Sea Trials

admin

Final screw, nail, and piece of cloth...........IT'S DONEGrade 43, 3/8" safety chains.  (Like I really want to be married to this thing if something goes South)  Also decided to go Full Monty with the conspicuity treatment  Not required for 7000GVW, but WTF  Amber front, and red rear, reflectors all that's really required with this length and weight.Decided to go with 100% LED's.  Very nice, and very little power draw.  Felt it was the thing to do with an aging truck, with an aging electrical system.  Appreciate the suggestionDo some test miles tomorrow, and hopefully hit the road North by the weekend.Registration was about a ten minute affair.  In this state you just walk in, and get a plate.  Farm trailers, and personal use trailers, don't require titles or plates.  I like a plate since I'm going out of state with the trailer.  You're issued a VIN, and you stamp it on the frame.  No inspections (but you are subject to roadside inspections pretty regular).  It's still a reasonable place to live.Commercial trailers are a bit different, but not difficult.  Just need a certificate of origin."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:but but but where do you keep the cargo securement?  i don't see a toolbox?Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:looks GREAT! wow I followed that thread for a while now! Good job on it! im curious how your tires are going to wear! Have to let us know with the miles you get on it! I suspect they should be fine though!! Congrats on finishing it!
Reply:congrats on the launching of your brandy new trailer. it looks great. if only dmv were as painless here.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Very nice job on the trailer, it is very satisfying to look at something and know you built it from the ground up. The led's look cool and you can never have enough stuff to make it stand out on the road.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:No 'buts' here, A fine looking trailer you have!!
Reply:Looks Great, If it tows as well as it looks your in the tall cotton now .
Reply:So it's ready for me to pick up then.  Great trailer.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Saw the title "Sea Trials" and thought it was going to be a thread about a boat. I thought Sam was going nautical on us and was about to start some boat construction project.What is the first load planned to be hauled on your new trailer Sam?
Reply:Nice ! Now do you have to drink a fifth of JACK  and then break the bottle over the tongue ?
Reply:Great job Sambo!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Very nice looking trailer. Your comment about the heavy safety chains is one concern I have too. I stick with 1/4" non-proof chains. I really do not want a trailer attached to my tow vehicle if it is going to flip upside down.ChrisAuction Addict
Reply:Sam, that is one sweet ride my friend. Thank you for being willing to share your projects and allow some of us to learn on your dime.Miller MM 211Miller 375 XtremeO/A
Reply:Great job! Very nice!Now you can start on mine! GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Looks great, Hope it works out for you man.
Reply:They don't give that reflective tape away do they.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Thank you very much for the nice complements, I do appreciate itIt seemed to pull a bit hard when I first took it out on the highway  I was a little disappointed.........BUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (whew)My first stop was to pick up a wheel for a spare tire, then on to the tire guy's place to have a new spare mounted on the new wheel.  I also had him balance all the existing wheels on the trailer (at $5 a pop I feel it's worth it)He checks the pressure before he balances them LUCKILY.  I'd never checked the pressure when I bought, and installed, the tire/wheel assemblies  They were all between 35psi to 40psi pressure  With a radial designed to run at 65psi it makes a huge difference  So, here I am running around on tires that are half flat  No wonder it felt a bit hard to pull.  Aired up to 60psi they run like steel wheels on a railThe tracking appears to be right-on.  Both visually, looking along the side of the truck and trailer as it moves down a straight stretch of highway....and by the feel of the tires, none are running warm.  It pays to be religious about keeping everything square thru the building process.  The trip on the upcoming weekend will be about 1000mi or so, and should be the true test.The weight I estimated was off by about 150lbs.  I'm thinking that changing the jack to a heavier one, adding the spare tire/spare tire carrier, made some of the error.  I decided to upgrade this crap AFTER the axles were welded in place  All the weight was added to the tongue.I was able to use the scales where I buy feed at the local milling company.  They load out semi's, and have a full length truck scale.I pulled just past the scales with the drive wheels on the truck, then dropped the trailer on the scale.  This gave the empty weight of the trailer.Then I simply lowered the trailer back onto the ball hitch.  This gives the tongue weight (the difference between the two weights)Trailer empty weight:  2400lbsTrailer resting on ball hitch:  2100lbsThis gives a hitch weight of:  300lbsPayload is 7000-2400=4600x.125=575 (transferred load).....................4600+575=5175 Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (in other words, when loaded right, figuring the weight transfer to the truck, it will haul 5175lbs)  Of course...that's in a perfect worldI had planned on between 250-275 empty tongue weight.  It allowed me to set the axles back enough to guarantee no sway.  The numbers worked out pretty close after actual weigh-out.  I'm pretty pleased.  And! it's a very stable ride.  I swerved at 65mph a few times to check it out, and it stayed in line very very well.  It's gonna be a pretty safe pull."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:And yes, they are very proud of that tape.  I got a deal on a partial 150 foot roll for $100, and it was a very good deal.  On the flip side, there's enough tape left to do about maybe another 5 trailers or more."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Beautiful trailer, sam!   Job well done!As an afterthought, ever consider putting on some of those blingy spinner hubcaps......'jus thinkin'....would really jazz that thing up
Reply:Originally Posted by shortfuseBeautiful trailer, sam!   Job well done!As an afterthought, ever consider putting on some of those blingy spinner hubcaps......'jus thinkin'....would really jazz that thing up
Reply:Looks great Sam. I wouldn't worry about the chains. I have had my 20' trailer come off the hitch twice and didn't even know it until I noticed the load swaying. If it's layin in the chains when it comes off then the trailer won't even sway side ways. I wouldn't think about hauling trailers with out them.
Reply:300/2400=0.1250.125x100=12.512.5% tongue weight.Oh and uh, you missed a spot of grass that doesn't have spatter burns and spray paint all over it....Bueno. City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny