Bump trailer w/pics

[kaptnkaos]

Hey guys...

My friend Bob came over and spent the day yesterday converting the '71 CS into a bump trailer.
He did all the cuttin' and weldin' for me.
It's still got a ways to go, but it is finally starting to look like a trailer.
I still have to drill a couple of holes to bolt the tongue on and then mount the tongue jack and hook up the wiring, then it will be ready for the state inspection.
I'm gonna have to get a differant jack...
I don't like the way this one is set up...
it doesn't have a mount, just a ring that it supposed to be welded to the frame.
The only thing that holds the jack on is a pin.

KaptnKA S

[kaptnkaos]

here's some more pics

KaptnKA S

[kaptnkaos]

still more pics

KaptnKA S

[HOWDY69]

Interesting process.

Thanks for the pics.

[Ranchero50]

Looks like it was raining Fun the weld in the rain.

Jamie

[72hiboy4x4]

He's done that before..Nice Job!

And for what your doing, the fold-away jack mount will work fine. I had one on my car tralier before I installed the new tongue, and it worked out nice. Keeps the jack up out of the way when towing, unlike a standard tongue jack.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Mike...

Thanks...
Actually, Bob hadn't ever done it before...
there's a bump trailer just down the street from me...
I took all the measurements from it.
I am real happy with the way it's coming along.
I'd like to cover the open area of the tongue with something...
was thinkin' of some diamond plate.. depending on the cost...
I really wish it was a '68 bed with the trim that matches my truck, but it's a bump trailer so it's still cool..
Yeah, I want a fold away jack...
I have towed several trailers with the regular jacks and don't want one on my bump trailer.

KaptnKA S

[flyboy2610]

You interested in selling the drivers side dual piston brake caliper? Shipping to 68503.
I turned my '68 into a trailer. Eventually, it will be badged and painted to match the '69 F250CS that I have.
Backing a trailer is easy..........once you know how.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Flyboy...

Not interested in selling the disc brakes...
they are goin' on my '68 CS once I get them rebuilt.
I wanna rebuild the I-beams first, then swap everything at once.

Any pointers, would be great...
I've never done this before so I'm just flying by the seat of my pants...

Thanx...

KaptnKA S

[flyboy2610]

OK, I understand about the brakes.
It looks like your doing a great job with the trailer.
I wouldn't go too long with the tongue. The longer it is the greater the chance of it bending. Mine is 16" from where the frame rails meet to the front of the coupler. I notched the frame just ahead of the crossmember like you did.

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Flyboy...

Thanks for the pointer...
I'll measure that and see what I have.
I was thinking of cutting it at 12" from where the frame rails meet the center bar...
I want to mount my spare on the front of the bed...
What do you think of the idea of putting a 9.5 foot cabover camper in the trailer???
Someone gave me that idea, and I have been playing around with it.

KaptnKA S

[flyboy2610]

Something about the idea of having a camper in the trailer doesn't sit well with me.
It sounds like it could be top heavy, or a sail when it's windy. I also wonder about the effect it's bouncing would have on the tongue and coupler.
I don't mean to throw water on your parade, but somehow it just doesn't sound like a good idea.
Why not put the camper in the pickup and tow the trailer?

[72hiboy4x4]

Keep the tongue on the trailer long enough to jack-knife without hitting the tow vehicle. I normally keep mine about 3 or 3.5 foot in length.

Bad idea about the camper in the trailer. I've seen it done, and its not pretty. The springs aren't set up for it, there is a LOT of tongue weight, and the weight balance sucks.
Not to say it won't go down the road, but what if.....

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Flyboy...

For one thing, getting it loaded on my '68 CS is a PITB...
I've had other campers and have not had a problem getting them loaded.
There is little to no room for error, and I have already messed up a pair of camper jacks loading it onto the '68.(one of those were brand new... ouch)
I'm not even sure if it would ever be taken very far. I really just need to be able to move it quickly. I plan on parking it back on the neighbors lot for a while (he lives in CA and won't even know).
Buy putting the camper on the trailer, I only have one thing to find a place to park instead of 2.
Eventually, everything inside the camper is going to be transferred into the bus as I convert it into an RV and the camper is gonna go bye-bye.
Since the trailer is made outta a '71 CS, would the camper be any heavier than a tag along trailer?
It's just an idea anyway, so I'm not locked into any thing.

Thanks for your input...

KaptnKA S

[kaptnkaos]

Hey Mike...

Your post musta came in while I wuz answering Flyboy's...

I just went out and measured the tongue on the trailer.
If I cut the center bar just far enough from where the frame rails meet the center bar for the tongue to mount on, the tongue will be right at 4' from the front of the bed.
Is that too much?
I took my measurements from a bump trailer down the road that looked pretty good to me.

KaptnKA S