Bottom support for the top
I welded the top frame, added hinges and support bars
Plywood top laid on the frame
Added a handle
Added heavy duty lock tabs
Friend and client stopped by the other day in need of a top for his M101 trailer. He had his own plans and also had the steel and plywood which to build it with and just needed me for my strong back, Miller Welder, Hypertherm Plasma cutter (the ULTIMATE MAN TOOL).
Mike's plans called for a strong box frame to be set around the outer edge of the trailer. This would hold the top frame made out of angle steel. Then to that we added 3 strong pieces of flat bar stock to support the plywood top.
After lining up all the angle steel, cutting to fit, then welding it together I then added six, count'um, 6 hinges which I suggested we weld on rather than bolt on. The top is is not going to fail due to a shortage of hinges
Then we test fitted the plywood, made some adjustments and drilled it and the frame for two bolts per corner to hold it.
Underneath the plywood we added 3 pieces of 3 inch flat bar stock to support the plywood in the middle. NOTE the plywood sets on the lip of the angle steel so there is lots of support. In addition Mike went with 3/4 inch plywood for extra strength since he is putting a tent on top of the trailer.
We finished it off by adding a handle to help with the lifting chores.
Like all efforts this did not go as smooth as we planned. The steel had been cut and I guess the guy cutting could not read numbers. As a result the steel came in 2 lengths, to short and too long. My plasma cutter and welder got a good workout building this.
Time: About 8 hrs to fit, weld and make adjustments on the 2 frames and plywood.
Cost: My guess is that with the steel and plywood , nuts/bolts, hinges and handle the cost was about $200.
Mike has since sprayed it with bed-liner and it looks quite nice and fitting for a military trailer.
Mike has mounted a Expedition tent atop his trailer and has already hit the trails with his new set up.