The Road Ranger. 1997 SEMI

[Rick W]

I made myself laugh when I saw how crappy some of my welds were from last night after dark. You’d think it wouldn’t make a difference once the welding hood is on. So tonight the first thing I did was to clean up some of those welds.

I also got the tie-down rail (rebar) welded down the driver side of the trailer, but had to quit because the sky fell out. Georgia summer thunderstorms are quite an experience.

I also received the last few lights I ordered, and the mustang tail light triple sequence turn signal controllers. No excuses now for getting the whole thing together.

I’m sending sweet pea to Florida starting Saturday through next Sunday. That should give me a bunch of extra hours to mess with this thing (don’t tell her).

Oh, and I dug out the spare tire carriers and messed with them around the trailer in front of the front axle. I think I’ve got that figured out, one on each side.

 

[scotts90ranger]

It's amazing what some backlighting while welding will do even in the daylight... some people get crazy enough to mount a headlight to their welding helmet and those with bad eyesight will add a "cheater lens" in the back side for magnification... myself I just rig up a flashlight or my cordless work light shining off to the side...

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

^^^
It's kind of funny looking at your weld after and you see it's strayed off the path...
yes, extra lighting really helps. Two 500 watt halogen worklights, one on either side of what I'm welding... especially at night.

 

[Rick W]

^^^
It's kind of funny looking at your weld after and you see it's strayed off the path...
yes, extra lighting really helps. Two 500 watt halogen worklights, one on either side of what I'm welding... especially at night.

There you go, throwing money around like it’s water! I have 3-4, but electricity, wooo

& what makes you think my 68 year old bones can see any better in the daylight?

 

[Rick W]

I continued welding the deck, braces and such this evening, and then this happened:

Georgia’s daily downpour. We’ll carry-on tomorrow…

I did get all the outside parts of the deck welded in place, fixed a goof where the tie-down rail attached to the back bumper, so all I lack is a couple of internal struts and figuring out the spare tire hangers. Then paint before wiring.

I also figured out what I’m going to do with the upper deck, but that won’t come until the wiring is done…

 

[Rick W]

Long day today. I started at 10:00 when the floods dried up, and didn’t quit until 10:00, with few breaks in between. I could have lived without the rain yesterday, but it was 10 or 12° cooler today which was welcomed. I still kept the fan blowing on me the whole time.

I installed the spare tire carriers, they came out pretty good. Hate it when my best work is the part that you don’t see, huh? Once I got those in, one on each side up front, I finished up the cross bracing that will be under the diamond plate. The way the cross bracing was on the travel trailer, only the front section was wide enough to hold the tires and wheels.

Then, while I was still in welding mode, I just went around everything and touched it up. I hate to publish that thought, because you guys are going to howl laughing when you see my welding. There’s an engineering, saying, “function over form.”

I also installed the second axle in today. I pulled the hubs on all four wheels, checked the bearings, cleaned it all, and repacked them and put them back together.

I’m pretty sure I’ve decided to do the upper deck entirely out of aluminum. I have a 30” diamond plate toolbox that I’m thinking of mounting on that upper deck (see pic), but I really don’t need it. If I’m ever pulling the trailer, I’ll have storage in the truck for the jack and lug wrench and such. I have two different toolboxes, the 30 inch rectangular one, and one of those triangular ones that I’ve put on and off a half dozen times. Triangle is a no go because it’s too high, and I don’t want to block my view. I could cut it down, but that’s a lot of work, and I don’t know if I even want a box up there. Nothing is jumping out at me yet.

I pulled six of my better 14” bullet hole wheels out of the tire pile and aired them up. Half hour later I aired up to 7th -one was leaking around the bead. I want to make sure I have a full set that hold air before I leave, and these tires have been under cover for a couple of years.

When I had it all assembled, I was pretty pleased with the overall stance, but a little frustrated with the tire appearance. I was planning on lower-profile tires on the 14” wheels on the trailer to keep the deck level and in line with the truck. Concept was they would still match the wheels on the truck which are 15”, but the tires look tiny. It’s nothing I can fix before the nationals, so you guys will get to chime in on what I should do. The problem with just putting bigger diameter tires on it is it will raise the deck and get it out of alignment with the truck. Having said that, it really wouldn’t be very hard to change the ride height. Problem for another day.

I also don’t like the way my dolly legs came out. Completely functional, I did them quick because I had to have legs to finish the trailer and also to be able to drop the trailer once I leave the house if I have to. Ditto what I said above, you guys will get to chime in. I think I already know how I want to fix it and it will be pretty easy, I’ll use you guys as a sounding board.

Tomorrow will be the test drive. I’ll put some temporary tow lights on it and run it up and down the road a little. At a minimum, I have to pull it forward, clean up the mess underneath where I was working, and then drop some drop cloths over my brick for the painting.

Assuming I survive, I’m hoping to have one coat of paint on the whole thing tomorrow and start on the aluminum work for the upper deck, and for the lights in the back.

I also have to figure out the chains and a couple things like that. Deadline is almost here, huh?

Oh, and I guess I should get a license plate…

 

[Rick W]

More cleaning up welds, and then some primer, and then I pulled it up the driveway so I can clean the mess up. Didn’t look too bad once I got it out of the mess.

And what do you guys think? Toolbox or no toolbox? The upper deck will be rectangular, extend to the midpoint between the truck fenders, and only as wide as my uprights on the trailer.

Taking a break, and then I’m taking it for a test drive. Is there anyone local who has any bail money?

 

[Rick W]

Man, a coat of paint will help anything!

The test drive went great. I got really worried when one of my local cops followed me into my driveway, a boy in blue that I know, and he hopped out of his cruiser and said “did you build that?“

I followed the plan and cleaned up the driveway and put down some drop clothes (old tarp and a couple sheets), and backed the trailer over them. I still got silver paint on the bricks like an idiot.

I was really having a mental block on the colors and the fabrication of the upper deck, so I just painted the top silver, and the bottom semi gloss black, of course Rustoleum. After, Lincoln and I sat there for probably an hour just looking at it, trying to figure out how I was going to do my side marker lights, reflectors, the final colors, and the fabrication of the upper deck.

I think I said before the upper deck would be all aluminum. That’s not going to work. I’ve got some great aluminum I have scavenged, but it would still be too flimsy. So I’ll be going to the Metal Warehouse tomorrow to get some steel for the frame, and then finish it off with the aluminum. Gosh I hate paying retail! I still wish you’d call Carlisle and get me another month!

I would’ve kept going, but Lincoln and I had to run over to Sweet Pea’s house and water her flowers. And I thought I was home free when I sent her to Florida with her family. She’s got one of those damn Ring doorbells, so she’d bust me if I said I went and I didn’t. Modern technology sucks. That’s why I drive 30 year old vehicles!

 

[Ranger850]

What part of Atlanta are you? I go to Kennesaw all the time and if your near there, Id' love to see this thing in person at some point.

 

[RobbieD]

Modern technology sucks. That’s why I drive 30 year old vehicles!

Amen, brother!

 

[Rick W]

What part of Atlanta are you? I go to Kennesaw all the time and if your near there, Id' love to see this thing in person at some point.

Kennesaw is north west, probably about 10 miles out from the perimeter. I’m more north to Northeast, between 400 and 85, pretty close to. Peachtree industrial Boulevard, about a mile outside 285.

The place is still a mess from when I was injured and sick, slowly chipping away at it, but I’d love to have you come by.

 

[Shran]

It would be a good idea to add some triangulation here......................................

 

[Rick W]

It would be a good idea to add some triangulation here......................................

View attachment 95803

Amen. That’s actually in the plans (in my noggin). I don’t like the temporary legs and I’m going to redo them later, and I don’t want to do anything until I do the deck on top, so it all fits together and doesn’t look like an afterthought. I’m not worried about pulling it empty right now, but that’s definitely something that’s coming later.

I goofed when I put the tongue on the nose. The brackets will hit the fenders if I turn too far. Before I do the angle braces, I want to take it out in a parking lot somewhere and wiggle it around and get some measurements to make sure everything clears.

I’m also planning on stiffening the frame between the axle dolly and that point. My thinking is to build a little truss under the existing frame, but I just haven’t gotten that far yet rushing just to get it together to drag it to Carlisle. In my dreams, the triangular pattern in the frame truss would continue with a couple of pieces that go up exactly where you said. No pallets of bricks for a while…

And one final edit. My welds are ugly, but I do them in overkill, so even with the jog, the frame is as stiff as it ever was.

 

[Rick W]

Something like this

 

[sgtsandman]

I was really having a mental block on the colors and the fabrication of the upper deck, so I just painted the top silver, and the bottom semi gloss black, of course Rustoleum. After, Lincoln and I sat there for probably an hour just looking at it, trying to figure out how I was going to do my side marker lights, reflectors, the final colors, and the fabrication of the upper deck.

I think I said before the upper deck would be all aluminum. That’s not going to work. I’ve got some great aluminum I have scavenged, but it would still be too flimsy. So I’ll be going to the Metal Warehouse tomorrow to get some steel for the frame, and then finish it off with the aluminum. Gosh I hate paying retail! I still wish you’d call Carlisle and get me another month!

I would’ve kept going, but Lincoln and I had to run over to Sweet Pea’s house and water her flowers. And I thought I was home free when I sent her to Florida with her family. She’s got one of those damn Ring doorbells, so she’d bust me if I said I went and I didn’t. Modern technology sucks. That’s why I drive 30 year old vehicles!

What about wood boards. Generally, oak is used for the deck but if treated properly, you might be able to get away with pine since you don't plan on doing any hauling with it. If you can get it to look rough cut, even better. Treating the wood with used motor oil might be the way to go. I hear that is a regular weather treatment for real trailer wood decks and would give the wood some staining.