Small Garage, Big Project

[Tom Foolery]

When it came time to paint the trailer, I tried to do it in my garage, keep in mind that it is a one car garage with very little elbow room. I realized after the first day that this was going to be a major pain in the ***. So I got permission to do it at work, and was able to use the paint booth and leave the trailer there till finished. Here are some pictures of my attempt to do it in my garage.











After killing every termite in the garage with the fumes, I realized that this wasn't going to work.......

 

[Tom Foolery]

Once I got the trailer in the paint room the fun began.







I used PCL 2K DTM Ultra Primer (two part) for etching and priming the metal. PCL Eurocoat 2803 Black (two part) for the frame, fenders, and props.
Envirobase (Toyota Lunar Mist grey) paint/and Clear afterwards. Once I got the bill for purchasing the paint/primer/etc.. I almost had a heart attack!:Wow1:

 

[Tom Foolery]

Keep in mind, I am NOT a professional painter by trade, but with lots of good advise from our painter at work, I was able to get the job done.

 

[Tom Foolery]

Finally the Lunar Mist Grey was applied and clear coating.

 

[RabidRover]

Well, this is just my opinion, but I enjoyed building the trailer, but if your looking for something along the lines of a M101, I would consider looking at "Box Rockets" build. It serves the same purpose, but gives you options to pre-plan out all your idea before hand, where as with a trailer that is already built (M101), you are restricted to adapting to it. If registering it is a concern, believe me, its not even a issue especially in California. To build my trailer I purchased a MillerMatic 180, Air compressor, Metal Chop Saw, etc.... So the actual cost is pretty high. But if I consider it as if I had the tools, I would say it cost around $3000/$4000 give or take. If you want to build just the frame consider buying a tub from http://www.sierra4x4trailers.com/. Or even a whole trailer.

Thanks, much appreciated. Very reasonable IMO for getting something exactly the way you want it. The bonus is getting the tools so I can take on other projects ... I have a stock Taco in the driveway that needs new bumpers and rock rails. I have not welded for over 20 years ... I better take on a much simpler project first

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Very nice work!

:clapsmile

 

[matthewp]

Beautifully done! I'm very impressed!

 

[Tom Foolery]

One of the accessories I wanted to add to the trailer was 4 Gas and or Water in Jerry cans. I couldn't find a Jerry can holder that really impressed me, so I decided to make my own. So, I can up with this little idea. I didn't like the idea of my cans rattling together all the time making noise as well as scraping off the paint finish. So I made this roller set up with steel tubes inside of a black hose cut to size.















I added tabs on each end and ran a cable threw the cans to lock them.

 

[Chazz Layne]

Wow, very nice. Nice timing too, I was just contemplating the same issue on my trailer... both where to put so many cans, and how to keep the rattle at bay.

 

[Tom Foolery]

At this stage I took the trailer to the DMV to get my registration. The forms I needed were California 343 4017 5036. They will give you form 124 during the procedure. "Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Number Plate". I spend a long 5 hours there that day. I rolled up in the vehicle verification lane at 8:00AM when they opened and that went quick, but after that, the wait began (even with an appointment people had to wait). Finally around 1:00PM I made it to the line where they hand you your license plate. It cost me a total of $38.00. One thing to note, I did bring receipts with me for the parts and materials it took to build the trailer, but, make sure to bring the one's that you paid taxes on, or they will charge you a tax fee.

More registration info

 

[GroupSe7en]

Congratulations on surviving the DMV!
That might have been the most difficult part of the whole build!:sombrero:

Now you're ready to post some action pics...:lurk:

Really well done.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Tom Foolery]

I still had a few more accessories to add before I could say the job was done. One was the roof rack. I wanted a rack that would match the one on my truck (Yakima Mega Warrior). The only thing I didn't like about the rack was the mounting parts and their cost $$$$. So I decided to build my own mounts. I just got some 1"x 1" x .063 square tube and fabricated three roof mounts. This cost me about $15.00.



I also put a 5"x 5" x 1/8" plate on the inside of the box for backing.





I'd have to say that I actually have more faith in these mounts then I do in the Yakima one's.

 

[Tom Foolery]

Now it was time for the license plate holder along with light. A simple task, but necessary. A piece of 14 gauge sheet steel cut to shape, a few aluminum stand off's and a trailer plate light and that was it.

 

[Tom Foolery]

Time to take this bad boy out for a ride. :victory: :victory: :victory:



















I will post more pictures when I get a chance to take it out in a few weeks.

 

[wheelin62]

Awesome job!