53ft van and reefer trailers
 

hello everyone ..well after a looooooooong search i finally found a fabricator local to me to make me some scale 53ft van trailer bodies and ribbed side reefer bodies too.these bad boys are @ 46" give or take ..i do know they are looooong .i will be building a custom ribbed side stainless reefer trailer for ZEUS ,something always wanted to do ,i have not decided whether to make it a spread axle or a tridem ,i will post the build thread here along with the building of these trailers.
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3489fc6c.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psba5c8ea4.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

i think i might go the way kingbob did and redo Optimus's trailer to scale also so i will post that too.:D

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Can't wait to see what you build with these. This is one thing I wished someone made commercially or Tamiya would actually get out of the 70's and make something modern and the right size other then the 40' container to match the modern trucks.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Looking good, now that's what I call scale!!:D This is gonna be KOOL!!:jump:

Tim

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Looks good Dwayne



Wayne

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

gonna be watching this one for sure

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Dwayne are you gonna possibly sell one of them? My kw would look way better with a reefer instead of my flatbed.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

hey Dwayne they could be used for Mac Smooth side dump trailer bodies as well

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Not sure yet i am picking up the ribbed sides this weekend sunday. I want to assemble one of each to see how well they are cut
..so far the van trailer is pretty much bang on for fitting together should have some more updsted pics this weekend. I am very excited about these

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

I'm pretty excited about these as well, I hope they work out well. I would be interested in getting one, so if you sell them as well great if not I maybe contacting you to order me one from your machinist if that's kool. This is something I'm so surprised no one has mass produced or offers as a kit. I'm a reefer guy all day long but don't have one cause they aren't to easy to obtain and the tamiya van n reefer trailer are so so in looks in my opinion.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Let me know if you will be selling any of those.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Don't forget guys, Dwayne has enough trucks for all those trailers and then some! :D;):lol:

Mario

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps157f4c40.jpghere are some updates on these trailers.this one is coming along pretty easy ,i installed the suspension and set it at 48ft and these are older pictures .since these pictures i have installed the landing gear and mudflap bracket and rear lights and put a paint job on it in white and installed the kingpin and the tamiya light cord actually fits these because they give you extra length as it is i will be uploading more photos later tonight.and btw i have my ribbed sides also to be able to build reefer trailers at a scale 53ft .the ribbed sides will need very little polishing to bring them to a mirror shine.and yes i will talk to my guy and see if i can get more made to sell .

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b29c741.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps686a06bc.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

here are the latest updates.this is what the ribbed sides look like that i got made and cut to size of scale 53ft .they are aluminum and shiney already ,they will take very little to polish to a mirror shine and here are some updates on the van trailer i am building to http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psbd41992f.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5e051ee3.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

here it is masked for paint...what a doughhead i am when i masked the trailer for to paint it white i taped the sides at the bottom instaed of the underside only and left a strip of the aluminum ,have to fix that
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps743afb42.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps293f1faf.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8abaf05c.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps783ad79c.jpgwill fix the paint and detail the trailer and this weekend at our show there will be some outdoor pics of the trailer and i will post them here .if the guy agrees to make more ,i will talk with the admins here and maybe start up a vendor spot to sell these trailers.The vans come as a raw one piece body with the front headboard and you have the roof and the floor panels and a rear set of doors cut to fit .you will need a tamiya trailer as a donor for the suspension ,landing gear and kingpin ..basically the whole trailer minus the body .there are no holes drilled for anything ,so you would have to do that yourself (basically build the trailer)like a kit .the reefer will have a headboard separate piece and 2 ribbed sides cut to 46" and it would come with floor and roof panels .you would have to do a little tweaking with the front corners (trim alittle off to fit perfect but other than that its pretty simple also it would come with a set of doors cut to fit .currently i have 6 van trailers and will be enough sides to make 12 reefers trailers.,again i will ask the gent about producing more and let everyone know ,and if not i might be willing to let a few of my stash go..lol...might

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

that looks sick man id love a scale length reefer trailer behind my king hauler keep us posted.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

I would be interested in a ribbed side one.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

I think the way you painted it looks like a regular trailer with the natural aluminum rub rail. But all depends on the look you are going for. Either way looks good and can't wait to see it in person Saturday.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

looks great!

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

I think for aesthetics it should be a euro setup on the rear axles. Or split axle! Just my thoughts based on how long they are. But great work man!

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

here it is hooked to allen(goose19) truck at our show last weekend ,still need to add reflective tape and lights to it will have some updated pics this week sometime as with updated pics of ZEUS'S stainless Great Dane reefer trailer:D
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps40ea392f.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

here are some updates on both trailers
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0c9dd5bd.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psc3fbca81.jpg
added the trailer lights(cord) the tamiya one looks to be ok for length .i taped it down and with the slack at the front i should be able to pull this trailer with one of my long wheelbase trucks
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psd9c4291a.jpgscratchbuilt the rear bumper and starting to add the details like the reflective tape .still need to drill and paint and install the rear doors then this trailer will be finished
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psb8fadc47.jpgthe roof is not attached yet but here is where it stands now

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

used the regular box trailer floor to work on the chassis frame for my stainless Great Dane reefer trailer for ZEUS.here i cut and reinforced the frame and added the airride suspension.and assembled the front headboard to the floor of the trailer and assembled the ribbed soon to be polished sides to the trailer,then i measured and installed the rear suspension to the chassis of the trailer and dry fitted the rear aluminum fenders and the custom rear aluminum trailer bumper from True Scale R-C and just took a few pics hooked to a truck .here are the pics hope you like them
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps97452308.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps634a7d61.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3785d9c6.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps44f20a79.jpghttp://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps549f6205.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psa50b90d9.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psedf43b78.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psb5305d5e.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps40357f30.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psd2a6903e.jpgprimed and put a few coats of purple on the Thermo -King sb300 unit and measure to install on the headboard
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps97dd1d30.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...pse73b69eb.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psea55d678.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psa28ad418.jpgusing temporary bolts and nuts until final assembly then i will be using the m3 with lock nuts

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3487aa8e.jpg
more updates soon as i am nearing completion of both of them..thanks

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psdbb9bb92.jpggot my order of custom mudflaps from xclusive .the purple danes are for well i think you guys know..:bounce:

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

I love the trailer, any plans to have a few kits made.....also where did you get the thermo king unit?

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

The best thing about is it looks to scale!!! Awesome job!!!

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Looking great Dwayne....I'm very intrigued.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Very nice Dwayne. I'm lovin' the builds.

- RCT

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

here are the final updates to my scale 53ft van trailer .just have to drill and tap the roof on the trailer but other than that it is pretty much finished ,now if you look at the trailer you will see a gap on the underside of the trailer and others have been saying it needs to be filled in when actually it doesn't.if you look at real trailers the only ones that have a full frame on them are 4 and 5 axle flatbed trailers or the container chassis but the regular van trailers have the rear suspension ..which slides and the landing gear only so here are the updated pics of this trailer complete with Wabash decals and a few roof patches because of my rookie forklift driver,who put the mast through the roof of this brand new trailer.i did not fire him behttp://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps26aea8eb.jpgcause...well it was me..lol
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps188ee9a3.jpgalso added the body rub rail for those drivers that can not back beside you without rubbing the trailers
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps79e4846b.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4b9ac0f1.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psc62791b4.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psbbf2cf83.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psa139ad32.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

i got some new ones made to the right scale in height and i will be picking them up soon they are around 8" high and the actual height of the real trailer box is 9' 6" and measured from the ground up they are allowed a maximum height of 13' 6'' high and i calculated it and that would make the scale height of these trailers 8.1 inches high and the new ones coming are right around that mark:)

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

How did i miss this??

Love the one piece folded sheet fpr the sides and front! Makes it look so clean!

I finished my 53 footer for Optimus yesterday, came in at 1150mm long, not including reefer. The side panels i used were actually stainless steel, i couldnt find the ribbed pattern in aluminium. Its made by Rimex metals, should be available in the US.

I worked the sizing out pretty much the same:
1:1
53' long
13'6" overall tall
110" inside height
102" wide

In 1/14
1153mm (not including reefer)
293mm tall total
199.5mm tall interior (box)
185mm wide

They're the measurements my trailer is built on. I did lower the trailer a bit as well to get the wheels closer to the frame for a more scale appearance. Basically re-drilled all the suspension mounting holes 10 or 15mm higher.

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

got the first coat of paint on the suspension for Zeus's Great Dane Stainless Reefer trailer.i will bare metal foil the side grill's on the reefer unit like i did for Optimus Prime Trailer
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psd4ab2146.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1c56f794.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps18ac474c.jpg

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

Good great, where u find the reefer unit?

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

looking real real good!

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

been awhile but i have some updates on Zeus's Great Dane Stainless trailer

Re: 53ft van and reefer trailers
 

polished the trailer bumper and installed the ZEUS nameplate which will be lit up with l.e.d.s. and installed the lenses going with the black bezels
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps00f3ecad.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...psaa5493a1.jpg
also i repainted the suspension frame and reinstalled the suspension and i installed the awesome polished fenders i got from Wayne (Flatdeck) and installed them on an angle so i can use the full custom mudflaps i got made from Brian from Exclusive .instead of trimming them to fit the fenders
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5f97be71.jpg
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ef81443.jpg