My Utility Trailer Rebuild Part 2...

Work progresses on the trailer. It's been sandblasted, primed and now painted. Today I finished wiring up the lights. They work like they should and follow the correct wire color usage.
I have yet to find a source for true 2"x2" Oak lumber for the side stakes. I plan to use either plywood or Cedar 1x6 decking for the sides. I may have found a deal on tires.

I present the almost finished project....

This is a much heavier trailer than most 3000# utility trailers on the market. The side and front "C" channels are 5.5 inches tall and the 4 cross beams are 3.75 inches tall. The trailer uses Jeep CJ springs, Rambler hubs and 15" wheels with light truck tires. I think the tires would rub on the fenders before it was structurally stressed! A 3/4 inch 4'x8' piece of plywood slips right in between the frame rail for the bed.
Most of the trailers I've looked at lately have light wight mesh floors and a single light weight square tube that bolts to the trailer for a tongue.

Now, it's almost too nice to park outside!!

Meeting Another Fellow Blogger.

I know a lot of us follow other motorcycle related blogs. Some of us even have the little links to other blogs on the sides of our pages. Some day maybe I'll get around to doing that.

I follow, and am followed by, Doug. I learned about Doug and his blog last year when he e-mailed me with a blogging question. I've followed his blog, Coop's Corner, ever since.
When I lived in Prescott, WI, we were riding in the same area of south-western WI, an area known for great roads! Doug has also blogged about riding in the area of northern WI, where I live now.

On Friday the 19th, I got an e-mail from him saying that he was going to be up in Duluth, MN at the Aerostich/RiderWearHouse store. He offered to meet me on Sunday at the Delta Diner in Delta, WI, which is maybe 30 minutes from my place outside of Cable.

On Saturday, I got another e-mail from Doug. He said that the temps were still cold and it as foggy down in the cities. He said that he would still be coming, but in the car.

On Sunday morning, the temps were still pretty chilly up here.

I decided to drive the truck up to Delta for breakfast. I thought I was going to be late, but I wasn't running as late as I thought. I was at the Diner maybe a minute when Doug pulled in. The typical Sunday crowd had gathered and there was a 20 minute or so wait for seating. Doug and I chatted while we waited for our seats and our food.

The Diner has a small but interesting menu. It has your usual breakfast items, plus some less common things like a Perch, bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, or what I had today....Pancakes with Jalapenos in them. There are 3 of them on the plate. They're very thin and light, but also very tasty (and hot) thanks to the Jalapenos.

Doug's a very interesting guy with a very nice blog. Check it out and say Hi!

My Utility Trailer Rebuild...

Way back in about 1975 or so, my dad had a local welder build him a heavy duty 4'x8' utility trailer. My dad used it to carry supplies into the woods every fall for Deer season. I've posted pictures before of the Hunting Shack.
The trailer became mine after my father passed away. I had it for many years and stored it under the deck behind the house. It has followed with me whenever I moved. The last 10 years or so, it has been parked at my sister's cabin not far from my home in the north woods. Parking it in the shadows of old Pine and Poplar trees was hard on it. The plywood floor rotted out and the metal turned to a giant pile of rust. It was a very sad looking trailer.
This summer I brought it home to my new place and told myself that I had to restore it to its former glory.

Here it is way back when... me in the trailer.

Here it is after I had it sandblasted and I primed it with Rustoleum primer.

I have to finish the job with black implement paint and some new plywood. The side boards are stake pocket style and the originals were 2' tall tapering to 1' in the rear. I plan to make the new sides all 16" high so I can cut all 4 parts out of a single sheet of plywood. I've located a modern version of the original vintage tail lights and have all my wiring supplies. I've already repacked the wheel bearings, but have to find a deal on some used 205 or 215/75-15 tires. The tires on the trailer are severely weather checked and deeply cracked.
I'm quickly running out of 55° days.

The Leaves are Falling and the Color is Fading!

Wow, It's amazing how fast the season changes! Just 5 days ago the Fall foliage was at the peak of color and today it looks like Winter will be here in a week  just a few hours...

My front yard 9-24, then 9- 30, and today, 10-5...

In the last week, I've been busy with Fall projects, but Nancy and I managed to get in one more day in the kayaks. We had a nice 70° day and thought it was too nice to be working round the house, so we loaded up and took off for a slow paddle a local lake.

I also managed to find the time for a ride on the FJR. It's been neglected lately, so I warmed it up and took it for a nice long ride. I filled the tank and added Sta-bil.

Nancy noticed that at night, when the lights are on in the backyard, the orange colored leaves really glowed... We tried to capture the colors in the night photographs we took.

It hasn't been all fun and games though. I added a few things to my tool box. I bought a couple of American made files to sharpen my axes, a splitting maul, and in keeping with my family's Scandinavian heritage, I bought a Husqvarna chainsaw. My Uncle's old Jonsereds 49SP was getting a little rough and no longer wanted to start easy or idle.
The new saw is so much different than the old one. It starts quick, has a compression release to make starting it easier, is a lot quieter, vibrates less. Just a much nice tool to use. I've been cleaning up a lot of downed trees in the area around the house.

I've just about filled this little stack, and I'm starting to add more the the pile out back.

It's now 1150 p.m. and it's snowing for the second time this fall.... That's Screamer(one of the cats) saying hello about 9 seconds into the video.

The Peak Color is Here Now!

I can't believe how fast the leaves have changed around here. I have 2 pictures of the same trees in my front yard, taken 7 days apart.

From 9-23, still some green in the trees...

From 9-30.....

The back yard...

A few from today's ride in the country..

Now, I just need to get out and ride and put some miles on the bikes. Then, start to think about getting them ready for winter. The leaves will start to fall off the trees soon!

The Things I've Been Doing Lately...

splitting a face cord and-then-some of Oak and Maple for the fireplace. All split by hand with a double bit axe, an 8 pound sledgehammer, and a wedge. No fancy hydraulic splitters here.

The outside stacks...
All wind-fallen Maple from the yard...

Mostly Oak, wind-fallen...

Oak, mostly dry, but still a little green....

Dry Oak from last year...

Today, Nancy and I went for a ride in the car. She found out about a small waterfall that's a half hour away. We took off around 11:00 a.m. and headed north.
We drove deep into the Chequamegon National Forest, and soon drove past...

And into the parking lot

We walked the half mile path through the woods, over 5 little bridges over small streams...

A little more walking path...

Shhhhh.... sensitive plants...

The falls.