How to Build a DIY Travel Trailer - Coupler Install, Hitch, Sway Control (Part 7)
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- čas přidán 15. 02. 2019
- Today I'm installing a Coupler, Weight Distribution Hitch and a Sway Bar on the DIY Travel Trailer Project. These are all things that I probably should have done during the initial build of the base frame... but hey, better late than never, right! :D
Next up on the Travel trailer project will be to run the 12v wiring/lights adding steps, building a coupler lock and finally build the kitchenette. And somewhere in between will be solar and doing the hail repairs... but I'm not totally sure when those will take place just yet...
Thanks for watching and let me know if you have any questions!
Joe
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Tags: homesteadonomics, diy, coupler, trailer hitch, travel trailer, teardrop trailer, trailer, how to, welding, stick welding, 7018, bulldog coupler
As a non-welder, but as an appreciator of creativity and logic I give this two thumbs up. I like the extra aluminum trim. The trailer looks so good. Clean, simple, very pleasing, and the more you look at it, the more detail you see.
Blackberry Hideout thank you Sis!
@@homesteadonomics hi can you help me i need a som idea
The quality of your work and the materials equals or exceeds most RV manufacturer's methods. Well thought out and well executed.
Hitch lock is a must. Not just for safety but also as anti-theft insurance!
If you don't make things like this for a living you ought too! This camper is first class all the way and your craftsmanship really shows. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you John! this is more of a hobby kinda thing... but I do love it! I don't think I could be profitable on many of these projects because of the time and figuring they take. I will say that if I built this trailer again... I feel it would take only about 1/3 to 1/2 the time due to all the figuring and mistakes and changes made during the first go around. Sometimes i do make custom pieces and projects for folks though... but its on a very random basis, but I have been thinking of doing it slightly more... so long as they are okay with me making a video out of it ;)
I love your honesty, No BS. Thank you for that.
Those sliding collar hitches are my favorite.
Really great video! I am not a welder so it was really cool to see your process! Welding is a skill I want to learn and your video made me aware of just how great it would be of if I could!
You are a GOD.......LOL I have not watched all your videos so I didn't know about your welding skill and I'm not surprised you do that well to. Well be looking forward to your next video. Thanks
KSfixitman no, no ....just a tinkering kinda guy that likes working on random projects😀👍🙏
Great addition to your camper. Pulling a 2 wheel trailer in certain conditions will have a tendency to sway back and forth going down the highway. Your add on will keep this from happening. Enjoy your channel, your videos are always enjoyable to watch, THANK YOU FOR SHARING, Vinny 🇺🇸
WOW! You can weld out of position with low hydrogen!! A skill level that comes with a learning curve. Congratulations! I'm a big believer in low hydrogen welds. They make strong, resilient welds that will bend and twist and stretch before they break. I used to repair a lot of farm machinery. Great looking little project. Now, take the family and use it.
Thanks! I’m still learning but getting better with each project! The overhead was definitely tough to figure at first...lots of trial and error and watching some of the pro guys here on yt. 😀👍
Heck ya Joe!
Killer fix/mod, and good job shielding the rest of the trailer nose.
Thanks for the welding tips and tricks, I'm sure I'll be thanking you again for that one day👍
Thanks for sharing and as always Keep Building👍
Building with Todd thank you Todd! I’m still quite new to welding but one of the guys who I’ve gotten lots of tips from is Jody from the welding tripsandtricks channel....lots of real good info from a pro😀👍
Sweet setup. I'm not gonna say it's overkill, because more is always better, but I bet you could tow a tank with that hitch :-) Pretty sure we know where your setup is NOT going to fail. That hitch looks bullet proof and then some !
givemeaforkingname haha...thanks! 😀👍🙏
Thanks for posting the video, I like how you cleaned the metal even though the stick would probably get hot enough to burn through the mill scale, it ensures good penetration
Thank you Curtis!
I've watched other diy trailer builds and hardly any go into detail about the hitch/coupler like you did here. Thanks for this video, Joe. Keep up the great work
Mark Boswell thanks Mark!! I appreciate that!
VERY NICE add-on Joe!!! Your skill level with fabrication can appear like it just came off an automated production line. Better than I've EVER seen and an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB my good friend!!!
Take care, have fun and God Bless!
☆Jay☆ 👍👍
Thank you Jay! but just remember, there are a lot of flaws that the camera doesn't show (or the camera man doesn't ;)
You also take care and God bless you too!
Big time kudos on the weight distribution/sway control!!! ALWAYS a SMART preventative measure.
I've been diy welding over a year now and I love it. Learning to weld opened up so many opportunities for me to make stuff. I'm currently making a 50t shop press out of a 5x8 I-beam.
I do too! So many possibilities open up with metal!
Hitch rated for #12,500.....NICE!!!
Great job Joe, don't listen to any of those haters... That is a fine trailer, and YOU made it.
Bull Dozer thanks BD!
I've seen a few of your vids.. but watching the trailer series got me hooked. Subscribed.
nice build. gotta love when the slag comes right off. you know you have a great weld when you get that.
3:32 that flux removing is so satisfying
I love it when the slag peels back. Perfect welding condition.
Great video and great trailer. I DON'T lend anything even to family, now a days no one accepts responsibility if it gets damaged. Just me saying buddy! Again nice informative video
haha... I know what you mean, I loaned my chainsaw out once and it came back dry on bar and chain oil. The thing that bugged me is that I even included oil with it and mentioned to top it off during the cutting. Needless to say i haven't loaned it out since. That is probably more of a reality with the trailer as well... as it will be years down the road before I get 35 trips in with it ;)
She looks awesome! Very cool to see the trailer on the road 👌
Hello from your texas family. I think you made a good call on the heavy duty hitch. That is such a cool camper and is 100 times better quality than you can buy. You guys take care out there.
Thanks Wayne! Great to hear from the TX Fam! this project sure has a lot of trial/error to it but I'm happy with how its been coming out so far ! :)
Joe
Just love watching Olive enjoy the ride too! It’s looking amazing!!! 👍🏼
:D that was my favorite part of the whole video... she just LOVES getting into the truck and going for a ride!
😃A road test! Very cool, Joe! That must have been exciting.
This makes me want to learn to weld.😁👍
Green Dream Project thanks Jim! It was fun!!
nice video . i truly enjoy it. i work as handyman for my own company, i have my own work shop. you reminded me of myself when i get into complicate projects.
SOS un grande !! Saludos desde Ushuaia tierra del Fuego Patagonia Argentina 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷👋
Nice job! Overhead welds are the hardest to get right. Love the way you pay attention to details.
Ben Joiner thanks you Ben! They have been the hardest for me to learn for sure....slowly getting better though😀👍
I work in commercial construction and the most difficult welds for guys to get certified on are overhead, then vertical, and horizontal of course. Seems like your father in law knows a bit about welding, I didn't go back to check. It always looks like flock of dirt dobbers attacked when I get done with a weld of any kind so my hats off to you!
That was high quality my man! Very nice and clean. Added durability and peace of mind while rolling down the road.
Great how to video, you are a very skilled fabricator/welder and thank you for sharing and taking us along on your journey.
Daniel Fisch thanks Daniel! But I’m more of a ‘keep cutting’ until it looks close versus being that skilled. A lot of trial and error😉👍
Great video! One Idea for the trailer- If you want an economical heater for winter use you can install a webasto style (or a China knock off) diesel heater used in semi trucks. It will run 24+ hrs on just 2 gals of diesel fuel
96ChevyDually6.5L thanks Chevy! Now you have me interested in this diesel heater! Sounds pretty cool...thanks I will check it out!
I didn’t notice a leveling jack at the rear of your trailer. Good workmanship.
Chuck Lenhart thanks! Only stabilizer jacks in the front and back. The leveling will be the traditional way. Tongue jack for front and back level and a shovel to level the tires for side to side. It’s not hard really...just moving the trailer into hole scraped out quickly to get a rough lecvel.
Nice design, have enjoyed the build so far. Hitch lock is definitely a good idea. Especially if left alone in the middle of nowhere.
thanks Jason! the hitch lock has been something I've been thinking about almost longer than any of the cabinets.... everytime we leave the house or go somewhere I make sure that I have the tires chained to the axle and a vehicle parked infront of the hitch becuase I'm paranoid...haha
Wow fantastic! Very impressive work!
Beautiful shots of the truck/trailer combo driving!
👌
toronado455 thank you!
Beautiful work, as always, Joe. Thanks for sharing.
John Coloe thanks John! I really appreciate it :)
Funny how things work out...now you have the battery box on rubber, which probably should have been done already. I love it when a plan comes together by itself lol
Love watching your videos. I have a 7x14 cargo trailer, it's my first one, I have been taking some of your ideas and putting it on mine, just wish I had more money to build a trailer like yours. But I am not handy with any tools or carpentry.
The welding police 😂 that's usually me but in this case the full length welds on the bottom and top of that hitch are MORE than enough by themselves for that build. Throw in the two welds for the safety chains and you don't even need those vertical welds 😀. Very over built trailer, I love it!
Fantastic job Joe! You are a wizard at fabrication, and it is great to see you towing! Still loving the series.
thanks DAniel! it was a good feeling for sure to get it on the road...even if it was just a quick test :)
Your welds are getting better and better. Those were gorgeous man! Great stuff as always! Cheers!
Amazing video, I was prepared to be bored but as usual, your abilities are truly impressive!! Wonderful video, thanks for sharing!
haha.... glad you got prepared :D Thank you MD!
Your videos are so much fun to watch
bob jones thx Bob!!!!
Nice job Joe! I didn’t know there was a certain direction you need to go on vertical surface so you don’t contaminate your weld. That chrome plate looks awesome!!!
Melrose Design Company thanks Zac! On MiG it isn’t as much of an issue since there is no slag build up....so when you get going on MiG you could go down instead of up....that’s the way I prefer but also one of the reasons I made this mistake...haha....but as long as it gets stuck together real good it should be fine😀🤞😉
Nice ser up, hey you did the project according to your specification and needs, I like it
you are stacked with skills,very professional job
Nice work Joe. Definitely heavy duty 👍👍👍
Thanks Jess!
hey it's out on the road, if I ever make it over to Arizona, I'll keep an eye out for ya.
Great video the camper looks awesome, also I agree with you the bulldog Ball Coupler was the way to go I’m using it on my camper and I love it there’s no double guessing if it’s on are not.
Thanks! I’ve really liked what I’ve read about them online and what I’ve heard about them from folks that swear by them!
Nice video, Great to see the trailer is now functional, good job.
thanks Joseph! it is a good feeling having it mobile since it has been so long of having it not... just can't wait to go camping in it soon! :)
Man, you’re so talented! I’ve learned so much from your videos. Keep them coming please!
Thank you Kyle! 😀👍🙏
Very nice Joe. It almost looks like a guy who knew what he was doing made it ! ;-) Leave us not forget the 3 T's , Gray tank, Black tank, and Fresh water tank. Of course for the Blank tank you could always use a cassette or compost.
Thank you William! Yes, the 3 tanks... it's probably going to be the 2 T's for a fresh water tank and then a greywater tank... the black is going to be in the form of a composting toilet or a cassette. That would be mostly for the girls or if we happen to be in a national park where we have to use a 'campsite'... as for our normal camping in the forest and primitive spot... I prefer the shovel and a long walk. Silence and solitude at its finest! ;)
OOOWE. TMI about yourself there. BUTT :-) remember no job is complete until the paperwork is finished, ( don't forget to take the T.P. with you. )
This a beautiful clean, well explained, very informative video. And you did a great job welding
Very Very professional Video! Thanks!
Great job Joe! You'll be camping in no time w/the family. Only wish I could get mine together like you have done. But one w/disabilities will take a little longer to fix. Instead of fixing it. I think it would be easier to rip it down to bare trailer & start fresh. That away if wires was cut, no big deal bc they will be brand new. Plus the mice have chewed a few into. Oh those stinking rats.... lol... I'll get those little basters. And we want to plug all the holes up so they can't get in in the winter.
Have a great time camping w/the family. Nice job,
Chris from Missouri
Hey Chris! ouch... sorry to hear about the wires. In that case I kinda think it might be worth stripping it completely. If you check out tnttt. com there are a lot of posts about people doing just that..... stripping it down to the bare frame and upper structure. Then if any of the wood is rotted, they take it out one piece at a time and replace it... so there isn't much figuring at all.... just making a new replacement piece kinda thing... makes it more managaeable i think
@@homesteadonomics I agree w/stripping it down to the bare. All wires, light fixtures, & what's water damaged. The good thing is the stove, bedroom, restroom is in good shape. Plus a good thing is we can make it a little taller & put a storage loaf in it. I'm not talking about a 13'5" camper just about 3' more for some rubber made totes. With a shed roof which I already have the medal for, left overs from another rooftop we made. We can put a AC unit in a window or wall & then some solar panels on the roof. Its 24' I can live w/o a living space since it's just me & my hubby. Could use have for battery storage & the other for small eating place. The couch folds down to make a twin bed & has are fresh water tank under it. Just wish I had a large barn to put it in to do the work. It's hot in summer & cold in the winter. Just might trade it in on one that doesn't leak.... lol...
That would be the smartest way.
Take care Joe,
Chris
This is a reality video.
Awesome video sir! As I mentioned on your Instagram feed ... huge fan and really appreciate your skillset, craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Thanks... and likewise back to you! Both your YT IG content and your professional contributions to those who've benifited from your expertise over the years :)
Great upgrade. I like the reasoning behind it & the way you explained the effects the trailer can have on a vehicle when braking. You made great points that I’m sure many people (myself included) wouldn’t have thought of. I still think it’d be fun to have your logo on the trailer, but you might be getting too popular to want that... although anyone watching your channel would recognize the trailer anywhere! Be prepared for lots of honking and waving as you tow it around!
Thanks Steff! I have thought about the logo...but still not sure. On one hand it seems right and on the other it seems like it could ruin a peaceful vacation. But there is a lot of blank space and a graphic of some sort help the large amount of unbroken white😉
homesteadonomics - start a huge stickerboard... stickers from everywhere you go! (I really can’t see you doing that though...😁)..
Or even better... collect stickers from all the other channels you meet 👍
My Dad made a hitch lock out of some metal pipe that fit over the hitch then welded a small piece of chain to it.
The chain was then padlocked to the frame of the hitch so that the pipe was covering the ball receiver.
I like the sounds of that! I'm looking to get some tubing to fit just over the assembly and use a puck lock to hold it together :)
Eres un gran arquitecto y un gran maestro
Great job Joe, as always!
Willie Makit thank you willie!!
Joe; your so awesome with all of your projects! Very well done, you get 👍🏽👍🏽 from me😎
East Mesa Urban Homestead aww thank you so much brother!!! 😀🙏🙏
That camper/ trailer is way better than the crap they sell. Nice work. To the guy who hit thumbs down, please post pictures of your inventions... Edison
Thanks UDL! those thumbs down folks are the same ones who can dislike a cute video of a baby crawling or a baby horse running... life has got to be tough for them...lol
You have such ingenious idea's, Great work!
Bob Ferranti thanks bob! 😀👍
Sweet great job!
That is a really great way to set up your connection...a lot of folks forget the physics of towing heavy objects.
And I am glad that you mentioned the trailer brakes...I was hoping you would have them on there.
@4:23 Dude...did you just operate the camera remote with your teeth??? Too funny!! :)
haha... yep, thats what I do on the welding ones... bite to start and bite to stop ;)
Love trailer great job
brian chambers thank you Brian!!!!
Looking great my friend. I was wondering about the levels, so I'm glad you answered that. You are really good with a stick. I've always I've always Migged and Tigged. Stick was never something I really had a need for but have always wanted to try. In one of my last videos I welded my shipping containers to steel plate on the piers. I was planning on getting a stick for that because of the dirty and windy conditions, but I think the Mig worked fine, I'd just wait for a break in the wind. Keep up the good work buddy, love this series.
Thanks! I used Mig and Stick on my shop... I think your MIG will plenty for the shop... I watched some of your other videos but will have to go back and check those out too. I would love to get into TIG as I think that's kind of the gold standard for welding. But MIG is just so darn nice to use... easy quick and gives more time to create ! :)
I also did the 'wait for wind thing' when I did the initial framing ;)
@@homesteadonomics TIG is slow but beautiful in the right application.
Thats a nice looking trailer! Congrats on finishing it.
OffGridNorthwest thanks! But it’s still got a ways to go before being campable. But it’s definitely gettin close😀
Great Video!👍😊👌👌👌
Well done!
Your videos are AWESOME and I have learned so much watching them! You keep mentioning people who criticize your work, but we hope you just IGNORE THE TROLLS and focus on the people who appreciate your hard work and detailed instructions like we do. I will never understand why, but some people obviously have nothing better to do than waste time trying to ruin good things. Don't even give them the satisfaction and ignore them. Negative attention is attention and enough to keep them going. Just ignore. We love your videos and you have inspired us to be more self sufficient! We dream of having an off grid home one day - chickens included. THANK YOU and keep it coming!
Thanks Alex! It's more of a proactive acknowledgement... addressing mistakes to let them know that I know before they can let me know...haha..... it comes with posting stuff online. When it comes to the comments though... I usually just ignore those or reply in a nice manner. After all a lot of those kinda folks just want to argue and like you said, be unhappy about something :D
Looks great joe!
Ian Campbell thanks Ian!
Great job Joe 👍!
thank you Lebron!
Congratulaciones muy buen trabajo 🇨🇱 bendiciones
Great job. Can't wait to see how you lock the hitch up. I think I will get a Forney 324 MP and get rid of the 3 it will replace. BTW nice welding!
Chet Chastain thank you Chet! I’m actually very excited about that project....more than one would think but I think the added peace of mind of theft deterrence is what I’m looking forward too! No lock is a sure thing but at least to make it more difficult 😀👍
So cool to see it on the back of a truck!
Robin Lewis thank you Robin...it was a great feeling for sure!
saw the threaded links holding the chains onto your unit. great, many try to get by with just hooks; even some manufacturers.
thanks Michael! I had simple hooks when I had the original coupler on and it always bugged me.... I feel better with these :)
Good job man!
Great Video.. Looks Amazing..
Jimmy Smith thank you Jimmy!
Yes very interesting, love your trailer and your truck 🚚, if you have the money and the time to do it plus the ability, why not? And safety first.
joe perez thanks Joe!! 😀👍
SWEET so now MOBILE way to go, looks GREAT!
thanks Greg! It IS a great feeling to have it rolling!
@@homesteadonomics Have never seen that other attachment you added to the hitch before. Always used the anti sway bars but that other thing looks like really helps too. Now on the road can just spend time with family and extended family and have GOOD times. Hope your garden is enjoying all this wet that keep hearing about. Should have lots of moisture to soak in and build up the soil moisture content. Have a GREAT week. Heading back out to shovel some more snow.
Nice welding. I really don't practice stick welding with my everlast welder enough. Stick welding gets some great penetration when you need that in a weld.
Logan Lopez thank you Logan! It is fun to burn the sticks ever so often. MiG is definitely the primary still for me....however I do love the simplicity of stick😀👍
Excellent video, thanks! 👍👍
Mick Bator thanks mick! 😀👍🙏
Awesome job!! Really enjoy your channel.
thank you MM!
Looking good. Thanks for the video.
thanks JB J!
Nice work. Especially with a stick welder.
You did a great job.👍 You was thinking of safety.
Thanks Richard!!
Nice job really like that jack
thanks harley! I do too!
Love your build a weight distribution hitch you don't need that until you passed 10,000 lb
Acho muito legal seu trabalho parabens
Very nice.
That hitch setup is massively overkill. Good job.
Good job!!
Looking good! :)
Amazing idea,,,nice
Nice work Joe! Thanks for sharing the video.👍😎JP
I Enjoy Creating Videos thank you Jp!
Your very welcome Joe! 😎
Great job