Trailer set up questions

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I am new to welding, and want to start learning more about it.  I somewhat fell into a Miller legend, and its in decent shape but needs some work.  Its currently sitting in my garage floor and I cant move it, so I picked up a small trailer to put it in.   The trailer is a Canadian m101 military trailer. I bought it for several reasons, 1st, its got some heavy duty suspension and I didnt want the welder getting beat up going down the road.  2nd, its small enough to fit in my garage (the HOA doesnt allow trailers outside)  The bed is about 3.5 x 6 feet.    I am going to sandblast the trailer and put some paint on it, and then get the welder in it.   When I do, do I need to bolt it down?  Or can I get away with just setting it in there?  The 2nd concern is that I just picked up an acetylene and oxygen tank, and I want to mount those in there as well.  Can the tanks lay flat or is that bad for them?   Can they sit at an angle?Any recommendations would be appreciated.  Im going to go to welding classes at night when Im able, and am hoping to pick up all the basics.Lincoln LN-125 Miller Legend AEAD-200 LE  Thermal Dynamics CutMaster 50*Just Learning how to use them*
Reply:Machine needs to be bolted down. Oxygen tank can lay down, acetylene tank must be upright.
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerMachine needs to be bolted down. Oxygen tank can lay down, acetylene tank must be upright.
Reply:I like the trailer. I would determine what you plan on loading in the trailer and dry fit everything before doing any bolting down . Plus considering access to the machine for service. You may consider mounting the tanks on the outside of the trailer box and even a tool box. Some receiver tubing mounted in a choice location would be helpful too. If you do bolt it down check tongue weight before any bolting.  I made a roll a round cart for my Trailblazer to keep it mobile in the garage. Then modified a trailer that the trailblazer with cart fits on trailer as a unit. This way it you won't have your trailer tied up in case you want to use it for other things. You could search welding rigs and get some ideas too. Here's mine that I posted. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...rt-and-TRAILER
Reply:One key item is the percentage of the total weight on the tongue of the trailer.   12% of the total weight on the tongue is about right.  Anything below 10% is definitely too little weight.  This is a stability issue, if there is not enough tongue weight it will not tow well.   However, this is probably more critical with a larger trailer.If you don't have a scale you can jack up the trailer and find the balance point.  The balance point should be a few inches forward of the axle.   If you want to do it this way, and if you give me the distance from the axle to the ball, I can tell you how many inches forward the balance point should be.  If you want to do it by a different way, pick up the tongue with the trailer empty.   The gear should add maybe 50 pounds to the tongue weight, which may make it a bit heavy to pick up.   But with a jack on the tongue, you don't need to pick up the tongue.The location of the welder will largely dictate the tongue weight.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerMachine needs to be bolted down. Oxygen tank can lay down, acetylene tank must be upright.
Reply:'' I basically need to have the welder closer to the tongue''.   Not really. Depending on what else you have in the trailer. If you mount tool boxes on the sides in the front or cylinders in the front will affect tongue weight. The axle placement also affects tongue weight. Depending on where the axle is sometimes it doesn't take much to increase tongue weight. Just mounting two spare tires on the sides will impact the tongue weight. A front swing jack with wheel is really helpful IF it doesn't have one now. Do you have a engine hoist for loading it in trailer ? They are really handy. In your situation it maybe a pain moving from state to state.Here's a post on welding rigs, might help.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ht=welding+rigMOST OF ALL, THANKS FOR SERVING !
Reply:What will happen if it is not bolted down is that you will be moving it by hand, backing into the garage, and one tires will hit a rock/roller skate/dead cat/ your wife's foot, etc and will cause it to stall. The tongue will lift a little as a reaction, the welder will slide back a little. At that point the weight is over the center to the back, it will cause the tongue to go up very fast, the welder will end up first on its face, then on its back on the garage floor. You will stand there cussing, hopefully counting yourself lucky that the tongue didn't break a few teeth on its way up.
Reply:Gonna pull it with your blue Jeep?  The 101 is a very nice sized trailer!  I know some people have kicked their acetylene tanks over at an angle, I would rather stand tanks up myself.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
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1'' I basically need to have the welder closer to the tongue''.   Not really. Depending on what else you have in the trailer. If you mount tool boxes on the sides in the front or cylinders in the front will affect tongue weight. The axle placement also affects tongue weight. Depending on where the axle is sometimes it doesn't take much to increase tongue weight. Just mounting two spare tires on the sides will impact the tongue weight. A front swing jack with wheel is really helpful IF it doesn't have one now. Do you have a engine hoist for loading it in trailer ? They are really handy. In your situation it maybe a pain moving from state to state.Here's a post on welding rigs, might help.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ht=welding+rigMOST OF ALL, THANKS FOR SERVING !
Reply:I would not sand blast it, sand and spot prime rust and then prime and paint. Government paint is top quality and is a great primer. Nice trailer build a cart to move it around yard.
Reply:Build a set of overhead racks that will fit in the garage door ,good for ladders and stock.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanI would not sand blast it, sand and spot prime rust and then prime and paint. Government paint is top quality and is a great primer. Nice trailer build a cart to move it around yard.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanBuild a set of overhead racks that will fit in the garage door ,good for ladders and stock.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauThe machine Doesn't NEED to be bolted down if you are just going to roll it out in the driveway and back in the garage BY HAND. If you plan on towing it down the road, then YES BOLT IT DOWN. The tanks MUST be securely fastened in place whenever the safety caps are off, or they are being transported. Upright for sure for the acetylene, and preferably upright for the oxygen, but you can have it at an angle if needed. You will need some kind of strong support added to the trailer to secure the tanks in place upright. I don't think I want to live someplace where things are dictated by a HOA. I'd be butting heads with them all the time. Most likely never sign any contract with them to start with.
Reply:Thats awesome!!   Good on him for figuring out how to use their system against them!Lincoln LN-125 Miller Legend AEAD-200 LE  Thermal Dynamics CutMaster 50*Just Learning how to use them*
Reply:I hate HOA's with a passion. Bunch of bored ninnies running around looking for trouble, demanding uniformity and compliance.HOA houses remind me of the Beatles song... 'All made of ticky tacky and they all look just the same.'If I want to paint my house hot pink, then I will.  And nothing the neighbors can do!
Reply:Sand with a DA or plain flat sheet sander use Rustoleum or Tractor Supply paint , ps the Harbor Freight DA and their $ 14.00 sprayer work fine if you have a air compressor.
Reply:Just see you have a nice compressor . I would build a tank rack in the hitch and sink the bottom down to the axel height next to the box. Next buy a set of the tank regulator guards so you can leave them hooked up.
Reply:So its been a while, but I finally have some time (and funds) to get started on this.  I was going to clean up the trailer before I put the welder in, but I need the space in my garage, so I am going to go ahead and put the welder in my trailer.  Before I do, I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions on prepping the trailer before I do.  I know I need to mount the welder before I drive around with the welder in the trailer, but before I mount it, should I do anything to the floor of my trailer?  Should I be concerned about the ridges in the floor of the trailer?  Or am I just over thinking this, and should call the floor good and put the welder in there?The Legend that's going in thereLincoln LN-125 Miller Legend AEAD-200 LE  Thermal Dynamics CutMaster 50*Just Learning how to use them*
Reply:That is a nice trailer; they are really popular with the 4x4 folks.    Consider this idea...build a one piece skid for both welder and cylinders.   Set the skid up so that you can slide it into the trailer and bolt it down.    My perspective on this is to preserve the stock look of the trailer.    Or say fwak it, and build a ripping bad-*** trailer with cylinder hose and lead reals.
Reply:Originally Posted by BilldacatThat is a nice trailer; they are really popular with the 4x4 folks.    Consider this idea...build a one piece skid for both welder and cylinders.   Set the skid up so that you can slide it into the trailer and bolt it down.    My perspective on this is to preserve the stock look of the trailer.    Or say fwak it, and build a ripping bad-*** trailer with cylinder hose and lead reals.
Reply:Paint
Reply:So its been a year, but I have finally made some progress.  I currently just have the welder sitting in my trailer but Im going to go with Billdacats idea and Im going to build something (or have built) for the welder and tanks to sit in and then bolt to the floor of the trailer.   I will hopefully have this back together next week, minus the case which Im considering having powder coated white (instead of the traditional miller blue)Lincoln LN-125 Miller Legend AEAD-200 LE  Thermal Dynamics CutMaster 50*Just Learning how to use them*
Reply:If you ever think you might sell it, go Miller blue.  It will add significantly to resale valueTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250any updates?Dynasty 200DX   (2014)Millermatic 211 (2015)Optrel 864   (2014)Smith Medium duty MBA 30510 (Xmas 2014)Tennsmith 16ga 4ft finger brake (2015)Trailblazer 325 EFI and excel Thermal dynamics Cutmaster 82Miller maxtron 450