Project Junkyard Dawg - the off road camper

[ugamurph]

I’ve decided that I want to start a build thread to document the build and adventures of my off road truck bed trailer. I call it #ProjectJunkyardDawg. It’s come a long way since the day I picked it up in Northern Alabama.

The trailer was built from a 1972 Datsun 521 truck bed and frame by a guy in AL. I picked it up in November of 2017 after searching for parts on Craigslist for a previous Datsun trailer build. I fell in love with the style of this trailer and had to have it. Eventually, the original Junkyard Dawg, a 1979 Datsun 620, was sold to a Nissan 4WD enthusiast to fund this new (older) trailer.

The original Junkyard Dawg purchased Sept 2017:

The “new” PJD (November 2017):

I’ve been working hard to get to road worthiness with a few improvements and modifications. I’ll document these in the following posts.


I have plans to build a height adjustable rack for a CVT Mt. Denali RTT, scene lighting, rear bumper with hitch receiver, a chuck box on the tongue for a fridge, stove, sink, and kitchen goods, sliders under the bedsides, on board water and power with solar recharge, 11 lb propane (and propane accessories), a custom bed cover, storage solutions and tie downs, a 3-axis coupler, awning or batwing and the list goes on and on and on...

 

[ugamurph]

Recent Photo:

Coppinger Cove - July 2018

Bryant Cove Flat Rock - July 2018

Project Junkyard Dawg Spec Sheet

1972 Datsun 521 truck bed and frame
Dexter Axle
Tru-Ryde 10” self adjusting brakes
2001 4Runner wheels (including spare)
265/75r16 Federal Couragia MTs
4Runner spare winch on custom mount
Custom receiver tube tongue
Bikstein 5100 shocks on custom welded mounts
LED tail/brake lights
FJ60/62 side marker lights (rear-OEM, front-aftermarket)
Tractor Supply aluminum tool box on the tongue

 

[ugamurph]

The original Junkyard Dawg was separated, the frame was cleaned and I slathered some POR-15 on everything but the tongue. My plan was to rebuild the tongue and patch up some rust rot.

 

[ugamurph]

The one thing that bugged me about PJD1.0 was the tailgate. The bed/frame was a Datsun 620 (1973-79) and the tailgate was from a 720 (1980 and later). It “fit”, but it didn’t match the body lines. Finding a proper replacement proved near impossible. While searching, I found PJD2.0 and gave up on the original.

I finally put it up for sale and got what I paid for it. Sold it to one of the hosts of the Nissan Nation Podcast.

Packed up and ready to go to its new home.

 

[jynx]

Love this trailer. Look forward to following along.

You got a plan for your rack yet? I gotta build one for Bumble to mount the RTT on soon myself and I'm curious how your thinking of "adjustment" will be.

 

[ugamurph]

@jynx I’m thinking a telescopic rack where the upper tube slides over top of the bottom tube with 100 lb or more lift supports on each corner. I found this idea from another build. This guy used an outer tube on the bottom, but I think the opposite would keep water from collecting. Also, he used 60 lb lifts and still had to manually assist it.

 

[ugamurph]

In December of 2017, I started the build by replacing a broken tailgate latch. A guy in Oregon (the hot bed for old Datsun trucks) had a spare one that he sold me for a reasonable price. My favorite parts of these old truck beds are the latches and the rail hooks. Gotta love the embossed tailgates, too.

I also used some paint stripper to start removing the black rattle can. Oh, how I wish that OE green color had been left alone.

 

[ugamurph]

January 1, we took off to visit mom & dad in Southwest Georgia. I decided to load up the tailer to help carry Christmas presents. I also had an alterior motive...I picked up a multiprocess welder on the way down. One of the major reasons for PJD was for me to learn how to weld. I don’t have a picture from the day I picked it up, but it’s an Eastwood MP250i. I know it’s not a Miller or other name brand, but it was priced right and does what i need.

Chick fil A parking for off road trailer to be.

Had to stop by the Benz on the way home.

 

[Tennessee80]

Cool trailer!

 

[ugamurph]

Cool trailer!

Thanks, Joel! It’s a fun project.

 

[ugamurph]

After getting the welder home, I got some flux core (because no gas yet) and started trying to figure it out.

My plan is to eventually have the bed watertight for the ocassional high water crossing that I’ve been known to participate in. So, I started plugging some holes and repairing some rust rot.

 

[ugamurph]

I had been using a 10 foot tree strap as my “safety chain”. I remembered that I had a length of chain in my shed and went to welding again. Having a welder makes some repairs so easy and convenient.

It might be ugly, but it worked. Forgot to put the hitch pin in the draw bar just so I could test the chains. Doh!

Isn’t that tongue made by a previous owner kinda janky? I’ll remedy that later. But, for now, it works.

The paint stripper was very messy and toxic, so I decided to use a wire wheel instead to remove the paint. It was messy as well, but not toxic (with a proper respirator).

While grinding the paint off, I found some of that nasty...and very thick... Bondo. Ugh! I cleaned it off and found a mess of a repair job underneath. I eventually cut that mess out and attempted to patch a panel in. My attempt at sheet metal repair failed, so I cut it out again and have left it alone thus far. I have a plan in place now to add a water and air supply in that area with a closeable lid.

The patch panel turned out great after lots of dolly and hammering work. Then I messed it all up with my inexperienced welding. Oh well.

 

[ukaviator]

Looks like a cool project man!

Looking forward to seeing how it all comes along, looks like you are making some headway

 

[ugamurph]

@ukaviator Thanks. It’s been fun and I’m learning a lot. The second post shows where it’s at today. I started work in January of this year and I’m finally taking the time to document what I’ve done so far.