PPansini10's M101 CDN2 Overland Trailer Build

My new receiver showed up today. 24in long, raw steel finish

 

Got a few updates to add here. The biggest being that I picked up my own welder. Its a Hobart Handler 140 and I bought an 80cu tank. I'm really digging it. After some practice welds i wasted no time getting my trailer tongue done and should be finished putting it together tomorrow.



Some practice welds... This is my first time welding on my own so it'll get better from here.


Getting the tongue started

Also my first time doing a multiple pass weld.. I believe it was total of 3 passes. Didn't really have anything to rest my hands on so keep the line completely straight was a challenge but I'm happy with the welds and it definitely strong enough.. was able to lift up the trailer with it.


Heres the top weld.. much cleaner

Next the angled pieces

Then realized I forgot to cut one end so yeah.. gonna figure out how to get that cut tomorrow

 

Got more of the new tongue done today. Gonna try to box out the front of the tongue, flip the trailer, and finish all the top welds tomorrow. My welds are getting better too!
Cut the other end today that I forgot to cut:

Welded in a crossmember:

Last was welding up the new receiver:

 

So damn cool!

 

Thanks man! the tongue ended up being a bit longer then what i had planned for, i must've measured wrong when cutting the metal but its all good. I'm really happy with the way everything came out. Rack up next!!

 

Hooked up the trailer for a small shakedown run around the block a few times. The next coupler is great and theres not a sound coming from it unlike that horrible pintle hitch. Also got nice little cart for the welder. Here's some night pics here, will try to get better ones this weekend in better light.

 

Awesome!! Stoked to see this thing coming along. Those welds look great especially for your first time really welding! Keep it up!

 

Thanks man! Now that I have my own welding setup there's no stopping me haha! And thanks for the compliment on my welds, I'm learning more and more but I'm really happy with how they've been coming out so far

 

Nice i like the welder i have been thinking of a project like this for a wile. Looks good

 

It's almost addicting right?? I've built 9 sets of rock sliders in the 13 days of this new year lol. Now that you have your own setup you're gonna get addicted and want more fab tools. I bought a welder and then a tube bender, then a plasma cutter, dry cut saw, tube notcher, blah blah blah lol. Yeah man you got it. When I read that those were some of your first welds I was like wow he's natural at it. Did you look up anything on YouTube or watch any friends to learn your technique? There are some really good videos on weldingtipsandtricks.com

When I weld I try to use the cursive E to trace my puddle and push as much as I can versus pulling. My welds always come out nice looking when I push.

 

What size tubing is that for the tongue? What amperage setting and wire feed speed are you at? I know that 140 only goes up to a 5 on the amperage where as my Hobart 210 goes up to level 7. If that's 3/16" you wanna make sure you're up at level 5 and around 50 for your wire speed

 

Yeah its 3/16" for the tongue.. I was at 5 for the amperage and 45 i believe for the wire speed.. so far I've been using the chart on the inside of the welder door to figure that stuff out

 

For sure that's pretty much perfect.

 

Yeah I've been loving this hobart its great for everything i need

 

It's a great little machine. I taught my dad how to weld about a year ago and he bough the 140 as well and he loves being able to do all his own little projects! Better for me too cuz now he doesn't ask me to build him stuff all the time lol

 

Yeah i do the cursive e as well thats when i yield the best looking welds. When I'm doing vertical welds i'll do like triangles idk its hard to explain but same thing, the welds come out good... and yeah no doubt having my own setup is addicting and the 140 is great. I think it'll be able to handle mostly everything I plan on doing but who knows one day in the future maybe I'll get something better. Being able to run in with a traditional outlet is also a plus bc I don't have a readily available 230V to run anything bigger at its full potential. So even if i bought the 190 or 210 it would be limited to the 115V outlet.

 

interesting I do a C when I weld. I'll have to try the e on Monday at work.

 

I've done the C also, just more comfortable doing a cursive e. I find it easier to push and see the puddle when doing the cursive e

 

never hear of the cursive e way before. we where taught the c way. but I'm willing to try it. trailer looks great.

 

Here's a crappy illustration of the Cursive E versus the C