Look for trade schools in the area.
They have metal fab classes and have then cut your metal to size
You can donate or offer a Pizza party to the class
Cheaper than a shop would do.
I like how it is going. Keep us posted.
Expedition Leader
Look for trade schools in the area.
They have metal fab classes and have then cut your metal to size
You can donate or offer a Pizza party to the class
Cheaper than a shop would do.
I like how it is going. Keep us posted.
Explorer
Welcome Abroad.
The turtle build...must continue..http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ild(-revision)
A little more done today...means more money spent...o-well. I rattle-can painted the whole thing black. I also added some support the rear corners, made tailgate stops and cut the tailgate down 1/4". As for the money, not much, $37.00 for green treated 3/4 4x8 plywood. Store even cut it down for me. Now I just need to figure out how to Origami the second piece for the lid. It is 50"x48". The tent is 60"x80"...or84” I’m thinking about buying 2- 6"x3/4" x 8' boards and hinging them on the 48" side. Also buying a 1/2 sheet of ply to get my length. Confused yet...
I’ll start over; mount the 48x50 ply on the lid of the trailer. Hinge a 48x34". This way when I open it will be 48x84. I’m still 12" too narrow for the tent. So If I take 2 6" wide boards hinged to the 48" side It SHOULD work. But it’s going to take a lot of hinges to make it work.
If I buy ply to make it a full 2-piece tent base I’m up to $74.00 + hinges. If I buy the 1/2 sheet $23 + 5or6 for the boards...then $?? for the hinges.
Remember I’m going cheep and functional. Also any thoughts about skinning this in wood vs metal? My metal guy was guessing $40 for the 16gauge and $24 for cutting it, and $45 for programming. So $109 for metal, I wonder if it would look good (requirement) if I skinned it in 1/4" ply or tongue-n-grove...I’m guessing I could buy enough wood for less than the metal. Again your thoughts?
Cost to date:
Trailer - FREE
Trailer lights - $19.99
Metal for frame - $84.54
Paint - $7.54
Lumber - $37.00
Total - $149.07
I got quite a-bit done today. I found some steel in my storage shed I cabbaged onto when doing a clean-up project. So I cut it down, and wouldn’t you know there was enough to make all 4 sides of the box. I’ll need to sand the surface rust off the sides, finish stitch welding the sides and cleaning the welds and cuts. Also this is repurposed metal, so I’ll need to cut the old junk off that had been welded on. Also there are some minor imperfections I’ll need to live with. But it was FREE! I hope to figure out the roof dilemma tomorrow.
PICT0014.jpg PICT0015.jpg
Cost to date:
Trailer - FREE
Trailer lights - $19.99
Metal for frame - $84.54
Paint - $7.54
Lumber - $37.00
steel for sides - FREE
Shop materials - 6.00
Total - $155.07
got a little more done, cut the lid down, bought hinges, removed box and stich welded the bottom skin. re-attaced the box and mounted the lid. All thats left for the year is prep for paint, paint, buld the hinged tent base, and stablizer jacks.
When I mount the front stabilizers do I mount them on the front of the box, or out on the tounge?
Cost to date:
Trailer - FREE
Trailer lights - $19.99
Metal for frame - $84.54
Paint - $7.54
Lumber - $37.00
steel for sides - FREE
Shop materials - $13.93
Hinges - $7.99
Misc parts - 3.96
Total - $176.34
A little more done, latches on the tail gate lid. Welded brackets for support pads. Here is a couple more pics.PICT0016.jpg PICT0017.jpg PICT0018.jpg
Cost to date:
Trailer - FREE
Trailer lights - $19.99
Metal for frame - $84.54
Paint - $7.54
Lumber - $37.00
steel for sides - FREE
Shop materials - $13.93
Hinges - $7.99
Misc parts - $10.68
Total - $183.06.
Explorer
Looking good..
The turtle build...must continue..http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ild(-revision)
I'm all for repurposing materials.
Good job on the sides.
I finished the last of my brackets today. All that I have left is to buy and cut the metal for the rest of the stabilizers. I work PT at a body shop, one of the guys that works there has been eye-ing my old band saw. So I did some Bartering and the trailer gets dropped off on Monday, he is going to sandblast, and paint the trailer to match my jeep. I’m also getting 2 sheets of 3/4 plywood for a tent base and a little cash towards the tent. So HOPEFULLY I’ll get it back a week from Friday! Until then I get to brake in the trailer this weekend, a 3-day ERDI Dive Rescue class, and picking up some sand...(guy needs me to get 2 buckets for his sand blaster)
The price is still holding
Nice job of bartering, next best thing to free
I just noticed the turnout gear in the trailer. VFD?
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