DIY Squaredrop Trailer Build Thread

Well I've only been talking about this for a year now.

Finally getting the axle and tires upgraded! From smalllll to 31s!

 

Out with the old leafspring suspension!

 

Keep it up man! Really enjoying reading about this build.

 

Timbren 2000HD Axle installed!

 

And here she is! SO PUMPED.

I moved the axle back slightly from the original position to further help with weight distribution. All we need next are fenders.

 

Because of the size and geometry of the tires...no one makes a fender that would fit. SO I had to make these custom fenders. But damn do they look sweeeet.

 

Another successful trip in the books

 

you don't need a camper, you need a houseboat!

 

You may want to consider beefing up the framing under the fenders. I regularly walk on my fenders to get access to the roof and have been very pleased with how Vorsheer engineered the rig. My compliments on an impeccable build. So satisfying when you build something sweet yourself.

 

You may be able to buy black, diamond plate fenders from Hiker Trailers in Columbus, Indiana. www.hikertrailers.com

If you use their elevator bolts, you wont need much reinforcing, and you'd be able to hold about 300 pounds on the fender alone, and it will fit 33's.

 

I'm not in you guys' league, but is dielectric an issue, fastening aluminum sheathing to steel frame? I think you might start seeing corrosion wherever the aluminum and iron are in contact. Maybe the paint on the steel will protect from this, but I heard this can be an issue. I only heard about it because my 1951 house had a lot of galvanized we took out, and where the copper meets the galvanized, you have to take measures to insulate the two from each another, or so I sort of understand from plumber talk.

That being said, much respect to all the guys here for their skills. I'm just a math guy.

 

Hey MathGuy,

Dielectric would for sure be a problem if the steel/aluminum were both electrically charged and conducting through each other. Any residual charge that might be found on the steel or aluminum in this case via static charges or similar is negligible. Also, everywhere there is steel and aluminum coming together, the steel is coated in a DMT paint, and VHB tape in between.

You bring up a good point though. And that is that generally steel and aluminum placed together over a long period of time, will in fact corrode. The only example of this on my trailer are the aluminum fender flares bolted to the steel frame with (obviously) steel bolts. This was done somewhat knowingly and on purpose and is an easy thing to keep an eye on as far as corroding goes.

At the time of construction, I didn't have a welder that would weld aluminum which is why I went with a steel/aluminum mix. If I were to do this again, it would for sure be aluminum on aluminum action.

Thanks!

 

A nice build Sir

Also, saw the medic badge, I thank you for your Service
Nice Taco as well.

 

Can you go into more detail about how you attached the wooden frame parts to the steel frame parts? And also, what size was the steel and what size was the wooden frame? Is it holding up well? How did you water proof it? Where did you get the aluminum skin?

 

1) To attach the wood framing pieces, I welded tabs on the frame with a 3/8" hole in it, then bolted the wood studs to the steel tabs. (Pictured here)
2) For the walls, floor and ceiling...the steel and the wood are 2" x 2". The frame is beefed up with other steel that was handy to me. So far it's holding up well. I probably have 10k miles on the trailer.
3) There are a number of RV products you can use. On all the exterior corners, I used an RV Butyl tape, overtop a small bead of caulking sealant.
4) I contacted a metal supplier that has a location near me (https://www.alro.com/ to be specific) and had them deliver the sheet aluminum (4'x10'). Where I work, we get shipments from them daily so I had them include it in the company shipment. If I didn't have that luxury, I would have had them deliver to the house if it were free OR picked them up on my own.

 

Hey y'all, I am looking to get some feedback and create somewhat of a dialogue here with some folks who are building, considering or planning a build.


I'll list out a few questions so you can get a general direction of where I am heading.


If there was a company out there that built up a trailer basic enough for you to finish out, offered 4 frame models, 3 different size boxes, full customizable is possible, but to save on cost and allow you to do that, they would simply install doors, windows, frame, axle, wheels/tires, seal it, insulate the roof, run a few wires to get you started. All running gear/lighting done. All frame welding/powdercoating, DONE.

Would you consider that, instead of starting from the ground up?


You can add your lights, shelving, etc.

Do you find value there? If so, at what price point, are you a buyer? A full rolling, sealed trailer. Windows, doors, etc.

It can't be a "Kit", as there have been a vast number of companies who have attempted this, with absolute little success. It would have to be a rolling, sealed, complete trailer, but it would be like a halfway assembled kit.

I think this would provide a peace of mind, and cut down your build time, possibly. I'm thinking I could possibly produce a finished product in 90 days. Frame, box, wiring, wheels, tires, axles mounted. Done.

Torsion axles or straight currently.

Can do full custom as well, or add as much or as little as you want.

Is there value here, for you guys who are confident/skilled/bored/crazy enough to undergo building your own?