My Low-Cost Off-Road Camping Trailer

[Bikeman]

I started with a 5x10 utility trailer I got off craig's list, bobbed 18" off the rear, did a spring-over, pulled 2 leaves from the spring packs, replaced the heavy 2x10's with plywood, repacked the bearings, and mounted my Eezi-Awn 1600 on Yakima load bars. Now I can set up base camp, and leave the 80 as light as possible.

Future mods include a lunette eye and larger tires and maybe shock mounts and longer leaf packs/hanger relocation.

 

[LCOwner]

Good place to start. Consider raising the tent a little to allow for storage boxes underneath.

 

[TheGillz]

Looks pretty front heavy.

 

[sseaman]

interesting ideas, i would either raise the tent a little, or find some storage boxes that will fit underneath, seems like there are some military ones, about that height.

 

[KOWBOY]

Glorious in it's financial simplicity.

Carry on.

 

[Bikeman]

Looks pretty front heavy.

I can pick up the tongue easily.

More weight like coolers will be carried over the back wheels.

 

[LCOwner]

Looks pretty front heavy.

That's where the majotity of the weight should be.

 

[TheGillz]

That's where the majotity of the weight should be.

If by majority you mean just over half (60/40 for instance) you are technically correct. This trailer has what looks like over 80% of the trailer in front of the axle. He stated he took a factory balanced trailer, and cut off 1.5 feet from the rear. Sorry to say, that's front heavy. It may work out in the end, and that's cool, but its not ideal.

If it works though, great for the price!

 

[Bikeman]

I will also be mounting Scepter water cans and maybe one gas can over the rear axle, so I should have enough weight distributed evenly. I plan to stow "soft goods" under the RTT.

Believe me, I am new to this, so any other suggestion/advice are welcome.

 

[62FJ40]

The weight of that tent even with the weight removed from the back isn't enough to be any problem. If it was reversed (weight removed from front and added to back) then it could start to be a problem. Honestly how much weight in camping gear are you going to carry on that thing? As long as you pay attention when loading you should never have a problem.
I see alot of these "expedition" trailers being built that while the fab work and detail is awsome they are soo over built/heavy. Most will see rough dirt roads that dictate slow speed to keep from destroying the contents at best. When they are used for extreme terrain I think the weight is more of a hinderance.
I think you are on the right track

 

[LCOwner]

The weight of that tent even with the weight removed from the back isn't enough to be any problem. If it was reversed (weight removed from front and added to back) then it could start to be a problem. Honestly how much weight in camping gear are you going to carry on that thing? As long as you pay attention when loading you should never have a problem.
I see alot of these "expedition" trailers being built that while the fab work and detail is awsome they are soo over built/heavy. Most will see rough dirt roads that dictate slow speed to keep from destroying the contents at best. When they are used for extreme terrain I think the weight is more of a hinderance.
I think you are on the right track

Agreed.

For a short camping trailers such as the ones typically built here in "Trailer Tech" the tounge/axle weight split isn't as important to me as the overall weight and departure angle.