I bought a new 6' by 10' trailer for storing ZoCal modules and taking them to shows. We had to have something big enough to transport the BFY (Big Freight Yard) as each module is 6.5' long. I had to rent a small van to get the BFY and other modules to NTS last July. A trailer was the best (and cheapest) solution. The ZoCal guys have gotten together twice at my place to get the trailer fixed just right. We stripped out the luan inside paneling and installed insulation on both sides, the front and the top. The modules will be sitting in the trailer for a long time between shows and we don't want them to be damaged from heat or moisture. A solar powered vent was installed in the ceiling to help keep the trailer cooler. Then a rack system was installed in the side walls for storage racks. 3/4" plywood was added to the floor to beef it up. Another rack installed in the middle of the floor. Six fold down securement rings installed in the outside edges of the floor for more tie down points. That was early February. Two weeks ago a smaller work party got the bottom of the trailer sprayed with an undercoat to protect the bare plywood on the bottom. Since then I have been working solo to finish the trailer up. Blue outdoor carpeting for the floor (with slits cut for floor ring access) and paneling covering the sides installed (I did cheat and reuse the luan) and installed the LED light strips that James had got for the trailer. There are over 560 LEDs in that trailer now. There is a small battery pack to run them or they can be run from the trailer clearance light system when the trailer is connected to a vehicle. Now I'm working on the rack system that will be all aluminum. Some of the rack will be left out so that the side door can be used for access. Working on a spare tire, jack and triangle for the Denver trip. Some pictures to follow. A lot more pictures on our ZoCal Yahoo group forum site. Light system on. Small strips of Teak under the lights to protect them from bumps. This is how the bottom rack will look when completed. The top will be exactly the same. 3 1/4" spacing of the 3/4" tubing. The ceiling was left with the aluminum insulation side showing with the seams covered with aluminum tape. This picture shows where the rack will be left open for side access. The top rack will match the bottom. Almost done!
Thanks Mike! Got the top rack all done. Even tried out a module in the back. Another view: Getting some work done in this 72 degree weather is tough! And it is supposed to be in the low 80's tomorrow!
Looks like some sleepin racks (or horizontal jail to keep Don away from ya). I'll be in Denver when you arrive so I want to see if it beats Manley's Monster aircraft transporter. Or the back of my van ! .
Got the shelving done. Filed any sharp edges down on the aluminum. Spare tire should be here Friday. Patching holes in walls too.
There commonly available square caps for those tubes so no metal is exposed on the end. Press right in and have a large cross-section flat to completely cover the end. .
Dave, Where did you find the side rails and are they designed to fit cross pieces anywhere on the rails? How about those end caps that Jeff mentioned? Two months to go and I've got to get busy on my trailer design too. My spare tire will definitely go on the front part of the hitch against the front wall.
Thanks for the reply Dave, I'm still fidgeting about how to do my trailer so can't commit to the end caps yet, but I'll let you know. How are you securing the different modules to the frames once they are placed on the racks? That's been a question on my mind as to how to secure modules for the long hauls. I don't want to repeat what happened to Karin and me when we came to Anaheim. We had troubles before we left Medford due to my lack of how to secure modules and not having ideal techniques for securing at the time. I'm guessing you purchased the square black plugs? Back to my thinking cap.
I have about ten of those ratcheting straps with the metal hooks on the ends. Most, if not all of the modules have covers and can be tied across. For the modules without covers, I was thinking of adding some kind of attachment ring in the bottom of the module. Then they can be held down also. Some kind of "pillows" between the modules maybe. Yes I ordered the square end caps, black. They fit inside and the outside end matches the tubing.
Got the caps today and they fit tight. Got the whole back edge of the rack done. Finished putting the trim back around the side door. Almost finished!
Got er done! All caps in place - all 44 of them. All trim finished. Got the spare tire mounted under the tongue. Finished exactly 1.5 months early - darn!
Pictures: space in back for legs of modules View form back with doors open View from side door, top rack. Vent can be seen in the top. Caps on ends of tubes.
Ok Dave, Looks very nice indeed. Now two more questions......Purpose of the interior lights? Did you really need lighting? Where did you get the black box on the front of the trailer? Guess you can call it the trailer's black box, but I doubt it will be crammed full of electronics to tell you when you took a wrong route or went too fast or hit a bump. Probably be full of beer for Don, right?
Loren, James bought the lights. I think it was Don's idea though. Mostly because they were easy to put up. Real reason is it looks so COOL! Got the black box from Harbor Freight. The box will be for storage of a scissor jack, star wrench, the jacks to hold the back up when loading/unloading (as in the one picture) and possibly some road triangles. No electronics. GPS will be in truck. And black just absorbs sunlight = warm beer.
The black box is a great idea to hold all those items separately apart from train items. I was fortunate to have the fold down rear support jacks as part of the trailer. Of course, I paid a LOT more for my 6x12 than you did for your trailer. The support for the spare tire....where from? Got to hand it to you Dave, your trailer is a class act, no doubt about it. Where do you store it? I still say you guys need to put some more scenery on those modules though..............)
