My Westy trailer build thread

unibagel · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:54 pm Post subject:

Any interest in a Parts List for the project?

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject:

yeah, post them up.

unibagel · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 8:37 am Post subject:

Ok so here is an approximate Bill of Materials for my trailer project. I say approximate because I did cut most things to size, but some I made up on the fly and have no dimensions for. If anyone is going to build a trailer like this I’d be happy to share all that I have learned while building it. Just ask me.

1 - 40x48 trailer kit w/12” wheels – Harbor Freight
2 – Locksets w/matching key – mcmaster.com
17’ – Brown Self Stick Weather Stripping – mcmaster.com
2 – 4’ Piano Hinges – mcmaster.com
4 – push to latch latches for the doors – mcmaster.com
3 – 4x8 sheets of ½” CDX Plywood – Home Depot
8 – 2x3x8 studs – Home Depot
1 – box of ½” Deck Screws – Home Depot
1 – box of 3” Deck Screws – Home Depot
1 – Minwax High Gloss Polyurethane – Home Depot
1 – Minwax Golden Oak Stain – Home Depot
6 – Rattle Cans of Primer – Home Depot
1- Wood Putty – Ace Hardware
1 – Gallon of Bondo – Wallymart (The wood putty is so much easier to use!)
4 – VW Rabbit Starter Bolts

PDXWesty · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 8:53 am Post subject:

So where's the finished pictures?!? Laughing

_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto

unibagel · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 9:04 am Post subject:

The first page of the thread has all of my pics. I still need to do some more sanding (!) and have it painted Nevada Beighe to match my Westy.

Going camping this weekend so I'll get to try her out though! Smile

bjrogers86auto · Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 4:39 pm Post subject: trailers

Ok..I like it...but it's missing something.

I know! It needs its own self supported EZY awning from BD so you can head for shelter when it's crappy to cook! If you can't afford that I have a bunch of abs pipe leftover from a tarpology project my wife quickly squashed a few years back. An abs frame and a nice blue or orange tarp and its a four season cook station!

I still don't understand what she didn't like....

hehe...cool trailer.

Brian.
_________________
86 Vanagon GL Westfalia 2.1
18 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X
19 Honda Civic Hatchback

A little rudeness and disrespect can elevate a meaningless interaction to a battle of wills and add drama to an otherwise dull day. Calvin and Hobbes.

SyncroGiraffe · Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 7:52 am Post subject:

Would love to see a few pics of the finished product, specifically the latches and weather stripping you used for the doors. I've just started a nearly identical build for my own trailer, and would like to see how you did these things. Any helpful tips that you discovered along the way would also be appreciated!!

Hoping to add a bike rack on top of my trailer, but otherwise it should look very similar to yours once it is finished.
Thanks!

Volksaholic · Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 10:15 am Post subject:

Nice work... any idea how much it weighs empty? (sorry if that's been posted... I missed it). Also, are you going to have chain or some sort of support for the doors? I see you've got a support to ground in the test-drive-with-the-stove pic, but on uneven ground that may be kind of a nuisance. It might be nice to have something that can compensate for side to side leveling so your eggs don't all drift to one side of the pan. Fore and aft tilt could be accomplished with a trailer jack on the tongue.

Paul
_________________
1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251

unibagel · Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:02 pm Post subject:

I'll post up the P/N's I used for everything, not to worry. I still need to do a bit more sanding then buy the paint. It will be a few weeks though. I'll keep this thread going....

unibagel · Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject:

Not sure how much it weighs, but I can easily pull it around the driveway. I still need to source some lanyards or something for the doors...

I have a 15" high log that supports the tongue of the trailer. LOL.

unibagel · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 7:02 am Post subject:

Here are the mcmaster.com part numbers as promised!

93705K34 – Foam Rubber Seal, 7/32”, Brown - 17 Feet

159A235 - Steel Piano Hinge w/Holes, .060” Thick, - Two 4’ Lengths

10825A26 – Push-to-open Grab Latch, Brown - 4

1770A558 – Cam Lock – 2

I did make some mistakes while assembling this rig. Like when I put on the first door I attached the Piano Hinge to the door, then the Hinge to the Frame of the trailer. Well ½” plywood warps easily so I had to force the hinge to attach to the frame as it was bowed. For the other side I attached the hinge to the frame first then screwed the door to the hinge and that side works very well. Live and learn! I also didn’t take into account the thickness of the gasket before attaching the doors. I should have applied the gasket first. So I did notice a small leak when I left the rig out in a pretty bad rain.

The push to grab latches are really cool! They are like the ones used on some cabinets where you push the door in while closed and it latches. Push it again and it will release. I didn’t feel that 2 per door would hold it a freeway speeds though and also installed one key lock per door.

SyncroGiraffe · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:19 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info and tips unibagel!! This should definitely help me out with my build. Would love to see a picture of how you did the gasket around the doors if you get a chance. Either way I'm hopeful my trailer will turn out as nice as yours!

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:33 am Post subject:

unibagel · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:39 am Post subject:

Thanks for the kind words SyncroGiraffe!

I will end up cutting new doors for that side and liquid nailing a smaller smaller section righ on the inside to help resist warping in the future...

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:43 am Post subject:

I was standing in harbor freight looking at the trailers yesterday thinking to myself. Hmm....

j_dirge · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:08 am Post subject:

Great project!

Marine ply is one answer. But will increase your materials costs by 10x.

Another "poor-mans" method is to liberally apply epoxy resins to front back and each edge of any ply panel. (I'd likely do this with marine-ply too.. resulting in even MORE cost)

I use penetrating epoxy for applications like this.. It soaks in well.. 2 coats.. and after a good cure.. a light sand and you can apply a good primer, over which any paint can be used.

Soo. its either good money for good wood.. or good money for epoxy resins and a lot more man hours.

That said.. I've used non-marine ply thoroughly soaked in epoxy resins for several marine applications and while the non-marine ply looks ugly.. As long as it is not submerged in water, wide variations of temps.. or exposed to UV.. it holds up OK.

Frankly.. on a build like this.. I'd go with cheap materials, first.. Use the trailer a few seasons.. make notes as to how the design can be improved and then build your "perfect" trailer out of better materials with everything you've learned.

I'm leaning towarda teardrops... Very Happy

It never ends.. that project list.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:11 am Post subject:

Good to know. Thanks for the input, I knew someone would know the answer. Wink

j_dirge · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 10:50 am Post subject:

Most exterior-grade plywoods use pretty decent weather-roof glues these days.. Where they suffer is the quality of the actual wood used. Looser/bigger grain wood, thicker plys, and lots of voids.

That invites water/moisture penetration.. which varying temps can exacerbate.. i.e. a wet pocket with heat applied will cause expansion and begin breaking down the wood structure... warping, cracking, splintering, delam etc.

Marine plys tend to be higher ply-count.. more glue, less wood
Made of tighter grained wood with more thorough gluing.. creates the cost factor. Marine plys tend to have a nice exterior ply vaneer as well.. making them more pleasant to the eye.

Working with marine ply is nice, too. Fewer tear outs.. cuts cleanly.
Of course a newer blade does wonders, as well.

Costs are similar to cabinet-grade plywoods.
_________________
-89 GL Westy, SVX.. finally.

-57 pan f/g buggy with a 67 pancake Type 3 "S"
"Jimi Hendrix owned one. Richard Nixon did not"
-Grand Tour, Season 1, episodes 4 and 5

SyncroGiraffe · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 9:13 am Post subject:

Getting pretty far along with my trailer build, so far things are looking really good. Will post some pictures soon. Still hoping to see some close up pics of how the doors close and most importantly how they seal (ie weatherstripping). Definitely getting excited for the completed project!

squeegee_boy · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 12:11 pm Post subject:


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