Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on Apr 29, 2016 4:10:40 GMT -8
My 10' Scotty Gaucho frame is at the welder for repair next in line but won't be started until the 2nd week of May. Part of the repair work is to build new wheel wells because I tore one while removing the rotten wall and it from the flooring and frame. OOPS! (Note to future new rebuilders - don't pull on the wall because it is rotten to the core and you think it will just come down! It is attached to the wheel well. Remove any staples or nails first!)
The welder is to build new wheel wells and his plan is to attach them directly to the frame. A welder/trailer supply gave me one fender and a side to see if it will fit and it does but it is 10" wide as opposed to the original which is 13" wide. For those that can't picture it - the fender is the top, front and rear of the wheel well and the two sides (a left and right side) will be welded on. The aluminum is slightly heavier then the original. I'm waiting on one fender and three sides (ordered but not here yet).
The new wheel wells will give me a few extra inches of floor space width wise inside and I'm trying to create my build plan while I wait for my supplies to start rolling in and the frame is ready. Soooo the question here is - the original wheel wells attached to the wood walls outside and the floor inside. After the frame repair the wells will be attached to the metal frame. Can anyone think of any possible problems this may cause before it actually gets done?
My thought so far is:
1. Build my floor and lay flooring if using sheet vinyl
2. Build base cabinets using new measurements to accommodate the new wheel wells
3. Attach base cabinets to floor
4. Attach walls to floor & cabinets like before 5. Attach front, back and roof supports to walls like before
Looking forward to your thoughts,
Thanks, Poquito
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on Apr 29, 2016 5:25:07 GMT -8
I did my floors, then side walls, then lots of bracing to keep walls parallel and 90 degrees to floor, then interior cabinets. I left the back wall off 'till last have access to anything larger than the doorway. I don't see any reason why your plan wouldn't work but remember to keep those walls parallel or you could have fitment problems with the ceiling panels and roof skin. Are you installing brakes to your axle? If so you may have problems getting wheels on and off. Scottys are known for being a pain even with 13" wide wells because of the way torsion axles work.
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on Apr 29, 2016 6:09:12 GMT -8
Thanks, Kirkadie, will keep walls parallel either way.
No brakes on axle, I did not see the need since it is such a small camper...should I rethink this?
If I went that far, I probably would replace the axle as well...it would raise the repair cost but this is all for having safe towing and peace of mind...
Poquito
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on Apr 29, 2016 6:29:46 GMT -8
Poquito, as far as brakes are concerned, I am a fan, even with a shorter trailer like your: there are some real benefits starting with the ability to stop trailer weave when being passed by big rigs for instance; a tap on your controller will straighten the trailer out right away. Brakes also help if your tow vehicle is either lighter or shorter than ideal if you need to do a panic stop (everyday necessity in our little town of geriatrics and texters). Don't know if you are aware of the Scotty site, but here are some tidbits on axles and brakes, and resources, and a new axle is not a bank breaker like one might think. www.nationalserroscotty.org/resources/axles.htmlI am leaning toward the flexiride w/brakes since my hilander has brakes on it now but need total rebuild or replacement.
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on Apr 29, 2016 6:34:28 GMT -8
Great Kirkadie, I was just looking at the axle rebuild by Jerry on that site. He states that his is 1 ton and the website link from his post shows a 2 ton. Will investigate...
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on May 2, 2016 12:51:07 GMT -8
After getting my measurements for a replacement axle I was hit with yet another decision. The hub pattern (5 lug 4.25 center) is probably obsolete so I will have to ditch my current wheels and replace them as well. New axle+new brakes=new wheels=new tires.
I like the look of my current wheels! but will be happier with a solid frame with new parts as my foundation.
I'm thinking of starting a pilot soap opera called "As the Wheel Turns".
Poquito
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mel
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1964 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by mel on May 2, 2016 14:36:47 GMT -8
Are you sure yours is not 5 lug on 4.5? that quarter inch would make it a very popular size lol Mine are 4 lug on 4.5 which they no longer make, I thought long and hard about the same decision as you and ended up buying some vintages ones off Craigslist in really good condition.
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on May 2, 2016 16:51:26 GMT -8
Poquito, as a quick cheat, if you have a tractor supply near you, they have 5 X 4.5 wheels in Scotty typical size so do a paper tracing of your wheel pattern and go there to compare, or take the tracing to your local tire store (or buy one, check it and return it if I'm wrong). Bettcha it's 5 X 4.5". SusieQ posted some time ago about finding small truck tires that were trailer compliant and 200s instead of our 215s. They have the right sidewall strength and the way you can tell, if I remember correctly, is that the last two letters are LT, like P200-65R15LT. Will give more wiggle room. SQ hopefully will ring to correct me if I got that wrong. My tire guy said he could get them even here in nowheresville. Good luck. Post a pic of you wheels and I'll compare with mine. I read somewhere Scotty used Ford rims....
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Post by danrhodes on May 2, 2016 17:38:29 GMT -8
I didn't even think about the wheels...I have 4 lug. Everyone says it's so cheap to buy an axle with brakes, but by the time you've bought the axle, brakes, new wheels and tires, you're $1k in the hole.
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on May 3, 2016 2:59:48 GMT -8
<center> <a href="http://s1104.photobucket.com/user/dreamsaremadeofthese/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160502_104136_zpsszwneqks.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h340/dreamsaremadeofthese/Mobile%20Uploads/20160502_104136_zpsszwneqks.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160502_104136_zpsszwneqks.jpg"/></a> </center>
I don't have a photo showing the measurement - but will be back to my frame tomorrow, so will get photo measurement then.
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Post by vikx on May 3, 2016 21:19:50 GMT -8
Measure across to the opposite hole, rather than adjacent...
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on May 4, 2016 13:29:19 GMT -8
Photos just did not come out well - It was a real pain trying to hold the tape measure and take a photo at the same time. The large center hub was in the way but it kept looking to me like it was 4.25 from center to center of the bolts and 4.5 from from the front edge of the left bolt.
Poquito
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on May 4, 2016 13:30:27 GMT -8
Poquito
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kirkadie
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'69 Serro Scotty Hilander
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Post by kirkadie on May 4, 2016 19:35:26 GMT -8
Poquito, second pic looks like 4 1/2" so I think you good to go. I actually used a pair of homemade calipers to measure mine. Measure the outside of one lug to the inside of the other and that will give you center to center, and that looks like what you have in pic 2.
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Poquito
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'68 10' Serro Scotty Sportsman
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Post by Poquito on May 31, 2016 9:40:03 GMT -8
I ordered the axle the first week of May from a local trailer repair shop who ordered it - custom built and I just found out that it is not ready because of a stamping machine part (that makes the axle) is broken and they are waiting for the part to be sent from Italy of all places...said it should be any day now... It is going to be 99 degrees in the shade by the time I start my rebuild.
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