Be careful unloading on a grade without the support feet on the ramps.More than once ive lifted the back wheels on my truck enough for the truck,trailer,tractor and me to go for a ride downhill! Truck goes into 4x4 now on grades
Nashville TJ's Build - Continued
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Be careful unloading on a grade without the support feet on the ramps.More than once ive lifted the back wheels on my truck enough for the truck,trailer,tractor and me to go for a ride downhill! Truck goes into 4x4 now on grades
I actually carry a set of support blocks in the tool box if I ever need to load something heavy. With the trailer attached to the truck, rolling the Jeep up there is fine.
But - I did learn my lesson not long after I cut off the original support feet. I was moving a big skid steer for a buddy, and when they rolled it onto the trailer it lifted the rear of the truck about 3 feet off the ground. Never thought that would happen with the bug truck, but wow, that was a wake-up.
That was on flat ground, but I've never thought about loosing the brakes when that happens if you are on an incline. Very good to know. Thanks Rick.
The old trailer had a coupler lock that I built years ago, and all I had to do to make it work on the new trailer was to swap the coupler. Here is the original:
It's certainly heavy enough, and would have been a direct swap. But, I like the ball locking mechanism on the new trailer coupler. The ball lock and lever is one piece, and it is very, very sturdy. It also has a nice pin feature which mechanically locks it in both the open and closed position. Here it is:
But, my coupler lock does not clear the new coupler. So, cool project for today....
It's certainly heavy enough, and would have been a direct swap. But, I like the ball locking mechanism on the new trailer coupler. The ball lock and lever is one piece, and it is very, very sturdy. It also has a nice pin feature which mechanically locks it in both the open and closed position. Here it is:
But, my coupler lock does not clear the new coupler. So, cool project for today....
There were two issues with the coupler lock. First, the locking ring mechanism does not fit inside the coupler when in the locked position. Second, there is a lip around the bottom of the coupler which keeps the coupler lock from sliding all the way down to completely cover the coupler.
But, after a bit of measrin' and cyphrin' - nothing a cutoff wheel couldn't solve. I cut a slot to clear the locking ring in the locked position, and clearanced the lower section to clear the lip. Also had to cut off the handle as it also interfered with the lock ring.
And then a final install on the trailer to make sure everything was going to work...
...and it did.
But, after a bit of measrin' and cyphrin' - nothing a cutoff wheel couldn't solve. I cut a slot to clear the locking ring in the locked position, and clearanced the lower section to clear the lip. Also had to cut off the handle as it also interfered with the lock ring.
And then a final install on the trailer to make sure everything was going to work...
...and it did.
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Next was to rebuild the dog-house to once again completely enclose the coupler. Fortunately, I have some CAD experience:
That would have worked fine, and everything cleared - but, it was a bit ugly. To soften it up a bit, I cut the forward corner to make it not quite so boxy. CAD is so flexible:
Now it's beautiful!
That would have worked fine, and everything cleared - but, it was a bit ugly. To soften it up a bit, I cut the forward corner to make it not quite so boxy. CAD is so flexible:
Now it's beautiful!
CAD design complete, it was simply a matter of turning the cardboard template into steel, and tacking it all together.
And man, you can't beat the big band saw for this type of work. Very accurate, quick, and no cleanup.
And man, you can't beat the big band saw for this type of work. Very accurate, quick, and no cleanup.
Then another fit-up on the trailer to check clearance and function, and once again everything passed:
But yeah, still ugly. The old design was a bit sleeker - this one is a bit on the boxy side...
But, it works.
But yeah, still ugly. The old design was a bit sleeker - this one is a bit on the boxy side...
But, it works.
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After some welding and grinding, the dog-house is back:
A little less ugly, but, yeah, still ugly. But, ugly is tough. When this thing is locked up, you'd have a hell of a time getting into it.
A little less ugly, but, yeah, still ugly. But, ugly is tough. When this thing is locked up, you'd have a hell of a time getting into it.
During the original build, I did a good bit of research on how trailers are stolen. One method is that if the coupler is locked, the thieves will simply take the safety chains, hook them to their truck, and haul the trailer away. To make that a bit more of a challenge, the coupler lock includes a lock for the chains. The chains loop over a rod behind the coupler, and the coupler secures them when installed. It was a simple matter of welding in a 3/8" Grade 8 bolt on to the new trailer tongue:
And here is how the chains are secured:
Fool proof? Of course not - but at least the thieves have to supply their own chains to drag the trailer away...
And here is how the chains are secured:
Fool proof? Of course not - but at least the thieves have to supply their own chains to drag the trailer away...
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And one final safety feature. When this thing is installed you can't see whether on not the tongue is locked. So it would be entirely possible to hook the trailer up to the truck, forget to lock it, installed the coupler lock and drive away - with the expected consequences.
On the old setup there was a plate that I installed in the coupler lock which would prevent it from being installed unless the coupler was in the locked position. Providing this feature on the modified lock turned out to be easy and took all of five minutes. All I had to do was to weld in a short piece of tubing as shown below. Now if the coupler is in the unlocked position, the coupler lock will not go down far enough to slide in the big 3/4" locking pin. Also, when in the locked position, the tube keeps the locking ring in the locked position, and it cannot accidentally move to the open position.
Tomorrow, I'll clean it up, throw on some paint, and call it done.
All in all, a fun day in the shop. Can't ever complain about that...
On the old setup there was a plate that I installed in the coupler lock which would prevent it from being installed unless the coupler was in the locked position. Providing this feature on the modified lock turned out to be easy and took all of five minutes. All I had to do was to weld in a short piece of tubing as shown below. Now if the coupler is in the unlocked position, the coupler lock will not go down far enough to slide in the big 3/4" locking pin. Also, when in the locked position, the tube keeps the locking ring in the locked position, and it cannot accidentally move to the open position.
Tomorrow, I'll clean it up, throw on some paint, and call it done.
All in all, a fun day in the shop. Can't ever complain about that...
Cool - you found the chamfer function! A handy function...
I remember when you built that thing the first time. Very beefy. I'm confident it will continue to serve its purpose well. I'm curious about the weight?
Also jealous of that cool band saw.
Last thing: What's happening with the 14 bolt?
It’s 8 pounds with the pin and the bolt lock installed. It’s the entire reason I had to upgrade to the 15,000 pound trailer…
I’m upgrading to a Super 35.
Wow. Feathery.
That should work just fine.I’m upgrading to a Super 35.
A couple more details on the new trailer:
Wheel Chocks...
...and the jack stand mount bases:
Wheel Chocks...
...and the jack stand mount bases:
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I did not realize that tractors do not have reverse…
If he had not panicked, he might have thought about that. The tree branch at the end is what really makes that one funny.
I did not realize that tractors do not have reverse…
If he'd kept going forward, that would've likely worked as well.
If we're being honest, he was probably too busy pooping his pants to think of something like that.
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