TRAKCAR

^^ werd

LuigiVampa

Since this thread has become the de facto "epic trailer thread", and rightly so, I thought I would share some upgrades I made to my trailer this past weekend.

Decided to fabricate some brackets for my nitrogen bottle install, put in a bracket to hold my newly acquired race suit dryer, add the all important bottle opener, and lastly a less than subtle threat to any who may seek to mess with my trailer.

ned911

The best theft deterrent I've seen was "Mobile HIV Testing Unit" printed in large font on someone's trailer.

24Chromium

LuigiVampa, damn... that is one stout bottle opener you've got there! Mine only has 2 screws to secure it. Yours has 4!

OpieT

I really like your nitrogen bottle solution. Well done. I'm struggling with options for my Trailex, great motivation to fabricate what I want.

LuigiVampa

I'm willing to chance some things in ife. This isn't one of them. Using two screws on a bottle opener is downright reckless.

Three large screws for the top bracket, with at least one into the metal stud, the rest in plywood. Seven large screws for the bottom bracket, four into the floor and three into the wall.

It's satisfying to make what you want. No one would every call me a great welder but I clean it up with a grinder and it looks passable.

StoogeMoe

Have we talked about floors yet?

I like the look of the ATC rubber coin floor but worry about oil or other fluids getting on it. Looks like it would be a pain to clean up.

What about aluminum floors? Easier to clean up, but maybe not as comfortable on the feet.

Vinyl?

What do you guys have and what do you like/dislike about them?

TRAKCAR

^^ My ATC has aluminum Extruded floors. Even with extra aluminum in the floor and walls still not great, nothing solid like a Featherlite, or my previous 44" Optima trailer (2nd pic).

I can see it move and bend under the cars weight, but it looks great when, specially when new (1st pic)

Mine is pretty basic compared to Chromium24's because I don't have that kind of foresight, but If anyone has questions I built a few..(Pic3)

My advice is get a tapered nose and speed bubble = 20 mph or 2 MPG..

Frank 993 C4S

I love your nitrogen bottle set-up. Need to replicate. Where did you get the sticker?

winders

https://readytodefend.com/index.php/window-decals.html

grrrmonster

anyone use LED floodlights on trailer? Where did your get them? I broke on of my recessed halogens- need to replace

linzman

Are you talking about the outside ones? I got tired of the halogen bulbs breaking every other trip. Bought some LEDs that fit in the fixture. Work great, not quite 1000W, but unless you're working on the engine trackside, they're plenty bright. I believe I got them at Home Depot online

24Chromium

I need to caution those who may have followed my lead and bought an aluminium nitrogen bottle. I used a ratchet strap to secure it to my tire cart. The metal ratchet portion has abraded the bottle over time. Last time I took it to get filled, the gas vendor said no. They claimed the bottle was no longer safe.

I notice in the picture LuigiVampa posted he is doing the same as I describe (albeit with what I assume is a steel bottle). I would encourage you to use another method, or at least to use some spacer or padding to prevent the chafing.

Moving trailers and the stuff inside undergo a tremendous amount of shock and vibration. It never ceases to amaze me what breaks or gets damaged as the miles accumulate.

LuigiVampa

It is a steel bottle but funny you should mention this. I try to plan things out and thought I came up with a simple design. The truth is a more simple design could have been to "U" shapes brackets at the top with tabs on each side which could be bolted together. That would alleviate the damage caused by ratcheting. Thought of this afterwards.

With padding on the inside of both "U" brackets, and the pressure of a nut and bolt on each side holding them together with the bottle in between, it would be cheaper, less moving parts, and no damage to the bottle.

Sucks to have to throw away a nice aluminum bottle.

Question - I haven't used my bottle yet because I forgot to buy a cage for the top. I don't want to have to keep putting the filler gauges on and off. Someone said to me that it was overkill to have a cage because it was securely attached to the wall of a trailer. A cage is only needed if the bottle was in danger of falling over.

What is the consensus on that?

24Chromium

Agreed. I have another aluminium bottle in the trailer for my hose reel. It's secured in a similar fashion as you describe. I've never put a cage on it. I leave the regulator attached and plumbed. All I do is turn the valve on the bottle to close it when it's not in use. No problem in 3 or 4 years of use.