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Part 1 — The frame
How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - The Frame (part 1)
Source: How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - The Frame (part 1) · 2018-04-18 · 10:26
What Joe did
- Started with a free axle and an older, paused trailer project.
- Moved the leaf-spring hangers back, then lengthened and widened the frame.
- Removed the wheels and levelled the frame on jack stands.
- Tack-welded the upside-down wall and roof framework, checked it square, then filled in the shape.
- Used an acetylene torch and an old water-pressure tank to form the roof curve.
- Planned wood framing for openings and wood floor supports to reduce steel weight.
Numbers
| What | Value | Where in the video |
|---|---|---|
| Weight saved by wood supports | about 60 pounds | “it was about 60 pounds difference” |
| Tires bought | 5 for $225 | “I got five tires for 225 bucks” |
Materials and parts
| Item | Detail as Joe says it |
|---|---|
| Steel | Supplied by Industrial Metal Supply. |
| Axle | Free, from his brother-in-law. |
| Floor framing | Two-by-fours, plywood decking, and metal tabs. |
| Wheels and tires | Stock Jeep rims; tires had a few thousand miles; lug adapters needed. |
Tools Joe used
- MIG welder (metal inert gas welder).
- Acetylene torch.
- Jack stands.
Tips and mistakes
- Joe levelled the frame before using it as an assembly table.
- He left many joints tack-welded until final welding later.
- His father-in-law handled critical welds when Joe was new to welding.
For my build
- Nathan’s note: lock the size and floor plan before copying this frame layout.
- Nathan’s note: price tools and steel early; welding is a new skill and is inside the budget cap.
- Nathan’s note: wood supports may help control weight, but use the later design rather than Joe’s dimensions.