A newb to trailers....With an FJ40 what is best? (1 Viewer)

[secretagent]

Hey guys/gals...I will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing when it comes to trailers. What I want to do is either purchase and AT ( a little more than I can afford ) or build one from a military trailer.


So the question....with an FJ40 that has a short wheel base does a trailer really track well? if so what length does the tongue need to be? or what do I need to know?

I've heard that trailers to track well behind a short wheel base vehicle.

Thank in advance, Greg

 

[photogod]

I have found that the military trailers track perfect behind my old FJ40 and my FZJ80. If I didn't hear a clunk every now and then from the pintle, I wouldn't know the little thing was even there. I have extended the tongue on mine 13 inches to clear the tire carrier when I open the rear hatch on the 80. I think you could do a great build with an old military trailer by looking at some of the posts here. The cost of buying a new factory made expedition trailer is really high and you can build everything you need in the military trailer for tons less. Plus you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

Here are a few snaps of mine to wet your whistle. There are some great trailers on this site! And great ideas to get you started.

 

[boots]

Hey photogod,

I wish you would stop posting photo's of you rig. I love your bed cover you built. Any photo;s of it opened.

I like to build one like that for my M100.....

 

[photogod]

Boots, you gotta make up your mind! Do you want photos or not?!

Let's see what I can find...

Some of my prior posts have had the photos removed. Look here...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/214439-some-mods-done.html

The photo loaded, never mind the lamp. If you look in the background you can see the interior of the trailer and topper with the bows bent. I used .5" square tube and bent it by hand and welded it to some .75" "L" channel for the frame. Then started with 18ga. sheet and welded it on one edge and rolled the topper on the floor and stitch welded the sheet to the frame as I rolled it over to the other edge. Not very scientific but it worked fine. It is not perfect by any means bit it works great. I used 90lb struts to hold the top up and I am going to put 125lb on next summer as the 90's are just enough to lift the top but it's not very stable. last photo of the gutter mounts I made to hold the tent rack.

I rebuilt the axles with all new bearings and seals and put some BFG AT TKO's on 32x9.5's. It rides perfect with the LC loaded. Sand blasted and repainted the wheels and the trailer body. It is a great little rig and goes anywhere the truck can.

Good luck on your topper. Let me know if I can help further.