when SketchUp does everything Fusion 360 can do

Not even close, Joe. Fusion 360 can do so much more than SketchUp, especially when it comes to the CAM side of the house. But I'm glad SketchUp is working for you - show us some projects!

 

You really can't beat the simplicity of Sketchup. I used it when it was free. Fusion360 is another beast. It is more capable in most respects but for most designs its also way overkill.

So the personal question everyone has to ask themselves, "is the software you use the right one if you only using 5 percent of its capability?"

Glad you like Sketchup. I would also like to see what you are making with it.

 

I bought a nice gooseneck trailer for my new F250 to tow around when I need a larger BED to carry long things like sheet metal and a pallet of 3x4s, etc.

I cranked the legs fully UP to fully DOWN once. 500 turns of the crank arm to move from top to bottom. I am far too lazy and out of shape to do that nonsense. Yes, I also tried the concrete blocks method, but lugging those things around in the truck or on the trailer, and placing them beneath the legs and then lifting them back up off of the ground was also more physical labor that I want to do.

So I designed drop down leg extensions that attach to the landing gear legs. They were designed to rotate down to take up the majority of the space, and then allow me to crank minimally to raise the trailer off of the ball hitch in the truck bed.

Okay ... I admit it. This is my first gooseneck trailer. I was not aware of the built-in, internal, spring loaded drop down leg inserts that perform the exact same task, until AFTER I drew up this design. Still, it was a fun exercise in SketchUp!

I immediately bought a PITBULL power motor for the landing gear drive shaft, and with the help of a little R*****k engineering, I was able to install it inside of the steel tool box at the front of the bed beneath the gooseneck, along with the Marine deep cycle battery and the control switch, etc. It is all locked inside of the tool box, to help prevent theft of the trailer. There is a solar cell on the top of the gooseneck to keep the battery topped off. A winch and power extending/retracting vehicle ramps of my own design, along with a 4-HD camera rear view system, night LED work lights and more will also be added at a later date.

In the Better to be lucky than smart department I searched for four years for this exact trailer configuration, with an 18 foot bed, 102" wide, deck over (no fender wells), dual 7K axle with single wheels, and no beaver tail. I thought I would need to have it custom built for about $23K, but I stumbled onto this one, custom built to my EXACT specs down to the lug nuts! Someone ordered it and then backed out of the deal AFTER the dealership had it made, so that customer lost his deposit, and I was able to buy it brand spanking NEW for only $10K out the door with a spare tire!

Directions? We don't NEED no stinking DIRECTIONS!

Joe

 

Of couse I hade to give it some pizazz, so I pulled the stock Ford alloy wheels and replaced them with BLACK alloy wheels, and bought matching wheels for the trailer while I was at it.

The stock FORD wheels are now for sale...

Joe

The stock wheels - $6,320.00 for the set of four, NEW COST

 

SketchUp is an excellent alternative for 3D modelling and printing, with user-friendly features for a variety of applications. Fusion 360, on the other hand, excels at managing large engineering tasks. Mastering both platforms will provide you with a diverse skill set to tackle a variety of design difficulties. Accept the simplicity of SketchUp and the power of Fusion 360 for more complicated projects. Learning both will provide you with distinct advantages, allowing you to bring your creative visions to life in new ways!