Grain Trailer

[JD3020]

Well, for my first project i decided to do something simple. Just make a basic trailer frame in the editor, then throw a body on it from Sketchup. I started working on the mesh part, and im going to work on getting the base of it in game. Such as all the nodes. I plan on just making a basic flat box on wheels. Then placing the body on it. Im making the trailer 40x9'7"x7'8" (LxWxH). I kinda have a base model, but not the frame and axles and all the details. I still havent figured out how to make tires, rims, and axle, a ladder, and everything else, but im slowly learning. This is what i have so far.

Im just kinda looking at some pictures online, and desiging it in my head. So if you guys have any good pictures or ideas I would appreciate it. And im also basing the dimensions off of a Wilson grain trailer that i found on there site.

[elephants14]

Wow that looks great.

[JD3020]

Here is a little update. Im still working on this, but running out of ideas for it. im still trying to get a working trailer, then ill place this on. But here it is.

If you have any ideas or pictures of what i could add, please tell me. I think its to plain, but i dont know what to add. I still have some details. Such as possible axles, the hopper, and making the ladders. I just used lines to make the ladders, and i think that they disappear in game. But what do you guys think so far?

[philgor]

why don't you just use the default semi trailer that came with the game and go from there

[JD3020]

why don't you just use the default semi trailer that came with the game and go from there

Because im learning how to make stuff. This is for the learning experience. Ive already customized a truck somewhat, but im learning how to build stuff and make things with nodes and beams.

[_413c_]

nice job! ;D

i think you have done the harder step, on making a truck or load ...
the beams and nodes chasis, its easy
you can do the chasis in a few minutes...
about the color, i think it should be gray, or chrome, until you have a same color truck...

[JD3020]

nice job! ;D

i think you have done the harder step, on making a truck or load ...
the beams and nodes chasis, its easy
you can do the chasis in a few minutes...
about the color, i think it should be gray, or chrome, until you have a same color truck...

Thanks. I actually thought making that model was a lot easier then making the node and beam chassis. It was simple to make the chassis, but i havent got the wheels working yet, the legs, or the hook up part. But hopefully as soon as i get that finished, i can work on getting everything fit and finished. But what do you think i should do about the unloading shutes( i cant thing of what they are called, i think the hopper)? I have looked at some pictures, and will look at some trailers today and get some ideas. But i need ideas from everybody else.

[Condog]

That's looking really good, it seems ironic, if you start out modeling its hard to do beam/nodes but if you start out doing that (like me) it's hard to model. I have no clue at all how to do modeling, but if you need help I'm decent at node/beams. Wheels can be hit or miss so it's not bad if you can't really get them at first. But yea, looks good!

[JD3020]

I finally have the chassis working. But i think its gonna be single axle. The rear axle is terrible. The tires lock up and flop around, but the front axle is pretty good. So right now i just have small tires on the rear so its riding on the front axle. It pulls pretty good, and works. So basically all thats left is to get the prop in game and placed, and then i might release it. Most likely just so people can tweak it. Here are some pics.

[kenworthw900]

it would be cool if you made a pup trailer to go with it

[JD3020]

I might do that. I think i might shorten it up some, but at least take off the rear axle. For the body i dont know what i will do. I cant get the body i made to show up in game. I might try blender, but i dont know.

As for making a pup. I would probably make a copy of this file, and scale it down, and somehow rig up a way to hook them together. Im not sure on how that would work. Right now im working on a suspension idea i have and then i might work on it. Or if somebody wants i can give them the sketchup files and load files and they can work on it.

[_413c_]

it would be cool if you made a pup trailer to go with it

i made already a double pup, but i couldnt texture or meshed, and nobody helped me, because i was a complete noob on modding...
if you want, i can make the double pup, theyre single axle.

[andyringdahl]

Very, very nice. Although I don't think a single axle is a great idea, try getting a little help with the rear axle maybe. But other than that, amazing, keep up the good work. 8)

[JD3020]

A little update. By working on a suspension idea i had(which is basically a independent suspension) I learned how to use the snap nodes to grid in the editor. A word of advice, use this option. It helps a ton. I used it on the trailer, got everything lined up, and now it is just about perfect. I moved the rear axles down, and changed the tire size. It also has breaks. I think for now im going to keep this as just 1 regular trailer, most likely no pup. But if somebody wants to, they can make a pup trailer and i can figure out how to make my trailer hook up to one. But i have 2 main problems still. 1. is that the mesh still isnt showing up in game. And 2. is that the way the trailer sits when its hooked up, the rear tires on the trailer arent always touching. So instead of trying to position the contacter node right, im working on making a adjustable one(cant think of what they are called. So far i have everything ready, but i cant get the node to move. I made a new node right above the contacter and attached a command beam to it, but i have the wrong node moving. So hopefully, once i can get the right node to move, you will be able to adjust how the trailer sits.

And for future plans, i think im going to try and add a tag axle, lights, fenders, and some others. So if anybody has any ideas for new things

[dylanprsn]

if you want i can make you a tandem axle chassis

[JD3020]

I have two versions right now. A tandem axle, and a tandem with a tag. Thanks to dj smith, the works, but isnt perfect. So i copied that one, and just deleted the tag. But i have the chassis just about finished. I still have some tweaking to do, and they will be perfect. Next, my big thing will be getting the mesh in game. For some reason it wont show up. But here are some pics, and a pic of what i might make to pull the trailer. I call it my version of a mack superliner.

[dj_smith]

Did you export it from sketchup?

[JD3020]

Yep, exported it as a mesh file from sketchup. I think it might be with the prop line in the truck file. But i still have work to do. Im working on the Chassis for the superliner. I rigged one up last night, but i had everything interconnected and it feel apart. So i have to make it in two sections and connect them, then figure out the steering. But if somebody would like to make a mesh body of a Superliner or something, i could use it. For right now i am planning on 2 trailers, and 1 truck.

But i have a question. I read somewhere about mapping sketchup models in blender. How can i do that? I would like to be able to skin it, instead of trying to mess with Sketchup.

[dj_smith]

Yep, exported it as a mesh file from sketchup. I think it might be with the prop line in the truck file. But i still have work to do. Im working on the Chassis for the superliner. I rigged one up last night, but i had everything interconnected and it feel apart. So i have to make it in two sections and connect them, then figure out the steering. But if somebody would like to make a mesh body of a Superliner or something, i could use it. For right now i am planning on 2 trailers, and 1 truck.

But i have a question. I read somewhere about mapping sketchup models in blender. How can i do that? I would like to be able to skin it, instead of trying to mess with Sketchup.

thats a good question but i dont know how to do that

[JD3020]

I have the node and beam chassis about 90% done, until testing. It works, except for steering. That is the only thing giving me trouble. Once i get that figured out, im going to do the cinecam, and make it a truck instead of a load. But i would like to possibly have an interior made in the sketchup model, but ill worry about that later. Hopefully i will have the truck chassis done tonight, tomorrow night by the latest i hope. Then from there is finishing the meshes, mapping, testing, and releasing.