New-to-me RTT trailer....

[Nonprophet]

Just picked up the FJ80 a week ago, yesterday picked up this handy RTT trailer. I've been looking for awhile and had contemplated building my own, but, the price was very right on this one, it was located 15 mins from my house, and I like how it's set up. I wouldn't exactly call it a bona-fide "expedition trailer" as it has a conventional coupler and no brakes, but, when I get honest about where I'll really be going and how often, putting +/- $3-4k or more into an off-road trailer setup just doesn't make sense for me.

It's nothing super fancy, just a rattle can paint job, but, it does seem solid and very well built.

I like the forward hinge and spare tire mount, as well as one leveling jack on the tongue and two more for the back corners. The top has good latches and everything is lockable as well, and I like the tailgate swing to the side instead of dropping down. I think I'll install a few jerry can mounts for extra fuel, and maybe build a camp kitchen box--but I don't think I'll do sliders/drawers and all that as I like the fact that I can use this as a simple utility trailer as well. Inside measurements are 44"x64"x24" high.

The PO had a lifted jeep and this was set up to match, and so it's waaaay too high for my RAV4 and even my FJ80, so I'll want to lower it some--what's the best way to do that? Take out a couple leaves? Flip the axle? Use smaller tires?

Pics below, appreciate any comments/advice.

 

[TOMSRYD]

comment......no pics

 

[Nonprophet]

Ooops, forgot pics.....

 

[Nonprophet]

Wow, we only get to upload 3 images total?

 

[climber8483]

You need more posts to put up more pics, or just use an image hosting site and copy the link to your posts.

Nice trailer though! Are you going to keep the Jeep 5 lug pattern or swap it out for 'yota 6 lug?

 

[Nonprophet]

You need more posts to put up more pics, or just use an image hosting site and copy the link to your posts.

Nice trailer though! Are you going to keep the Jeep 5 lug pattern or swap it out for 'yota 6 lug?

Truth be told, I'm going to look around for some good used trailer tires and rims. I personally don't see the need to spend big bucks on off-road wheels and tires for the trailer, except maybe in the most extreme situations which I will rarely be in.

So yes, I'll be selling the 4 tires and the 3 jeep wheels...

 

[cruiserpilot]

It looks like it's SOA, you could lower it just by doing a trailer SUA conversion, that's what I'd recommend.

You say the front hinges forward? You got to add more pics.

 

[Nonprophet]

It looks like it's SOA, you could lower it just by doing a trailer SUA conversion, that's what I'd recommend.

You say the front hinges forward? You got to add more pics.

Ok, can you translate that for me? Lol! What do SOA and SUA mean?

The lid hinges forward, yes. I'll post some more pics as soon as I can--right now I can only post 3...

 

[Nonprophet]

Ok, I'm thinking you mean "springs over axle" and "springs under axle," correct?

 

[Nonprophet]

What all is involved with making that switch?

 

[Mark Harley]

Flip the axle to above the spring. "Spring Under"
That will lower the trailer the diameter of the axle say 2.5 to 3 inches.
Just watch out for fender clearance. " change the wheels and tires out" for shorter set.

Nice trailer and a good deal.

I would strip it down and spray it to match your tow vehicle.

 

[cruiserpilot]

Ok, can you translate that for me? Lol! What do SOA and SUA mean?

The lid hinges forward, yes. I'll post some more pics as soon as I can--right now I can only post 3...

Right now, the springs are over top of the axle (SOA). You would lower the overall height of the trailer by 3"- 4" I would think by unbolting the u-bolts and locating the axle so the springs are under the axle (SUA). It is easy with hand tools and shouldn't take too long. You might need smaller diameter tires in the event that the current set rub the bottom of the fender, but you might not have to either. By the looks of it I think you might be able to get away with it.

 

[fjcruzn]

Great deal!

You've got wiggle room to do some beneficial mods to personalize it to your usage pattern.

 

[John E Davies]

it's waaaay too high for my RAV4 and even my FJ80, so I'll want to lower it some

Why, may I ask? It is dead simple to fabricate a dropped coupler for the trailer to level it. I would never give up excellent ground clearance and departure angle for less height. If yours is an older RAV4 with swing door (the new trucklet FINALLY gets a hatch!), you can make a sliding (telescoping) tongue that gives extra length for that vehicle, and you can shorten it for the other ones.

I'm a huge fan of adjustable tongues. My trailer has two draw bars, one with a dropped ball coupler, and one with a raised Treg coupler. The tires are 31 inch and the axle is sprung over, so it sits fairly tall .... but behind the RAV4 it is dead level with half a load. Behind my lifted LX-450 it is also dead level, with the other bar.

http://www.spokanister.net/vehicles_trailer.htm

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Nonprophet]

Hey John,

Can you give some more details about the adjustable tongue? I like that option a lot, but I've not been able to find out a lot of info. In the trailer tech forum there were two adjustable tongue trailers that I saw and I PM'd the owners for more info, but never heard back and web searches haven't turned up much either. Could you post some pics of your trailer (very nice BTW!) hooked up to your LX450 so I could see the difference between the two setups?

I do like this setup, though yours seems more like what I'm looking for....

Thanks!

Why, may I ask? It is dead simple to fabricate a dropped coupler for the trailer to level it. I would never give up excellent ground clearance and departure angle for less height. If yours is an older RAV4 with swing door (the new trucklet FINALLY gets a hatch!), you can make a sliding (telescoping) tongue that gives extra length for that vehicle, and you can shorten it for the other ones.

I'm a huge fan of adjustable tongues. My trailer has two draw bars, one with a dropped ball coupler, and one with a raised Treg coupler. The tires are 31 inch and the axle is sprung over, so it sits fairly tall .... but behind the RAV4 it is dead level with half a load. Behind my lifted LX-450 it is also dead level, with the other bar.





http://www.spokanister.net/vehicles_trailer.htm

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Nonprophet]

More pics....

Now that my post count is higher, I think I can post some more pics....

 

[John E Davies]

Hey John,

Can you give some more details about the adjustable tongue? I like that option a lot, but I've not been able to find out a lot of info. In the trailer tech forum there were two adjustable tongue trailers that I saw and I PM'd the owners for more info, but never heard back and web searches haven't turned up much either. Could you post some pics of your trailer (very nice BTW!) hooked up to your LX450 so I could see the difference between the two setups?

I do like this setup, though yours seems more like what I'm looking for....

Thanks!

Search by my user name here in the Trailer Tech forum and at Expedition Portal, and you will be able to find several past posts about the tongue setup.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/42-Expedition-Trailers

Basically you need to weld a 2 inch square receiver to your trailer, then use 2 inch OD tubing to make one or more sliding draw bars. It's a simple setup that any skilled home welder can handle, or your local hitch/ welding shop.

This thread has a post that sums it up pretty well:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111876-Suggestions-for-Tongue-Length?highlight=trailer

There are a ton of trailer pics at my website, in the Trailer section, and also in the LX450 and vacation pics sections.
http://www.spokanister.net/newsite/ARCHIVES.html

Or Google "John E Davies spokanister trailer" and you will get a ton of hits.


John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Mark Harley]

As shown by NonProphet......

If your tongue tube is 2" x 2'' I would cut off the coupler and weld a reciever tube in it's place.
Then you could have a dropped coupler made for each of your vehicles and just swap them with a pin.

This is one from Summit Racing on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Curt-49240-...ies&hash=item5af1fce521&vxp=mtr#ht_1422wt_924

 

[John E Davies]

.This is one from Summit Racing on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Curt-49240-...ies&hash=item5af1fce521&vxp=mtr#ht_1422wt_924

Any steel supply company or hitch shop will have that part in generic form, possibly even made by their own shop guys. I haven't bought one lately, but it would have to be cheaper than Summit - tho that part has free shipping.

Just sayin'

John Davies
Spokane E WA USA

 

[rusty_tlc]

1) You need to fix the U bolts ASAP, the one in the picture that is at an angel should be vertical. Why is there one shiny new one and one rusty one? Re-using U-Bolts is bad juju, they stretch and will fail.

2) If you want to keep the trailer the way it is get a drop hitch, turn it up side down and install the ball facing up. My trailer is lifted but I tow with different vehicles so I have a different receiver hitches for each vehicle to match tow heights. EX: a 4" drop for my FJ60 and a 2" rise for the UZJ100.

3) If you want to convert the trailer to spring under you cannot simply "flip the axle". The axle has camber built into it, if you flip it the camber will be reversed and the tires will wear unevenly, and fast. Looking at the picture I suspect the PO did the spring over and flipped the axle, I would remove the axle and determine the camber then proceed. If the camber is correct you will need to weld new spring perches on the underside of the axle for a spring under set-up.
You can see the camber on my axle in this picture


This picture shows the axle with the new perches welded on, I left the original perches in place. I was doing a spring over but you get the idea.



4) I agree that there is no need for aggressive tires on a trailer, when you replace them be sure to get trailer tires, not truck tires. Trailer tires have stiffer sidewalls and designed for the application.