Expedition Essentials
Approved Vendor : Expedition Essentials
Really nice; clean trailer Robert. Love the Can back!
Henry Spen Restomod adventure trailer build
- Thread starter givemethewillys
- Start date
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
If you look in the background you can see the hitch on the original frame. The C-channel faces out on that one, so I assume it will be fine either direction. I guess structurally it really doesn't matter, but cosmetically I agree that it does look more "finished" with the C-channel facing inwards. There will be a plate that connects the two where they all meet which will give it a more finished look. I'm trying to keep the stock look, for the most part, so outwards it will be :victory:
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givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
Ha; cant tell you how many times I have been overconfident in my measurements and made bad cuts! I usually buy a little extra. Whats was that; measure twice cut onceMore like measure three times, cut once and wonder what the hell happened!
I definitely measure twice, then clamped everything "perfectly" together so I'd only have to make one long cut. DOH!!! In my head thinking, "so if this one goes this way, the other one is backwards, so it must go this way". So much for measuring!
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
So, I was racking my brain trying to make a decision on which leaf springs I should use, and in my research I discovered that the 36" leaf springs on my Spen are the same as the front leaf on the Jeep MB/CJ2a. This makes finding replacements MUCH easier, so I'm going to go with it and keep the stock leaf springs! That's next on my list, it should be done by this coming week
Mark Harley
Expedition Leader
Frame looks great!
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
Update time! So my buddy the mechanic was nice enough to mount my new tires on the junkyard rims I acquired. When I picked them up I was shocked! They were WIDE!!!! So wide, in fact, that the backspacing became effectively too much for the trailer to take. The tires when bolted up rub against the sheetmetal. This will not do at all..... So it looks like I'm going to have to get some spacers!
Here are the tires mocked up on the trailer. You can see how they sit too far inboard:
To solve this issue for now, I found a set of 1.25" spacers on Ebay for $50 shipped. Since someday I want to change out the axle to one with a 5 on 5.5" pattern, this should work for the time being.
I was also able to make some serious progress on the spring assemblies. Having finally decided to keep the stock length leaf springs, I pushed forward to remove the bolts securing the spring hangers and leaf spring assembly. This was not an easy task with most of the nuts being unrecognizable rust colored blobs!!!! Luckily, judicious use of PB blaster and an air ratchet finally knocked MOST of the bolts free. I still have two resilient hangers that are going to need heat or a grinder before this ordeal is over with
After what seemed like hours of clanging and banging, I finally emerged with a complete axle and leaf spring assembly. It practically shouted, "Clean me!!!"
With that in mind, I set up my newest toy:
Harbor Fright was having a sale on everything so I was able to get this little beauty for $50 shipped to my door! It took a lot of fiddling and a return trip to TSC for some finer sand, but after tweaking it I was able to get great results even with my smallish 21gallon compressor (5.6cfm).
The spray pattern was pretty small and the fine media made for a slow rust removal process. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to hire out the tub sandblasting or do it myself. I'll cross that road when I get to it!
Next on the list is to replace the Ubolts and leaf spring bushings, then mount the assembly to the new frame. It will be really nice to have a rolling chasis to work with. That frame is getting heavy
Here are the tires mocked up on the trailer. You can see how they sit too far inboard:
To solve this issue for now, I found a set of 1.25" spacers on Ebay for $50 shipped. Since someday I want to change out the axle to one with a 5 on 5.5" pattern, this should work for the time being.
I was also able to make some serious progress on the spring assemblies. Having finally decided to keep the stock length leaf springs, I pushed forward to remove the bolts securing the spring hangers and leaf spring assembly. This was not an easy task with most of the nuts being unrecognizable rust colored blobs!!!! Luckily, judicious use of PB blaster and an air ratchet finally knocked MOST of the bolts free. I still have two resilient hangers that are going to need heat or a grinder before this ordeal is over with
After what seemed like hours of clanging and banging, I finally emerged with a complete axle and leaf spring assembly. It practically shouted, "Clean me!!!"
With that in mind, I set up my newest toy:
Harbor Fright was having a sale on everything so I was able to get this little beauty for $50 shipped to my door! It took a lot of fiddling and a return trip to TSC for some finer sand, but after tweaking it I was able to get great results even with my smallish 21gallon compressor (5.6cfm).
The spray pattern was pretty small and the fine media made for a slow rust removal process. I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to hire out the tub sandblasting or do it myself. I'll cross that road when I get to it!
Next on the list is to replace the Ubolts and leaf spring bushings, then mount the assembly to the new frame. It will be really nice to have a rolling chasis to work with. That frame is getting heavy
wingysataday
Adventurer
what are those springs for? 1 ton? Look a bit overkill for such a light trailer unless you like to haul shamu around?
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
The model S is a 3/4 ton trailer. I agree, totally overkill but thats what came on it! I guess i wont worry too much about overpacking
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
It has been a little while since my last update, but I've made quite a bit of progress. Continuing on with preparing the new frame, I had to remove the old spring hangers and attach them to the new frame. It was a good thing that I didn't try to pull this trailer around anywhere because the bolts holding the hangers on were all but nonexistant!!! The nuts crumbled under the power of an air ratchet and vice grips, and soon I was able to sandblast and paint the hangers.
I also finished up adding some support pieces to the front of the frame.... it definitely gives it a more finished appearance
Meanwhile, I was disassembling the trailer tub parts as well in preparation for sheetmetal repair and sandblasting. I'm getting the tub parts professionally sandblasted. It would take FAR to long to do it myself and my compressor would struggle with the task.
After drilling the holes for the spring hangers, I finally got the frame to the point where I could put some paint on it. I used rustoleum enamel and tractor supply enamel hardner. I think it looks pretty darn good!
After applying multiple coats of black, I slid the axle assembly under the frame, and WHA LAH!!! Rolling chassis
Somewhere down the line my measurements must have been a bit off though... I had to push the springs outward for the centering pins to mount up with the axle holes. It's roughly 1/2" outward on each side. I don't like how it's binding up, so I think I'm going to redrill the holes on the axle to line everything up again. I'm planning on getting a new axle eventually anyways, so this will be a decent test fit for it in the future.
Next up I should be getting my trailer tub parts back from the sandblaster this weekend and will be able to start right away on splicing in repair panels. More updates to come!
I also finished up adding some support pieces to the front of the frame.... it definitely gives it a more finished appearance
Meanwhile, I was disassembling the trailer tub parts as well in preparation for sheetmetal repair and sandblasting. I'm getting the tub parts professionally sandblasted. It would take FAR to long to do it myself and my compressor would struggle with the task.
After drilling the holes for the spring hangers, I finally got the frame to the point where I could put some paint on it. I used rustoleum enamel and tractor supply enamel hardner. I think it looks pretty darn good!
After applying multiple coats of black, I slid the axle assembly under the frame, and WHA LAH!!! Rolling chassis
Somewhere down the line my measurements must have been a bit off though... I had to push the springs outward for the centering pins to mount up with the axle holes. It's roughly 1/2" outward on each side. I don't like how it's binding up, so I think I'm going to redrill the holes on the axle to line everything up again. I'm planning on getting a new axle eventually anyways, so this will be a decent test fit for it in the future.
Next up I should be getting my trailer tub parts back from the sandblaster this weekend and will be able to start right away on splicing in repair panels. More updates to come!
givemethewillys
Jonathan Chouinard
Nothing really, the recent thread that sgthawk started has me thinking about it lately. I replaced the axle with a custom length 3500lb axle, and I added wooden sideboards and a plywood floor to make it useable. And then I parked it for a few years, basically.
The whole project kind of stalled when I took the sheetmetal to the sandblaster and the guy told me it would all turn to swiss cheese by the time he was done blasting it. I think he just didn't want to do the job.
The whole project kind of stalled when I took the sheetmetal to the sandblaster and the guy told me it would all turn to swiss cheese by the time he was done blasting it. I think he just didn't want to do the job.
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