My Trailer Diary
02-01-2013, 02:17 AM
#61
GT3 player par excellence
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oh, sled, good ole mooty told my buddy 24 chromium. but old grasshopper he can't learn new tricks.
02-01-2013, 02:19 AM
#62
GT3 player par excellence
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should ANYONE see me coming into the paddock, leave me about 40' wide x 100' long. else, you may have a mangled GT3.... i have run over PLENTY of stuff. ferrari, gently, trees, light poles and countless medians. almost took out in n out once.
Things we do to have the best for our toys
02-02-2013, 12:19 AM
#67
Rennlist Member
That's only a 20 footer. Talk about bad drivers. Anything coming out of the Port of Oakland you had better give a wide berth (wider than Mooty states)
Have had to field many container deliveries and it's always an adventure for sure!
Have had to field many container deliveries and it's always an adventure for sure!
02-02-2013, 10:54 AM
#69
Drifting
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Black Sheep Racing World HQ
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Nitrogen
When browsing the customer photos on the TPD web site, I came across a photo of a trailer that was insanely kitted-out for an RC helicopter. Perhaps it was a government rig, for surveillance. At any rate, the trailer had a hose reel mounted to the ceiling, just inside the rear gate. Bottled nitrogen had already been on my must-have list, so adding a hose reel like this would make it that much more useful. The hunt was on.
I found many hose reels to choose from. However, I didn't want to buy purely on price. Quality is the number one priority. Ideally, anything I buy would be American made. Reel Craft fit those criteria perfectly. When poking around on their web site researching the many models and options, I found that they provide 3D CAD models of their products. That was icing on the cake! I chose their 5650 OLP model. It's got 50' of 3/8" ID hose.
Bottled nitrogen was actually a bit harder to sort out than I had anticipated. I started by asking my local race shop where they got theirs. I phoned up the shop to get some info. They explained that nitrogen was available in a few different sizes. However, all refills are on an exchange basis only. In other words, you bring a bottle in, they give you a different bottle (pre-filled) in return. Just the same as most places do for propane gas for your bar-b-que. When I asked about the weight of the bottle, I was quite surprised at how heavy it was. I tried to imagine myself loading a full bottle into the bed of the pick-up truck. It seemed far too daunting. Let alone unloading it, and then having to get it into the trailer.
I'd been taking photos of trailers at all the many track events & races that I'd attended for the past few seasons. I recalled that I'd seen aluminum bottles used occasionally. so I started researching those. I found Catalina Cylinders in southern California makes a whole line of aluminum cylinders, from scuba diving tanks, to medical oxygen, CO2 for soda machines, to industrial types like I needed. Brilliant! Now, the question remained, if I buy a lightweight aluminum cylinder, is there a shop who will refill MY cylinder and return it. No sense spending money on a fancy cylinder only to loose it in an exchange when it came time to fill it.
There is an Air Gas store very near my home. I went in to look around and ask questions. The actually refill bottles on-site, so they promise to return the same bottle you brought in. Refills cost a small amount more than the other shop I spoke with. Lastly, the don't refill on the spot. You need to give them 2 days lead time. Now I was set. I could purchase the aluminum cylinder and get it refilled.
The cylinder I chose is #I150, sourced from California Cylinders (Catalina is the manufacturer, they don't sell retail). The specs are: CGA580 valve, 49lbs (empty), Ø8", 47" tall, 139 cu.ft. volume.
Next up to source was a regulator for the bottle. I chose a Smith #212-00-CGA580. It's got a nice chrome finish, a beefy ****, and is industrial strength.
When browsing the customer photos on the TPD web site, I came across a photo of a trailer that was insanely kitted-out for an RC helicopter. Perhaps it was a government rig, for surveillance. At any rate, the trailer had a hose reel mounted to the ceiling, just inside the rear gate. Bottled nitrogen had already been on my must-have list, so adding a hose reel like this would make it that much more useful. The hunt was on.
I found many hose reels to choose from. However, I didn't want to buy purely on price. Quality is the number one priority. Ideally, anything I buy would be American made. Reel Craft fit those criteria perfectly. When poking around on their web site researching the many models and options, I found that they provide 3D CAD models of their products. That was icing on the cake! I chose their 5650 OLP model. It's got 50' of 3/8" ID hose.
Bottled nitrogen was actually a bit harder to sort out than I had anticipated. I started by asking my local race shop where they got theirs. I phoned up the shop to get some info. They explained that nitrogen was available in a few different sizes. However, all refills are on an exchange basis only. In other words, you bring a bottle in, they give you a different bottle (pre-filled) in return. Just the same as most places do for propane gas for your bar-b-que. When I asked about the weight of the bottle, I was quite surprised at how heavy it was. I tried to imagine myself loading a full bottle into the bed of the pick-up truck. It seemed far too daunting. Let alone unloading it, and then having to get it into the trailer.
I'd been taking photos of trailers at all the many track events & races that I'd attended for the past few seasons. I recalled that I'd seen aluminum bottles used occasionally. so I started researching those. I found Catalina Cylinders in southern California makes a whole line of aluminum cylinders, from scuba diving tanks, to medical oxygen, CO2 for soda machines, to industrial types like I needed. Brilliant! Now, the question remained, if I buy a lightweight aluminum cylinder, is there a shop who will refill MY cylinder and return it. No sense spending money on a fancy cylinder only to loose it in an exchange when it came time to fill it.
There is an Air Gas store very near my home. I went in to look around and ask questions. The actually refill bottles on-site, so they promise to return the same bottle you brought in. Refills cost a small amount more than the other shop I spoke with. Lastly, the don't refill on the spot. You need to give them 2 days lead time. Now I was set. I could purchase the aluminum cylinder and get it refilled.
The cylinder I chose is #I150, sourced from California Cylinders (Catalina is the manufacturer, they don't sell retail). The specs are: CGA580 valve, 49lbs (empty), Ø8", 47" tall, 139 cu.ft. volume.
Next up to source was a regulator for the bottle. I chose a Smith #212-00-CGA580. It's got a nice chrome finish, a beefy ****, and is industrial strength.
02-03-2013, 10:34 AM
#71
Rennlist Member
My advice is
1 Use the e track tie down system (The over the tire tie downs to secure car.)This is the system all the transport guys use.
2 Get the heaviest duty axels and largest wheels .This will really pay off in drivability and minimize blow outs.Also the highest load rating tires.
3 Get the winch .You just never know when you might need it.
Just my 02
Enjoy your new trailer!
Best regards,Ron
1 Use the e track tie down system (The over the tire tie downs to secure car.)This is the system all the transport guys use.
2 Get the heaviest duty axels and largest wheels .This will really pay off in drivability and minimize blow outs.Also the highest load rating tires.
3 Get the winch .You just never know when you might need it.
Just my 02
Enjoy your new trailer!
Best regards,Ron
02-04-2013, 12:34 AM
#72
GT3 player par excellence
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02-04-2013, 02:35 AM
#74
This is a very timely post since I'm actually spec'ing out a new 24' TPD as well, very similarly spec'd the way you have it. My design has not been finalized yet but getting close, and the details/info in this thread has been certainly helpful! Subscribed for updates!
02-04-2013, 02:47 AM
#75
Rennlist Member
