Getting Ready to Build

[IowaMigr8tor]

Well guys I bought a old boat and trailer about 2 months ago with the intentions of building my own Enclosed/Semi-Enclosed trailer. Well I've figured out what I'm going to weld the box out of and I've got one of my buddies who is a sheetmetal contractor lined up to do the welding.
Right Now my plans are to build a box about 16 ft long by 4ft tall (v shaped front for aerodynamics), that way I can use full sheets of treated plywood to cover it. I dont know yet what I am going to do for exterior but I am thinking of either painting the Plywood or covering in a light gauge sheetmetal. Also I dont know how I am going to make the door on the back. I am torn between a single swing door or a dual swing like what is on a Semi Trailer. I hope to have everything built before August so I can start to stock it with Goodies. I will post up some pics when it is fininshed.

[Max4Gooser]

sounds like you got some good ideas, I look forward to seeing the pics.

[hoosierhunter]

Sounds like alot of work my friend! Is your trailer a single axle or dual? And what is the existing frame rated for weight wise? Just make sure you have plenty of trailer before building and adding all that weight, I've known plenty of guys who have tried to build a trailer on too small a frame and it was pretty much all for naught! :cry: . What about your roof, to make it water proof? Good luck to you, what's your plan on how to construct it? Oh yeah, I'd probably use dual doors on the back, that way it's not so heavy on 1 set of hinges, and it will take less space to open, and with your box being 16' deep and only 4' tall, you'd have to crawl up into it, so maybe a single door on either side of the box up front to access the front area easier.

[MinnesotaMike]

Indeed.. just be very careful about the weight, not only the trailer capacity but what you think you can use and move around the house. I know that enclosed aluminum can be trouble at times in mud with not enough truck, so be sure to consider that too.... good luck

[IowaMigr8tor]

Its a single axle and Im not sure on the weight specs but the boat that sat on it was pretty HEAVY, old style fiberglass boat on a shorelander trailer. Im not too woried about it because I can always beef the frame up if needed. Im not using too heavy of Square tubing. The roof is the one place that I havent decided on yet. Ive seen one built with a tarp that rolled and velcroed, kinda like a Trucksedo if you have ever seen one of um'. Thats where the Semi-Enclosed comes into effect. It would kinda look like a grain trailer for a semi. I was thinking the two door idea was good but wanted some input. I also wasnt concerned about crawlin up in the trailer but the more I think about it I want to use the tarp idea. That way if I need it for somethin rather than hunting I have a box. Not plannin on haulin really Heavy Stuff; just decoys and blinds.
My plan is to esentially build the box on the ground and then lift it into place and weld it to the frame. The put the exterior on it.
I have Enought Truck to pull it and I am EXTREAMLY cautious when it comes to goin into a field, even with just my truck.

[Killer Miller]

I hope it works good Derek, That will be way better than having to take a bunch of vehicles every time we go hunting. In ib for helping ya build it too.

[IowaMigr8tor]

Yeah Def. If we could get it so we could only take 2 vehicles that would be great. I was going to get some better measurements and ran out of time this weekend with getting ready for the grad party and everything. Which I might say you missed out on! but thats ok... i guess. Hey I need to talk to ya any way, I have to work Medic till 8:30 tonight so I'll call ya.

[kingkilla]

i think you should work it totally enclosed, and also make the door open like the tail gate of a truck. also cover the whole thing with sheet metal on the outside. if u need help give me a jingle

[HRK]

try race car aluminum it has a good finish and isnt that costly

[IowaMigr8tor]

Thats a good idea I never thought of it.

[Max4Gooser]

try race car aluminum it has a good finish and isnt that costly

How thick is race car aluminum, would it work as a floor in my boat or as side panels for a permanent blind on my boat? Where do you buy it?

[hoosierhunter]

Gooser, for your floor you just can't beat a layer of extruded foam insulation and a sheet of marine grade plywood. The aluminum is just too noisy :x And it's alot cheaper. What is the floor of your boat right now?

[Max4Gooser]

Right now it is bare, I pulled the old floor out some kind of heavy plastic that was warped and cracked beyond repair, and the foam underneath was ate up by gasoline. So I have completely stripped the haul, and starting over from scratch.

[hoosierhunter]

I redid a boat a couple of years ago. It had a wood floor in it (aluminum bass boat), it sat out in the open and held water for years, and the floor was rotted out and warped. I put a piece of 1/2" extruded foam down first, then screwed down a sheet of 1/2" marine grade plywood with finish washers to hold the plywood down. It is a nice floor and quiet. Just have to keep it out of the weather for long term storage or covered. You can rhino line or the textured paint the wood floor for extra traction, and the best thing is that it's cheap and easy, and if you ever need to replace it, it's pretty easy to do. The aluminum floor would be alright too, but I would insulate under it to deaden the sound first. What size and style of boat is it?

[Max4Gooser]

It is a 1648 flat bottom Jon, I picked it up to hunt a couple of state lakes with 25hp limits on them, It is an older Monark, but in pretty good shape and 10.5' of open floor from front deck to rear bench. It should make a pretty good boat to hunt 2 adults one of my boys and a dog.

[hoosierhunter]

That's the size of the bass boat we rigged up to hunt out of, it is console steering with 25 hp motor on it. I'll tell you though it is very wobbley to hunt out of though, need to hunt it in shallow water where you can put stakes on the sides to steady it. I've even thought of somehow building sponsoons or whatever they are called on the sides of the boat to give it more flotation and more stability. But I think we've decided to just sell it, and put our money towards a river jon or wide jon, or maybe break down and get a war eagle type boat already built, we'll see. We really don't use a boat very often here, most of the hunting we do we don't need one, and I have a dog to retrieve everything. Good luck with your boat though.

[IowaMigr8tor]

Where Can I Pick Up Racing Sheetmetal?

[iawaterfowler88]

Where Can I Pick Up Racing Sheetmetal?

Hey D lemmie ask some buddies of mine that run dirt track....im sure they could help ya out....they use a ton of it obviously