You Aint Going to Believe This One

[kyratshooter]

Now under the heading of "I can't believe he did that!" follows my latest project.

I am assembling a Harbor Freight trailer.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1090-lb...res-90153.html


!! IN THE LIVING ROOM !!

It's cold outside, still snow on the ground, and the wind is hanging in there at about 10mph. I am about to pull a "Henry Ford" and build something inside that I can not get outside!

I will assemble this thing except for the wheels, then slide it out the door for final touches. I have to have it done within two weeks and I have no guarentees of fit weather during that time frame.

Fortunately, being an old geezer living alone I can build a trailer in the LR with no repercussions other than what I get here. Hopefully I will have it done in a couple of days, if I can stay off this computer.

I know, I know......

Good luck with that!

[RReevestmmk]

This trailer only took me about 4 hours to put together, you will take more time to get it out of the living room than anything! Good Luck!

[Sarge47]

If you can't get it out of the house then at least you'll have something to help you move the furniture around when you want to rearrange things!

[hunter63]

I don't find this unusual at all.......of course I have had some unusual friends over the years.......have had friends that have rebuilt a couple of Harleys, a Corvair and a couple of boats,...... no trailers though......LOL

Anyway, do your self a favor, take the tongue to a fab shop, and have it boxed in, really helps with the twisting and flexing......
(Built two of these and assisted on another, that was cut down for a motorcycle trailel)

[kyratshooter]

From the reviews on the website I think my main concern will be getting it squared up after I get it outside.

I already have the platform bolted together with the springs mounted and I did not start until after I made that OP. I have squared it and tightened things down but I am afraid I will knock it out of wack on the trip out the door.

I am not going to sit it on the axle until I am outside. I can not handle all that weight alone. I have a flat concrete slab I can sit it on for the final square up andmounting on the axle.

I am also considering tacking a weld at very joint after I get things settled. This thing will be hauling my small rondy camp and I am sure I will overload it eventually.

I am trying to get it built so I can tow it to the Alafia. I have already enjoyed as much winter as I can stand!

http://www.floridafrontiersmen.org/alafia.html

I still have snow on the ground that fell two weeks ago and Tampa sounds real good right now.

[hunter63]

I bought a trailer much like that one, little bigger at a local a Menard's (Big box store).....
Assembled it right out in back of the store in the yard.....had it rolling in about 5 hours, and I was taking my time.....left off all the "folding trailer" stuff.

Manager came over and wanted to know if I wanted a job putting together displays for him...turned him down.

[crashdive123]

The Alafia thing looks like fun. Public days are the 25th and 26th. I'm teaching all day on the 25th - might have to talk Mrs Crash into driving that way on the night of the 25th.

[kyratshooter]

If I get all this put together and all plans finalized for the trip I will PM my phone number to you so you can find me at the camp.

This is a big rondy with a thousand or more people from all over the nation.

I have not been camping a lot since the wife died and I need to get back to it. Not much sense in having two trailers full of gear that is never used. Before she passed away we would spend 18-20 weekends a year in reenactment camps and did several week long events each year.

Perhaps a warm camp in mid-winter will get me motivated.

[kyratshooter]

Got it assembled and towable. Hitched it up and made the two mile run to the village. It was still back there when I got home and the hubs were not even warm. I still have to build a bed for it.

I supose I worked on it for 5 hours at the most, and I was not pushing any. It is not a bad build.

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[grrlscout]

Congrats! It'll last forever. I bought mine used, and it's from 1988.

Just needed new decking and paint.

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Probably does need new hubs though.

[kyratshooter]

Yep, the one in the yard with the bent axle is from 1992 and probably has 100,000 miles behind it. It has outlasted 4 towing vehicles. The wife and I camped a lot. That little trailer probably had 100 miles a month or more on it. I know that it was on its 3rd set of tires.

It would still be going if I had not hit that truck tire in the middle of the road!

Oddly, a new trailer was cheaper than a new axle.

[hunter63]

Nice job, very cute......How did ya get it out the door?

Gotta love those self locking nuts, no spinning those on.

[BornthatWay]

Glad you got it out the house. I agree a warm location would be nice. We have had the same snow and ice since Christmas on the ground. It just cannot warm up enough for it to melt awayl

[Rick]

You did a good job on the trailer but I'm imagining the door frame has two cutouts for the wheels.

[Faiaoga]

You did a good job on the trailer but I'm imagining the door frame has two cutouts for the wheels.

Many people here are probably better handy persons than I am. I would only like to share a humorous site I found. It is only a joke,but check for "Hazard Fraught Tools" on the Internet.
Faiaoga

[kyratshooter]

You did a good job on the trailer but I'm imagining the door frame has two cutouts for the wheels.

Got past that problem with no damage. You just need the proper tools.

The door is flexable, I streched it with a door stretcher and it snapped right back when I got outside.

The door stretcher is in the materials handling section at HF right next to the furnature unicycle. The quality is not the best but I figured I would only use if once anyway.

[Wildthang]

Pretty good for an old fart!

[hunter63]

Congrats , nice job....gotta love those door stretchers.........

[kyratshooter]

Got that little sucker finished!!

It still needs a coat of paint but I will do that latter.

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[kyratshooter]

Well, the little fellow made it to Florida and back carrying a full load; Big canvas tent, tent pegs, camp kitchen, cast iron, camp chairs and all the tent poles. My tent poles alone weigh over 200 pounds.

The little trailer clocked 1,864 miles on this trip, so I guess it is going to hold together. It towed like a champ at 75mph with no problems at all.