First Drop Down Trailer Project

[Biggerfish]

Well I finaly did it, talked my wife into letting me buy a trailer to build my dream shack on. I have been saving parts to build this thing for years.(Composite aluminum panels, 2" rigid insulation, aluminum tubing, etc.) Now that its all about to come all together I have a few questions and seeing this site is a great place to start as most of you have built thes before.

1.) Heater? Do most of you oversize to make sure you have enough warmth on those extra cold days?

2.) Trailer? Going with a 14 footer and wondering if 3500# axles are enough? Found a 6000# for a few bucks more? I found a very nice trailer at Northern Tool but the axles are only 2000#, too small for me...

3.) Lights and Fans? Were is the best place to find these LED lights that use so little power and fans that are in the same low power usage.

4.) Lastly, I was wondering if any one of you have ever sold the side of your shack for advertising? I would think if a guy had a good looking shack that catches the eye of people, this would be a great place to sick a ad? Just a thought....

Can't wait to get started....

Thanks in advance to all you replies...

[crappace]

I have an drop down that is two years old. I am very interested in hearing about led lighting and where to get it. The six bulbs that came with ( two in each fixture ) it suck the batteries pretty quick.

As for weight, I would beaf it up so there is less worry about breaking an axle somewhere.

[Ears]

A good place to start for leds is super bright leds. do a google search and you will find it, all kinds of diffrent led products.

[Biggerfish]

Thanks for the link for the LED lights. I recall someone talking about computer fans for circulating air? Does any one out there use these and do they work?

[Eric Wettschreck]

I use 3 computer fans. Yes, they work. Gotta have all 3 running in my house for them to be effective. I like em cuz they are small, don't pull a lot of precious battery juice, and are pretty quiet.

[SportFishin']

Hey Guys a Tip on LED lights! "The Axeman" if your into DIY.

Later,

Chris

[zebco4040]

I agree... Some cool stuff there and if I had more time I would go that route. By the time I added up time, materials and how to, I could have the already made one's done.

They do have some really bright LED... Behind or at the counter

[Biggerfish]

Axeman, Thanks for the info. I remember going there as a kid and thought it was the best store in the world. Didn't know they were still around and are they still located on University in St. Paul?

As for the computer fans, Where do you place them in your house? Ceiling or right over your holes?

[hawkeye43]

Yes the one in St.Paul is still open, was there last week.

[SportFishin']

I have one fan pointing down up high & blowing toward the end & another fan down low blowing the oposite direction to create some circulation & it seems to work well.

Later,

Chris

[wally-eye]

Do those computer fans work with a 12 volt system?

[fishin789]

Yes the computer fans are 12v

find a place that deals in used computer parts. you can get them pretty cheap.

[Biggerfish]

Thanks to all who has gave some feed back. One question to these fans? Do you just hard wire the to your 12 volt source or do you need to fuse these? I noticed these fans draw way less than 1 amp? Thanks,

[Dave]

I wouldn't fuse it but I would wire it to a thermostat so they turn on and off at the desired temperature. Ceiling gets hot, it turns on. Ceiling cools down, it turns off.

[Biggerfish]

Dave,

Thanks for the thermostat idea! Do they make 12 volt thermostats? I'm not quite sure how to wire these 12 volt computer fans? Any advise?

[Augusta]

Dave has a great idea. I am building a 6.5 x 14 footer as well, and almost have it completed. I purchased a 15,000 BTU Empire direct vent furnace. Empire also sells a 120 volt fan that mounts with their furnance. I have only a 12 volt system so what I am doing is only purchasing the thermostatic switch that mounts on the furnace fire pot and will be using that to operate my fan which will be located above the furnace. When the furnace gets so hot, the fan will come on, when the furnace gets so cool, the fan will shut off. I should also add that I am putting in a 12 volt ceiling fan that will have 36 inch blades. I sure hope all my ideas work.

[Dave]

A computer fan is a DC powered fan. There's a + & - (probably red and blacks wires). If connected correctly, the air will blow in the direction of the arrow printed on the fan case. Ya can't blow the fan up if misconnected, it'll only run backwards is all.

A house thermostat is nothing more than a mercury switch, which makes connection between two points. A household thermostat (I think they're all low voltage stats anyhow)will work just fine.

[Biggerfish]

Augusta,

Were did you find the 12 volt cailing fan? Are they expensive?

[Augusta]

Biggerfish,

I bought the 12 volt ceiling fan at a HSOforum that sells fish house building materials. I paid $130.00. Kinda expensive, but it looks like it's going to work great. It is supposed to only draw 1.2 amps at full power.

[fishinalot]

Do a search for fish house supplies and you will find it. I also put one of those ceiling fans in and they work great. It only draws 1.2 amps at full speed and .75 amps at low speed.

[Augusta]

fishinalot is correct, I just installed mine, works great. It only draws a few amps.