Travel trailer, cargo trailer or.....

[ygmir]

I wasn't necessarily aiming that at you, FJ.
I know, you know how to use a trailer.
But, you brought up tongue weight, and, it seemed a good spot to make sure, folks considering this, know they need a lot of weight on the tongue, to avoid several issues.

[ibdave]

I wasn't necessarily aiming that at you, FJ.
I know, you know how to use a trailer.
But, you brought up tongue weight, and, it seemed a good spot to make sure, folks considering this, know they need a lot of weight on the tongue, to avoid several issues.

Yup, what barney said...

[FIGJAM]

It's a 3500 pound axel upjohn.

[¡Niers!]

Pretty impressive FIGJAM!!
I've been tossing around an idea of doing something similar. My thought was to build a small teardrop style camper with built-in jacks to lift it off the flatbed so I can pull it out from under and still use the flatbed.
I dunno....that specific design won't happen this year.
For this year, I'm gonna build a removable canopy to mount a solar array on top. With a couple deep cycles and an inverter, I'll provide our small camp with all the power we'll need for the week. Not to mention the hauling capabilities.
I was also thinking of using it for a porta-potty. Slap some privacy walls or curtains up and BAMF!

I love this kind of stuff!
Once again, FIGJAM awesome job! Looks great!

[ygmir]

I've also toyed with the idea, of a cab over camper, on a trailer.
you can pull out from under it if you want the trailer for something else.

[FIGJAM]

Pretty impressive FIGJAM!!
I've been tossing around an idea of doing something similar. My thought was to build a small teardrop style camper with built-in jacks to lift it off the flatbed so I can pull it out from under and still use the flatbed.
I dunno....that specific design won't happen this year.
For this year, I'm gonna build a removable canopy to mount a solar array on top. With a couple deep cycles and an inverter, I'll provide our small camp with all the power we'll need for the week. Not to mention the hauling capabilities.
I was also thinking of using it for a porta-potty. Slap some privacy walls or curtains up and BAMF!

I love this kind of stuff!
Once again, FIGJAM awesome job! Looks great!

I had a plan for that last year, but the person I sold my flatbed to did'nt go to BM.

My concern would be clearance in transport.

Those flatbeds are about 3 to 4ft up, then add 6.5 ft for a stand up pod, with a floor maybe 7ft, now the clearance is 11ft which will also effect fuel use.

My last pod was thrown together on my brothers trailer, so I stayed with 4ft cause that what sides he had on it.



Clearance was 6ft, but crawling in and out all week, not good for my back.

If I needed the truck while I was there, I would run the shade across the pod and angle down to the ground, then the truck would be unhooked for use.

When we design things like this, not only do we get just what we want, but it hatches even more creativity in the process.

If I had your welding skills, I think I would try the exoskeleton idea.



Thanks for the compliment.

[¡Niers!]

Pretty impressive FIGJAM!!
I've been tossing around an idea of doing something similar. My thought was to build a small teardrop style camper with built-in jacks to lift it off the flatbed so I can pull it out from under and still use the flatbed.
I dunno....that specific design won't happen this year.
For this year, I'm gonna build a removable canopy to mount a solar array on top. With a couple deep cycles and an inverter, I'll provide our small camp with all the power we'll need for the week. Not to mention the hauling capabilities.
I was also thinking of using it for a porta-potty. Slap some privacy walls or curtains up and BAMF!

I love this kind of stuff!
Once again, FIGJAM awesome job! Looks great!

I had a plan for that last year, but the person I sold my flatbed to did'nt go to BM.

My concern would be clearance in transport.

Those flatbeds are about 3 to 4ft up, then add 6.5 ft for a stand up pod, with a floor maybe 7ft, now the clearance is 11ft which will also effect fuel use.

My last pod was thrown together on my brothers trailer, so I stayed with 4ft cause that what sides he had on it.





Clearance was 6ft, but crawling in and out all week, not good for my back.

If I needed the truck while I was there, I would run the shade across the pod and angle down to the ground, then the truck would be unhooked for use.

When we design things like this, not only do we get just what we want, but it hatches even more creativity in the process.

If I had your welding skills, I think I would try the exoskeleton idea.



Thanks for the compliment.

I was pretty impressed last time I saw this trailer.

Not sure if you know what I was really talking about FIG.
My flatbed trailer is less than 2ft high. It's 5' x 9' and has a 3500lb axle. When I talk about a teardrop style camper....I'm not talking about something you could stand up in. Plus, it would be more contour and less resistant to wind. When I talk about a solar canopy......the canopy would be stowed away during travel.

Still love what you've done. Brilliant!!!

[FIGJAM]

When you said flatbed I thought truck. My mistake.

[¡Niers!]

When you said flatbed I thought truck. My mistake.

Oh, ok....I kinda figured that was the case. I wasn't specific enough.

By the way....what's the exoskeleton idea? You talking about the removable canopy thing?

Also, welding is really easy to pick up. I went to school for fabrication, but it's not needed if you just wanna be a backyard hobby welder. I highly recommend heading over to Home Depot and getting their $500 Lincoln mig welder, then to Airgas and pick up some Co2 and just start practicing. Just a couple days of practice and some advice from Airgas and you'd have it down good enough to get some cool stuff done.
Seems to me that you'd be great at it.

[FIGJAM]

The exoskeliton would be an exterior (or interior) frame.

It would eliminate the need for any wood framing.

My thought was 2 inch angle at the four corners and around the upper edge, then 2inch strap where the plywood buts together. Make sure all this is plumb and square.

Bolt he roof in first, then the walls, then the deck. If you ever needed to replace a panel, just unbolt it and switch it out.


Ive got a 250amp stick welder that serves my needs, and I realy don't need to weld that often, that's why I don't get the practice to make pretty beads.

[FIGJAM]

This is the BSS. (Bench, Step, Storage.)

Built a box 5ftx12in.x12in.

Add a piano hinge and brass latches.



Went too bin#16489-j and find..................







NO awsome handles.



Build awsome handles.





Don't want to bend over to lift this box.

Make handles awsomer!!!








All the shade gear fits in this BSS!

It goes in the playapod, under the bed.

When camp is set up it sits just outside the door for a step or guest seating.

[FIGJAM]

The rack bracket was just 2 pieces of angle butted together to create a foot.

This made a nice platform to weld the rails too.



Drill the bolt holes BEFORE welding the angle together.

[capjbadger]

The rack bracket was just 2 pieces of angle butted together to create a foot.

This made a nice platform to weld the rails too.



Drill the bolt holes BEFORE welding the angle together.

Why? Other than ease of de-burring the holes...

-Badger

[FIGJAM]

Drilling the 6" piece of steel was easier than haveing to wrestle the rack upside down to drill holes, plus I could use my drill press instead of the hand held.

[capjbadger]

Ahh.. I thought you were talking about just the bracket piece, not the whole rack.

-Badger

[FIGJAM]

I loaded the Pod with everything except food and ice to do a test drive.

It tracks and pulls like it's not even there, but the cost to pull is closer to 3.5 mpg instead of the 1 mpg as originaly estemated.

[FIGJAM]

Bump

[Sail Man]

Geez, what an excellent set-up! I wanna come by your camp and check it out!

Damn Figjam, what a way to reel in all of the ladies



btw, nicely done.

[gyre]

I would like more detail about how you attached the uprights of the frame to the base.
I'm trying to frame a trailer now, and I'm not satisfied with my options.

[Sail Man]

GEFDJ gyre.

LMFAO

[Sail Man]

Ok, the gauntlet is in the dust!

I'll find a solution, and it wont be any of those.

Impale and epoxy barbies in place?

Now, what part of the barbie to impale?

[gyre]

It looks to me that you used the steel framing to attach the framing to, but I don't have the same height available.
Did you use any attachment at the base of the 2x4s?

That's the weak point for me, especially for opening sides.
I'm not ready to alter the steel frame, or have time now.

My front and lower panels will be attached to the frame, but height mandates a rear gate and I planned opening upper sides, hinged.

So the uprights are crucial for me.

[FIGJAM]

OK,I get it.

If you look at the first pic in the thread, the uprights were already in place,

The prior owner had 2x4s bolted on for side rails.







I did cut the welds on the top rail so that I could change the angle to fit flush with the inside corners.



Above the rail, I used lag bolts and washers to pull the ply at the seams.



If you building from scratch, I would run the corner angle clear to the top, then use angle around the top edge, and 2 inch strap over the middle seams.

That way you could illiminate the need for an inside frame other than some cross braces to support the roof.

With that exoskeleton, I would install the roof first, then the walls, then the deck.

Make sure everything is plumb and square.

I useed lag bolts through the ply and into the upright 2x4s.

[FIGJAM]

Ok, the gauntlet is in the dust!

I'll find a solution, and it wont be any of those.

Impale and epoxy barbies in place?

Now, what part of the barbie to impale?

ALL!!!!

[gyre]

Thanks.

I have about 16" height.
Sometimes I need the lower level frame for things.
I will alter the frame to some degree eventually, or buld another trailer.

I had always thought about a foldup frame, to keep aair drag down.

[FIGJAM]

Geez, what an excellent set-up! I wanna come by your camp and check it out!

Damn Figjam, what a way to reel in all of the ladies



btw, nicely done.

Hey, It ain't Doc's RV, but what the fuck it's only my 2nd year!!!

[FIGJAM]

"If you're going to pass out in the desert, do it in a playapod!" bump

[Jax Dee]

Holy crap, how awesome! And I must say from one person to another with back issues, this is inspiring. I try not to let my health problems get me down and to see what you've accomplished here is really great.

[FIGJAM]

Last day bump!

[FIGJAM]

ALERT!!!

For the first time in a long time, I under engineered.

I went to slide out the shade rack, and it was binding up just a little.

Took it clear out, and sure enough, it was bowed.

Instead of rebuilding the whole thing, I'm adding some 1/8th" strap to the top for more strength.

Go a little larger on the tube with 1/4" sidewall tube and even better, use rectangle tube instead of square.