1985 WABASH 28'x102"x13'6"

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Here's my latest project.

This a 1985 WABASH 28'x102"x13' 6" F.R.P. trailer. (fiberglass, reenforced, plywood). Original plans were to do a 48' but I decided to build it as a 28' to copliment this trailer here...

THANKS FOR LOOKING!!!

Edited June 14, 2010 by Semi Trailer Mechanic

[highway]

WOW! I can't wait to see more progress.

[Kostas Parchas]

WOW!!

Amazing WIP.

Kostas.

[falcongeorge]

WOH!

[Jim B]

Looks really nice, Scott. Your trailers are always so well detailed.

[Tony Bryan]

How good is that, love the detail you have put into this so far, look forward to an update

[The Modeling Hermit]

Scott that's looking good. Your wood for the floor looks like what I used to get for my doll houses.

[Art Anderson]

Talk about a VERY early Wabash National trailer! Jerry Erlich and his management team left Monon Trailer in the summer of 1985, IIRC, moved down here to Lafayette, leased the closed National Homes (largest maker of prefab homes) and started in, first trailers were that fall, I seem to remember.

A now-deceased friend and I built up a set of display models of their first trailers that winter for them.

Art

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Art

This may interest you. The inspiration to build this came from work. I work for a Utility trailer dealership/shop running a service truck full time. One of my dedicated customers has some of the first WABASH trailers built stickly used for warehouse to warehouse shuttle. About 45 of the 50 they bought in 1990 still are road worthy. Fromwhat I've been told the first trailer WABASH built the last didgets of the VIN were L100000 those on the pictured trailer below are L101764. The reason I choose to make this a 28' opposed to a 48' was part of the frame got damaged at about the 37' point on it so I just decided to make it a pup. I'll post updated pics shortly.

Here's a picture of one of them.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Something else I forgot to mention. This trailer has the old experimental ROCKWELL "DISK" brakes. It took me a short while to figure them out but I've got'em down.

[SpreadAxle]

Interesting bit of info about the mfg.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Here are the latest WIP pictures.

Thanks for looking!!!

[rronning84]

Trailer is coming along very nice

[toplessfury]

Something else I forgot to mention. This trailer has the old experimental ROCKWELL "DISK" brakes. It took me a short while to figure them out but I've got'em down.

wow disk brakes on an old trailer!!!man youve got some detail skills

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

This weekend I managed to get some work done to the trailer. It's getting put aside for a few days to allow the paint (base coats) to dry. Here's the latest WIP pics Thanks for looking!!!

[huffanpuff]

Nice build you have done. I think I would of ran air lines through floor ribs along with elect lines.

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

It's still a work in progess far from being done!!!

There's clearance between the lower rail,crossmembers,and floor to route the service/emergency air lines and the 7-way.

[Jim B]

Looking very nice. What are you planning on hooking it to?

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

Jim

I'm still not sure just yet.

[highway]

come on Jim,, a truck of course!

Oh, what a comedian!!!!!

[Semi Trailer Mechanic]

STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS... I've managed to get the panels (sheets) on the nose painted and riveted (Titchy Train Group scale rivets) On the radius' I used larger rivets to look like camtiner bolt heads (nicknamed FRP BOLTS http://farm5. static.flickr. com/4055/ 4698109476_ cf122c185d_ m.jpg ). I doubt if I install them on the upper and lower rails. Probably just at the rear of the FRP going up the door frame sides. Underneath I used the rubber tubing found in AMT kits for 7-way harness and the airlines from the valve to the chambers and fine nylon wire to at as the emergency and service lines. If you noticed I took the easy way out using the older (non spring) brake chambers found on trailers older than 1978 even though this is an 85. Why because that's what I had to work w/! This will not have working doors. It seems that the box has settle out of square. The door frame on this was made out of styrene per scale that wasn't strong enough to keep it square. 1/4" thick styrene will be cut precisely to fill that hole and I'll scribe it to give the illusion that there are doors. I think the next van trailer I scratchbuilt will have much more metal/brass in the contruction to prevent the warpage. Thanks for looking!!!

[Jim B]

Looks really nice.