Because of the starter problems with Beastie, Ken and I decided to get a utility trailer. He wasn't the best looking thing, but we figured we could give him a facelift. Once we did a thorough investigation on him, though, I was wondering if I really wanted to open this can of worms.

Well, the can of worms was opened, drained, and fried up. (No, I didn't eat any but I DID help burn the old wood lol)

It was pretty ugly to say the least. He matched Beastie almost to a 'T' I would say lol

Teardown... Wow. What a mess he was. I think we found like four generations of carpenter ants and their eggs between the layers of plywood... Y U C K!!!!

Got him down to bare metal, and painted...

Then went to Home Depot for the wood and hardware, and started with the flooring. I didn't want plywood, because if it rains, the water sits there, to sit and rot the wood. So we opted for the 5/4 wood, and attached it like we did when we built our decks... spaced them using nails. Since the wood was still quite wet, once dry, the spacing should be perfect, and allow any liquid to fall through, rather than sit there and rot my trailer...

Now for my touch... I wanted to do a scene along the side planks (and still might, while Ken isn't looking lol) but decided because of time constraints, and wanting to do something other than build the trailer our entire vacation, I did my design on just the tailgate. We built it out of 1x6's for two reasons: One, they're lighter, so I would be able to lift it easier, and secondly, it still matches relatively close.

So below is the project pictures I took, (trying to cut them back to just the highlights and the finished product... )(I DID, however have to go back and touch up the wolf - if you look at the picture where I transferred the pattern, I forgot the right side of his face... oops lol I thought it looked a little bare. )

Attached Thumbnails

Very Nice! Good job!!!

Hey Barb,

the trailer looks like new now - or even better (I suspect, no wolf on a new trailer :P)
Quite a lot of work - although the pictures show only fractions of it.
What are you going to store / transport in it? Is it supposed to be a carpenters trailer again?

Kind Regards,
Martin

Thanks Tom, it was actually kinda fun, but would have been better if we'd been prepared or known how we wanted it. Not until we were buried up to our eyes in it did we know what we really needed to do this. (We've built decks, steps, work tables, etc., but never a trailer.)

Martin, we got this trailer because of the starter problems with Beastie (my motor home/workshop.) We plan on using it to move my equipment if I can get some signs done, to craft shows/flea markets, and whatever we need to move from point 'A' to point 'B'. lol we finally have our own trailer, and don't need to beg to borrow someone else's trailer.

Barb,
You and Ken did a great job on the trailer!

The only thing that I see that you missed when you did the sign on the tailgate is "We Make Beautiful Handcrafted Custom Signs. Inquires Are Welcome."

So this trailer is now an addition to Beastie isn't it? I thought I remember reading early posts about Beastie being your "shop"... where you worked... and where your tools were stolen from... Right? Wrong? Just trying to get that straight in my head.

Not a bad job on the trailer. Altho, come to think of it, I didn't see Barb in any of the work pictures.

MI, eh? I lived there once, born and brought up there in fact, but that was in a galaxy far, far, away, and long ago. Never get me back there again.

LOL Mike! If I put anything advertising my craft, I have to have a DOT inspection and sticker, and yadda yadda ya on it. I may put my little insignia on it, though.

Yeah, Mike. This is in addition to Beastie. As I posted, we got this trailer because of the starter problem we're having with my motor home/workshop. We can't get him to start, thus, we can't get him moved to the storage yard that's closer to us so I can get to work in him. And yes, Beastie is the same one that was broken into and over $3000 in tools and equipment were stolen. Another reason why NONE of my tools are currently stored in there. (just got word that it looks like there was another theft at that place, of tools, I might add, so I'm glad none on mine are there now.) I have all my tools in my storage unit that's closer to where we live. We plan on utilizing the trailer for not just hauling my tools and that to craft shows/flea markets, but it will be used for household hauling as well.

LOL Theo... I can't work and document at the same time, now can I??? LOL But I helped where I could... Seeing we used bolts for the most part, and needing stronger hands, I couldn't be as much an active participant as I wanted, which bummed me out.

Yeah, Michigan... I call it "Snyderland" now. I can't stand this state any more, but stuck here for a few more years.