Redoing the stepdeck

[cosgo]

As soon as I figure out how to get pics on here i'll post progress on my stepdeck rebuild. it was time to strip out all the wiring, add fuse boxes, junction boxes, put all new led lights on it, and add some back up lights (fell in love with tony's and had to get some). Ive got the whole trailer stripped down right now, everything is ground down, just about ready for primer and paint. rims are off and being painted, all new dot tape is waiting to get put on.

[Tony]

Picture Posting (http://www.autoexpeditor.com/showthread.php?t=13)

[cosgo]

When i click on your link it tells me im not allowed?

[Tony]

Blah, my mistake... gimme a min

[cosgo]

Here are some photos of the "freshening" up I did.

Salt and morons took their toll on the trailer, so I brought the whole thing down to bear metal, primed twice, painted three times, rewired completely including fuse box and 3 junction boxes, all new LED lights, new airlines, new plugs, connectors, wheel seals, brushed and painted rims inside and out, new inner tire valve stem extenders, some new wood boards, and removed the wood above the axles and welded in some new bracing for a big sheet of diamond plate metal that can be removed with four bolts exposing everything underneath for easy maintenance.

[cosgo]

more pics of redo

[Tony]

Glad to see you also swept the floor before painting :)

good job on the trailer!

[cosgo]

Trailer is finished!! (minus one brake light which is coming in the mail tomorrow morning - managed to lose it somewhere!)

[haulin rv]

Looks great!

I need a shop that big so I could redo my Kaufman!

[cosgo]

HA! That floor is a joke. Swept it 4 times during the "process" and had to chemical clean the trailer twice. It was fun, but im not looking forward to doing it again. I learned about how anal I am, and it wasnt pretty.

[ccoop769]

Very nice job!!!!!!

[cosgo]

Thanks coop. It was a lot of work, but its like having a brand new trailer again. Plus, now if I put an employee to pull it, it is dummy proof. i installed access panels to all the electrical plugs, and air connections, fuse box, and i can access both axles, brakes, and air tank from the top just by removing 4 bolts. Makes maintenance a snap! Everything is easy to get to, even on the side of the road.

Haulin Rv, when you are ready to rebuild, bring it over. We'll knock it out.

[Haul-A-Round]

It's not easy is it ?
looks good , you wan't me to run up and re pinstripe it lol.
next one comes close to it with a torch you need to beat the hell out of them !

[cosgo]

Yeah, not quite easy. It took me the same amount of time to do all that work as it took you to build it!! LOL. Granted the first couple weeks I had my guys only working on it a little here and a little there. It didn't become a full time project till about 2 and a half weeks ago. Very labor intensive.

[Tosch88]

Looks good Cosgo. Its all ready for the salt season(LOL). Good idea on the access panels for sure. Let us know how the longer valve stems work for you.

[cosgo]

Tosch, this set of valve stems has been on for 2 weeks now, and not a single leak. Local tow truck supply company out here has them for about $30. Everywhere else they are $60. They actually come with inner and outer extenders for the $30, but I only used the inners as the outers are easy to get to. Now ive got 4 outers just sitting around.

Here are some pics of the "come back" load on the stepdeck. first time out since the rebuild. Good load @ $3.15/mile to Boston from Chicago.

[Tosch88]

Might have to hit you up for a set of those (pay ya for shipping & maybe a beer). I don't want to here about the $3.15 a mile loads damn it man I'm jealous. Maybe someday, step deck and truck look great. I gonna finish my bearing job in the morning on the trailer its 28 degrees in the barn. I like playing in the cold not working LOL!

[cosgo]

Yeah... well, the $3/mile loads dont come often. Everything you see on the trailer is from customers I deal with continually. No Central cars on there any where. It going to the east coast, then back to Chicago, then to San Antonio. Good run this week.

Also, for those non-believers that say you have to have a torque tube - look close, no sag on the trailer whatsoever. Very stable load. The sprinter van on top is over 10,000 lbs. Its loaded with tools, workbenches, and a crane! The 2 X-postal trucks are heavy too, apx. 7500 lbs. each. Ive yet to break a single weld. its a stout piece of equipment.

[Haul-A-Round]

the torque tube is a band aid for mfg's that can not build a trailer properly. never used one never will and never had a trailer in 20 years twist. there is a right way , a wrong way and a cheap way to build them. you get what you pay for in anything you buy.

[ccoop769]

Damn it man, I want a haul a round!!!!!!! Such a sexy looking trailer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously a money maker also in any way you look at it, now I just need a small john deere to pull that trailer!!!!

[Haul-A-Round]

that trailer he is pulling is built for a 1 ton dually. no need for a john deere . works very well on 1 and 2 ton trucks.

[Microsoftsteve]

how much does his trailer go for new. I'm looking for a second trailer just like his.

[Haul-A-Round]

call me , number is below

[cosgo]

Get the air brakes from the get go. It costs a bit, but you'll be happy!

[radguard9]

Haul-A-Round, Do you offer galvanizing for your trailers? Would certainly save from having to go through what cosgo went through! If so how much extra on a 48' step deck?

[Haul-A-Round]

no I do not and no it does not save as everyone would think. also D.O.T. frowns on the "reflective" aspect of it. I've read your post elsewhere,if it worked someone else would have been doing it years ago.

[bayou hotshot]

Also you would add alote of weight by doing it

[cosgo]

Yeah.. and 3x the price!!

[radguard9]

Thanks for your input guys! These forums sure are nice!!!

[Haul-A-Round]

well some are and are not filled with self indulged,ego driven bullshit like others.

[h2oskibumz]

well some are and are not filled with self indulged,ego driven bullshit like others.

Hey now, what did I ever do to you Don? LOL...

[cosgo]

Must be the 498,312 straight days of over 100 degree temps getting to him!! LOL

[Haul-A-Round]

should have been more specific I guess, was refering to "boards". and some of the folks that run them.