Reloading "Trailer"

[rbertalotto]

I'm hitting the road this fall and winter to get the heck away from New England. Will spend most of my time in the Southwest attending Cowboy Action Shoots. I need a way to reload ammo and since I'll be traveling in my Pick-Up truck camper. towing a motorcycle in my trailer, I figures I'd rebuild the trailer to be a "Mobile Reloading Room"

Started a whole article on my web site with tons of pictures if you are interested.....

www.rvbprecision.com

[Chuck 100 yd]

That sounds like a great project. Be sure to take pictures as the project progresses.

[Ysabel Kid]

Very cool idea!

[Old Ironsights]

I've determined to do the same, as the Rental I'm in does not have a garage and the shed is only 5'11 at the peak.

I figure an old, solid, but gutted, tandem axle 18' travel trailer should be about perfect to put my lab/library/reloading/workbench in...and I can park it wherever I live.

[plowboy 45]

It ought to work just fine for ya

[Pete44ru]

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Way to go, Roy ! .


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[Griff]

Here's one over on Marlinowners: http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/reloa ... ailer.html.

I think it was Capt. Baylor over on the SASS Wire posted about his mobile outfit when he retired several years ago... IIRC, he tows his behind a motor home and is big enough for the bench and a full-size Suburban, so a motorcycle shouldn't be a problem. I couldn't find his writeup on his webpage, but you might want to contact him for some ideas.

I used to haul a 28' camper trailer and had my mobile reloading outfit along with me, just in case. The family attended "The National Shootout" at the Whittington center in NM for 4-5 years running... think about it... 3 of us, 4 days of shooting, 32 stages, plus numerous side matches, it was a good thing I drove a 1-ton dually! Each shooter needed at least 750 rounds to make it thru the match! I think the count for just the main match 600+ rounds!

[Griff]

I posted the above before I read your blog... you've done a marvelous job. Very similar to what I remember Cap't Baylor doing on his. Looking forward to how you handle the press mounting options. I'm assuming that you'll be using both metallic cartridge and shot shell reloaders.

[rbertalotto]

Today I built a little bump out cabinet for the AC to DC power converter. This is a unit I removed from my truck camper and replaced it with a more modern version. But it will be fine for this application.



I also installed a couple of 12V receptacles and a 12V DC meter.



Finished the maple plywood on the opposite side and added more "D" rings



All the AC power receptacles are GFI, just to be safe

Next will be the installation of the solar panel to keep the battery charged and a locker for the battery.

Below the power center I plan on building a cabinet for bottles and cans.....Powder, cleaning supplies, bullets, etc

[Old Ironsights]

Nice. I'm saving Ideas you give me.

I'm also planning to WAAAAY over AC what I build. Why? Because I don't have anywhere reasonably clean/cold to hang game... and if I get an 18' trailer I'll have the space...

[rbertalotto]

Old Iron...I hadn't thought about using the trailer as a cooler. But now that it is insulated and will have AC, I bet it would do a good job!

[Old Ironsights]

Old Iron...I hadn't thought about using the trailer as a cooler. But now that it is insulated and will have AC, I bet it would do a good job!

Small insulated box, oversized AC, = almost a Reefer. Just put a tarp down to catch the blood...

[rbertalotto]

The battery will be replaced with a much larger Group 27 deep cycle battery in a proper battery bracket. This is only temporary to keep the alarm active.



This morning I got up early, before the heat arrives and hooked up the solar system

Mounted a monitor panel I had from an older project.

13.4 volts from the panel in the shade at 8am


0.2 amps


The solar controller is just hanging from a wire until I permanently mount it


Next phase is to insulate the ceiling and install a headliner



Not sure how I'm going to handle these curved sections......Maybe simple sheet aluminum flashing like I used for the front corners...

[rbertalotto]

Lot more work got done on the trailer last night and today......Getting close to "gett'n it dun!"

Lots opf pictures...Read it here:

http://rvbprecision.com/shooting/reload ... ailer.html

A couple storage closets....LED lighting....Stereo amplifier.....Fire Extinguisher!

[Streetstar]

I read the blog -- i am now wanting a tandem v-nose 16'er more than ever -- thanks for that

(wanting something to outfit in a similar manner for mountain bike amd trail bike trips to CO and Moab -- guessing a 16 would give me a bit more bunk space with a couple full size dirt bikes and mountain bikes on board

[rbertalotto]

Thanks for the kind words....not planning on reloading shotgun shells. Only45-70, 38-55,44-40,38-40 and 38spl

[SteveR]

Very nice! How much added weight? Will it affect the wheels and suspension, axles?

Steve

[rbertalotto]

So far I've only added about 160 pounds. The trailer has a capacity of 1850 pounds. But I increased that by changing to 15" E rated tires and wheels and installed brakes. The axle is rated at 4000 pounds and I'll never be close to that.

Normal cargo will be a 600 pound motorcycle, about 100 pounds of reloading gear, couple hundred pounds of lead and maybe another hundred ponds of "stuff"....weight shouldn't be an issue

[Old Ironsights]

What is your deck to ceiling height?

[Streetstar]

I made my first small step towards trailer bliss ----- had to purchase one of the portable AC units yesterday (immediate needs are for my home office - which gets HOT , despite central AC (the rafter situation only permits a single vent fed by a long trunk line -- on a 95 deg day it cant keep up )

I got the portable unit to be dual purpose --- a little $$$ - but i had been considering a window unit - your blog sold me ---

[rbertalotto]

What is your deck to ceiling height?

6 feet


I bought a portable AC unit to use in my reloading room which is in my basement. I'm very adverse to heat. Much over 70 and I'm miserable!

I find I've been using this portable unit in other areas. I had a dinner party a few nights ago and my dining room does not have AC. With 6 folks in the room it was a bit uncomfortable. Took ten minutes to put the portable in the room and the hose through the window......nice and cool!

I'm now waiting for a good sale to buy a portable unit that cools and also heats for the trailer. That would be perfect!

[SteveR]

So far I've only added about 160 pounds. The trailer has a capacity of 1850 pounds. But I increased that by changing to 15" E rated tires and wheels and installed brakes. The axle is rated at 4000 pounds and I'll never be close to that.

Normal cargo will be a 600 pound motorcycle, about 100 pounds of reloading gear, couple hundred pounds of lead and maybe another hundred ponds of "stuff"....weight shouldn't be an issue

Definitely not a weight problem!! Very nice, you could probably hang a quartered elk in there with no problems. Maybe even a moose.

Steve

[rbertalotto]

Finished the ceiling and the floor!

More pictures and verbiage here:

http://www.rvbprecision.com

[Bronco]

Boy that turned out SWEET

[Griff]

Boy that turned out SWEET

+1. Sure beats the H-E-double hockey sticks out've a press c-clamped to the tailgate!

[rbertalotto]

Built a couple of speaker cabinets today and got the TUNES hooked up. Sounds like a concert hall in this small space!

[plowboy 45]

MAN, that's way cool
I'm very impressed
Be safe pullin it around, and good luck