[Phulcrum]

The time has come for me to start the long process of building a trailer worthy of the title "expedition trailer".

The mission parameters:
increase cargo capacity
provide more comforts to extend family trips
16-20 gal water capacity
12v charged by the FJ (eventually solar panel)
hot water
roof top tent

the beginning

[Phulcrum]

the box, as it will roll or slide out, i need to find big sliders...




the top of the box starting to take shape




my daughter, inspecting her camping hot tub


cody blue looks on

[titanpat57]

Wow Man...Great start!! You'll be camping in no time.

Keep the updates rolling in...maybe you'll hit some pool money tomorrow on the big game and get the RTT sooner then you think!

[sirenmoses]

Originally Posted by Phulcrum

the box, as it will roll or slide out, i need to find big sliders...

60-600lbs, here: McMaster-Carr

[kidishi]

These are the ones I bought for my slide out kitchen..2 pairs of 40" sliders.. service was very good when they didnt have the size I wanted they were MADE and shipped quicker than I could have hoped.
https://www.boldhardware.com//index.php?cPath=116_124&

caleb

[GLTHFJ60]

This is going to be a good build!

[sseaman]

looks good so far. How are you going to finish off the plywood?

[Phulcrum]

Originally Posted by sseaman

looks good so far. How are you going to finish off the plywood?

I am sanding, filling, and painting the wood inside and out with an outdoor acrylic paint. the finished product has the box inside except for when in actual use. so i am hoping the paint will hold up.

[Phulcrum]

got some welding done. made room for the box on the tongue.

[fjcruzn]

Looking good!

I look forward to more pics as you progress!

cheers,

dale

[REZARF]

Looking good, I dig the smurf blue!

[Phulcrum]

yeah it was purchased from a landcruiser owner who had it painted to match his rig, I am an FJ owner, and will painting it to match my rig. even tho i like the blue.

[sseaman]

how is the hitch bolted one?

[Phulcrum]

the original pintle was converted to a ball hitch, its stull bolted on the same way. i'll get a pic up.

[Phulcrum]

got some welding and fabrication done.



this is just tacked in with no grinding.

[sseaman]

that is alot of cutting and tacking, any reason for the overhang in the front?

[Phulcrum]

yes there is reason for the overhang in the front. i am glad someone noticed/asked.

extra storage space? ...nope.

i realized that if i just add 6" overhang it would be tall enough for me to lay on. so, in time i have the option to add canvas sides that are rolled down during set up to make a lower bed. some 1.5" high density upholstered foam and i'm good! Mostly it will be for stoorage and occasionally for the my daughters, 6, and 4 months. I thought it would also be a good option for high wind camping, as the RTT would be a little sketchy in highwinds.

i probably should hav consulted the masters on this forum first, but i hope it worksout well . again, i am humbled by the ingenuity i have seen here.

[Phulcrum]

showed Ellie the current progress.........







what do you guys think about possibly making the upper lid/roof rack able to lift up about 10-14" to make more room in the lower sleeper?
to clarify, the upper rack is going to be for a ARB rooof top tent either way, but as it stands now the lower level can be made into an enclosed sleeping area for kids or weather too fould for the ARB.

this shows the two levels as originally intended.



I also need advice on tailgate style latches.. any recommedations? will be using them to hold the lid down, and in fact the lid will rarely be opened.


:cover:

[titanpat57]

A couple of questions...

Do you really wanna be camping if the weather is too bad to stay in the ARB?

If you get to much higher do you have to get the ladder extension to get up in there?

Is the tent opening over the back or side? can you stand under it once it opens up?

Did you give your daughter too much wasabi and her sushi? Coz that's exactly what my face looked like after i layered my california roll with about a 1/4" of that wicked green stuff last night!!!

Totally dig the rack concept, looks great!!

[Phulcrum]

[quote=titanpat57;4180230]A couple of questions...

Do you really wanna be camping if the weather is too bad to stay in the ARB?"

A:Yes, i do all the time. sometimes on purpose, sometimes the weather just hits in the desert.

"If you get to much higher do you have to get the ladder extension to get up in there?"

A: i dont have the money for tent yet, so i cant do any real fitting. by my calculations (rough guesses) , i will bump my head on the trailer, by an inch. ( i am 6'3") . I wont mind if i have to get the extension...but heres the thing; if the roof is raised it be because we arent using the RTT, so the ladder doesnt apply. amirite?

"Is the tent opening over the back or side? can you stand under it once it opens up?"

A:very good question, dont know yet, as the kitchen comes out the back. probably the drivers side.

"Did you give your daughter too much wasabi and her sushi? Coz that's exactly what my face looked like after i layered my california roll with about a 1/4" of that wicked green stuff last night!!!"

A: we dont know what made the face, except she was seeing the trailer the first time!

I am hoping to have this partially usable by my May 1st trip (see hillbilly hoedown may 1st)

the message i have entered is too short?????????

[titanpat57]

Hmm....you have plenty of time. What fun would itr be if ya got a project done on time and under budget?

How about dropping the metal down (I don't know what clearence issues that'll cause with the sink and/or pullout kitchen) or raising the top bars flush with the top rail?

What the hell did you have to be so friggin big for?

[Phulcrum]

i see what yer sayin'. move those two to make more room/clearance from top to bottom? it's current design is such that the upper "rail' is there to support cargo and act as a tie-down. when the covers are in place (ply-wood coated with paint and resin) they will make more cents. i got to thinking about this more today on grapevine trail and i concluded that i need to proceed with the original design for now, and that after some use if i decide to change it, i can later easy enough.

if the weather is too foul to use the RTT then i wouldnt want the lower level to have a high profile, and would only be sleepingin it in those conditions.

my 6 yr old step daughter has decided she needs to build her own trailer and that it will be a girls club...great.

[OlympiaFJ60]

The nice thing about doing the build your self is you can tweak the design as the need arises. It's looking good.

[Phulcrum]

had the roof rack and some welding tweaked today, going to pick it up tomorrow and start breaking it down for sandblasting . will have yummy pics.

[sseaman]

I think the biggest question is how much room is needed, a little or alot.

[Phulcrum]

I agree, I have decided to make the roof expandable by a foot. if i never use it then no loss. it will take under 20 bucks to do it now. It will raise between 10 and 14" . And every increment in between .

[titanpat57]

I think you'll be much happier in the long run...post the pix please, you've been slackin' off a bit. Springs comin Bigboy...get crackin!!

Pat

[Phulcrum]

got the new axle installed, toyota pattern. looking for some oem fj wheels to put on it that match my fj's. only a couple more cuts here n there and i can sandblast and paint. pics coming soon.

[NorCalDoug]

Originally Posted by Phulcrum

the box, as it will roll or slide out, i need to find big sliders...

A bit on the spendy side, but I would think something like this might be what you're looking for...

[Phulcrum]

that is perfect for what i need, but you're right about the spendy part. I found some rails for 275.00 that will do it.