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05-09-07, 11:05 AM
This is the 3rd iteration of my shopping/cargo trailer. This one has come about because 1 in 3 trips are impossible due to my current trailer being too small, and I hate having to do multiple consecutive trips to the stores. You can see in the picture the size difference of my current trailer and the new one.
I have moved away from my usual steel or aluminum construction and have gone with wood for the base. The main reason is that I have aquired the materials for free, the floor at this size would have been plywood anyway, so the only difference is in the chassis frame. Being all wood I can glue bond the sides and floor to the frame which gives a strong and rigid chassis while still remaining light.
The pictures show the timber base structure which is nothing more than a box measuring 48" X 32" X 5". You can clearly see the wheel wells, the dropouts will be made from some aluminum angle and screwed to the timber frame. The sides, front & rear, floor, and wheel wells will be boxed in with 1/8" ply. The connecting arm for the hitch will be aluminum. The box will be covered with a tarp, secured around the edges with elastic cord, just like the soft covers over truck beds. I could even set up a frame with tarps if I need a larger enclosed volume.
I'll update the thread as construction progresses, let me know what you think of her so far....
I have moved away from my usual steel or aluminum construction and have gone with wood for the base. The main reason is that I have aquired the materials for free, the floor at this size would have been plywood anyway, so the only difference is in the chassis frame. Being all wood I can glue bond the sides and floor to the frame which gives a strong and rigid chassis while still remaining light.
The pictures show the timber base structure which is nothing more than a box measuring 48" X 32" X 5". You can clearly see the wheel wells, the dropouts will be made from some aluminum angle and screwed to the timber frame. The sides, front & rear, floor, and wheel wells will be boxed in with 1/8" ply. The connecting arm for the hitch will be aluminum. The box will be covered with a tarp, secured around the edges with elastic cord, just like the soft covers over truck beds. I could even set up a frame with tarps if I need a larger enclosed volume.
I'll update the thread as construction progresses, let me know what you think of her so far....