Camp Trailer Build (1 Viewer)

[chap79]

No real trailer progress so far this weekend. But I did wire in the 7-way trailer kit to the cruiser. I used this nifty kit from Amazon that uses your flat 4 plug and has the extra wires for hot, backup, and brakes. Mounted it up to the inside bottom edge of the bumper on a stainless steel hinge so I can fold it up for safer wheeling.

Got the backup wired in, which was really easy to tie into my rear LED lights. 12v hot will just have to be run into the rear passenger panel where I installed my rear fuse block. I will install a battery isolator on this line on the trailer side in the future.

The pop up doesn’t have trailer brakes as it is only 900 lbs. I could install them and a brake controller into the cruiser. I’ve also thought about using that line to hookup more aux lighting shared with the truck; like rock lights.

 

[Phulcrum]

i need to do that properly on the FJ. that looks great. We have some trailer stuff that might be useful for your build. remind me on the next wrench day.

 

[chap79]

Not a whole lot done recently as I've been waiting on the tires and wheels to arrive so that I could figure out my axle width. While waiting I separated all the alluminum from the old sides. Sanded them down and began prepping them for paint in the future.

Aslo started playing with tire location since they arrived. Axle width is going to be 68". This will give me about 2.5" of space between the tire and and inner frame rail. I'm not sure about tire location yet though. I may move them back an inch or so and open up the wheel opening. That will mean that I will need to either buy or build new wheel tubs and trailer fender skirts.

 

[RET2]

Not a whole lot done recently as I've been waiting on the tires and wheels to arrive so that I could figure out my axle width. While waiting I separated all the alluminum from the old sides. Sanded them down and began prepping them for paint in the future.

View attachment 1723705
View attachment 1723706

Aslo started playing with tire location since they arrived. Axle width is going to be 68". This will give me about 2.5" of space between the tire and and inner frame rail. I'm not sure about tire location yet though. I may move them back an inch or so and open up the wheel opening. That will mean that I will need to either buy or build new wheel tubs and trailer fender skirts.

View attachment 1723707

Thx for the build report, it's informative to watch it move forward with narrative.

 

[chap79]

Tacked the perches on to the axle yesterday so start mocking up and measuring to see what size brackets I’ll need to make. I’m going to guess 2”x6” tube will work about prefect.

 

[chap79]

And breakfast frittata

 

[Overlandeffex]

On my way for some of that!!!

 

[chap79]

On my way for some of that!!!

Swing on by, we got extra!

 

[RET2]

Hey wait, tape measure, level... no wonder I have problems. All kidding aside this is going to be a well thought out and executed build.

 

[chap79]

Some updates from this weekend. Officially got the new welder up and running. This Hobart 190 is pretty awesome.

For the subframe I used 3x6x1/8 retanglular tube and 3x3x3/16 angle. To attach the subframe to the existing trailer frame I am using (4) 1/2” grade 8 bolts per side.

I still need to weld in some crossbars between the subframe extensions to tie them together to minimize flexing.

 

[RET2]

Those are some really nice welds. It's coming right along.

 

[chap79]

Those are some really nice welds. It's coming right along.

Thank you Sir. They are by no means perfect, but they are decent enough that I don't feel the need to grind them down and "blend" them in.

 

[BeachnCruiser]

Looks like you would do a great job on welding up a rear bumper for some folks.

 

[Phulcrum]

whats the ETA on this?

 

[chap79]

whats the ETA on this?

I currently don't have one. I was hoping to have it done by November but have had some thing come up that has the potential to seriously derail my current plans. I should have more info within the next week about how my schedule is going to play out.

 

[chap79]

Welded in the C-channel tie bars and painted the rest of the subframe.

 

[chap79]

Not letting this thread die just yet.
The build got put on hold for the move to Missouri. But not that things are settled we can continue on.

For the move I built a utility trailer on the frame to be able to move some of the trailer parts and items that the movers wouldn’t take; propane tanks, welding cylinders, fuel cans, solvents and fluids...

Trailer towed really well although I need to lengthen the tongue to clear spare tire and jerry can holder better.

 

[chap79]

Now that we are settled into a rental and it is no longer 30 degrees in the garage we started on the trailer again. After thinking about the build over the winter we decided to scrap the popup restoration and build a teardrop out of it. First up was to empty the utility trailer of all the old camper parts, a quick trip to a landfill took care of that. Then I disassembled the utility box, all the old wood will be saved for other projects.

Now the frame is back to the way it was when I got notice of the transfer.

It’s not going to need to be so wide as a teardrop so I’m cutting off the out riggers. This will narrow up the box from 78.5” to about 55”.

Looking at this last picture I’m thinking about moving the axle rearward to balance the weight of the galley build, but will wait until I’m further along in the build to figure out the weight distribution.

And that’s caught up for the moment. Now to price out some materials.

 

[1973Guppie]

sorry to hear you left the area, hope the move was a good one, I will keep looking in on this as I eventually want to build my own trailer. I recently sold the tent trailer I had. I need something simpler.

 

[RET2]

Only one question, where are mounting the mower? Nice to be able to work inside if needed.