Trailer Porn

I would love to move the axle back a bit or extend the tongue and get tail lights with backup lights, but I’m stoked on being able to load and unload solo. Not really using the under deck storage. 14" long ball mount so the tailgate will clear the winch. 3500 lb ez-lube axles and fresh tires.

Put flares from the main part of the trailer to the fender covers, installed clearance lights, move the tail lights back so they're recessed maybe an inch now. New lights are taller and don't fit a full sized license plate well. New conductors all around and a 7 blade pigtail with a junction box. I'm not thrilled with the regular tap splices to link in all the running lights.

Not enough chain for a 14" ball mount so I replaced those with longer ones that have spring latches.

First time really welding. Some turned out alright. Some were terrible.

Can't say you didn't see me now. They're borderline too bright.

Anti-porn.

Got a few trips coming up, I sat this weekend out and gave the boat and trailer a quick look.



Really bummed that the tire is only a year old and now ruined. Really glad I found it at home and not on the way into Sand Wash. Gonna do both sides, as it appears the lower two springs were broken long before the final one.
I was told this is a good time to add trailer brakes. Break Out Another Thousand.

Got a few birds stoned this weekend.. and it’s hardly even the weekend!

I was always tripping over my spare tire and having some tongue weight issues. Also the winch I had (1200# Reese) felt a little underpowered. Turns out they’re rated by empty drum and full drum, and always advertised at empty capacity. Full drum rating is 750#.

I welded a 1/4” x 1-1/2” flat bar across the winch mount and some all thread to that. Made a spare tire carrier and moved that weight forward to help the tongue weight issue.

Also got a 3200# 2 speed Fulton winch to replace the Reese. My Reese winch handle would interfere with the winch tower braces as well and this solved that issue.

Driving to Lodore last week I got stuck on an icy hill. Rather than taking an out of control Subaru into my driver door, I slammed it in reverse and jackknifed the trailer off the road. That guy missed me by a couple inches at best. The trucker who slid off the road next to me said “hey I’m hauling toilet paper if you need any”.

The RAV4 chains didn’t quite work for my truck - the cam straps were rubbing on my brake lines. Abort.

Not sure if it was that or the driving like an asshole to the put in now that I was two hours off the back that blew my leaf pack again. Sorry & thanks to your crew @melmorr for limping me to the takeout.



Thanks to RiverBetty for the tools and spare bits in Jensen to get us back to SLC in a slightly safer manner.



anyways..

upon further inspection, 10/14 of the uprights holding the top rail onto the deck had significant cracking in them.





Two years ago I rolled over a Boulder on the Rainbow Park boat ramp and bent some frame members..



Time for an overhaul. Except the ski area is going to winter schedule tomorrow so I had exactly 72 hours before I lose access to shop space until May.

Pull the upper deck.
Pull the lower deckboards
Cut out the bent frame members
Sister up some 1/4” angle to the cracking uprights
Paint the frame
New lower deckboards, stained.
New conduit and conductors.
Oh an new suspension. Went with the 2400# leafs instead of the 1750# even tho it’s a 3500# axle. New shackle links, too, bc the old ones were so wallered out. Friday worked 8a-1a, Saturday 8a-4a, Sunday 10a-10p.







Tucked away and ready to hibernate until May.

Hopefully the wings were off because it was cheaper than the ferry flight.
Luckily the Alder bush kept it out of the Minam River. This one got the engine flown out, rebuilt, reinstalled on site, and was able to fly out without any airframe work.



This one wasn't so lucky.





I had another buddy with an engine failure, landed back on the lake with skis, had a couple icefisherman tow him to the marina with their quads, and he got to trailer home. He now owns the first outfitter I worked for.

I think this thread is starting to drift..
Anyways.. 30-40" expected here in the next 4 days.

Just repacked my bearings.
Follow me for more rafting tips!