Trailer Time!

[El Camexican]

This project’s been on the backburner for over a year now. It’s completion is a pre-requisite to me getting to Trikefest someday. I had a couple weeks of vacation time left over last year that I had planned to use to get this done, but one thing lead to another and it wasn’t till this month that I managed to get a couple free weekends to work on it at my buddy’s dirt floor shop.

I have access to a number of trailers through a bike club I belong to, and yet another I bought into with a couple buddies a while back, but none of them work for all my toys, or are registered in my name. All are too short for a drag bike, too narrow for both my trikes, or two dual purpose bikes and when three dirt bikes are loaded a foot peg seems to always find its way into a swing arm or case.

The other issue is loading; I’m not getting any younger and I can’t get a street bike up a short ramp trailer ramp alone and as Dirt Crasher pointed out recently trucks will soon be coming with standard 4’ beds.

Another beef I have on most trailers is a lack of properly placed tie-down locations. Can’t ever seem to find one that doesn’t require running the strap over a rad or fender and for my final beef my buddy’s Toyota FJ door seems to always hit the front of trailer when I to open it, so I can’t get my gear bag out and sit to change my boots.

In keeping with my workplace motto of “bring me the solution, not the problem” I think I’ve finally built the solution to my towing problems. Starting with a standard napkin drawing, a handful of various steel products and about 40 hours of my precious time it’s now ready for wiring and paint and has over 1,000 possible tie-down locations! I’ll post painted photos whenever that happens.

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/TrailerDrawing_zpsbb912caa.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/TrailerDrawing_zpsbb912caa.jpg.html)
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[El Camexican]

And a few more…
http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/MM1YARDMay28010_zps12424137.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/MM1YARDMay28010_zps12424137.jpg.html)
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http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/TRAILER1018_zps74ad40d2.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/TRAILER1018_zps74ad40d2.jpg.html)
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[bkm]

Nice looking goat cage. What type of grinder did you use to get the welds so smooth?

[Bren_downe]

Nice work, I don't think I would have made it past the napkin blueprint phase.

[El Camexican]

Nice looking goat cage. What type of grinder did you use to get the welds so smooth?
I envy the goat that gets to live in a cage made of that stuff. That mesh represents 1/3 the total cost of the trailer!

I grind my non-critical welds down to about 1/32” high with a standard hard disc and then flatten them with 60 or 80 grit paper discs with a plastic backer or flap discs depending on what’s available. The secret to learning to polish welds is to suck at welding.;)

[El Camexican]

Just wondering, do any of you have access to pre-primed tube up there in the States? The Mexicans sell it from 20ga up to ¼’ wall. The 14ga. and lighter is painted on the inside as well. You don’t need to clean it to weld and you just wipe it with thinner before painting. It’s stuck on as good as e-coat, great stuff to work with.

[bkm]

I envy the goat that gets to live in a cage made of that stuff. That mesh represents 1/3 the total cost of the trailer!

I grind my non-critical welds down to about 1/32” high with a standard hard disc and then flatten them with 60 or 80 grit paper discs with a plastic backer or flap discs depending on what’s available. The secret to learning to polish welds is to suck at welding.;)

Yep, I'm a grinder, not a welder. lol

[jakep53]

Nice trailer...how many trikes can you fit on it??? I'm welder grinding takes to long lol

[El Camexican]

Nice trailer...how many trikes can you fit on it???

Based on some photos I've seen on here there are members that could fit upwards of 12 trikes in it, but I plan to load just two with the dignity they deserve.

[ironchop]

That trailer is Heavy F#$%In Duty!!!

nice fabrication skills....I have some wire mesh like that here at the shop and I been eyeballin` it for the same reason.

The napkin didn't do it justice

[DohcBikes]

All that great fab work and here I sit utterly impressed with the napkin 'blueprint'.


Sufficiently overbuilt I reckon, well done sir!:beer

[Motorgidd]

Great job on the trailer, looks beefy!

[RapidRick]

Nice foldable ramp. I've seen a similar one on some Aussie trailers. Impressive fit and finish, no "cut to fit,paint to match" here!

[JasonB]

badass trailer! wish i had something that nice lol

[sledcrazyinCT]

Nice work on your trailer! Where did you get the springs for the drop gate? That gate would break your back without the assist and it is pretty clever how you incorporated it to fit holes in your frame. I like that better then the 'gorilla gate' assist that runs inside long tubes on the side rails of your trailer, yours is much cleaner set up

[briano]

How much do you want for the napkin? Love the trailer

[Darius1502]

That is astounding...some amazing talent there my brother!! INCREDIBLE!!

[El Camexican]

All that great fab work and here I sit utterly impressed with the napkin 'blueprint'

I can email you a copy if you ever want to build one like it:p

[El Camexican]

How much do you want for the napkin? Love the trailer

No charge for you or anyone else!:beer

[El Camexican]

Nice work on your trailer! Where did you get the springs for the drop gate? That gate would break your back without the assist and it is pretty clever how you incorporated it to fit holes in your frame. I like that better then the 'gorilla gate' assist that runs inside long tubes on the side rails of your trailer, yours is much cleaner set up

You can get all hinges, latches and the torsion springs on eBay: http://stores.ebay.com/cut-n-weld?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

Type 48840 into the search box for the springs. These guys have some great deals on tie-downs and other cargo supplies too. The springs are almost impossible to find and they are pricy. Larger sizes are plentiful and half the price, but these ride on a ¾” bar and this is the only place I could find that carries them that small on the Internet.

Your right about that gate being heavy. The gate weights over 100#, but I can easily lift it with one arm thanks to the springs. I ordered a third spring and may add it to see if I can make it a pinky finger only gate.

[El Camexican]

So I’m talking with my buddy and mechanical mentor the other day about the trailer and he says; “Have you considered putting a set of shocks on it?” to which I replied; “Yea, I did kick it around, do you think I should?” Of course with him being 2,000 miles away and in no danger of having to help he says; “Yes!”

Well, as it turns out once again silly ideas make up just 1% of a 100% time & sweat equation, so with my buddy thinking he did me a favor by suggesting I add more gizmos to what was already shaping up to be the world’s more labor intense utility trailer I set out to equip it with shocks.

I found a set of nice short NOS Artic Cat hydraulic ski dampers on eBay and then ordered a rod of 5/8” O.D. #95 neoprene rod to fill the eyelets. I drilled them out to accept a 3/8” shoulder bolts and then made the brackets and tabs to mount them from the axel to the chassis, but I can’t finish until I get the shoulder bolts as I don’t know if they come threaded with ¼” or 5/16”

I’m really curious to know if the shocks will make a difference to the bounce factor normally associated with leaf-spring trailers like this. If they do, great, but if not they will still provide a nice one-off factor.

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/TrailerShocks002_zpsef62e107.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/TrailerShocks002_zpsef62e107.jpg.html)

[Billy Golightly]

Thats really cool. I have enough old 250R shocks laying around I one time thought about making a light weight trailer with a pair of those on it just for shits and giggles...:lol:

[El Camexican]

Thats really cool. I have enough old 250R shocks laying around I one time thought about making a light weight trailer with a pair of those on it just for shits and giggles...:lol:
You are not alone in these thoughts. At the risk of exposing just how far my mind wanders I’ve contemplated finding 2 symmetrical one sided swing-arms like a Honda RC30, or Ducati use and mounting one on each side of a trailer with the shock and linkage exposed for all to see with carbon fiber rims wrapped in 300 series motorcycle rubber, to heck with how narrow the trailer bed would be. Sadly I suspect crazy thoughts like that are why God is holding back on letting me win a Powerball lottery.

PS. Nice LOL smiley, wish I had one:cry:

[El Camexican]

Finally got to spend a day on the trailer. I had to lengthen the axle 15-5/8” and it’s a pipe size I can’t find anywhere. 1.75”O.D. with a .154” wall. I ended up having a 1.5” O.D. sold bar machined down to 1.45” 3” in from either end, then I drilled holes in the now cut axle for plug welds and cleaned out the weld seam with a sanding drum and opened it till the slightly larger solid bar fit. I also put a section of 2.00” O.D. pipe with a .250” wall over the 15-5/8” solid section (confused yet?) pre-heated it and welded it up with 7018 rod. I haven’t stick welded in over 20 years. Great project to start with, especially with old rods that had white fuzz on them. I had to stick each one of them before using them to heat them up. Some tricks you never forget.

I was hoping to end up with a slight bend in it to use to toe the axle in slightly, but as luck would have it the thing ended up straight to within about .005”. I know if I’d wanted it to be straight it would have been out of true by an 1/8”, go figure.:rolleyes:

Then I had to turn the spring mounts around because some idiot (that would be me) mounted them backwards. With that done I added the axle snubs, mounted the axle, aligned it to the hitch and welded the perches.

Next was the shocks. It took a few tries, but in the end they have ½” to spare when the axel is fully extended and another ½” of travel to go when the axel is against the rubber snubs. Oh, and best of all the tires still have a ½” of clearance to the fenders when the axel is on the snubs. I was concerned about this as it seems the tires are a little larger than the standard tires the fenders are made to fit.

Tomorrow the bottom gets painted and if time permits I’ll route the wires before it gets flipped right side up for the final time.
http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/Traileraug132_zpsb4444b40.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/Traileraug132_zpsb4444b40.jpg.html)
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[6speedthumper]

This thing is super stout!! I think the shocks aren't needed though. Will it help? Yeah, a little. But, the trailer is so light that, when unloaded, it'll still bounce. When loaded it may absorb some of the oscilation the suspension will go through, but, the trailer responds differently over the road then a car, or truck, does. Will be very interesting to see what improvements it'll make!!!! Keep us informed!!! Too bad you didn't use a rubber torsion axle. They're sweet. Most all horse trailers now come with them. It does result in a much smoother ride for the horses, and a smoother pull behind your truck. Totally different then the leaf/shock set up you're doing. So again, really curious to see how this trailer of yours reacts!

[El Camexican]

I think the shocks aren't needed though.

Neither are the decals on our trikes, but yet most of us put them on.:)

Seriously, the only place I see them making a difference is loaded and going over a "tope", speed bump to you, and Mexican roads are covered with them. I expect the bounce factor to diminish a fair bit. If not, hey still cool as heck.

Agreed, torsion bars would be great, but I couldn't find them in a do-it-yourself kit down here, so logistics won out on that option.

[6speedthumper]

Neither are the decals on our trikes, but yet most of us put them on.:)

Seriously, the only place I see them making a difference is loaded and going over a "tope", speed bump to you, and Mexican roads are covered with them. I expect the bounce factor to diminish a fair bit. If not, hey still cool as heck.

Agreed, torsion bars would be great, but I couldn't find them in a do-it-yourself kit down here, so logistics won out on that option.


Oh yeah, you're in Mexico. Okay, the shocks may prove perfect for your roads!

[El Camexican]

Done, plated and at home where it belongs. Tows like a dream. Proper trailer tires combined with the shocks are the ticket. I gave it a few good tests on the way home over some pot holes and the worst I could see in the mirror was a single 2” bounce and then it would stick like glue when it came down. Tongue weight when empty seems neutral and I can hear the hitch clicking a little over bumps, so I suspect with a load it will be perfect, but other than the odd click I couldn't tell it was there, not even a rattle. Washed the dust off it at home, put a set of Bearing Buddies on it and chained it to a telephone pole. Total man hours (gulp) 140 over 10 weeks.

Time to drive up to Canada and pick up the next project. Hint, it has an elephant on the gas cap.;)

http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y434/lucky1366/Trailer/Trailer004007_zps9ac456b6.jpg (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/lucky1366/media/Trailer/Trailer004007_zps9ac456b6.jpg.html)
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[stoshu]

Might want to upgrade to Doo shocks if your gonna pull that around Winnipeg. Had a couple "adult beverages" with Barrythefish yesterday. He said you were coming in a couple weeks.

[6speedthumper]

One fine little trailer you have built there, El! Glad those shocks worked the way you wanted them to! Was a little skeptical if they'd be worth the effort.

[DohcBikes]

Phenominal. Nothing less than Professional Grade. If we had a top tier for trailers built, not bought,,,, i'd nominate.

[El Camexican]

Thanks guys!

Stoshu: I did speak with Barry via email, thanks a million, it was good to converse with him after almost 30? years. I'm looking forward to meeting you and seeing him. I'll be there some time after the 10th. Let's get together at the Crest. You know Aaron Koh.. and Kevin Stan... right? Let's get them out too. Can you PM me your #? I never did get one from Barry.:beer:

[6speedthumper]

Phenominal. Nothing less than Professional Grade. If we had a top tier for trailers built, not bought,,,, i'd nominate.

I kinda wish we had that. Although I bought my equipment trailer, I converted to from a tag a long to a gooseneck. Man that 10ton trailer pulls great now!

[El Camexican]

I kinda wish we had that. Although I bought my equipment trailer, I converted to from a tag a long to a gooseneck. Man that 10ton trailer pulls great now!

I'd love to do a chassis for a full sized enclosed rig some day. I managed a shop that did prototype and production suspensions for city and highway buses, so I have a little experience with these things. Given the time and budget... oh how the mind wanders.:)

[atc007]

:crazy::crazy: Somehow I had missed this thread??. Wowsers,, you cartel guys have ALL the coolest toys! :D:naughty::lol:, Seriously though, super nice job bud. Wowsers,that is not a trailer,it's a work of art. Love the suspension. Can't wait to see it's cargo upon return :cool:;). Have a super great trip my friend,dang shame you aren't headed this far East :(trailpro:cool::crazy::acr See how I did that :drool: Thanx for sharing :)

[coolpool]

I don't know how I missed this either? That is one nice trailer! Bravo! Would a aluminum diamond plate toolbox be in the plans for the future for gas/boots etc? Any chance of detouring through Cold Lake on your way to MB? Always welcome!

[El Camexican]

I don't know how I missed this either? That is one nice trailer! Bravo! Would a aluminum diamond plate toolbox be in the plans for the future for gas/boots etc? Any chance of detouring through Cold Lake on your way to MB? Always welcome!

Thanks for the invite, same one is open to you if you ever find yourself down here. I love AB though. It’s like Canada’s version of Texas, my favorite State, always figured I’d end up living there someday if I’d stayed in Canada. Trying hard to get Trikefest on my calendar, maybe get to meet you there one day.

The tool box (or lack of) is a sore spot with me. Earlier napkin drawings tried to incorporate a tool box, but I couldn’t figure it out in a way that everything else would still work. I needed the extended nose to accommodate a 3rd dirt bike/ or my 72” wheel base Suzuki. That would have been the perfect place for a tool box. The next option was to mount it on the side of the trailer, but in order to hold two full sized street bikes the trailer is already over 80” wide, so a side mounted box could only be about 6” wide. Could still add one, but it becomes a focus of crooks and wouldn’t hold much.

What was really seriously considered was a hinged dual tailgate boxes, but that was when I was still considering a pullout ramp that was housed under the bed. That was my first plan, but the boxes would have added to the length of the trailer. It’s doable, but the under bed ramp would be a whole different design.

I owned an Avalanche when I settled on the current configuration, so I had a massive tool box for a truck, but now with a pick-up my gear will have to be stored inside the truck. As usual life is a compromise, so I’ll live with it for now.

[bkm]

Top notch as always, and my oh my, it looks beautiful there.

[slashfan7964]

Holy hell. You could have fooled me into thinkig you bought it that way. Nice!!!!