I don’t think my work schedule lately allows me to commit to anything. (I have had a gate in the bed of my truck for a couple months that still isn’t fully welded.) I do have a couple of comments, though. (Of course I do!)
First, there is something wrong with the MIG welder right now. I am not sure what. The regulator (and it is a regulator, not a flow meter which is what is on the TIG) seems to be doing its job, and there is some flow, but the shielding is not right. I don’t know if there is a liner issue, or what. If I had made it back to the space on Saturday, I was going to bring my MIG gun and swap it to see if the behavior changed. Even when cranked up, the shielding is poor at the initial arc, and if set where it normally would be, it acts like there is no shielding at all. Anyway, it might be wise to wait until that is resolved before practicing, as there is no good to be gained from learning on faulty equipment.
Second, do a bunch of practice welds, and test them, before welding on the trailer. Many trailers have been glued together with MIG that have failed on the road. MIG welding is like that. You can have a great looking weld that has little to no fusion.
Third, boat trailers are made with a long tongue because there tends to be a lot of weight at the stern of the boat. So, the balance works out with the axle farther back. Be careful to consider the weight balance of the trailer so that you don’t make it tongue-heavy, but you especially don’t want to make it tail-heavy.
Those frames are often made of rectangular tubing, so make sure to give it a good once-over. If “almost” totally closed off, they can retain water and rust from the inside out. They are intended to spread out a load over the length, but the weight is really handled by the bunks. I doubt you’ll have any real point loads building a camper.
I don’t know how long your trailer is, but weight adds up pretty quick. My 16’ flatbed is over 2k dry. If you have ever seen a TT that has been rolled, you know that it’s a wonder they don’t blow apart driving down the highway. But, like with aircraft, they have to do what they can to keep the weight down. That makes for some flimsy (read: iffy) construction methods. If you are going pretty sparse, that’s probably not a problem, but if you start adding creature comforts, the weight adds up fast. Just be aware.
If it’s a 2000# trailer, you can avoid tagging it, but it’s a good idea, IMO, to get a title anyway and to add the VIN in an inconspicuous spot while you can get to it. The idea is, if somebody steals it and removes the VIN tag, you can still identify it.
that’s my 2.8¢.
