TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:08 pm

On Thursday morning, during my routine daily Craigslist searches, this ad for Heilite Singewheel tent trailer popped up:

I called right away and got directions to where I could see the trailer. It was in pretty rough shape, but pretty much complete. The singlewheel assembly had been removed and the box had been mounted on a small Harbor Freight style trailer. When the guy I purchased it from bought it, he was towing it home when one of the wheel bearings seized. He had his dad bring out a trailer, they loaded it on there and brought it back to his place. He parked it in the back yard and there it sat for 8 years. He finally realized he wasn't going to do anything with it, so he put the ad up on Craigslist. Needless to say, I bought it. I've regretted many times selling my former Heilite to Mr. Warehouse.

I went back on Friday with a trailer to load this on onto and brought it home. This is what it looked like when I got home.

The offending wheel

I decided to start cleaning it up Saturday. I pulled the hub off

and here's the wheel bearing

The axle was dirty, but not damaged.
[img]http://neil.us/type3/singlewheel/heilite-singlewheel/[/img]

Inside the hub was pretty dirty.

The person who put this on the trailer frame did it in a very interesting way. He put blocks between the trailer and the frame of the Heilite then put a big bolt all the way through it.

The front was interesting in that instead of using a single block, he just piled some pieces of wood there. There are a total of 7 points where the trailer and Heilite are attached.

Had to buy one new bearing to replace the outer one that was so crusty. I went ahead and took the other side apart and cleaned and repacked it too. Here is the seized side all cleaned up.

Finally, after 8 years it can roll on it's own.

Next up is removing the red trailer and reinstalling the single wheel assembly. The reason I went ahead and bought it is that all the original parts were saved. They are all sitting inside the trailer, along with the canvas, that appears to be in excellent condition. I bought it without sitting it up and fully checking out the canvas, so hopefully I didn't screw myself over. Once I get it off the trailer, I can sell the trailer and get a little of my money back.

There are some other things I need to do with it. One is to take off the two pieces of pipe that you can see attached to the back of the trailer in the last picture. Another thing I need to do is take out the small dent, also seen above the faded tail light. I also need to find another tail light. While the stickers are somewhat ambient, they're also going to come off. They are all faded and peeling, so off they come. I need to buff the trailer out so it shines. What's the best method for doing this?

I'm going to try to do something at least once a week to this. My goal is to make it camp-able for next spring and summer.

Sun Oct 03, 2010 4:08 pm

Time to spread out the canvas and see what I have.

I didn't put all the supports and ropes on since I was just checking it out.

The main tent here is approximately 6.5' X 11'.

In addition, it has the optional vestibule. I've never seen one of these before. It zips to the main tent and is approximately 8.5' X 6.5'. The main tent has a floor, the vestibule is open on bottom.

The boys all approved. Drew kept asking if we could go camping this month with it.

The vestibule is sagging because I didn't put the support across it.

Inside the vestibule going into the tent.

Drew gives his sign of approval.

Sam signified his approval by showing me where he wants to sleep.

The nasty hole. My old two wheel Heilite had a hole in the same place. I'm going to have to take the tent to a canvas shop and have a few repairs made.

Sold by R. Laacke Co, Milwaukee, WI.

with a matching tag on the trailer.

Serial number HE3107. It's probably a '61 or '62.

Singlewheel assembly. Every moves freely, but is encased by years of crud. I'll pressure wash it then decided what to do from there. I'm thinking I'll disassemble it then have it powder coated.

Extra wheel and tire.

Bumper mounts and hitches included. I'm thinking I'll have some bars fabbed up so I can pull it the same as my Allstate singlewheel. It would be cool to have a single sets of mounting points on my tow hitch where I could hook either trailer to.

Sun Oct 03, 2010 6:30 pm

check the heilite thread in the accessories forum as anchovy posted a link to new taillight assemblies. i think they are the same style as are used on cushman golf carts :? did yours have the kitchenette inside?

Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:08 pm

No kitchenette included. That will be something I'll look for later. This makes singlewheel trailer #6 right now. I really need to overcome my singlewheel habits.

Tue Oct 05, 2010 9:01 am

if you want ot sell those mounts let me knwo I could use them on my own :lol:

Tue Oct 05, 2010 1:18 pm

Dude nice score! Very og the way we like it. Can I sleep over? Ill bring the Vodka and Cranberry :wink:

Tue Oct 05, 2010 3:40 pm

notchboy wrote: Dude nice score! Very og the way we like it. Can I sleep over? Ill bring the Vodka and Cranberry :wink: I don't think I need any stains on my grass. :lol: :lol:

Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:26 am

Don't forget the type 3 hitches.

Wed Oct 06, 2010 6:55 am

Envious wrote: Don't forget the type 3 hitches.

Do you have a drawing of some type for those hitches so I could get them made locally? I was planning on adapting the arms from an Allstate, but I like those much better.

Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:50 am

No, sorry. I just made them with 1/4" plate and a break. I got the idea from the instructions that came with the trailer (third example). I have a few different sets of OE Heilite hitches like the first two pics if you'd like.

Sat Oct 09, 2010 9:17 am

Nice fab there Dave :wink:

Sat Oct 09, 2010 10:51 am

notchboy wrote: Nice fab there Dave :wink:
I'm more than just a pretty face and snappy dresser.

Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:34 am

Envious wrote: notchboy wrote: Nice fab there Dave :wink:
I'm more than just a pretty face and snappy dresser.

Easy now. Just take the compliment, eh.

Sun Oct 10, 2010 8:59 pm

notchboy wrote: Envious wrote: notchboy wrote: Nice fab there Dave :wink:
I'm more than just a pretty face and snappy dresser.

Easy now. Just take the compliment, eh.
:wink:

Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:08 pm

Nice save! The trailer looks like it will clean up nice and is good hands.