Track Trailer Build

[loudbeard]

So I picked this up from Bergs back in May, by all accounts it's well setup for getting a bike back and fourth from the track as well as moonlighting in some other areas (firewood hauling, squirrel acorn stashing.) Well, I've hauled it to 4 track days at this point and I now have an idea of what I need for gear, tools, consumables, ect. ect. So here's the project break down.

Exterior: fabricate a bracket for the tongue to hold a 20# propane cylinder, my fuel jug, and bolt up a spare tire

Interior: Pit bull TRS for my bike and a Condor/Etrack setup for a second bike. Shelving/work bench area at the front of the trailer where I can roll a tool box in/out of, stash gear, and generally organize "stuff" for easy access. Upgrade interior lighting. New decking and walls that look pretty. Probably do a checkered flag vinyl floor.

Mechanical: rebuild hubs or replace axle. Have to open up the hubs to see if the spindle is damaged but she has a pretty hefty vibration over 55 mph that has been getting worse, due to an incorrect hub rebuild in the past. Give the frame a fresh coat of paint.

Here's where we're starting:

[loudbeard]

Made quick work of the tear down, power tools are the shizzle.



Here's a problem. Manufacturer decided only to paint the frame where visible so everything behind the walls is just bare steel.



Going to give it all a go over with Rustoleum rust reformer as I've had pretty good luck with it on my 4 wheeled toys. Should squeeze a few more years of life out of this thing for me or someone else.

Now it's off to the car wash for a thorough blasting of the frame.

[butcher bergs]

I'd be looking at the tires for your vibration. I know they are cheapies that weren't exactly round to begin with.

Looking forward to seeing the build!

[Petorius]

Whats the deal with this rust reformer stuff?

[loudbeard]

I'd be looking at the tires for your vibration. I know they are cheapies that weren't exactly round to begin with.

Looking forward to seeing the build!

Thanks I'll check on that first. I was already planning on unmounting the tires, spraying the wheels black, then doing a fresh mount an balance. I'll have them check balance before they pull the tires off.

Whats the deal with this rust reformer stuff?

Nothing real special, it's just a spray bomb rust inhibitor. Doesn't require priming or really much prep work other than masking off what you don't want painted.

I use it on my jeeps to touch up the frame and other parts under there that get scraped up on the rocks. Been using it for a few years and it seems to do the trick with little hassle.

[Jim]

check out that trailer for sale on here. the interior pictures got me all giggly.

[loudbeard]

Yep, that's a nice one for sure.

Well she's up on jack stands a all washed out. Definitely will be replacing the hubs as the one I pulled off is a bit out of round. I'll pull the other tomorrow and try and knock out the fab work on my tongue bracket. Since one hub is bad, I'll go ahead and do the other, pretty cheap insurance for roadside issues.

Contemplating rewiring while I have it apart. I'm thinking I'll also add a DC compressor and holding tank for tire pressure adjustments and blowing crap out of there. I can run a set of switched and fused wires from my truck with a quick connect and add it into the trailer loom on rewiring.

[keeena]

Does your tow vehicle has both trailer plugs? If rewiring, you could use the larger 7-round plug to get you that extra power line as well as potential to run brakes.

[Ductard]

Here's a problem. Manufacturer decided only to paint the frame where visible so everything behind the walls is just bare steel.

Can you tell me who this brilliant manufacturer is so that I can avoid their product?

I'm looking to buy a new / gently used trailer and the prices seem to be all over the place. This type of...shoddiness...is I guess how some of them cut costs....

[loudbeard]

Yeah sure, trailer was built by Roadmaster. they also used 1/8" (per Bergsie) plywood walls that he replaced with 3/8" after a put a handlebar through the wall.

Some new hubs and some paint and it'll be ready for many more miles

[loudbeard]

Fresh paint going on today. Not enough time to break out the welder today so I'm just going to blast everything except the tongue and do the fab work when I have a full day. Finished pics to follow.

[loudbeard]

Stopped by East Coast Truck and Trailer in Brockton to pick up new hubs. Holy Etrack accessories!!!


Great group of guys there. Extremely helpful and knowledgable, definitely send some business their way if you're ever in need.

[Jim]

they did the leaf springs on my trailer 2 years ago

[loudbeard]

Getting the metal fab work done today. Started with a stock of 1.5x1/8" angle and layed out the fuel can and propane cylinder.


Picked up a 7" band saw for the shop for $150 a few weeks ago, decided to skip the fancy miter cuts and cut the outer frame pieces


Used a magnetic square, fit the pieces together, and welded. Some finish welding left to do.


A little bit rusty on the torch but it'll stick just fine. Next is to get a few crossmembers set and put together the feet for each of the fuel containers out of some 10 ga sheet metal. More to follow.

[Pittenger5]

Nothing real special, it's just a spray bomb rust inhibitor. Doesn't require priming or really much prep work other than masking off what you don't want painted.
.

Also wire brush off any loose rust before you use it. Stuffs fantastic, but it isn't gonna hold together failing parts.

[nt650hawk]

Can you tell me who this brilliant manufacturer is so that I can avoid their product?

I'm looking to buy a new / gently used trailer and the prices seem to be all over the place. This type of...shoddiness...is I guess how some of them cut costs....

get aluminum.


http://www.modulinecabinets.com/
In Brockton...

I've got em my trailer. will custom fit things as well.

[nhbubba]

Very jealous of that fabrication setup.. never mind the skills and knowledge to use it.

[loudbeard]

Also wire brush off any loose rust before you use it. Stuffs fantastic, but it isn't gonna hold together failing parts.

Done, got anything loose off of there before painting. The scaling is a different story, just have to blast over that stuff.

Very jealous of that fabrication setup.. never mind the skills and knowledge to use it.

Thank you, sir. The fab setup has been built up over the years. When I started jeeping years ago I found out quickly I'd need to learn to weld and fab or it would be a very expensive hobby. I'm not setup to do aluminum yet, but one of these days I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a TIG rig. MIG is pretty easy, I taught myself to weld in a couple of evenings of burning scrap together. Pretty sure I'm doing it right at this point, I've beat the shit out of my jeeps without a failed weld yet. The fab side isn't real difficult either, a few good measuring tools and some common sense goes a long way for the level of difficulty I'm tackling.


Bracket has been finish welded, ground smooth, and test fit on the tongue...should have made it a few inches wider, but it'll work.

[Jim]

what's in the marshalls bag?

[CBR929RE]

quick paint it before it rusts

[number9]

You have a bandsaw that will cut metal? I'll be right over...

[loudbeard]

No flat bar at the shop, and I have yet to fabricate the ladder racks I have planned for the speedy


So I had to cut 4 crossmembers for fuel container support out of some 1/4" plate I had at the shop.



For those of you counting, I actually could have bought a piece of 1/8" flat bar and cut it to lengths for less money than the 3 1/2 cutting wheels I burned and hour it took to make these pieces. Boring ass work too. Anyway, it's done and it will work.



Starting to see where this is going?

[loudbeard]

Ok so next step was to make the footer for the propane cylinder. Bit of a bitch since it's round, oh well. Measured the circumference of the cylinder then cut out a strip 40x6" from some 20 ga sheet I had at the shop.


Got it clamped together


Then started welding. Thick stuff is easy, with a MIG you might as well be squirting toothpaste. Some of you Maine boys probably find that concept challenging. Sheet metal is bitchy and is super easy to blow holes in so you run a series of tack welds


Then you fill in the gaps


And after some grinding and a bit more tacking and some more grinding you have a finished propane footer.


Next up is the footer for the fuel can, stay tuned kids!

[Jim]

where is the spare wheel for the trailer?

[number9]

Some of you Maine boys probably find that concept challenging. Sheet metal is bitchy and is super easy to blow holes in so you run a series of tack welds

GFY