48X102 spread axle/ new pix of rear finished trl

[nikkihtilley]

Well im trying to build my first flatbed i want one to go with my t6 and my w9 im building and they dont make a 48ft trl that comes in a kit its just 40 fters which would be good for an oilfield roller tail but for an over the road trl it has to be a 48ft'r with air ride it is a heavy duty drop beam trl to compensate for heavy coil loads in excess of 48,000lb for a single coil and so here is what i got so far remember this is my first attempt at a flat and all im getting done so far is the main beams.

here is one of the beams setting on the green lowboy the beam scales out at 48ft the green one scales out at 66ft



cross members laid out



















the cross members are made out of 1/2in i beam that i cut to length then sliced in half to make t's out of then i figured out what spacing i wanted then laid them on 1/2 on top 1/2 on the bottom the front will be compleatly boxed in for the deck plate and it will have a 28in kingpin depth as that is about standard other than 36in im not sure wether to use regular air ride or use a newway type its not going to be anything fancy but i will try and make it look as good as possible i dont have any fancy tools or machines everything that is done is with a ruler and a exacto knife and a file well i hope yaw like it.

Nikkih
Tilley

[The Mad Modeller]

Very cool.

[nikkihtilley]

thx im trying aint never buily one of these built lowboys but not a flatbed.

Nikkih
Tilley

[cecil]

Looks good - so far ! Can't wait to see what kind of wheels and tires you use.
Cecil

[nikkihtilley]

well the center beams are togetheralong with the deck plate and king pin i still have some cleanup on the front of the trl to do but here it is









and htats what i got and chris when ya see this plz hold a rag under your mouth lol ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Nikkih

[nikkihtilley]

as for the tires and wheels more that likely just 10hole rims and 11.00r20's for the rubber

[nikkihtilley]

Ok i have delayed it as long as i can so i now start the suspension it is just a basic long airbag like you find on most airride flatbeds it is made with sheet styrene that is layered together and boxed to make the frame mount and the air bag is just the top of a crayola barker lid cut to length and a paper clip is used to make the axle clamps and here is the first one.







Dont know if the axle is going to be on top of or under the arm i will find out on final assembly but i hope ya like it.

Nikkih
Tilley

[cecil]

I Like It ! Thanks for showing the air bags too.
Cecil

[nikkihtilley]

Your welcome there it was very simple to do just take an old crayola marker thats been dried up(if ya take a good one the youngins will through a hissy fit lol) and just cut it to the length ya need the superglue it to some styrene sheet anfter the glue sets up trim around the sheet then with a file file down the edges intill the desired roundness and glue in place i made the arms out of layered sheet cut to 6mm width and 55mm length with a bend a 30mm to about 30 or so degree's anf the shakle or front bracket is just sheet cut into shapes with the bottom open to put the arm into and thats it.

Nikkih

And thx for looking all

[nikkihtilley]

Well i got the suspension done just need to get a lil brake detail and a few other lil things on the rear done and now i can concentrate on the outward part of the deck and the reast of the cross members that will be L bracket type to go on the outer support and rails then i just have to wait on wood for the flooring here are some up to date pix











and thats what i got so far.

Nikkih
Tilley

[nikkihtilley]

Here are some new pix

















and here is how i cut my plastic i use a long straight edge score and break







and here are the nice thin strips ya get


and the outer rail of the main trl on the driver side



hope yaw like it.

Nikkih

[cecil]

I like it Nillih, Looks like you bought it as a kit instead of scratch built. Good job, hope the rest goes as good for you,I'm looking forward to seeing it when your done.
Cecil

[nikkihtilley]

Man this thing has been a booger all the way the outer rails have been the hardest to get on where one strip is 7mmX24in and the other is 3mmX24in and i had to glue them together right on the edge of one another then to the cross members its slow but its going i do wish they made a kit of one of these but the longest kit they make is about 40 or 45ft and it is a closed tandem all this is just mainly going off memory and a few pix i found on the net but i am pleased so far but time will tell now i just have to do the landing gear and the icc bumper on the rear and mabe some brake detail.

Nikkih

[nikkihtilley]

Ok i got the outer rails on and most of the fabrication is done it aint 100% strait everywhere but its ok i built this for me not anyone else its for me to look at not to take to any shows or to try and win any contest or to sell i built it cuz i like building and i wanted a spread axle to go behind several of my trks for pix to put on here eventually i will build another one and will have all the proper plastice stock i need but right now where i have no job and money is verrrrrrrry tight i have to ude what i can and to tell ya the truth i look at it and think did i build that im tickled pink with it as i am with all my builds/ all thats left now is the landing gear plate the front the rear and make the icc bumper spools and the rubrail there will be no stake pockets one this one mabe in future models and mabe some brake detail in the future but for now what ya see is what ya get.










thats what it be so far hope yaw like it and im still unsure of what to paint it mabe pink and lilack dunno time will tell.


Nikkih

[nikkihtilley]

Well im starting to box in the rear and got the icc started here are some pix







and playing around with landig grear ideas



and thats whats i gots so far today more will

[nikkihtilley]

well i emulsed myself in the trl and while the glue was drying i worked on the W900 a lil but i have the other rubrail on now and started drilling the holes for the lights and i almost have the dolly legs finished have to put the feet on them rims are painted and when i get all the holes drilled and the legs done i will take a few pix and then its paint time OH JOY IN THE COLD WEATHER LOL other than that it all i got done.

Nikkih

[nikkihtilley]

well now i just gotta get some wood for the deck and im there here it is mostly painted and with the lights instaled in all places



















i still have to build the feet for the legs and touch up a few places with paint and i have found a few nasty glue pools i did not see before i painted it but i will do better on my next one ans this was my learning experiance thx for all who looked and liked there is more yet to come.


Nikkih

[Nacho Z]

That this looks huge. I'm impressed, from the pics it looks like it is quite square and straight. No easy feat for something that long. Good job!!

[nikkihtilley]

Thx nacho it is just a lil croocked here and there but it makes it look like a well used trl thats been redone by an indaviduall and it is my first one and now i know what to do to get everything dead straight now its just my choises in plastics for the outer rails and rubrail so my next one will be much better and im getting more experiance ive only been building for 7months so im learing alot as i go and thx for looking.

Nikkih