PDA

View Full Version : Trailer rebuild project (pics so far)



OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 12:42 PM
Pics are up here, will be adding as progress is made (need to wait for the rain to pass through this week.)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16434&l=2f2cb&id=506839510

Some highlights:

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v232/34/61/506839510/n506839510_368199_6842.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v232/34/61/506839510/n506839510_368202_7563.jpg
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v232/34/61/506839510/n506839510_368211_9981.jpg
http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v232/34/61/506839510/n506839510_368216_1383.jpg
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v232/34/61/506839510/n506839510_368225_2776.jpg

5.9 ANDY
04-09-2008, 12:54 PM
ok, 3 questions.

1. why isnt this in the DD/tow rigs/trailer section??

2. why do you have a 2" reciever on the back of the trailer? (just curious, i have been thinking of doing it for mine as well)

3. when you are done, are you gona get on your lawn mower and get pulled by a truck and go out on the freeway in celebration?

OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 12:57 PM
ok, 3 questions.

1. why isnt this in the DD/tow rigs/trailer section??


Fixed.


2. why do you have a 2" reciever on the back of the trailer? (just curious, i have been thinking of doing it for mine as well)


Bumper dumper, tubing bender, camping grill, etc. NOT FOR TOWING.



3. when you are done, are you gona get on your lawn mower and get pulled by a truck and go out on the freeway in celebration?


Absolutely! Well if I still had my old POS and got drunk, maybe, but not on the new one!

OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 12:57 PM
There's notes under the pics in the facebook link, BTW.

BigDaveZJ
04-09-2008, 12:59 PM
If you wheeled like 10% as much as you wrench, you'd one wheelin mofo.

OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 12:59 PM
Funny, I still manage to wheel 100x more than you!

5.9 ANDY
04-09-2008, 01:01 PM
If you wheeled like 10% as much as you wrench, you'd one wheelin mofo.
dosent that apply to all of us?? i know it dose for me, i have had my jeep just months over a year now, and about 1/3-1/4 of it has been in the garage on jack stands or with its motor in pices. (i work slow on my rig, i realy dont know why).

BigDaveZJ
04-09-2008, 01:06 PM
Funny, I still manage to wheel 100x more than you!

My Jeep can go wheeling as it sits right now. Only problem is a bunch of fawking snow on all the trails!

OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 01:10 PM
My Jeep can go wheeling as it sits right now. Only problem is a bunch of fawking snow on all the trails!

Your Jeep "able to go wheeling" isn't exactly trail time, is it? How many times were you out this winter? :flipoff2:

BigDaveZJ
04-09-2008, 01:17 PM
Your Jeep "able to go wheeling" isn't exactly trail time, is it? How many times were you out this winter? :flipoff2:

Zero! Cuz there isn't a place within 300 miles of me to go wheeling in the winter.

Mtn WJ
04-09-2008, 08:09 PM
I see you decided to retire the old GMC and get a new tow rig.

BigDaveZJ
04-09-2008, 08:19 PM
I see you decided to retire the old GMC and get a new tow rig.

Sadly, I think the lawnmower might even tow better. :flipoff2:

OverkillZJ
04-09-2008, 10:37 PM
x
I see you decided to retire the old GMC and get a new tow rig.

Na, just use the tractor to turn it around in the driveway, much easier.

GMC is great now that I replaced every part (and I really do mean almost every :smt040

nate
04-09-2008, 11:54 PM
Matt, don't forget your trailer needs to have 3 red lights in the center for it to be legal. I have been hearing stories of the law and DOT hauling people over for stuff like that.

It also needs to have as a min on the sides 2 amber lights toward the front and 2 red lights on the back, looks like you have those from what I can see.
AND reflective tape if the trailer was made after 1993.

phillyzj
04-10-2008, 07:49 AM
reverse lights are a nice touch, how do you plan to wire them up? I want to do something like that on mine, i even have the lights sitting around. I have ramps that slide in where your lights are though.

I like the hitch too. While i know it's not for towing, at least where i park my trailer now there are two trailers, it could be handy for movin them around from time to time. mainly just back and forth to get to them, etc.

CurtP
04-10-2008, 09:57 AM
reverse lights are a nice touch, how do you plan to wire them up?

Probably with wire. You guys are fucking killing me.

phillyzj
04-10-2008, 10:05 AM
Probably with wire. You guys are fucking killing me.

that's a good idea. i was curious if he had a better idea than just an extra wire hanging from the hitch to hook up everytime.

i'm thinkin i'll just put an extra battery on the trailer and a dip switch sticking out of the fender, everytime i want to back up and use the lights i'll get out run back flip the switch and then get back in to back up, i think this will be most efficient for my time. :smt067 :smt067

OverkillZJ
04-10-2008, 10:09 AM
Matt, don't forget your trailer needs to have 3 red lights in the center for it to be legal. I have been hearing stories of the law and DOT hauling people over for stuff like that.

It also needs to have as a min on the sides 2 amber lights toward the front and 2 red lights on the back, looks like you have those from what I can see.
AND reflective tape if the trailer was made after 1993.

The trailer has been legal (and passed inspection here) for the last 2 years with nothing but 2 ambers up front, and the rear brake/turn lights: that's all its ever had. Maybe this is different by weight class or state? Anyway, I'm doing it all except for the 3 lights in the middle on the back, the LED lights alone are rather blinding.

OverkillZJ
04-10-2008, 10:10 AM
that's a good idea. i was curious if he had a better idea than just an extra wire hanging from the hitch to hook up everytime.

i'm thinkin i'll just put an extra battery on the trailer and a dip switch sticking out of the fender, everytime i want to back up and use the lights i'll get out run back flip the switch and then get back in to back up, i think this will be most efficient for my time. :smt067 :smt067

What are you talking about? The 7 pole hitch wiring has always had reverse in it, it's just not used on flatbed trailers.

BigDaveZJ
04-10-2008, 10:11 AM
that's a good idea. i was curious if he had a better idea than just an extra wire hanging from the hitch to hook up everytime.




You could put a solar panel and a battery near each light, MUCH less wire that way.

:rolleyes:

phillyzj
04-10-2008, 10:11 AM
What are you talking about? The 7 pole hitch wiring has always had reverse in it, it's just not used on flatbed trailers.

hmm i'll have to lookat mine again, i thought it didn't have any extra pins. if so never mind my jibberish and get back to work.

phillyzj
04-10-2008, 10:14 AM
hmm i'll have to lookat mine again, i thought it didn't have any extra pins. if so never mind my jibberish and get back to work.

genius but what do I do when i go to alaska in the winter and there's never enough light to charge the batteries?

hmm i guess i'll have to go look for a generator.

CurtP
04-10-2008, 10:29 AM
I was wondering where you were going with that philly. I thought you meant how he was going to string the wire from the back of the trailer up to the 7-pin connector. :smt044

This thread delivers :D

phillyzj
04-10-2008, 10:49 AM
I was wondering where you were going with that philly. I thought you meant how he was going to string the wire from the back of the trailer up to the 7-pin connector. :smt044

This thread delivers :D

:smt116

nate
04-10-2008, 08:39 PM
The 3 lights are a federal DOT reg. It is written toward tractor trailers, but any trailer is supposed to comply with it.
If the trailer is over I think 80" wide, it needs to have the 3 red lights and side clearance lights on the front and back (amber and red). If the trailer is big enough for brakes (dual axle for sure) it has to have a working, attached brake away controller as well.

You might be fine in your local area, but going over to other states, sometimes they are more picky and chose to enforce the laws.

A trailer should have a min of 10 lights. 4 side clearance, 3 rear clearance, 2 tail lights and a license plate light.


The trailer has been legal (and passed inspection here) for the last 2 years with nothing but 2 ambers up front, and the rear brake/turn lights: that's all its ever had. Maybe this is different by weight class or state? Anyway, I'm doing it all except for the 3 lights in the middle on the back, the LED lights alone are rather blinding.

OverkillZJ
04-11-2008, 12:39 AM
I guess it'll have everything except for the 3 in the rear then; kind of strange it was inspected in the state of PA when I bought it without meeting regulations though, and I haven't had an issue in a whole lot of states yet!

Not saying your wrong about the federal regulations, but craps hard to keep track of these days.

nate
04-11-2008, 10:03 PM
Here is the info for you Matt:

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/standards/conspicuity/Trlrpstr.html

My trailer is rated to 10k so in addition to the basics, the over 80" stuff, I also have red/white tape all over it too.

slim616
04-13-2008, 09:02 AM
The 3 lights are a federal DOT reg. It is written toward tractor trailers, but any trailer is supposed to comply with it.
If the trailer is over I think 80" wide, it needs to have the 3 red lights and side clearance lights on the front and back (amber and red). If the trailer is big enough for brakes (dual axle for sure) it has to have a working, attached brake away controller as well.

You might be fine in your local area, but going over to other states, sometimes they are more picky and chose to enforce the laws.

A trailer should have a min of 10 lights. 4 side clearance, 3 rear clearance, 2 tail lights and a license plate light.


As for Pa I know they check it because when I have to run through the weight stations thats one of their things on the list to check. Since your non comercial you wont have to worry about weight station thing put what the police will do is see that and use that as an excuse to pull you over and go over your whole rig for repair orders and fines. Last year I got pulled over for having one of the three marker lights on the back out. He used this as a jumping point to give me 3 other repair orders on small things.

OverkillZJ
04-14-2008, 02:06 PM
Guess I'm adding a few lights to the back, not worth saving the $15 for it when it can apparently get me a ticket. Thanks Nate.

JordanA
04-14-2008, 02:15 PM
I want to see these yellow wheels matt.

OverkillZJ
04-14-2008, 02:17 PM
Haven't even prepped for paint yet, been too busy modifying the trailer itself in the little spare time I've had lately.

JordanA
04-14-2008, 02:36 PM
Fair enough... still wanna see them.

jsteves
04-14-2008, 05:57 PM
Your trailer is ugly....alas I have no trailer though.

OverkillZJ
04-14-2008, 06:21 PM
Your trailer is ugly....alas I have no trailer though.

Hence the rebuild / paint / make trailer pretty project, genius! :confused:

5.9 ANDY
04-14-2008, 07:00 PM
Your trailer is ugly....alas I have no trailer though.

if you think his is bad, you ought to see mine.

Tommy
04-15-2008, 10:29 PM
if you think his is bad, you ought to see mine.


x2 mine is unuseable right now. The coupler has worn all the way threw and you can see the ball... Mine is in need of a rebuild. I may just put a new coupler on it and unload it for $500 bucks. Been looking at some 40ft gooseneck utility trailers. I can pull a couple rigs and save on gas.

nate
04-16-2008, 12:42 AM
No problem. I figured since you were cutting, wiring, and painting, it wouldn't be much extra work to add those lights in there.




Guess I'm adding a few lights to the back, not worth saving the $15 for it when it can apparently get me a ticket. Thanks Nate.

OverkillZJ
04-21-2008, 01:17 PM
I was looking at the lighting regulations again, and it looks like in addition to the 3 lights in the center at the back, they also want:
2 amber lights at the front of the trailer facing FORWARD
2 red lights at the rear of the trailer facing backwards, and "MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps"


Now here's my question for those with basic 16ft / 18ft trailers, WHO'S TRAILER ACTUALLY HAS ALL THIS? Because I think I'm about to tell the regulations to suck my nutsack.

Skyline
04-21-2008, 02:26 PM
If you look at the box on any box type truck, you will see basically the same lighting pattern as what you're saying they want on a trailer....and to at least some extent, that makes sense.

nate
04-21-2008, 02:27 PM
Matt what they are talking about there is lights on the fenders, since that would be the widest point. New trailers have them, sometimes it's a 1 piece light that sits on the top of the fender, amber in front, red in back.

Skyline
04-21-2008, 02:28 PM
Just be glad the "Green" lobby hasn't (yet) forced you to use all LED lights, because then you'd really be bitching due to their cost.

OverkillZJ
04-21-2008, 03:14 PM
Matt what they are talking about there is lights on the fenders, since that would be the widest point. New trailers have them, sometimes it's a 1 piece light that sits on the top of the fender, amber in front, red in back.

Oh, duh, that makes sense, the way they worded it confused me! I already have the holes drilled and the light for the fender, so sounds like I'm covered once I add the 3 lights to the back.

Skline - everything is LED except for the reverse lights anyway (figure they won't be on often!) :smt081

Skyline
04-21-2008, 03:42 PM
[quote=OverkillZJ;
Skline - everything is LED except for the reverse lights anyway (figure they won't be on often!) :smt081[/quote]

Well, I guess LEDs are coming down in price, but the white ones are still crazy expensive. Nice to know it's unlikely that they will ever need replacement.

OverkillZJ
04-21-2008, 03:49 PM
They're becoming pretty reasonable. I had the rear brake / turns already from the ZJ 7 years ago that never got installed into the bumper; the side markers I got were $8 each made by Peterbilt, and that's worth it for them to never burn out (well for 100,000 hours anyway!)

You're right, the LED reverse lights are CRAZY expensive, no way I'd buy them.

OverkillZJ
05-20-2008, 11:51 AM
Trailer is DONE! Took lots of work, and I never want to do it again, but short of touchups once in awhile, this should be a nice reliable trailer now.

A huge thanks to MF Steve for his plasma cutting and welding services, and DMG for his donation of the hitch mounted at the front!

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432055_9704.jpg

Fabricated a custom mount for the poly toolbox, and spare tire changer. Because of all the sway control and weight distro stuff I use, I couldn't just mount the toolbox flat.
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432057_267.jpg

Top AND bottom of the wood painted. Will need to touch up the top once in awhile and add another coat, but it can be on the trailer for that.

http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432058_568.jpg


Over-wired; used WetPlex cable, soldered EVERY connection, used shrink tubing on it, then taped it up.

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432059_849.jpg

http://photos-e.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432060_1137.jpg


Hitch at the front for winch-use.

http://photos-f.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432061_1422.jpg

Got wires?

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432062_1703.jpg


All done. Rig is squating because I don't have the weight distro on, and buggy is HEAVY.

http://photos-h.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432063_1996.jpg

I think it came out pretty well, but that was a lot of work, and I don't ever want to do it again. You can see the rear door where the ramp holders are, which lock, and have the 3 marker lights in them. Every light on here except for the reverse is LED.

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/34/61/506839510/n506839510_432065_2575.jpg

Mtn WJ
05-21-2008, 10:11 AM
Looks great.

Here is a tip from my Dad. If you live in areas with high humidity and they salt the roads or near a coast. Spray wash your trailer each time you take it out then use the spray on wax treatment. He lives in Oregon and does that to everything outside these days. His trailers, lawn tractor etc. and claims his rust problems are much better than before.

nate
05-21-2008, 02:18 PM
What is this spray on wax treatment?

ELLLLLIOTTTTT
05-21-2008, 03:29 PM
Looking good Poindexter.

Mtn WJ
05-21-2008, 06:53 PM
What is this spray on wax treatment?


Same stuff you use on your car. McQuires and Turtle wax as well as others make it. Not a very good wax but it does put a slight barrier between the it and elements.