Loren, Got the spare tire and support from Trailer Parts Superstore. I still need the grease cap covers for the axle though. Trailer is right next to a RV right out in front. Concrete pad and fence block already there. And Don is planning on coming over to put scenery on his module in two weeks. I am planning on stripping the track and roadbed off what we call the Vineyard module (built by Dave Barnblatt) and putting down new roadbed and flextrack today. Or at least starting it. This module fell over in the back of the rental van on the way back from Sacramento and the track/roadbed has come loose - kind of out of gauge too. Every show someone would notice how bad it was off. Last show it actually would cause trains to lean out. When I finish, I will connect the finished module to my modules and fully test it before the Denver show.
Ooooohh...that lug nut cover is fancy. Makes it look pretty nice. How about a locking trailer hitch so the hitch itself can't be stolen? Where did you get the latest goodies? I went to Harbor freight last week and got myself one of those nice black metal boxes for the front of the trailer like you have. Was on sale so I saved a couple of bucks. Seems to me the tire under the hitch bracket would be hanging down quite a bit....maybe not enough clearance for obstructions passing by? Guess maybe I should start on my trailer you think? No trailer parties here, just little ole me doing it all. I'm looking for a removable wheel to put under the front jack so as to be able to push the trailer around even though it is unhooked from the van. Weighing 1300 pounds though, it might not budge with just me tugging and pushing.
Loren, Same store: Trailer Parts Superstore. The wheel covers were about $3.00 each. I also got the caster wheel, just have not put it on, is: BULLDOG Trailer Jack Wheel Caster Assy. #500245 $27.95 Not sure of the weight rating on the caster wheel.. Most of the weight of the trailer is on the main wheels. Now the scary part is the shipping. If you order just the covers, you pay almost $15.00 just for shipping. For a $6.00 order? So place as big of an order as possible and the shipping becomes more reasonable. I got the lock and the caster with the covers and it was $21.00 for shipping. Get to work there slappy!
David, My trailer weighs in at 1300 pounds empty...ugh. I have a custom trailer store near by so may check them out. I am concerned with the spare tire arrangement because as so often happens, one may see an object in the road and figure he can straddle it safely. With the tire hanging down fairly low, it would be a disaster if you straddled some object in the road only to have the spare hit it. The end result could be too horrible to even imagine. Word of caution......under no circumstance, run over any object in the road as it may be the last time...... Counting down the days.
Oops, one more question. On your leg storage area. How do you get the legs out of the storage area? Do they just lift out?
That is a good question. I have been dropping them in, but may be limited on how many can fit in that way. We shall see... I just realized I could remove the left screw and just pivot that whole arm. I think that will work.
I'm going to figure something else out, as I don't want to hassle the legs out of their holding pen. Hmmmmmm..........
We had the "module cover building party" yesterday. I saw two finished and one half way. Any way Jeff T. and I got the spare tire mounted vertically on the tongue. The box is still accessible and the crank turns freely. Didn't get a picture for you Loren. But I did get that top rack full of modules. BFY still in the bottom. 37 legs in the leg rack. We will load Henri's six modules in the trailer when I come by on the 1st to get the trailer (I left it in front of Henri's house) and meet with Dan and Jim for the llloooonnnnggggg drive to Denver. My tow vehicle was getting only 12 mpg on the drive up so my driving range is only 240 miles between fill ups - ugh. Joe, We are actually bringing more modules than what I first said. We will not have Gary H's module, but will have two new large radius ends and the Quad (four way module). More options!
Jeff checking out his module on top of the two Quad modules. Rest of the middle rack empty for Henri's modules - and Dan's new end too. Hopefully. Filling the top rack to overhanging - but tied down. We are securing everything to the racks so they won't bounce around - that is what causes the damage. Looking good!
David, Began the shelf building project last night. Won't bother to explain it but will post pictures when done. At this point in time, I'm not going with aluminum rail but may sometime in the future. Just one shelf is planned presently with the shelf being 20" from floor to accommodate my mountains. There is definitely room for a second higher shelf for yard modules, (if I ever build them). The Castle Crag top will ride as a separate piece. Building a bulkhead at left side of side door. Trying to keep weight over axle. I do want to see your spare wheel arrangement. I decided to leave my spare mounted inside on the right wall until some module demands the space. Bought a caster for the front and installed it. My trailer weighs 1300# empty. Caster makes moving the trailer around a piece of cake. Tomorrow is turn up the heat day at my local trailer retrofit facility, (my garage) Joe and I plan on a 8' Dunsmuir module someday so that is why I am not putting too much into the current adaptations. Joe and I leave Monday morning from MTL on the 30th. Plan to arrive Wednesday sometime and get a decent meal and rest up for set up day on Thursday. When are you leaving and who is in your rig? I think we are taking the Southern route from Medford. Hope we don't encounter a spring snow. That could really screw up the schedule.
Yo Loren, I'm picking up Burbank Dan to ride with me and Jim M. in his own vehicle on May 1st (Tuesday) and just go up I-15 to Cedar City, UT for the night. Then drive all day Wednesday and arrive in Denver. I-15 to I-70. Rest up Wednesday night for module set up Thursday. I am a Ham radio operator and will be using APRS (Automatic Position Reporting System) to show my location. Anyone can go to: aprs.fi In the search box put in "zocal" (no quotes). Lower down is a time line which can be changed to up to at least a week. 24 hours should work fine. It will show where my last known location was with time, speed and altitude. And this is live - or maybe a couple of minutes behind. Anyone can track the ZoCal Crazies on our drive to Denver. All other members are flying in. So you could follow us along and know when we will pull up at the hotel on Wednesday. For a test, you can follow me in my other vehicle on this Thursday. Just enter "smart" (no quotes) and pick the US one - the other one is in Turkey! The last test was on 4/10/12.
I got a better idea David, Joe and I will leave early, sit alongside the road and when you go by, throw out a cable and hook and draft along behind you...........works for me )
I'm so envious. You guys have some fun for the rest of us, okay?! Definitely wish I could be there........
Looks good David you Guyz have a Fun & Safe Trip can't wait till the Ontario Show so that I can see all the Great Work you Guyz put into that trailer :thumbs_up:
What do you mean it runs on gas? 4.6 miles from the gas station. Well the sign waaaayyyy back said next services 105 miles.
Well it seems the tank didn't quite get full. So 11 miles from Salina, UT, the engine stops. Well we are going downhill. So I call Jim-Bob on the two way radio and say " Out of fuel". He responds that he will go on ahead and get some more gas. So Dan and I continue coasting - between 12 and up to 30 mph for another 3 miles. But the road finally levels out for a spot and we finally stop. We check both phones (AT&T and Verizon) - no service. So Dan is behind the trailer waiting when I remember that this truck runs out of gas when low on fuel and pointed downhill. so I try the key and the truck starts up! Dan runs for his door and jumps in. We take off again and I get the truck up to 65 mph for a couple of miles, but it shuts off again - but this time we are just past an exit that Jim can turn around at. The last exit had to be about 20 miles back. By this time Jim calls on the two way, on his way back with the gas. He pulss in behind us in a bit and we start fueling up (picture above). Just after this picture was taken, the local Highway Patrol pulls up and I tell the officer we have it handled and he leaves. The truck started and we made it to Salina and fueled up. Dan did seem to enjoy the coasting bit alot.
