DIY Overland camper trailer build: cabin part 14 - Hatch door frame

In part 14 of the cabin build series I create the rear hatch door frame using aluminum angle.
Aluminum Rivets: amzn.to/3wYhSCA
Sikaflex 252 black: amzn.to/3Kzaou8
Sikaflex 252 white: amzn.to/3FMralL
Steel-It amzn.to/3iZGe6z
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[@malweencalixta]

Brilliant. Thank you for sharing!

[@infosponge]

Thanks!

[@geographyinaction7814]

Excellent thus far!

[@infosponge]

Thanks!

[@LilFella67]

@infosponge The amount of effort to build the rear hatch trim is impressive (not to mention the fit and finish). You started with the sun at the back of the trailer and ended the day with the sun past the shop vac. Just incredible how much time this one task took. It’s looking great.

[@infosponge]

Thanks, everything seems to take a bit longer than I plan. Part of the process I suppose.

[@jwiereng]

I wish I can give 2 thumbs up

[@infosponge]

Thanks!

[@pietervanderwesthuizen2631]

This is really amazing!! Would you mind sharing the build plans please? I am in South Africa and would love to build one like this!

[@infosponge]

Thanks! The base trailer frame dimensions are in the design video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIrIda2qlt-oj9E). I plan on sharing the cabin plans once the build is complete.

[@19Mark]

Great vid. Where did you get the centaflex hinge? thanks

[@infosponge]

Thanks! Ordered it off eBay.

[@chimrichalds1422]

Do you have goal date for completion? Looks great so far.

[@infosponge]

It needs to be done enough to camp in late June.

[@danemmerich6775]

Very nice job!!! Looks great. What did you use to solder the Aluminum together? Mapp gas and what stick were you using??

[@infosponge]

I used aluminum brazing rod from bernzomatic.

[@gsascott5996]

What is the brazing material you are using? I'm assuming that is extruded Aluminium? Where did you source your exterior material? Sorry for all the questions but this is my moat favorite square drop build I have seen. Very inspiring.

[@infosponge]

The brazing rods just came from Home Depot. The aluminum is 1/16 thick 1.5 wide angle from a local metal distributor.

[@mattmatthiessen7743]

Very nice...very clean. Every Monday I get more anxious to build mine. I've been struggling with frame design/schematics lately. Just when I think I have it...I change more. I just want to get started. Been buying a lot of steel and supplies/tools though. LOL Question...when you designed your frame. How did you come up with the angles/lengths of the A-frame sides? Again just when I think I had my design all set...I read more about the 50 degree rule on the tongue angle. I literally printed your design out and checked your angles and it doesn't seem that you did the 50 degree tongue? My frame is very similar to yours...although I went 5x9'. The length of my tongue A-frame just doesn't seem proportional. And, the more websites I lookup for tips, the more they recommend different things. Lend a hand if you could. Thanks

[@infosponge]

I just ballparked the angle based on other trailers I looked at. The main thing I took into consideration was the tongue length to allow clearance in jackknife situation. As well as the length from ball to the axle, it is the same as the Tacoma wheel base. At some point you just have to commit to a design ;)

[@mattmatthiessen7743]

@@infosponge Yeah I agree. Did you measure your tongue length from the end of your tongue box? Or, from the cross member at the edge of your trailer box? Also, isn't that calculation the width of the tow vehicle divided by 2 and then add a foot? I've been reading so many blogs on this.

[@infosponge]

Crossmember, the box needs to be at least half the width behind the tow vehicle so they don't collide.

[@mattmatthiessen7743]

@@infosponge Sorry and thanks, but looking at your diagram from the crossmember edge to the tip of your receiver hitch is like 4' 3 7/16"...is that considered the full tongue length? Or does it also need to include the length of the ball coupler? I really appreciate your insight. And then...your tongue box edge comes out how far from the crossmember to maintain that "half the width" part?

[@jwiereng]

@@infosponge why did you choose to make length from ball to the axle same as the Tacoma wheel base? I drive many different combinations of vehicles and trailers and find that I prefer towing when the trailer (ball to axle) is shorter than towing vehicle wheelbase. The worst is short trailer behind long truck.

[@jwiereng]

3:46 Do you wish you could have easily acquired a ‾‾‾‾‾|___ shaped extrusion?

[@infosponge]

Yah, that would have been nice.

[@Paul-ow6of]

Masking tape is your friend.

[@infosponge]

It is!

[@jwiereng]

10:11 - what is the wiping process you use? I saw something similar guys uses wd40 to make caulking look nice on his small camper kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqLInJWffdJpoKs

[@infosponge]

WD40 is just an easy solvent that works on the sikaflex 252 without degrading it.