EDIT 3/4/18: Photobucket hosting no workie, which totally ruined this thread.I am going to work on a video of the photos, along with narrationHere's what I have so far: Time to convert this thread to videos.Here's step 1:Video preview of the trailer---------------------------------------------------------------I've owned this trailer since early 2012. It was 4 years old when I bought it. It's a 2008 model. I bought it to haul my Jeep in, as well as stuff and things needed for camping, such as when I went to Overland Expo in 2012. It also makes an awesome mobile showroom, mini-garage and gear hauler for my other trips. I'll start this thread from the beginning (from when I bought the trailer) and once I get to "present day" mods/condition, I will make a note of that in the beginning of a post.It's a Haulmark Edge Pro series with upper and lower cabinets.Specs:10k load ratingRear ramp door36" side doorSlide-out aluminum step for the side door30amp AC electricalroof A/C unitBucket flood light on the passenger sideFour 4' interior fluorescent fixturesDiamond plate floorL track on the floorCarpet on the lower half of the wallsPower tongue jackBling wheelsInternally mounted auxiliary battery which was vented to the outside The trailer was just too good of a deal to pass up.Prior to buying it, I had planned on purchasing a 7x16 trailer, but my thoughts and ideas kept changing with regard to doing what made the most sense financially, plus long term planning on trailer usage.That's a whole 'nother story, which I will post if someone has interest in hearing it. It might give others an idea of what to think about when trailer shopping.Here's a few photos the previous owner sent me when he had it listed for sale:

It was about a 1200 mile round trip to get the trailer. I found it in Susanville, CA and headed down from Tacoma, WA on President's day weekend 2012 to get it.I stopped for a bite to eat in Medford, OR just prior to what looked like a nasty rain storm ahead. By the time I got parked, it was hailing. I decided it would be a good time to park for the night, since south of hear would be mountain passes.View out my motel window:The next morning was sunny and blue skies. Yep, it snowed in the mountains.Hitched up and ready to head home:I'm pretty sure this photo was taken at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Spanaway. Mt Rainier would be just out of the photo, over to the right.

I asked the owner if he'd ever repacked the bearings. He hadn't, but he said he pumped grease in to the easy-lube hubs every year. (more on that later)The owner told me the tires were new and that the brakes worked good enough that they'd stop his truck. Yeah right.As I pulled out of his driveway, I manually activated the brakes and they barely worked. I cranked up the gain setting on my integrated brake controller to maximum output, and they worked, but still not very well.The tires were about half worn out, tread depth wise. They were not the original tires, but the owner towed the trailer a lot, so these newer tires were worn some. He used it to travel to dirt track racing events all over California.

My game plan was to disassemble the hubs and repack the bearings before I started using the trailer.At the time, I was leasing a unit at the Garage Plus man-cave facility not far from Lentz's RV on Mtn Highway in Spanaway, WA to store my truck and camper in. The facility managers made a special arrangement and allowed me to temporarily rent another unit for a month, which is where I did all the work on the trailer (heated work space) since it was still winter.

lots of good possibilities here...

I put a large blue tarp on the floor, to minimize the mess I'd make working on the bearings.What I thought was going to be a simple bearing clean and repack turned in to a complete rebuild of the brakes.The owner didn't understand that pumping more grease in the easy-lube hubs every year will eventually over fill the hubs. Eventually the grease will blow out the rear seal, and that's what happened. The brakes had been contaminated with grease for quite some time.The brake shoes were caked in grease, so were the magnets. The brake assembly shown above wasn't the worst one, it was the better looking set of the 4.Next project - completely replace the brakes. I ordered new brake drums too.The trailer sat on jack stands for at least two weeks while I worked on them a little bit in the evenings after work.

Upgrades to my trailer - 8.5x20 Haulmark | Good Sam Community

deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
It was about a 1200 mile round trip to get the trailer. I found it in Susanville, CA and headed down from Tacoma, WA on President's day weekend 2012 to get it.

I stopped for a bite to eat in Medford, OR just prior to what looked like a nasty rain storm ahead. By the time I got parked, it was hailing. I decided it would be a good time to park for the night, since south of hear would be mountain passes.

View out my motel window:

The next morning was sunny and blue skies. Yep, it snowed in the mountains.

Hitched up and ready to head home:

I'm pretty sure this photo was taken at the Wal-Mart parking lot in Spanaway. Mt Rainier would be just out of the photo, over to the right.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
I asked the owner if he'd ever repacked the bearings. He hadn't, but he said he pumped grease in to the easy-lube hubs every year. (more on that later)

The owner told me the tires were new and that the brakes worked good enough that they'd stop his truck. Yeah right.

As I pulled out of his driveway, I manually activated the brakes and they barely worked. I cranked up the gain setting on my integrated brake controller to maximum output, and they worked, but still not very well.

The tires were about half worn out, tread depth wise. They were not the original tires, but the owner towed the trailer a lot, so these newer tires were worn some. He used it to travel to dirt track racing events all over California.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
My game plan was to disassemble the hubs and repack the bearings before I started using the trailer.

At the time, I was leasing a unit at the Garage Plus man-cave facility not far from Lentz's RV on Mtn Highway in Spanaway, WA to store my truck and camper in. The facility managers made a special arrangement and allowed me to temporarily rent another unit for a month, which is where I did all the work on the trailer (heated work space) since it was still winter.
RoyB
Explorer II
May 10, 2015
lots of good possibilities here...
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
I put a large blue tarp on the floor, to minimize the mess I'd make working on the bearings.

What I thought was going to be a simple bearing clean and repack turned in to a complete rebuild of the brakes.

The owner didn't understand that pumping more grease in the easy-lube hubs every year will eventually over fill the hubs. Eventually the grease will blow out the rear seal, and that's what happened. The brakes had been contaminated with grease for quite some time.

The brake shoes were caked in grease, so were the magnets. The brake assembly shown above wasn't the worst one, it was the better looking set of the 4.

Next project - completely replace the brakes. I ordered new brake drums too.

The trailer sat on jack stands for at least two weeks while I worked on them a little bit in the evenings after work.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
I masked off the front of the trailer and repainted the tongue.

I was going to rattle can it, but changed my plan after I had already spent a good amount of time masking off the front.

Rustoleum paint, using a foam brush worked really well.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
I ordered a spare tire and wheel from Les Schwab. I told them I wanted a cheap steel wheel.

The one on the right is what they ordered: (wheel on the left is what came on the trailer)
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
A month or so later, I decided to just replace all the tires so I was starting with a fresh set. I ordered 4 tires, 3 aluminum wheels and one steel wheel.

I sold the original tires/wheels on Craigslist, recouping some money.
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
Awning:
deltabravo
Nomad
May 10, 2015
I installed some floor mounted D rings in the front to accommodate my Jeep. If you look closely, you can see to existing D rings up near the cabinets. They were too far forward to suit my needs, plus the tie down straps would make using the front section of the trailer very difficult (for cargo, etc.)

I used some really thick aluminum backing plates (shown to the left) rather than the thin galvanized metal that came with the tiedowns.

I think it's 1/4 thick.

Forum Discussion

Upgrades to my trailer - 8.5x20 Haulmark

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Any Haulmark owners

TRAVEL TRAILER UPGRADE

RV Upgrade

Tire upgrade

Upgrading tow vehicle