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Homemade Trailer
 Tom built a homemade trailer for the last trip we took to Tucson. I told you about the trailers we bought to save money while weâre moving West. Each trailer we purchase and bring to Tucson will net us hundreds of dollars more than we paid for it. However, weâve been having problems with our furniture being damaged when we travel. We loaded the trailers carefully, placing blankets and cardboard over the furniture to protect the items from damage, but it was still becoming damaged. I had a beautiful glass fronted cabinet we keep collectibles in. The wood appeared to be solid, but we found it to be pressed wood after the paint wore off during the trip. I also lost a piece of furniture with what appeared to be leather on top, but it wore off to show pressed wood underneath that as well. The worst part was the damage to an heirloom redwood burl table that was made by my father. The polyurethane coating that created a deep shine in the wood was worn by ropes repeatedly slapping against it. Iâve told you in the past that Tom used to cut trees. The tree service employed ten men plus a crane operator on a full-time basis. They regularly cut and hauled three, five or even a dozen trees in a day. They loaded logs, tied them down and hauled them to the dump day after day. This seemed to qualify Tom as an expert trailer loader. Keeping the load securely tied and preventing shifting while transporting it was an art that Tom had perfected to a tee. But when it comes to furniture, thereâs a new set of skills needed for that type of load. Loading, tying and securing the load for transport is one thing, but keeping the load from being damaged by its covering and ropes is another. The tarps flapped in the breeze and continually came loose, dragging on the ground or tearing free. After a few miles, we learned how to tie them to keep the tarps and the ropes in place, but the furniture was not safe from damage. So this trip was different. Tom bought another trailer to haul furniture to our new home, and got some plywood and two-by-fours to create a covered box on the trailer. Now this works! Two sheets of plywood down each side, and one cut to size across the front creates the beginning of a box. He then screwed the plywood in place, using the two-by-fours for bracing. We made the trip without a problem and our homemade trailer protected our belongings from damage. Try this if you are moving and want to protect your furniture.
 
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