My Baja Trailer build....

[J-man]

Looking at the military 416 & 101 trailers I see that they have pintle hitches.

Seems a better way to go for secure articulation in an offroad venue.

Nice job on your trailer. it sure is fun to put something like this together.

i considered the pintle hitches, but i dont do any crazy trails, rock gardens, or serious off camber wheeling. Its mainly hauling azzz down baja roads that bump like crazy and some beach stuff so thats why i went with the standard 2" coupler. We'll see down the road if I need to change it. thx tho

 

[Arya Ebrahimi]

I don't recall the dimensions off hand for Chevy shackles, but here is what the shackles you need look like.

Obviously you don't need them to be that long, but my point is that the shackle has a bushing integrated into one end which is what you're missing.

 

[J-man]

I don't recall the dimensions off hand for Chevy shackles, but here is what the shackles you need look like.

Obviously you don't need them to be that long, but my point is that the shackle has a bushing integrated into one end which is what you're missing.

so here is what ive found. They are 2 3/4" wide (same as tacoma leafs) and have the bushing/sleeve inside the hanger then bolt them up with spring hangers to the spring with stock bushing in the end. heres a link
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/catalog/shackle-hanger-p-132.html

seem like it would work?

 

[J-man]

all right, i definately have to remove what i currently have for the rear setup. Going to get the shakle that has the bushing integrated into it. Makes sense that way, - wish i would have asked before i welded - darn!

 

[REZARF]

Ive been contemplating removing the overloads so i dont have to get new u-bolts, and may add another leaf to each pack, dunno yet. As far as snagging, probably wont where i go - sandy washboard roads, tho there are some rocky arroyos to drive up/through.

J-Man

You will have lots of spring left, I wouldn't worry about adding another spring to the pack... if anything you might need to pull one or two to soften the ride.

Just my .02

Rezarf <><

 

[J-man]

yeah, probably have to. Although fully laden it will carry 4- 5 gal fuel cans, 4 - 7 gal water containers, eezi awn roof tent, chairs, sun awning, food, wood, surfboards, astroturf (gotta have a clean camp) couple small tables, more shiat.....

 

[REZARF]

You are looking at 800 lbs MAX!

Those springs are rated to carry a pickup bed load of crap!... each! You should be 'aight. Very cool looking little trailer though.

Rezarf <><

 

[J-man]

yeah, thats what i figured. Im just waiting for the new spring hangers for the rear so i can cut off the old ones and put the new ones on, then the box should be finished by this weekend along with the eezi awn rack. Will keep yall posted.

 

[J-man]

Latest Pics

well heres the latest pics. I had to cut off the rear spring hangers and put new ones on from ruffstuff, the kind with the integrated bushing, and wow, did that make a difference for the better, although i need the proper size bolts and nuts (not shown i pic). The frame for the box is done, i finished the rack that holds the eezi awn roof tent and fastened the roof tent to the roof.

So now i have to get some 3/4" marine ply and coat the underside and edges with something to seal it, then get some 1/2" ply and stick some aluminum diamond plate to it for the sides and front.

I am in the process of making a tailgate, so thats going to take a while for me to figure out, if anyone has a suggestion - throw it at me please. Also, i need to get my fenders so i can integrate them with side steps i want to build.

Finally, im making a lid for the box. The box will have a rigid post, prob 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" square tubing for the center brace from front of box to rear, then have 2 doors hinged in the center that lift up so you can acces the box from either side of the trailer. Planning on making it as water/dust proof as i can.

So far im happy with where its at, now i just want it done so i can start using it. Ive got a quick baja trip planned for the beginning of november, so that should be its first mini expedition.

 

[J-man]

another shot

 

[semlin]

i considered the pintle hitches, but i dont do any crazy trails, rock gardens, or serious off camber wheeling. Its mainly hauling azzz down baja roads that bump like crazy and some beach stuff so thats why i went with the standard 2" coupler. We'll see down the road if I need to change it. thx tho

great build

fwiw i have an m101 and the pintle is a revelation. apart from being amazing offroad, it tows better than any other trailer I've ever used on the highway. i highly recommend it for something like this. I use a pintle mount for the truck that is attached to a standard trailer draw bar.

for the eezi awn tent mount rack you are building, here is what I have for a car top tent made out of 1x1 box tube. I use yakima cross members attached to yakima bolt on rain gutters so that the trailer can carry tall stuff in utility mode and I have been very happy with that set up. the side racks are also bolt off removeable but I have not found any reason to do that.

one issue with having the tent up high on a trailer is lateral stability. I added a receiver to the middle of the rear of the trailer and then inserted a second removeable adjustable trailerjack so i could stabilize and level the trailer front to back. the centre locaton did not take into account the side to side give of the shocks. I have found it is better to have stabilizers on both rear corners so you get a tripod effect. If you can find trailer jacks off a tent trailer to mount there it will be money well spent. I am using axle stands.

 

[J-man]

very cool rig. I like the narrow but tall military tires. I think im going to do similar with mine, probably some 255-85-16's, we'll see. I really like the pintle, but at this point i have to get it finished (limited time now) and dont want to mess with the reciver - its already finished. Im sure ill go your route later on tho.

Regarding the tent, i put it up on top of my rack and opened it up. I definately need to get some type of either screw jacks or something for all 4 corners. Without them, it wiggles like a bowl of jello.

I see you have double wheel tounge jack. Where'd you pick that up?

 

[semlin]

Regarding the tent, i put it up on top of my rack and opened it up. I definately need to get some type of either screw jacks or something for all 4 corners. Without them, it wiggles like a bowl of jello.

if you put an adjustable tongue jack on the front you should only need two screw jacks behind the wheels. they form a tripod.

I see you have double wheel tounge jack. Where'd you pick that up?

on special at the local auto supply store. They were so cheap I got another one for the rear hitch instead of a screwjack as originally planned.

 

[J-man]

great build

fwiw i have an m101 and the pintle is a revelation. apart from being amazing offroad, it tows better than any other trailer I've ever used on the highway. i highly recommend it for something like this. I use a pintle mount for the truck that is attached to a standard trailer draw bar.

for the eezi awn tent mount rack you are building, here is what I have for a car top tent made out of 1x1 box tube. I use yakima cross members attached to yakima bolt on rain gutters so that the trailer can carry tall stuff in utility mode and I have been very happy with that set up. the side racks are also bolt off removeable but I have not found any reason to do that.

one issue with having the tent up high on a trailer is lateral stability. I added a receiver to the middle of the rear of the trailer and then inserted a second removeable adjustable trailerjack so i could stabilize and level the trailer front to back. the centre locaton did not take into account the side to side give of the shocks. I have found it is better to have stabilizers on both rear corners so you get a tripod effect. If you can find trailer jacks off a tent trailer to mount there it will be money well spent. I am using axle stands.

sooo, after thinking about it for a while and remembering some of the places i take my 4runner thru, ive decided to get the lock-n-roll. For some reason i cant figure out how you compensate for different levels of vehicles. My 4runner is higher in the rear than the cruiser, how do i adjust for that?

 

[jccruiser78]

I really like your trailer!I went the easy way and got this Triton aluminum 6x8.It weighs 350 lbs but has a 1350 lb capacity.The key to this one is the torsion axles(indipendent)so it doesny bounce or buck like most light or small trailers.I love the thing,plan on building an alum rack for my 15 foot boat.This trailer has been to Baja(Mulege mostly) 3 times without a problem.It really feels like nothing behind the 100.


But that said,I like yours better-muy macho!

 

[J-man]

those are great little rigs - nice and light. Still tho, its the little leafsprings that break if your constantly going offroad, although the torsion axles help some. Trailers take a beating on washboard.

 

[J-man]

well she's almost completed. Ive made the flip up doors on the top, placed the fenders over the tires, got the tounge jack and the 2 rear corner jacks welded on, the basket for 4-scepter gas cans is on the front. Just have to go get some shocks and weld the tabs on. I decided im too lazy to fab up a rear tailgate, so for now it just has some marine ply that has hinges inside to fold down incase i want to put something inside thats long. So i just have to clean up some welds, double check everything, then off to powdercoating (semigloss black) this weekend. Ill post pics once she's back and fully re-assembled.

 

[nat]

Sweet............can't wait to see it after powdercoating.

 

[REZARF]

Jman- Did you get back from Baja?

Lets see an update man.


Drew

 

[J-man]

Jman- Did you get back from Baja?

Lets see an update man.


Drew

i did yesterday morning real early - the trailer worked like a dream, better than expected with no problems of any kind. It took a beating of a life time - total of 300 miles of baja's worst trails/washboard roads-paths it could dish out, but a trip total of 1500 miles overall. IT had also rained before we came back, so it made for some fun mud runnin. I will post pics tonight.