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While I had hoped to regale you with tales about how I was able to do this and that, about all I was able to do with Hurricane was sand down the Marine-Tex from where I filled the holes last year. Seeing the results made me feel good but I still have a ways to go to get the rest of it finished. I'm not counting the numbers of holes this time. |
With the weather breaking and business at work picking up the best I would be able to manage would be to work on the trailer. Sometime. Maybe late spring. Or summer. Perhaps. As luck would have it, I have a friend from New Jersey (who's not a low-down, dirty rat) who knew I had access to a truck and asked if I would help a friend move. I said sure...but what about a trailer?!? Eyes widened and he gave a big grin (or so I believe since this was all done by text) and he said sure! Only one problem - the trailer was still a steel frame, unfinished, and giving me the finger. *sigh*
| So, as the Beverly Hillbillies did (but not quite), we loaded up the Subaru and headed to Menards. This necessitated putting the lights back on the trailer - they were removed when I was welding - along with some bright green duct tape and a couple reflective pieces on the back since I knew we would be out after dark. It wouldn't do well to have trailer hit before it was even finished...not to say I want it hit after it's finished. This also required me to take a hammer to my poor excuse for a license plate back into shape and apply the new registration sticker. | 
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Two sheets of 3/4" treated plywood (and some assorted reflectors and tie-down straps) later and I was in business. Actual work would need to wait until the following day since, by the time we ate dinner and returned home, it was time for bed. As I didn't wish to reflect the grumpy nature of some customers I elected to call it a night.
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The middle section of the trailer was easy since it was one unaltered sheet of plywood. The other sheet, however, was split lengthwise to accommodate a pair of 24" (61cm) sections to lay sideways across the front and the back. I was informed two 12' (304cm) sheets of plywood would have added extra strength but it would have also added extra cost and time since treated plywood of said size was unavailable. At any rate, the blue string of death (read: chalk line) was implemented and I managed to cut a straight line for once. The worse part of the whole ordeal was cutting the front section to match the shaped steel. That done, it was time to begin drilling and bolting. But where were the bolts? Oh, damn. That's right - I hadn't bought them yet. |
So after another day delay and a trip to Home Depot, 1 1/2" (38mm) carriage bolts were procured and life was good again. I also purchased a piece of pipe so I could move the tilt-lock to someplace where I could access it (it would be covered by the first piece of plywood). Using the chalk lines I was able to now able to start assembly, using three drill bits to step-up the size of the holes. Take note if you do this: once you drill a hole, place a bolt through it. Failure to do this can results in misaligned holes and leaving you calling yourself a specific type of hole. This isn't something I did but I wanted to put it out there to save you the indignity of having an out-of-place or wobbly hole.
| Assembly for everything took about three hours. In between I was tearing up and seeding the yard however, so, likely, two-and-a-half hours would be more accurate. I'm proud to say all the holes lined up with the metal underneath (amazing for me since I was drilling blind holes) and I was able to bolt the deck down with no problem. Well, that's a lie. Seems someone with a fat ass stood on a trailer and laterally tweaked an only tacked-on trailer jack. So...there will be some welding which will need to be performed but that's okay since the trailer jack didn't really sit perpendicular with the ground anyway. Astute viewers (which is what you are unless this is being dictated to you) may have already noted the last photo looks like a geometric wood penis. | 
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All that remains now to attach the reflectors in the appropriate locations and life will be good for the move. When that is finished, I will remove the deck to seal it for improved longevity and sand some of the frame and give it a good coat of paint. The tilt-lock mechanism will be relocated and the wiring for the lights will also be routed into something more permanent. And when all that's accomplished, the deck will be covered in a layer of indoor/outdoor carpet to 1) seal any gaps in the floor and 2) prevent splinters from puncturing the skirt. Sides and/or a front may be installed but I will wait to see how the Hurricane takes to its new mode of travel.
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