Mini Truck Conversion to Trailer?

[inkpot]

Howdy! This is what I am working on, but I haven't gotten too far yet. I have an 85 Xcab bed that is ugly, but solid. I have a mini truck frame that was abandon in the desert, and came home on top of an FJ-55. I have a spare rear axle for my Piggy that has both SUA and SOA spring pads, and it has a rebuilt set of 4:10's in it. I have old stock Piggy and mini truck springs. I even picked up an extra mini truck fuel tank. I still need shackles and spring pins. The only issue I have to deal with is that the mini and the cruiser spring location is about 2" wider for the axle pads. I think I have figured out how to fab up an adapter, so the axle is still usable on my Piggy, if needed. I plan on running 35's with the SOA to pull behind the Piggy, and 31's with SUA setup to pull behind my Astro van. I even have the extra tires and wheels. Now I just need the time and $$$ to finish assemble this pile of junk into a working trailer. John

 

[77TLCFJ40]

matzell & Grease Cruiser,

We need your pics please!!!

Your contributions are greatly appreciated. We need your motivation!!

Thanks

 

[Grease Cruiser]

matzell & Grease Cruiser,

We need your pics please!!!

Your contributions are greatly appreciated. We need your motivation!!

Thanks

Allright, Allright, Hold your water! I'll get some pics as soon as I can. Mine is not much, it is not setup for camping or anything. It's just a utility hauler but I'll get ya some pics anyhow.

 

[77TLCFJ40]

What is the best way to modify the frame to mount the tongue? How long should it be? Anyone have any pics of their mods?

Thanks very much!

 

[hammerhead]

Here's a pic of the tongue on my camp trailer...

 

[hammerhead]

Heres the tongue on my dads camp trailer...

 

[Grease Cruiser]

Pics as requested

Here are some pics of my Yota trailer. I did not build this one. I bought it from a local guy who used it to haul fire wood. I removed the old sprung under axle and built a custom axle out of spare Cruiser parts and it is now sprung over on 31's. I also added the topper. The trailer works well as a utility trailer. Never used it offroad but may someday.

 

[77TLCFJ40]

Grease Cruiser,

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Any idea how much it weighs?

 

[Grease Cruiser]

Grease Cruiser,

Well done and thanks for sharing.

Any idea how much it weighs?

I don't have a clue what it weighs. I would guess 500 maybe, 600lbs. I have no idea really. But, it is very easy to move around. I can easily push/pull it around the around by myself.

These things really are great. I have gotten my money out of these 10 fold or more.

 

[matt 105]

BUMPED in reply to the Toyota truck as trailer thread.
Sorry, but making a link is beyond me.
FWIW, I cut the ends off mine with an angle grinder, and swapped them, to put the long end at the front. That was 1 of those jobs that I thought would be a big deal but was quite quick and easy, actually.
Good luck and be sure to post some pics.

Matt

 

[LAPDsniffer]

Keep the frame as long as you are able to from the front of the bed toward the front of the cab. Heat bend the frame to form a triangle of at least 36 inches from the front of the unit weld and gusset a 2 inch receiver into this section and use it...it Works. I have built them from larger trucks.

 

[sirenmoses]

Matt: good job hunting down this thread to answer the other!

 

[matt 105]

Gday
I thinking of making another trailer now, after seeing this thread again.
Something curvy to better match the lines of a 100srs. Ive looked at an F truck but their just too big.
Please post up any pics you all have to help inspire me!
Cheers

Matt

 

[Campfire]

Well Matt wanted some pictures of what he saw in my tractor pic. So here you go Matt.
My Dad and I built this in 1977 from a Datsun long bed that was converted to a utility box truck. He use to haul some boats on the side, and had connections at a boat trailer assembly warehouse. This is a boat trailer frame for up to a 16' boat, a set of 3500 pound springs, and a set of 5 lug hubs.
We flipped the truck bed over and set the frame onto it, and then tacked it into place. We had to make some spacers for the gaps at where the frame didn't meet the bed rails, and then had them welded in. It's been a awesome little rig and with some scrounging back in 1977, we had a total of around $500 into it. We wound up making 4 of them and sold the other three for $750-$900 back then. It was originally Datsun blue, but I painted it to match my FJ60 when I had it.

Different people have borrowed it over the years and it's been to Montana, Idaho countless times, moved my sister to college, moved me out of the house, moved me into my first house, hauled more firewood than I care to remember that I've cut, moved my daughter to college, countless camping trips (had a shell for at one point), hauled my ATV's, and now is my son's favorite thing to get the raft to the fishing hole. It's been rewired 3 times, and the old factory tail lights are soon to be replaced by some nice truck LED's.

I called a junk yard to price out a Tundra bed and they wanted $2500 for a decent one. I guess I'll keep this one a while longer.


the Axle set up.


and the jack and winch set up.

 

[Campfire]

Some more of the "little red" trailer.


Another view of the axle set up with spring over done by my son.


And off to the fishing hole.

 

[photogod]

Nice 3A... Oh ya nice idea for a trailer too.

 

[matt 105]

Excellent post
A great read and great pics.

Thanks

Matt

 

[matt 105]

Gday
Saw this today, and thought Id share.

Matt

 

[photogod]

That would be sweet. To bad it's so far away.....

 

[hammerhead]

Hey, that's cool lookin'...