Boat tail project based on a single wheel trailer...

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by Xist

Is there any way that you could move the coffin forward? While more on my hypothetical Civic HX than on Bacon, I have thought about building a boat tail off of a trailer hitch--on Bacon, I could secure the top to the rear gate hinges, but I do not have any idea what I would do on a coupe. A single-wheel trailer, though, which only articulates on one axis, I would think that you could do a great trailer like what Aerohead is doing, but it would seem far simpler!

Once I start tearing down the trailer to replace the rusted fasteners, dilapidated deck floor, and what not, I can move it forward or even remove the cargo "coffin" and build my own. After looking at the fasteners, I really shouldn't have loaded it up with gear as most of them were rusted down where they could've easily failed and the cargo container would've fallen off.

[deejaaa]

i have heard bad things about Harbor Freight tires, esp for trailers.

[freebeard]

All the articulation is in the receiver hitch? It's scary, dump it.

You need two custom brackets on or under your back bumper that attach the same as the crossbar/hitch piece does now. There are bronze bushings in there, right? That's the way all other one-wheel trailers do it.

How does the width of the frame at the rear compare to the truck? Flat-sided teardrop or compound curve bubble?

[BamZipPow]

I'm not finding the "bad thing" issues with the 8" Harbor Freight tires on the internet. I won't be loading a lot of weight on these tires any way.

Today I will snap a bunch of piccies of the trailer before I tear it down. Seems they used OSB fer the deck.

[BamZipPow]

Originally Posted by freebeard

All the articulation is in the receiver hitch? It's scary, dump it.

You need two custom brackets on or under your back bumper that attach the same as the crossbar/hitch piece does now. There are bronze bushings in there, right? That's the way all other one-wheel trailers do it.

How does the width of the frame at the rear compare to the truck? Flat-sided teardrop or compound curve bubble?

No bronze bushings in the vertical supports...just holes in steel plate. I just squirted some oil to reduce the amount of squeak on the way home.

If articulation = slop...then yes. If articulation means it's supposed to move/pivot...then no. The single wheel pivots in turns...just like a front wheel fer a shopping cart. I think if I have the hitch adapter rebuilt with 2" stock, the rolling should be minimized. If that doesn't work...I'll have to see what it will take to stabilize the roll.

I need to fab up a way of locking the wheel in the forward trailing position when I don't have the trailer hooked up. Even though it has support legs in the rear, it doesn't work as well as one would think.

Once I have the trailer torn down, I'll be able to git the measurements and post them along with the piccies.
There's no way I could put brackets on my bumper as the tailgate would hit them when the tailgate is down.

[BamZipPow]

Stripped down...





Bad bolts...


Bottom side...


Dampener...


Shadow!


Hitch adapter...


Just a little bent...


Concept fer locking the wheel straight ahead...but I'll be using metal tubing or box tubing instead of wood.

[BamZipPow]

As soon as I git the hitch adapter fixed, I think a hitch anti-rattle device might work to keep the trailer from rolling. Looking at this one...Hitch Vise. Seems easy to install and adjust.
Hitch tightener: no wobble, anti rattle stabilizer device for hitch accessories

Ordered the Hitch Vise and it should be here by the end of the week or the beginning of next week.

[BamZipPow]

Deck measures in at 54" long by 36" wide. Gonna git some 1/2" plywood cut today and install it with some stainless steel bolts this time around.

Gonna see about having the hitch adapter converted over to 2" and not worry about any 1.25" adapters gitting in the way, too.

[BamZipPow]

Got my Hitch Vise devices on Sep 28. Nicely constructed from steel. Will test it in the morning if it's not raining too hard out.

Picked up my stainless steel fasteners and a gallon kit of Herculiner to coat the new plywood deck with. Not sure if I want to coat the frame or not...we'll see.

[BamZipPow]

Here's what the Hitch Vice looks like installed on my hitch adapter. This should minimize or eliminate the trailer rolling with the loose adapter.





Hopefully I'll be able to find someone to change out the 1¼" tongue to the 2" tongue tomorrow...

I think the previous owner took a right turn too wide and hit something...hence why the hitch adapter is bent to the right.