LRRB Trailer Build - Little Red Rust Bucket

[ethernectar]

Welded on the lid/hinge and some hasps this eve.

Now need to figure out what kind of struts, and how I'm going to close the top off. Thinking either steel sheet metal or aluminum diamond plate...

Very sturdy, no warp or twist at all.

Registered the trailer this afternoon down at the DMV and glad to know it doesn't need reverse lights.

 

[Pooch72]

Outstanding progress! I wish mine was coming along that quickly.

I really like what you've done. Kind of makes me wish I'd gone a similar route. This one that I'm building is a major PITA.

 

[ethernectar]

Yeah, but when yours is done it will be most unique! It definitely looks like a monster project, clicked through it a couple of weeks ago.

 

[ethernectar]

Wheels arrived and tires should be here early next week. Have to order the axle tomorrow. Tonight cutting diamondplate. Hope to get the lid completed over the weekend amongst some house work, yard work and work work.

 

[ethernectar]

Getting closer to finishing this stage!

Today, in-between other chores, I added the risers for the crossbars, added some support next to those and cut the diamondplate skin (aluminum) to fit.

Tomorrow will lay the skid down with some silicon and start riveting, then weld the cross-bars on top and finish up some painting.

 

[ethernectar]

Lid cover riveted in place.

Stage 1, almost complete...

Mounted a shovel, axe, and fire extinguisher (not shown).

Had a mishap while crawling inside the trailer, but worked out the issue. Added different locks and some reflective tape.

 

[ethernectar]

Today was a 12 hour trailer day.

'Kitchen' counter - 1' x 4' x 1" solid red oak.

Little baggies add up fast, and still fell 2 bolts short due to a change in plans.

Tie down rails added to front of lid. Will hold awning or firewood.

Brackets fabbed.

Hoorah! Struts installed.

Spare mount re-engineered, going to use part of my Baja-Rack tire carrier to deal with the spare.

 

[ethernectar]

Today I got up, attached the rail for the kitchen 'counter' and installed that.

And some LRRB stickers I had cut out of vinyl.

Then hit the road and drove a couple hours over to Moss Landing to look at the Tepui tent there. The guys were helpful and did the install as well.

Sidebar - with my lid and the tent on top, the 2 250lb gas struts are perfect.

Unfortunately I'm traveling for work at the end of the month for almost two weeks, so I'm not going to get a chance to give it a test run until mid/late June.

Oh, my spare tire mount didn't work out, so will have another revision to that tomorrow, if this 4th iteration doesn't work out I may start over with a different solution altogether.

 

[ethernectar]

Re-re-revised spare tire mount worked out! For extra support I'll run a ratchet strap across it when things get bumpy. I cannibalized the plate and giant wingnut assembly from my BajaRack.

 

[ethernectar]

Shakedown trip this weekend:

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

Pretty kool build!

 

[ethernectar]

Before I begin Phase 2 I should report on this spring and summer's trips. I made a few overnighters up to the sierras and the trailer worked fine. I truly put it through its paces on a week-and-a-half, 2000 mile through the Mojave backcountry and then up through Cathedral Valley in Utah and then over to our annual Toyota meetup at Pismo dunes. The Mojave was the roughest part, mostly due to speed, and there were occasions when the LRRB was more glider than trailer. Trailer survived great and did great all along, the contents took the brunt of the bouncing and bumping. Phase 2 will include: full width fenders, relocated spare tire, better latches, internal fixed 'structure' for organization and installed water and 12v.



In prep for phase 2, I've removed the tire carrier, gas can platforms, latches and fenders.



It looks almost naked!



Tapelines where the new full-width fenders will be.

 

[McZippie]

Like it! Can't wait to see the final solution for the spare tire mount. (smiley face winky eye crap)

 

[ethernectar]

Can't wait to see the final solution for the spare tire mount.

Me too. In a quandry whether I should weld the tailgate shut and mount it there or mount it on the rear driver side. Do I want a tailgate or give up kitchen counter space??? Going to look at a few builds and see...

 

[McZippie]

Me too. In a quandry whether I should weld the tailgate shut and mount it there or mount it on the rear driver side. Do I want a tailgate or give up kitchen counter space??? Going to look at a few builds and see...

Why not put the spare on the roof rack of the truck? I'm sure you have a good reason why you don't want the spare on the roof.
I assume there is no spare already inside the the truck and the truck and trailer have the same bolt pattern... Right?
.... and what went wrong with mounting the spare on the front of the trailer?
Questions Questions, need more info before receiving my expert guidance (smiley smart-*** face, wearing a professor cap crap)