PINS Base Camp Build

[PINSTER]

And now, Two and a half years later, after stumbling across this site, and getting the notion that "maybe I can make it"... and then having our first kid ... and starting a new business ... and teaching myself to weld ... and use sketchup ... Now, the build has begun. PINS is Padre Island National Seashore, a 60 mile stretch of undeveloped island, and this trailer will have the sole purpose of getting kayak/camping/fishing gear down the sand. Im more an "offline" guy, not good at being "online" and updating threads, stopping to take pictures, and explaining things, but I will try my best to contribute. Things are still busy, but Im getting some time in on the trailer lately, and my brother is helping so things are finally moving.

See the build plan here, from back when the idea was still fresh http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/139728-PINS-Base-Camp-(Build-Plan)

Special credit given to the builds that I read 2-3 years ago, that truly inspired me on this crazy trip (at the most ridiculous time in my life none-the-less):

Tom Foolery: Small Garage, Big... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/49690-Small-Garage-Big-Project
Thanks for a great write up, pictures, explanations, reviews, and sources. You may recognize my choice in suspension parts, as I estimate my weight to come in around the same as yours, it was an easy decision to model the suspension the same. Your thread made fabrication look so easy, but over the years in my time behind the hood/grinder/chop saw, I now know the time it takes between those pictures of yours!

Skerfan's Shuttle Pod... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/66932-Skersfan-s-New-Shuttle-Pod-Trailer-Build
Skersfan not only built/s an inspiring trailer, he gave me candid feedback on my original ideas, and initiated a back to the drawing board approach to designing the beach trailer. Fortunately with the mandatory pause on projects due to baby/work/other stuff, I had a lot of time to reflect and reconsider the design, purpose, and priorities. The balance between weight and strength + accessories was a real issue that I had no clue about before Skersfan. Over time, I would create 7 versions in sketchup, the design I am in process of building is v7.7

Wavebreaker's Offroad Tear Drop... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/126576-My-Offroad-Tear-Drop-Plan-Build
The craftsmanship is unbelievable in the builds on ExPo, Wavebreakers work is proof of the fabrication/wood/glass/badasses around here. Ive always wanted to build a strip kayak, so wavebreakers boat construction style inspired my trailer to adopt a glassed boat-like top deck/storage design.

 

[PINSTER]

Coincidentally, we were planning the buildout of a new warehouse for work, so I snuck a 240V/3Ph Outlet into the electrical plans. A year later the warehouse was built and I had a corner "shop" to host the project. A Millermatic 211 and all the required accessories/tools were waiting patiently for a project to begin.

Cut and laid out the mainframe



Welded frame and starting to think about suspension. Notice the chopped old boat trailer being used as a dolly/stand for the new build



Suspension mocked up and hangers welded (the sunburst selfie shot)

 

[stomperxj]

Looks good so far but those shocks aren't going to do much at that angle. You might look for something shorter that you can mount more vertical.

 

[PINSTER]

Yep, I hear ya Stomperxj. And, first off, thanks for your write up, the Sawtooth was one of my favorite reads...the "scrap radius tool" thats some creative fabrication!

About the shock angle, yeah I agree. My original plan didn't include shocks, so I have this frame thats just big enough to fit the water tank between the walls, right over the axle...which since it hangs down below the frame 3.5" its in the way of better placement for the crossbar/shock mount. This all couldn't be changed later in the game because in my 2014 haste I bought the custom length axle...2years ago, and it leaves very little margin for growing the width. In that time, I went from a Tacoma to a Tundra, which afforded me a couple inches of track width, which I used with spacers on each hub to account for...and thats as wide as I can go on the frame. So only other option is to scrap or move the water tank...or buy another one since I also purchased that long ago... Im hoping the suspension travel from the spring shackles is enough to give the shock effective compression...just enough to help with dampening washboard sand, so its not bouncing. The trailer won't see extreme conditions, about 400miles highway and 100miles sand per trip. Once I get the frame rolling/painted/registered, I plan a shake down run to see how it rides on different sand conditions.

 

[PINSTER]

Got some work done this weekend.

The Main Frame is done, welded as much as I could on the belly side before the flip


Prepped and Primed Suspension bits with ZRC



Once the suspension was dry and pieced together, we managed to successfully complete Operation Flip aka Operation Sketchy business aka Operation Wont do that again. And we have what actually looks like a trailer now!

 

[PINSTER]

Got the racks welded and up this weekend




And started to box out the storage compartments