Okay. I lucked out and found a very lightweight 5x10 trailer, fairly new and hardly used, for $700.
It pulls with my 4 cyl. Subaru like it's not even there. Nice. What I want to do is put removable
sides and top on it in case I want to haul something I don't want getting wet, spilling out, blowing
around, or something I need to keep secure.
The deck is 3/4" boards spaced 3/4" apart. Stuff will leak out if I haul mulch or dirt so a plywood
deck is going on in their place. A 2x12 around the edges will keep stuff in and a 2x12 on top of that
will keep more stuff in. I think stake pockets mounted on the inside of the bottom board will keep the
top 2x12 in place. I will put a screw through the stake pocket into the wood to keep it from being
lifted off from the outside. The side rail is 8" off the deck. I'll secure the bottom 2 x 12 to the rail with
U-bolts. I don't want to drill holes in the rail. Hopefully I can find U-bolts that will line up with the stake
pockets mounting holes. If not, no worries.
Now for the top. I can haul a ton of weight, but all this wood is starting to add up. I'm thinking of making
a lightweight removable top. It can be in sections for easier handling but I would like it weather tight.
Actually I would like the option of having a full enclosure, 2/3 enclosure, or 1/3 enclosure, so the top
can be in three sections. I need ideas on how to make the top as well as any other advice or ideas.
I thought about 2x2 frame work fastened on the top of the 2x12, with wire mesh used to hold the shape
of a homemade fiberglass top. Aluminum is way too costly and so are filon panels used on the sides
of RV's. It also has to stand up to cold weather and not shatter like some plastics at freezing tempera-
tures. The wire mesh would offer a degree of security and the fiberglass would keep the weather out.
It would have to hold up to the pressure of the wind while driving down the freeway. I've never worked
with fiberglass but I can learn. YouTube is my friend.
Also, how tall? What is the height at the top of the windshield on a big sport tourer? That will be my
guideline for how high the inside should be in case I want to haul something like that.
Give me ideas. I would rather not have to redo my work if I can get good ideas as usual from the
idea factory right here. Thanks guys and gals.
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