Inspiration for this build came from the many well planned and executed trailer builds in this forum. Two builds in particular were especially inspiring:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/247851-expedition-trailer-made-fj40-tub.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-te...expedition-style-trailer-build-up-thread.html
Both of these guys had awesome builds with great documentation that directly helped me with my build. Thanks Volcanic Iceberg and REZARF!!
Motivation for this build came from a desire to camp more comfortably for my wife and myself. Tent camping with an air mattress on the ground has proven challenging due to weather conditions like rain and heat. My wonderful wife has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and temperature extremes in either direction take a LOT out of her. Truth be told, I have a hard time sleeping when its hot in a tent or really cold. Being from Mississippi, "really cold" is relative. Lets just say less than 45* qualifies. Temps in a tent in the upper 70s or above with little or no air movement, especially with high humidity can be difficult at best.
The requirements were to get the air mattress off the ground, and to create a small waterproof sleeping space that could be warmed up or cooled down quickly. The plan became a 40 tub based trailer that could essentially be a queen size bed on wheels with the addition of a SUV tent off the back for the ability to stand up to get dressed, storage of clothes, food, etc, and a private location for a camp potty. Storing our camping gear in the trailer to free up some storage room space was also a nice potential. Looking good would be nice, but functionality was the key. It would be potentially pulled behind my 40, my wife's 200, and any future Cruisers we might own. Our son is 14 and has an 80 or 100 in mind.
I began planning and buying parts for the trailer as far back as three years ago. I needed a 40 frame with tub, some of a second tub (front), two complete hardtops from the doors back, rear doors/hatch, and a hatch for the front. The 40 rear axle could be used if funds or time were tight but a 3500# trailer axle was the plan. The air mattress needed to sit at inner fender height, so an upper floor needed to be fabbed with storage underneath. This storage in the front tub had the potential to be substantial, but required access doors on the front or sides. Plans also included double rear carriers for the spare and jerry cans or a cooler. This would also help get some substantial weight well behind the axle since the stock axle location would result in a very heavy tongue. A local club member had '74 and '78 parts rigs that were in various stages of disassembly, but were rusting away in the back of a local shops yard. An agreement was reached and the part-out/fund raising began. Eventually the '74 frame with the tub and axles was loaded on a trailer and moved to my garage where the fun began.
Let me apologize now for my lack of picture documentation during this build. Due to an eminent job change and the fast approaching Southern Cruiser Crawl, I needed to get the 40 camper as close to done as possible in a very short time.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/247851-expedition-trailer-made-fj40-tub.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-te...expedition-style-trailer-build-up-thread.html
Both of these guys had awesome builds with great documentation that directly helped me with my build. Thanks Volcanic Iceberg and REZARF!!
Motivation for this build came from a desire to camp more comfortably for my wife and myself. Tent camping with an air mattress on the ground has proven challenging due to weather conditions like rain and heat. My wonderful wife has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and temperature extremes in either direction take a LOT out of her. Truth be told, I have a hard time sleeping when its hot in a tent or really cold. Being from Mississippi, "really cold" is relative. Lets just say less than 45* qualifies. Temps in a tent in the upper 70s or above with little or no air movement, especially with high humidity can be difficult at best.
The requirements were to get the air mattress off the ground, and to create a small waterproof sleeping space that could be warmed up or cooled down quickly. The plan became a 40 tub based trailer that could essentially be a queen size bed on wheels with the addition of a SUV tent off the back for the ability to stand up to get dressed, storage of clothes, food, etc, and a private location for a camp potty. Storing our camping gear in the trailer to free up some storage room space was also a nice potential. Looking good would be nice, but functionality was the key. It would be potentially pulled behind my 40, my wife's 200, and any future Cruisers we might own. Our son is 14 and has an 80 or 100 in mind.
I began planning and buying parts for the trailer as far back as three years ago. I needed a 40 frame with tub, some of a second tub (front), two complete hardtops from the doors back, rear doors/hatch, and a hatch for the front. The 40 rear axle could be used if funds or time were tight but a 3500# trailer axle was the plan. The air mattress needed to sit at inner fender height, so an upper floor needed to be fabbed with storage underneath. This storage in the front tub had the potential to be substantial, but required access doors on the front or sides. Plans also included double rear carriers for the spare and jerry cans or a cooler. This would also help get some substantial weight well behind the axle since the stock axle location would result in a very heavy tongue. A local club member had '74 and '78 parts rigs that were in various stages of disassembly, but were rusting away in the back of a local shops yard. An agreement was reached and the part-out/fund raising began. Eventually the '74 frame with the tub and axles was loaded on a trailer and moved to my garage where the fun began.
Let me apologize now for my lack of picture documentation during this build. Due to an eminent job change and the fast approaching Southern Cruiser Crawl, I needed to get the 40 camper as close to done as possible in a very short time.
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