So I run 53' Reefers all over North America. I did some twiddling with a Globe Liner and a tanker and some extra rods and plastic, got the kingpin-to-bogie out to 41' and a frame to show where the bumper would be, back at 53'. I think the reasons the trailers are so stubby are like... These things are _huge_ toys, for one thing. You already need a _lot_ of space to run just the cabs around bobtail, and a proper length trailer takes up a _lot_ of swing space to come around. Second, the wheel cut up at the steering axle is pretty bad, it's like 41 degrees. You can use some mods and aftermarket bits and get close to 45 but it gets a bit hairy cutting into the shock hangers and you start running the tires into the leaf springs. I'm interested in relocating the leaf on the steer axle to under the frame instead of beside it, but ultimately the second reason the trailers are stubby is because the turning radius on the trucks is kinda bad. Combine a poor turning radius with the huge size and I'm pretty sure they cut the trailers down just so the average consumer has a snowball's chance in summer to turn the thing around before they run out of living room.
It's just the Tamiya way...lol. When I say wrong, it is wrong for me. They are great kits and some of the other guys take the scale to a beautiful thing. They are fun kits to build and tinker with.
I buy the flatbed then make them longer to look more scale compared to the Truck that pulls them. I just finished one last weekend. It measures 44 inches.
I don't know what Tamiya based this trailer off of. All their trailers are short. The longest 1 is the reefer which is 38" which is still too short. I'm going to use my flatbed as the basis for a lowboy. Not paying $900 for a cnc lowboy. It won't look like a 1:1 but it'll look better than the stock flatbed. I'm interested to see how your modifications turn out. I'd like to apply them to my reefer trailer if it turns out well.
Gonna well over a month. I can get the frame material, but probably go with lesu power legs. Need black mud flaps and some sort of under ride/ICC bumper. This will all have to be ordered. That takes time. I am going to look at dropping the front of the trailer, with the plastic bits for dropping landing gear it sits pretty high. And drop the back to match. Gonna take a bit of time.
Tamiya trucks are, if my math is correct, actually 13.5 scale. Trucks and trailers both. The most common trailers are 48’ and 53’ long. Tamiya dropped the ball but I’m guessing it’s for profits. Love the videos man keep ‘em coming
They must have been thinking European trailers. I think they are shorter. But I don't really know. More videos soon. I have been working on the trailer.
@@EMPTYPOCKETSRC even then the dimensions are wrong for the European style ones as far as kingpin placement and axle placement. I’ve caught the 1/14 bug myself so I’m also going to be building trailers and dollys for my trucks, and I got a scania R620 almost completed and I have a scania 770S on the way. Within the next few months I’m going to update my channel with the vids 🤙🏼. Happy modeling brotha!
I'm a Retired Auto Mechanic.... but I KNOW what a Rig looks like! Several friends of mine are long haul guys. I've been in the Hobby a long time. But just finally starting on 1/14th Scale Rigs. Always wanted to, just never had that kind of money. I bought 3 Tractors, an 8X4 Dump Truck, and a Box Truck. YEAH I NOTICED. All the Trailers are too short!! By a lot. I built one of them, the Box Trailer, converted to a Reefer. I'm now calling it my "Fake Hobbs", because it's only 32 foot! Haven't built my Flatbed yet... Already saw the same thing you did. I'm going to wait and see what you come up with. 🍻
Probably going to get the longer frame rail parts tomorrow. Then cut and drill...my old hand is pretty messed up right now and really holding me back. Oh well, see the Dr. On Monday and then get to this project.
Ahhh, it's ok. These kits first came out in the '90s and had to be made for people without a lot of tools. Small enough to ship economically. Just because it is not right don't make it wrong! My buddy is gonna cut the new frame this week!
It looks just about right. The stock Tamiya trailer looks way to short. Depends on where in the world you are from. B.C. Canada is where i live and the standard now is a 53 foot trailer, usually a 3 axle.
A perfectionist,love it. Can't wait for the build. This is gonna be good.
Trailer built, there should be some videos on it.
And Thank you.
So I run 53' Reefers all over North America.
I did some twiddling with a Globe Liner and a tanker and some extra rods and plastic, got the kingpin-to-bogie out to 41' and a frame to show where the bumper would be, back at 53'.
I think the reasons the trailers are so stubby are like...
These things are _huge_ toys, for one thing. You already need a _lot_ of space to run just the cabs around bobtail, and a proper length trailer takes up a _lot_ of swing space to come around.
Second, the wheel cut up at the steering axle is pretty bad, it's like 41 degrees. You can use some mods and aftermarket bits and get close to 45 but it gets a bit hairy cutting into the shock hangers and you start running the tires into the leaf springs.
I'm interested in relocating the leaf on the steer axle to under the frame instead of beside it, but ultimately the second reason the trailers are stubby is because the turning radius on the trucks is kinda bad.
Combine a poor turning radius with the huge size and I'm pretty sure they cut the trailers down just so the average consumer has a snowball's chance in summer to turn the thing around before they run out of living room.
It's just the Tamiya way...lol.
When I say wrong, it is wrong for me.
They are great kits and some of the other guys take the scale to a beautiful thing.
They are fun kits to build and tinker with.
I buy the flatbed then make them longer to look more scale compared to the Truck that pulls them. I just finished one last weekend. It measures 44 inches.
Must scale out to a 53 footer. 👍
I don't know what Tamiya based this trailer off of. All their trailers are short. The longest 1 is the reefer which is 38" which is still too short. I'm going to use my flatbed as the basis for a lowboy. Not paying $900 for a cnc lowboy. It won't look like a 1:1 but it'll look better than the stock flatbed. I'm interested to see how your modifications turn out. I'd like to apply them to my reefer trailer if it turns out well.
Gonna well over a month. I can get the frame material, but probably go with lesu power legs. Need black mud flaps and some sort of under ride/ICC bumper. This will all have to be ordered. That takes time. I am going to look at dropping the front of the trailer, with the plastic bits for dropping landing gear it sits pretty high. And drop the back to match. Gonna take a bit of time.
I have often thought this trailer is very short,..even for UK standards too
Just have to stretch it out....🫣
Tamiya trucks are, if my math is correct, actually 13.5 scale. Trucks and trailers both. The most common trailers are 48’ and 53’ long. Tamiya dropped the ball but I’m guessing it’s for profits. Love the videos man keep ‘em coming
They must have been thinking European trailers. I think they are shorter. But I don't really know.
More videos soon. I have been working on the trailer.
@@EMPTYPOCKETSRC even then the dimensions are wrong for the European style ones as far as kingpin placement and axle placement. I’ve caught the 1/14 bug myself so I’m also going to be building trailers and dollys for my trucks, and I got a scania R620 almost completed and I have a scania 770S on the way. Within the next few months I’m going to update my channel with the vids 🤙🏼. Happy modeling brotha!
I'm a Retired Auto Mechanic.... but I KNOW what a Rig looks like! Several friends of mine are long haul guys.
I've been in the Hobby a long time. But just finally starting on 1/14th Scale Rigs. Always wanted to, just never had that kind of money.
I bought 3 Tractors, an 8X4 Dump Truck, and a Box Truck.
YEAH I NOTICED. All the Trailers are too short!! By a lot. I built one of them, the Box Trailer, converted to a Reefer. I'm now calling it my "Fake Hobbs", because it's only 32 foot!
Haven't built my Flatbed yet... Already saw the same thing you did. I'm going to wait and see what you come up with. 🍻
Probably going to get the longer frame rail parts tomorrow. Then cut and drill...my old hand is pretty messed up right now and really holding me back. Oh well, see the Dr. On Monday and then get to this project.
Nice truck , that's unacceptable they make it to short
Ahhh, it's ok. These kits first came out in the '90s and had to be made for people without a lot of tools. Small enough to ship economically.
Just because it is not right don't make it wrong!
My buddy is gonna cut the new frame this week!
Verry nice
Thank you
the trucks are 1/14 scale you are calculating them as 1/12 scale ???
48 foot flatdeck at 1/14 is 41.148 inches. So i am just a little short, half inch or so.
@@EMPTYPOCKETSRC ahh ok sorry but will it not look odd with a super long trailer
It looks just about right. The stock Tamiya trailer looks way to short. Depends on where in the world you are from. B.C. Canada is where i live and the standard now is a 53 foot trailer, usually a 3 axle.
its a toy. get over it...
😁 yep