Mighty Max Bed Trailer Build Thread
So I didn't know where to put this, since it technically isn't a Mighty Max, its a trailer. So I guess off topic works.
So, the trailer started its life as a 1987 Mighty Max truck bed, and it had 209,xxx miles on it, the engine bent a rod and I'm too poor to afford a lower end rebuild kit. So I had it sit in my yard for 3 months, and people got tired of seeing it. Figuring even if I did fix it, it would still have the same issues it had before the engine quit, it didn't seem worth the time and money to repair it. I am a High School Senior with a shop class, and we are required to have a shop project, School started August and it is now almost December, So I found this as my chance to get a project.
What I did with it is I took the bed off, and jacked the center of the frame, right underneath the rear of the cab up, and put it on jack stands. I removed the fuel tank, lines and cut the rear wiring harness at the grommet in the cab, and just cut the rear hydraulic brake lines. I then attempted to cut it with a sawzall, but after about 15 seconds, I realized it wouldn't work. So I used the acetylene torch (I haven't been allowed to use acetylene at home since my water bottle acetylene bomb at school incident in February). But after 15 minutes of trying to remember how to mix the gas and oxy, I went and cut the frame at the back of the cab. Just cutting time took me maybe 10 minutes, but the whole thing took an hour to get it in half.
After it was cut in half, I then realized the E brake lines would not come out, and since I was on a roll, I just cut the lines with the torch. I then dragged the cab out of the way with my new 1984 4x4 Toyota. And I was able to easily move the bed frame out of the way by myself. I then had a friend come over and we moved the front end to the back yard, and placed the bed on the bed frame. I then removed the brake drums, so it rolled with less effort. I am able to push the trailer around our property very easily.
My plans are to sell parts off the front end, or just sell the whole thing to somebody who needs a parts max. On the trailer I plan not to look like a dumbass, and actually wire the stock lights up to a 4 pin flat connector (I've seen some where people just put trailer lights in, right in front of the stock taillights, seems like a waste to me. I also plan to pull the diff out, so it will be much easier to move.
On the build part I have a plan to use 4x2 13 ga rectangular tubing for the tongue, I don't want a tongue that is as long as the trailer, but I'm thinking 36" from the front of the trailer to the hitch is long enough.
If you read this far, you are either real interested or are just board,
QUESTIONS I HAVE
1. Will 4x2 13 ga rectangular tubing be good for a tongue, or is it too thin.
2. Should I pull the brakes out, or keep them for something.
3. What Kind of work would have to be done to flip the axle underneath the leafs, instead of on top?
4. What is the math to figure out what the angles will have to be for the tongue, I read on another site, a 50º spread on the tongue "rails" and a 12.5º angle where the tongue attaches to the frame is what is "Standard", But how long will that be before they meet, the frame is 43 1/4" wide from outside of the frame rails.