In my prev post, I attached a pic showing a patched break in the frame. It was not a crack, but a total break with about 3/16th inch gap between the sections. Even the patch had broken loose on one end. The other side of the frame was the same. This was discovered when I took the body off of the frame. There was also cosiderable damage to the lower front area of the body. With the weather not cooperating, and as the trailer is outside, it took several weeks to do the FG repairs needed to repair the damage and strengthen the body.
A twisted wire brush on a grinder was taken to the frame to remove rust before
painting with black tremclad. I'm not sure if this
paint is the best, but hope it will last for a few years.
After numerous hours studying the frame, sprung axle and torflex specs, I finally ordered a new torflex axle from Reace at
Escape Trailers in Chilliwack, BC. I found Reace and Tammy very congenial and very helpful.
It's probably a good thing that my TV is only rated to pull a max load of 2,000 lbs. or we might have driven away with a new
Escape. I believe their smallest is just a few hundred lbs. over 2,000.
It's about a 4 1/2 hour drive each way, but we were able to stay over with our daughter & son in law in White Rock.
Upon our return, I towed the frame on the old axle to a local welding shop to have the frame properly repaired and the torflex mounting plates welded to the frame and the new axle installed. I am quite happy with the job and it only took 2 1/2 hours with three men working on it.
Then I made a major decision and purchased two new wheels from OK tire.
I am including a pic of the diagram showing the specs of the new axle.
Of course with the body sitting on saw horses, I couldn't get inside to do any further work so I was glad to get the frame back under.
Other pics show the gutted interior, an unexplained square hole that needed patching, a closed up window that I re-opened but still needs the window, patching where the spare tire was mounted, and finally the new plywood floor installed. Sorry I didn't get pics of all the steps.
The last pic is of a roof support I am working on. Again, I couldn't find the aluminum "c" channel that Rick used to re enforce the ceiling. Next time out I will try to get better pics of this
My B15 is on a friends farm and all the work is being done outside.
Incidentally another friends old
boler was also stored there but has now moved to the coast.
I am currently trying to decide whether to go with a 12 volt dc
fridge with a danfoss compressor, or the regular 2 or 3 way with
propane. The first I could put on the curb side between the door and the window. Hopefully in a cupboard and raised so you don't have to get on your knees to retrieve the contents. It would also help to balance some of the
weight between sides. Any comments????