Scratch built trailer
 

Howdy

I have never built anything with styrene before this - so it has been a learning experience, but fun! :)

After seeing some trailers in videos posted here and on youtube, I liked the idea, and looked around here to see what folks had done. Some pretty impressive work here thats for sure! I dont have a welder, so I figured that styrene would be the way to go for me.

I spent some time designing it in my head - and arrived on the idea of leaf springs while browsing the classified section. Snatched those up - but was thwarted by the brutish handling of the lovely USPS. And all I got in the mail was a shredded, empty envelope... really? Why even bother delivering the shredded empty envelope?? :oops: At any rate, the person I bought it from was cool about it - but I was stuck on the leaf springs, so ordered a set from rpp and started building.

I take tons of pics - so only posting some of the more recent ones. Still not done, more work for sure - but its at a point that it looks close to what I had in my head - and I have done some more since the last pics here - need to snap a few more.

Pics:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer13.jpg
Rear view of the leafs

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer14.jpg
Underside view

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer15.jpg
Showing it centered

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer16.jpg
Suspension flex!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer17.jpg
And to the other side

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer18.jpg
Mounted up/test fit to my Dingo

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer19.jpg
Some scale bits put inside on the side rack inside I built, and on the front shelf

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailer20.jpg
Tow rope I made on the front hanger, with scale axe.

Let me know if you want to see any of the earlier stages - thought they were probably less interesting over all.

If you have any questions or whatever - fire away!
Thanks!
:)

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Excellent job...what thickness did you use for the floor and sides..I'm planning on doing one for my Mog but no clue on any thicknesses for the parts..Great job..love the acc on it too. Thanks for sharing!

JC

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks DieselJC :)
I used .080 on the floor, and .060 on the sides - but varying thicknesses for the rest of the parts. Just eyeballed most of it and started building - haven't done this before, but seems to have worked out pretty well - quite sturdy, I'm not concerned about it being able to take mild beatings on the trails. But still need to finish off a few more bits, then primer, paint, and then trails! ;-)

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

A few updates - made some light buckets for the trailer.
I also hand made a Jerry can to go on the trailer - that was fun... ;-)
When styrene is thinner like the small pieces I was using for it, it's more susceptible to distort - was using some really small 1/4 round for the edges, I'm sure there is a trick to it that I haven't discovered however.
But for my first go at it, turned out not too bad. :). Just primed in the shot below, will hopefully have the final paint done on the Jerry can tonight.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/trailero25.jpg

Adding some conduit on the sides for the wiring coming down from the light buckets and some minor other things, then I think it's close to paint!

Thanks!

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Really do like that trailer..not overly fancy but just right amount of added accessories and size.
oh and the jerry can looks great!

JC

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

I love it...looks like its well built and should have no problems on the trail. How did you set up your axle,can't quite make out the pics showing the axle and how the wheel hubs are setup.

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks! :)
I got the Jerry can finished up mostly, will get the last touches done tomorrow and post a pic.
The wheel hubs are mounted to the leafs directly, with the metal axle tying the two together for lateral support and linking the two together. Will try to get a closer pic tomorrow for it if you would like.

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Howdy!

I made some more progress - I am really enjoying this! :)

I finished up the major building parts and got some of the painting done. I added lighting, and conduit for the lighting to hide the wires as well. Now I am tossing around ideas on a hook-up line for attaching the brakes/signals to the pulling truck.

Some pics:

I finished up the Jerry can. I like how it turned out all things considered. ;-)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p1t1.jpg

Added a bed liner - its a thicker textured plastic to protect the bottom.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p1t2.jpg

Somewhat hard to see, but the LED lighting for the trailer.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p1t3.jpg

I built the LED directly into the housing. Took some dremel work to get the LED to fit completely - but the result is good. You can also make out the side conduit for the lighting wiring.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p1t4.jpg

Now its just some more detail work, lighting plugs for the truck to trailer connections, and finalizing a few bits - will hopefully post some pics soon of the next steps.

Thanks! "thumbsup"

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Howdy
I got some more work done on it, and took it for a quick run around the back yard.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p2t1.jpg


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p2t2.jpg


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p2t3.jpg


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p2t4.jpg


If you look close in a few, you can see the incomplete wiring hookup - will have that completed today more than likely, along with some more misc work on it. :)

Thanks!

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Howdy
I got the trailer out on the trail finally! :)
It was fun, and quite a different experience when you are towing a trailer! It made things a bit more fun due to challenges presented by the trailer, and how to negotiate certain areas.
Before I went out, got a bit more work done on the trailer, and finished the hookups for the truck and the trailer. Set it up with a plug on each side, so its just a matter of plugging in the lights to the truck, attaching trailer, and off for some fun!
I did discover some design flaws while out... :oops: But, I had expected there to be a couple - so no worries. Most were around the hubs mounting to the leaf springs - the rest were fairly incidental.
I have those design flaws repaired now, ready to go hit the rocks again!

Some pics from the first real trail run!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p3t9.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p3t8.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p3t7.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p3t4.jpg

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/p3t3.jpg

Working on some more detail work tonight, its really coming along nicely! :)

Thanks!

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Came out looking great...any chance of flipping it over to see the suspension setup,I think I know how you done it but am not 100%,would have to see in a clear shot....;-)
I started to gather all materials to start on my own once I complete a cc-01 rig to tow it,may use the old Bronco shell I have.

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Nice work"thumbsup" very scale!

You have SNOW already?... Or are those old pictures?





.

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks! :)
Will grab a pic tonight and post it up for you.

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks! I am still doing updates on the looks - hoping to continue it further does the scale looks area. :)
And yes - snow already! :cry:

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks! :)
I was browsing images from WWII and that particular one stuck out as one I thought would fit with the style I was after. Not perfectly done - my hand isnt quite as steady as I wished it was sometimes. ;-)

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Snapped a few pics, one for Kuatto, the other two just because I was taking pics and had not displayed parts of the updates - mainly paint, and a slight redesign on the axle housing mount to the springs.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/notr1.jpg
Still need to tidy up the wiring harness to the conduit underneath here. I am also probably going to paint the metal axle portion black - not sure yet. Kuatto - does this give you the detail you were after?


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/notr2.jpg
Side view to see some of the updated paint details.


https://dl.dropbox.com/u/7982479/trailer/notr3.jpg
The wiring hookup going into the truck. I am torn as to whether leave it like this, or mount the connection into/onto the bumper somehow more like a 1:1 would do it.


Light isnt great - but looked like more detail could be seen in these than the ones I took inside.

:)

Re: Scratch built trailer
 

Thanks! I am learning a lot doing this - it's been a fun first try at doing anything with styrene. :)