there... Ever think about possibly getting something like a Thule track that can bolt to the top, and then you can use Thule feet and bars and mount whatever you want on there. It's pretty flexible in terms of versatility.

Funny you mention that. I was sitting at a stop light just today and the truck next to me had some sort of Thule thing mounted to the top of his truck bed. It looked to be exactly what I had in mind, only it was too big and bulky for my trailer. I'm sure they make different sizes though.

Thanks for bringing it up, I had completely forgotten about it. I'm going to at least look into it. Any clue how pricey their systems are? The thing I saw today looked nice enough to cost a few bucks.

 

[TheJosh]

Funny you mention that. I was sitting at a stop light just today and the truck next to me had some sort of Thule thing mounted to the top of his truck bed. It looked to be exactly what I had in mind, only it was too big and bulky for my trailer. I'm sure they make different sizes though.

Thanks for bringing it up, I had completely forgotten about it. I'm going to at least look into it. Any clue how pricey their systems are? The thing I saw today looked nice enough to cost a few bucks.

I priced out a Thule and for the sliding track. Towers and cross bars (no locks no other accessories) $600...



So I went with the rhino rack for $270 from Etrailer for the exact same setup

 

[TheJosh]

For my lid I have 150lbs gas struts. Haven't installed them yet but that's what came when I bought them from the horrible sierra 4x4 trailers


Lid looks great by the way!

 

[Flashole]

For my lid I have 150lbs gas struts. Haven't installed them yet but that's what came when I bought them from the horrible sierra 4x4 trailers


Lid looks great by the way!

Yeah, I just priced out Thule's system and came to the same conclusion. Looks nice, but too pricey for my intended use. I'll check out the Rhino rack. That's closer to my roof rack budget, which is zero

Any clue what your lid weighs? What length shocks did they send you?

I've read the threads about Sierra. Sounds like his business has growing pains, but I sure do like his trailer the best.

 

[balu4k]

Been thinking about the rack, but haven't decided what to do yet. Can't decide if I want to build one, or buy something that looks nice and is more versatile. I don't plan on ever doing a RTT, but I may end up selling this things some day and the next guy might want one. I just can't decide what to do.

As for what the structure will handle, it's pretty stout. I'm sure I could walk on it. The sheet metal might take some damage, but I don't thinkg it would cave in or anything like that. I went with 14 gauge sheet metal, so t's certainly heavy. I think it wold depend on what you put on it. It seems pretty stiff. Once I finish welding it up, maybe I'll lay it on the ground and test it out a little.

Sorry, I know that wasn't much help.

finally i am convinced on one design for the lid frame which i am guess would be solid enough to hold the weight of the RTT and the people. just don't want to hijack your thread with my questions.. so i posted the details in my build thread. let me know what you think..