Call me Scotty the Scotsman
-
- Location: Nambia
- Has thanked: 601 times
- Been thanked: 244 times
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:40 pm
Call me Scotty the Scotsman
As most of you may have inferred by now, I am as cheap as chips and squeeze every penny till I get copper poisoning. This instance is no different.
Some background:
In 2014 I bought a Jurgens luggage trailer - the infamous BT547. For those with Agnosia (like most Toyota drivers), the 547 represents the dimensions of the cargo bin of the trailer. Anyway, back then I drove the Jimny and needed the extra space for stuff, wood and beer. I thought about a roofrack, but apart from the instability it caused, a Jimny with stuff on the roof resembled two paraplegic tortoises bumping uglies.
So the trailer it was. And it was such a lekker trailer, some family members borrowed it often. In 2019 my youngest brother borrowed it. And kept it in his yard. Exposed to the elements. And seemingly not washing it despite using it at the coast several times. I eventually got it back this year, a month or so ago to be specific, and it was in quite a state. Effectively, the floor and mudguards were rusted through and I deemed the trailer structurally unsound to use. Bear in mind that this trailer has no chassis and that it uses a torsion spring axle - no leaf springs. Strangely, the nose cone was in good shape.
I fiddled with the notion of scrapping it and buying a new one, but then the inner Scotsman came out - with enough whiskey in me that evening, I contemplated building a new bak. And so I did. Well, sort of - I am in the process of doing it.
The fact that the axle does not mount to a chassis proved to be a real pain in the arse later and I had to resort to cutting out the mounting points of the old trailer - which was also in good nick, and welding it to the frame I built.
For the frame I used 38mm x 38mm x 2 square tubing - heavy, but strong. When it is all said and done, I reckon the new bak will weigh about 50-70kg more than the old one. I plan to fit the axle and A-frame this weekend, change out the wheel bearing and get all the welding done - then paint. As side panels, I am simply going to rivet on 1,5mm alu plate and paint it appliance colour.
Some pics of the progress:
Some background:
In 2014 I bought a Jurgens luggage trailer - the infamous BT547. For those with Agnosia (like most Toyota drivers), the 547 represents the dimensions of the cargo bin of the trailer. Anyway, back then I drove the Jimny and needed the extra space for stuff, wood and beer. I thought about a roofrack, but apart from the instability it caused, a Jimny with stuff on the roof resembled two paraplegic tortoises bumping uglies.
So the trailer it was. And it was such a lekker trailer, some family members borrowed it often. In 2019 my youngest brother borrowed it. And kept it in his yard. Exposed to the elements. And seemingly not washing it despite using it at the coast several times. I eventually got it back this year, a month or so ago to be specific, and it was in quite a state. Effectively, the floor and mudguards were rusted through and I deemed the trailer structurally unsound to use. Bear in mind that this trailer has no chassis and that it uses a torsion spring axle - no leaf springs. Strangely, the nose cone was in good shape.
I fiddled with the notion of scrapping it and buying a new one, but then the inner Scotsman came out - with enough whiskey in me that evening, I contemplated building a new bak. And so I did. Well, sort of - I am in the process of doing it.
The fact that the axle does not mount to a chassis proved to be a real pain in the arse later and I had to resort to cutting out the mounting points of the old trailer - which was also in good nick, and welding it to the frame I built.
For the frame I used 38mm x 38mm x 2 square tubing - heavy, but strong. When it is all said and done, I reckon the new bak will weigh about 50-70kg more than the old one. I plan to fit the axle and A-frame this weekend, change out the wheel bearing and get all the welding done - then paint. As side panels, I am simply going to rivet on 1,5mm alu plate and paint it appliance colour.
Some pics of the progress:
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
-
- Location: Nambia
- Has thanked: 601 times
- Been thanked: 244 times
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:40 pm
Some progress:
Welded in supports, spare wheel carrier and mud guard mounts.
Welded in supports, spare wheel carrier and mud guard mounts.
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
-
- Location: Johannesburg
- Has thanked: 196 times
- Been thanked: 54 times
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2018 2:52 pm
Keep them photos coming. I need to rebuild my trailer and I can do with some other ideas.
Thanks
Thanks
-
- Location: Nambia
- Has thanked: 601 times
- Been thanked: 244 times
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:40 pm
I'll try and get some work done this weekend Henri.
I just have to weld in square tubing guides for the wiring harness, grind all the welds on the box smooth and prep for paint.
I see the nose cone is also rusted through at two spots - contemplating whether I am going to build a new nose cone or just try and fix the current one. The steel is so thin it is almost impossible to weld with an arc welder. If I can get it structurally sound, I'll have to cut out the whole floor, fabricate a frame for the new floor (with angle iron) and insert a new floor with 1,6mm galvanized sheet steel.
Still a lot of work ahead...
I just have to weld in square tubing guides for the wiring harness, grind all the welds on the box smooth and prep for paint.
I see the nose cone is also rusted through at two spots - contemplating whether I am going to build a new nose cone or just try and fix the current one. The steel is so thin it is almost impossible to weld with an arc welder. If I can get it structurally sound, I'll have to cut out the whole floor, fabricate a frame for the new floor (with angle iron) and insert a new floor with 1,6mm galvanized sheet steel.
Still a lot of work ahead...
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
-
- Location: Johannesburg
- Has thanked: 196 times
- Been thanked: 54 times
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2018 2:52 pm
Thanks very much Willem.
The chassis of mine is vrot, front and rear.
It is 45 years old, started life as a Motocross bike trailer, axle is an Audi 80 widened to suite.
After retiring from Moto Crossing, I converted it to a general purpose trailer. About 15 years ago it was vrot, I was without a job so ideal time to rebuild on least possible cost.
Now it is vrot again, but design mistakes made way back then need to avoided.
I am going to go the 38 x 38 x 2 route. 50 x 25 x 2 flexes too much.
See you under the carport!
The chassis of mine is vrot, front and rear.
It is 45 years old, started life as a Motocross bike trailer, axle is an Audi 80 widened to suite.
After retiring from Moto Crossing, I converted it to a general purpose trailer. About 15 years ago it was vrot, I was without a job so ideal time to rebuild on least possible cost.
Now it is vrot again, but design mistakes made way back then need to avoided.
I am going to go the 38 x 38 x 2 route. 50 x 25 x 2 flexes too much.
See you under the carport!
-
- Location: Nambia
- Has thanked: 601 times
- Been thanked: 244 times
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:40 pm
Good luck Henri.HenriSteyn wrote: ↑Thu May 05, 2022 11:03 amThanks very much Willem.
The chassis of mine is vrot, front and rear.
It is 45 years old, started life as a Motocross bike trailer, axle is an Audi 80 widened to suite.
After retiring from Moto Crossing, I converted it to a general purpose trailer. About 15 years ago it was vrot, I was without a job so ideal time to rebuild on least possible cost.
Now it is vrot again, but design mistakes made way back then need to avoided.
I am going to go the 38 x 38 x 2 route. 50 x 25 x 2 flexes too much.
See you under the carport!
I find rectangular tubing hard to work with in any case. Square tubing is the way to go - much more forgiving and structurally sounder.
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
-
- Location: Johannesburg
- Has thanked: 196 times
- Been thanked: 54 times
- Posts: 957
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2018 2:52 pm
What are you planning for the floor Willem?
My cardinal sin for frame failure due to rust is because I believed silicone sealer would last for how many ever years. I used posidrive screws to secure the plate to the rectangle beams.
Cheers
My cardinal sin for frame failure due to rust is because I believed silicone sealer would last for how many ever years. I used posidrive screws to secure the plate to the rectangle beams.
Cheers
-
- Location: Nambia
- Has thanked: 601 times
- Been thanked: 244 times
- Posts: 1757
- Joined: Tue Apr 03, 2018 3:40 pm
Henri, I plan to use simple galvanized plate which I intend to spot weld near the edges and use aluminum rivets to secure the rest. Between the galvanized sheet and the frame I am going to use automotive sealant (I'll try and get you the name) - the salesman assured me it will not cause rust.HenriSteyn wrote: ↑Fri May 06, 2022 9:37 amWhat are you planning for the floor Willem?
My cardinal sin for frame failure due to rust is because I believed silicone sealer would last for how many ever years. I used posidrive screws to secure the plate to the rectangle beams.
Cheers
Ranger Mildtrak
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer
Scorpio Curry Cruiser
A tos-lookin', lunchbox, lipstick and powder puff carryin' home-built trailer