Gordinho80's Offroad / Camping Trailer Build

[Gordinho80]

Been wanting to start a trailer build for some time. I've been looking for a good starting frame since. I wanted something on the cheap, and preferably with current registration. I stumbled across this one last week and immediately contacted the seller. I had contacted many sellers since I started looking, and only manged to get a hold of a couple. This guy contacted me and I had a feeling it would go through!

$100 asking price with registration. Went to look at it today. Seller arranged to have Notarized Bill of Sale and current registration. Seller admitted that there was a decent amount of surface rust, more so then he initially thought when he looked at it again yesterday. Agreed to discuss price when I went today.

Upon arriving and seeing the amount of surface rust, examined it and didn't find anything more then just that, lots of surface rust. He asked if I would do $50, I said $40. Agreed and we hooked it up. Lights all work minus 1 that is missing bulb and lens. Registration is current, expires in 3/2013. Torsion axles with oil filled hubs w/ indicator caps. LED tailights.

Drove it home without issue! Pulls like a dream. Seller gave me original title, bill of sale, and current registration (in his name). Now I start cleaning it and getting it ready for Phase 1; Utility type camper with walls.












$ Cost breakdown:
--------------------------
Trailer - $40
Primer - $20
Spray Paint - $15
Some replacement bolts/nuts - $10
6 lug axle & springs - $40
Spring Hanger Kit & Replacement U Bolts - $50
Replacement wheel studs/nuts - $40
--------------------------
SOLD Torsion Axles/Wheels/Tires - + $100
--------------------------
$115 total cost to date

[dvanbramer88]

Nice pick up

[DirtyBacon04]

Sand blaster HO!!!!

[Trail X]

Yeah, a little media blasting and it should be right as rain... might have to unbolt some parts to get into some of the joints though.

Good starting point. I see a lot of sweat in your future.

[v7guy]

Looks like a damn good start, especially for $40!

[navigator]

the hubs are worth $40 if you had to replace them and you can likely get at least $20 for the motorcycle mount.
Shoot, with a little paint you might get $20 more for the two tires/rims(if they aren't dry rotted) that you are for sure going to replace.
Those tires/rims run about $70 each around here. The tires are about $40 each as I just bought two myself.

Great start man!

[Gordinho80]

Thanks guys. I intend on taking it all apart and sanding everything down. I'll likely be moving the wheels/tires, bike mount, and possibly the axles/hubs. I have a camping trip planned for the first week of Oct. I hope to have the trailer ready enough to carry our gear and mountain bikes.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Nice find

[fishsticks]

Slightly jealous, but anxious to see what you come up with.

[JCrayton99]

An offroad camper is my intended winter project. Starting it with one of these:

http://www.cargotrailernj.com/4x8-enclo ... go-trailer

[Gordinho80]

Took the trailer apart today to start cleaning the rust off. I might be selling the axles and wheels before putting it all back together. Looking at the axle, I can't fully make out the capacity, but it doesn't appear to be much. I could essentially keep it as is and use it for my upcoming camping trip to Watkins Glen, NY in Oct, but if I find a buyer, I could get a 3500 lb axle kit with 6 lug hubs to run the H3 wheels in time.


I spent a few minutes with the grinder and wire wheel on the furthest most bar in the pic. Not enough time, but its a start. My goal today was to get it all apart, and I accomplished that much





Here you see the serial # and capacity rating for the axle... I can't tell if that is a '0'250, but it looks like it. If that's the case, the axles can only handle a 500 lbs load... not great.

[Trail X]

Any progess is progess. Looks like either a 0 or a 9. 9 may not be very realistic. But for a bike carrier, I'd be surprised if it was only a 500 lb capacity. Aren't most closer to 800lbs? Maybe I'm off.

[Wahugg]

Just as a suggestion, try putting a bit of of hydrochloric acid on the area where the number is stamped. Nothing too extreme but something around 15 to 20% or 6 mols. The reasoning behind this is that the acid will effectivally remove any rust or corrosion that may be in the dimple of the stamped number, and the area around it. This will hopefully clean the stamp out, make its edges more defined to make it a bit easier to read. Remember that HCl is an acid of its self, but as long as you don't go above 6 mols then it shouldn't hurt or pit the metal you put it on. Just make sure to clean it up real good when your done, and this stuff will burn or irritate your hands if you get it on them so wear gloves.

And to my eye, the number appears to be 3250.

-Wahugg

[Gordinho80]

I'm going to contact Reliable... I can read the serial #... Just need to call them.

[MrSmithsTB]

Nice!

[Gordinho80]

Holy crap!!! Who's this????? Where you been, man?

[MrSmithsTB]

I've been around. Focusing on other things. I logged on to see what's been goin on around here. Been missing the tb and wanted to look at my build thread and whatnot. I see you have made lots of progress with yours!

[navigator]

sometimes you can take a black crayon and "color" the pits and then wipe off the surface.
We used to do something similar with stamped dog collars to make the info in the stamp stand out better.
A sharpie works also but then you have to use something like fingernail polish remover to get it off of the unwanted area.

[Gordinho80]

Just called Reliable... they couldn't find anything from the SN, but they asked me to look for a part # on the hub arm. I found it... TA-1000. Looks like its 1000lbs per side. That is much better. Something I can actually use until I get the 3500lb axle set up for the H3 wheels.

[06MidnightBlue]

Not bad! Great starting point for sure.