Material size?

[Robotstar5]

Looking for advice on size of SHS to build a frame on my trailer, it will be 3 sides about 4' high and roof, then covered in Stucco Aluminium sheet. I was thinking of 20 x 20 x 2mm SHS?

Quick Paintshop sketch to show idea, trailer is 6' x 4'

I will try and remember to take photo's and start a build thread in the projects section.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I think I would be tempted to use 20mm x 40mm, Is it going to be permanently fixed or removable?

 

[Robotstar5]

I think I would be tempted to use 20mm x 40mm, Is it going to be permanently fixed or removable?

It will be permanent and I have to consider the weight of the steel frame as I don't want to reduce the load carrying capacity too much.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Those sides are quite high, How much side load will they have to deal with?

 

[wookie]

It will be permanent and I have to consider the weight of the steel frame as I don't want to reduce the load carrying capacity too much.

Make the frame from ally then ? that will also avoid the corrosion between a steel frame and ally cladding.

 

[Robotstar5]

Those sides are quite high, How much side load will they have to deal with?

Only wind loading through being towed.

 

[Robotstar5]

Make the frame from ally then ? that will also avoid the corrosion between a steel frame and ally cladding.

I have no ally welding kit or experience .
I planned to get the frame powder coated before putting the cladding on.

 

[GW8IZR]

I saw a setup locally on an Ifor that looked very good. The verticals were box section a little bigger than you are suggesting but then just weldmesh between them, that provides the structural rigidity fore / aft . the top of the box was left open and some blue plastic water pipe hoops were pushed in, this allowed the user to put a sheet over it to keep the weather off and obviously stopped water collecting on top. The blue plastic water pipe is incredibly resilient and importantly so light it hardly takes anything off the trailer capacity.

I have a proper top for my Ifor but itws heavy and a nuisance to take on and off on my own and I'm seriously considering doing away with it in favour of the improvised setup.

 

[wookie]

Only wind loading through being towed.

Is the tow vehicle taller and wider than the planned trailer with box on top ? If it isn’t I'd be looking to make the front more aerodynamic, even if you have to extend over the A frame to avoid reducing the trailer's volume.

I have no ally welding kit or experience .
I planned to get the frame powder coated before putting the cladding on.

I got the experience but not the kit

Do you have a mate who was gonna powder coat it as a favour or would you be paying full price for it ? If paying full it might not be that much dearer to get someone to weld up an ally frame for you if you do all the donkey work first.

 

[Robotstar5]

Sounds good, but not to sure about it being weather tight and secure?, I plan to move stationary engines etc. in it, so it will have tools, fuel etc.

 

[GW8IZR]

Sounds good, but not to sure about it being weather tight and secure?, I plan to move stationary engines etc. in it, so it will have tools, fuel etc.

In that case you need it in one piece I reckon, rolling some U channel like this would be the best way, (Edit) best way, ok one way! :-)

plywood rollers will do it. Forming / rolling the sheet would be the only tricky bit but again some plywood and angle would do it.

Aluminium, self coloured light and rivit / sealant the sheets to the channel

 

[Robotstar5]

I saw a trailer someone had put a truckman top on which gave me the idea. I'm a bit limited on metalworking resources but plan to PU/Sikaflex and rivet the sheets on, will overlap the top and front to keep out water.

 

[GW8IZR]

I saw a trailer someone had put a truckman top on which gave me the idea. I'm a bit limited on metalworking resources but plan to PU/Sikaflex and rivet the sheets on, will overlap the top and front to keep out water.

Last time I repaired a canopy like that I replaced a section, the way I bent the sheet was to have a sheet of plywood on the floor. Bolted through the sheet was a pice of 2 inch angle wide enough to span the sheet. Chalk lines at 90 degrees to keep the bend true. I put a bit of 3x2 timber under it, just to make a softer edge to the bend. Pull the sheet through 1/2 an inch at a time and lift it up an inch or so, just repeat until you have a 90 degree bend with the radius you need. It all went very well surprisingly.

 

[Parm]

Have you thought about the extruded ally sections with the fancy connector system (can't think what they are called) just cut and fit, have it powder coated, assemble and bolt to your trailer. Any sheeting you put on the outside should prevent the joint from being pulled apart when travelling

 

[GW8IZR]

Have you thought about the extruded ally sections with the fancy connector system (can't think what they are called) just cut and fit, have it powder coated, assemble and bolt to your trailer. Any sheeting you put on the outside should prevent the joint from being pulled apart when travelling

yes like the industrial shelving stuff with plastic inserts and joining pieces ? that woukld be simple and quick to make.

 

[Robotstar5]

Some good ideas thanks. @Parm I think I know the profile section you mean, but I think it's quite dear although it has reminded me of a caravan build I read recently, I will message the builder about the rounded corner profile he used.

 

[gaz_moose]

can you not just use some conduit. every sparky in the land has a bender to form the nice curves.

then just pop rivet/sickaflex your sheeting on. id try to make it as none rattly as possible.

 

[Robotstar5]

can you not just use some conduit. every sparky in the land has a bender to form the nice curves.

then just pop rivet/sickaflex your sheeting on. id try to make it as none rattly as possible.

Well now you know one that hasn't , you're right the main hoops would look nice out of tube, but then I would have to "birdsmouth" a load of tubes to weld in for support.

 

[Paul.]

25 x 25 or 30 x 30 erw would be more than adequate for that job, I've made quite a few over the years for similar lightweight trailers, its dead cheap, nice and light, and easy to work with,
You could build the 2 side frames then bolt in 4 cross bars for the roof in line with the vertical members, it then knocks down easily for storage when you want to take it off.

 

[penfold]

Well now you know one that hasn't , you're right the main hoops would look nice out of tube, but then I would have to "birdsmouth" a load of tubes to weld in for support.

No need for birdsmouthing, just copy landrover tilt hoops and squash the tube ends flat and drill for bolts.