Project Start
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My next project for the kids. It was sitting on my sisters back lot for 21 years. After some research it seems to be a 1969 Triple-E Comfort manufactured in Winkler Manitoba. It has seen better days and looks like it was hacked multiple times. It seems to be a Canadian version of an Aristocrat Lo-Liner. The frame and axle has some rust but seems solid. The electrical & propane system is shot.
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First pull!
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Got two new tires and rims at Kaltire, added a temporary brake signal lighting system from princess auto and "pulled" it to Ottawa. Pulls nicely, doesn't seem to be any issues and easily maintained highway speed all the way back. I could tell all was good as I didn't receive a signal discouraging look from anyone in my travels!
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Gutting
Replacing A-Frame Jack
Other then gutting my first job was to remove the rusting propane tank holder and install a new jack. I measured the A-frame jack hole at 2 1/4" and got a good deal on a bulldog 5000lb jack for $39. Unfortunately when I went to install it, I discovered the lower plate cut out was only 2". Apparently this was common in the good old days. Most were 2 or 1 7/8" OD on the lower plate! So either I return the now scratched up bulldog and special order an inferior Jack or make the hole bigger. I tried honing/reaming the bottom hole and it was sort of working but I was going through grinding discs too fast and would take forever. The solution was to use a hole saw. How do you use a hole saw without a drill to guide it. You cheat. I screwed a 2x4 to the Jack hole. Then drilled a 2 1/4" hole in the wood. I then used the wood hole as a guide to drill out the steel lower plate to 2 1/4". Drilling slowly with lots of oil, it was surprisingly quick.
Teardown Time
I realized the rot was everywhere I have started to skin my trailer. Plan is now to remove sides, use siding as template to rebuild walls (in my garage) over the winter. I found one good stud and determined the walls should be 1 3/4" thick. Pretty well all the wood has rotted. The trailer was held together by staples. It is good in a way as I want to use this trailer safely for years as the kids grow.
