Camp Trailer

8/14/2019 Camp Trailer

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C A M P T R A I L E R

camp trailerIt has all the conveniences any camper could desireDO you like to go camping with yourwife and kids? Or maybe you're thefellow who likes to go hunting or fishing?If you are like many others the expenseof renting a camp or bungalow often makesthis outdoor pleasure prohibitive. In thatcase you should appreciate this easy-to-build plywood camp trailer.

It really isn't a large trailer; in fact it issmaller than the average car. Yet it has allthe camping conveniences any camperwould need. It is lar ge enou gh for thewhole family to sleep in. It has a built-inkitchen, complete with water supply, icebox, food compartment, table and chairs,stove and a clothes closet. The trailer is

10 feet long x 4 feet wide x 4 feet 10 incheshigh. It is a perfect trailer for a man whowants to travel, or hunt and go fishing in.

The trailer body is constructed entirelyout of woodplywood sides with hardwoodframing. It has traveled over 20,000 milesin the last couple of years, and it is just assturdy now as the day it was built.

Start construction with the axle andwheel assembly. The I beam should be 56inches long, and be sure the ends aresquare. Take two uprights, lx4xll-inchsteel plate, and the two spindles that fit thetrailer wheels and trim them down to 11inches.

On the I beam measure in on each end

INTERJOR VIEW oi camp trailer shows kitchen area, store, icebox, water tap, storage drawers, etc.


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4 in. and take the spring you are going touse on that side and lay it across the I beamso that the outside of the spring is on thisline. Now take the U bolts and slip two ofthem over the spring, and mark as closelyas possible where the holes are to come.Center punch and drill these holes slightlyoversize as you will find it hard to makea perfectly snug fit. Repeat this operation

on the other end of the beam. When theseholes are drilled and springs are tried, andthey fit to your satisfaction, remove themfor the time being. Now take the uprightsand weld one on each end of the I beam.After the uprights are welded on solidlyyou weld on the braces for added strength.The angle iron base frame is welded together to give it greater strength and dura-

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bility. Corners of the frame are cut at a 45degree angle and welded as shown in thedrawings. The crosspieces are butt weldedin place. Their location is determined bythe length of the car springs used for thetrailer.

After the crosspieces are butt welded

into place, the 6-inch triangular plates areclamped inside the angle formed by thecrosspieces and the angle iron sides. Thetriangular plates are then welded intoplace. The se plates go whe re the springmou nts are to be bolted. Set the springsinto place and mark and drill the mounting holes on the plates. Now, take the 3-inch channel iron and weld it directly inthe center of the frame. Measure back fromthe end of the tongue a distance of 12 inchesand with your torch burn a lVi-inch holein the center of the channel iron.

This is where your trailer jack will go.Drill the holes that will hold the 2x4

hardwood frame to the angle iron trailerframe. With a power drill, drill a numberof xV-inch holes through the angle ironframe; this also includes the two cross-pieces. The holes can be drilled about 18 to

24 inches apart. You now have the frameready for the hardwood frame and plywoodbed. The corners of the hardwood sides andends are cut at 45 degrees. These pieces arethen clamped on to the frame for a good,even fit.

After the plywood floor is cut and attached to the frame paste the linoleumpiece down on the plywood bed. Thelinoleum doesn't necessarily have to bea new piece as it is used for damp proofing the trailer and makes cleaning andscrub bing the bed a simple mat ter. The

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wheels can now be put on thetrailer bed.

The trailer jack is next. Secure the iysxl8-inch long bolt;mill or grind a %-inch flat onthe entire length of one side ofit. Thi s flat face is for lockingthe jack in place so that it willnot unscrew while the trailer is

in motion; see detail drawingfor correct procedure.

The jack dolly can be securedthrough your hardware dealer.It is welded to the end of thebolt. Take the lYs-inch nut anddrill a hole through it as shown.The hole is to be large enoughto receive the V4-inch lockingpin.

Screw the bolt into the nut sothat the dolly rests on the floor.When you are satisfied with the

way it sets take the Vi-inch rodand bend it into a crank andweld it to the top of the screw.

If you wish to buy the trailer jack you will find one at yourlocal hardware store. That alsogoes for the trailer hitch, as it

(is best to buy a hitch and be onthe safe side.

The two pieces of 1-inchchain are welded about 3 inchesfrom the end of the tongue, oneon each side of the channel iron;the ends of these chains are to

be fastened to the back bumperof the car. A heavy duty chainsnap is welded to the end ofeach chain. If you do not havethe right type of back bumperit would be a good idea to fastenheavy duty eyes to clamp thechain snaps to. This is very important because if the trailerhitch happens to come loosewhile you are traveling thesafety chains will hold it inplace.

The easiest way to constructthe trailer cabin is to lay outthe plywood sides and cut themto the desired shape. After thisis done the lx3-inch hardwoodframe can be laid out and cut tofit the sides. Follow the drawings for dimensions and details.

Build the clothes closet next.This can be constructed asshown, or to suit your individual requirements.

When building the kitchen

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partitions be sure to measure each piece'slocation before you cut it to size.

You will note that the four sides of theicebox ar e 2 2 ^ inches high, front andback are 16 inches wide; the top sides 10inches wide. Before nailing the front on,lay out the food compartment door andcut it out. Do not nail in the plywood bot

tom until the sheet metal core and bottominsulation is installed.Lay out the icebox sheet metal piece

for the back and top sides. When you havethis piece cut and bent as shown, the restof the pieces will not give you any serioustrouble. The upper front piece is cut andsoldered in place. Be sure that the entirelength of each joint is soldered. Next, thebottom is cut and soldered into place.

Ice Compartment

The ice compartment is built last It ismade from a piece of 16-gauge sheet metal.

This is a heavier gauge as the ice will sethere and it will be subject to some slidingaround while the trailer is in motion.

The 8V2xl2-inch piece of corrugatedmetal is placed on the bottom of the icecompartment; the cake of ice will rest onthis. Since the metal is corrugated it willprovide an easy escape for the melted icewater, also keep the drain from beingcovered over and trapping the water. Youcan now solder the copper tubing in placeallowing it to stick out a couple of inchesthrough the bottom of the icebox.

Depending on the kind of material youuse, you may find it easier to install the

core in the wood shell first and then putin the insulating material.

Cut and bend the sheet metal of the icebox door as shown. For insulating cork orsome similar material can be used. Fastenthe sheet metal with small wood screws;the rubber seal is either glued or nailedinto place.

Before cutting the above pieces to size,set the icebox on the kitchen cabinet baseon the left side and snug against the trailerside. This is a temporary set up only formeasuring purposes. The distance shouldbe 31 inches from the right side of thetrailer to icebox. This is the space that thekitchen cabinet is to occupy. If the distanceis other than 31 inches then you must cutthe kitchen cabinet pieces accordingly. Theheight will not change.

The water tank goes behind the icebox.A tank of galvanized sheet metal of theright dimensions can either be made or

purchased. At the base of the tank on theright side drill a Vfe-inch hole and solder aVz -inch piece of copper tubing. Make thetubing long enough to clear the edge ofthe kitchen base. The copper tubing is bentso that it will line up with the hole in thekitchen cabinet upright. Solder a threadedfitting to the end of the tubing and screwon the faucet.

After all parts of your trailer are constructed and installed, and the outsidepainted with a good outdoor paint, you willfind that you have a really compact weekend trailer that will soon repay in pleasurethe time and money spent on it.

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Camp Trailer