Finally starting my teardrop offroad trailer build.

[srimes]

Originally Posted by old_man

You are on the same page as I am. Now I just need to find a nice valve that I can ideally bulkhead mount in a 1/2" compressing fitting. It is either that or simply two schrader valves instead of one (probably the way I will go)

I'd do seperate schrader valves. Simple.

Some IFS guys will run airshocks in the front and tie them together, as it forces more articulation.

If your trailer had 0 bushing bind (and a cg above roll center) with linked airbags it wouldn't stay level. Even on level ground it would flop to one side or the other with a little nudge.

[souske]

What about a little manifold so you could link or isolate the bags as neccesary?
3/8 ball valves would do it.

[philagony94xj]

What size, thickness square tubing did you use for the frame and bracing?

[old_man]

Originally Posted by philagony94xj

What size, thickness square tubing did you use for the frame and bracing?

The frame is 2x2 and the cross braces are 1x2.

[tone]

Cool beans, I can't wait to see it finished!

[old_man]

I finally got the time to start bending the upper framework. People ask how you bend square tubing. Well being an engineer I always seem to build my own tools. I took some shortcuts on building the bender. I was at my local home improvement store, Lowes, and ran across something that cut my time way down. It was a round table top blank. It was 2 feet across and had a beveled edge.



The radiused edge causes a slight indentation on the inside of the bend to allow the square tubing to be formed without kinking. The table top was just a tad thicker than the 1 inch tubing. I cut a slot about 60% across the top so a piece of 1x2 thick wall tubing could be inserted for a handle. I used some 1/2" scrap glued and nailed to both sides to strengthen the disc and to provide guides on each side of the tubing. I used some misc bracket material I had to fab the retainer. This thing is really just a knock off of a conduit bender.



I then starte bending the side pieces. The trick is to figure out the bend allowance and exactly where the center of the bend will end up. Trial and error is the rule. Once that is done, you can bend your tubing.

I will follow up later with the top frame welded in place. You might not believe it but the top will end up weighting less than most wood configurations.

[tone]

Literally a home-made bender. sweet

[old_man]

Slowly but surely it is comming together.






I still have quite a few pieces left on the upper frame but I ran out of steel and money until payday.



I have the parts to do the articulated shock isolating offroad hitch, so I will start on that this afternoon.

[souske]

Looks good

[stumpXJ]

Looking good man!

[philagony94xj]

Any updates on this thing?! Looking forward to seeing some sheetmetal on it!

[old_man]

I have finished mounting the shocks and revising the air bag lines, as well as the offroad articulating hitch and offset tongue. I am starting the pre-wiring before adding the sheathing. I hope to take some more pix this weekend as I start fleshing out the rest.

Oh, by the way, there will be no sheetmetal.

[jakeWI]

Looking good. Going with all wood?

[Fore Wheeler]

Originally Posted by old_man

It is the sheet fiberglass covered with gell coat that is used on the out sides of motor homes.

Originally Posted by jakeWI

Looking good. Going with all wood?

Page one Jake.

[old_man]

Almost no wood. It is steel framed. The outside is covered with 1/4" ply covered with Filon, a fiberglass sheet like on motorhomes.