Southeast Overland trailer build by Trollhole's Cruisers

[Southeast Overland]

I picked up this Swiss trailer about two years ago from a fellow club member. It came with a full soft top and bows, kinda like a chuck wagon. My plans have been for the past two years to do a resto/mod and use it as an expedition trailer for trips and also to use to haul all the Southeast Overland merchandise to events where I setup a booth.

I've also been wheeling for the past couple of years with a RTT, full rack, lights, awning, and sometimes two cans of fuel on the roof of my FJ Cruiser. While its actually fun to me to wheel up a fairly difficult trail with all that stuff up top, I have found my way into quite a few "tippy incidents" where having upwards of 300 lbs on the roof didn't help my situation out very much. The biggest driver is when I'm at events we are sponsoring I end up having to pitch and take down the RTT everyday to go wheeling if we are operating from a base camp. I very fast at setting up and taking down the RTT, but when peeps are ready to go wheeling they want to go wheeling. With the trailer I'll be able to set up the RTT that will be living on the trailer and go wheeling whenever I like.

So - here are the plans for Stage 1 of the build. Marshall with Trollhole's Cruisers will be doing basically all the work. We've been too busy at Southeast Overland to touch the trailer.

1. Disassemble trailer and blast the whole thing.
2. Remove the top and its fastening hardware. This will be saved for later use if needed.
3. Remove leveling stands. Their mounting points will be left on the trailer for the time being.
4. Add a tongue stand like those on a 416.
5. Replace rusty hinges on tailgate.
6. I'll splice some tailgate catches out of winch line.
7. Replace hardware.
8. Paint OD green.
9. Bed line inside the tub.
10. Rewire lights.
11. Relocate the safety cables.
12. Fab a locking lid on hinges that will sit about 6-8" tall above the bed. Place RTT on lid.
13. Add fastening points underneath the lid for an axe, hand saw, shovel, etc.
14. We will have the trailer back before the spring wheeling season and will test it extensively before we head on to Stage 2 of the build.

Stage 2

1. Add a tongue box for additional storage.
2. Consider replacing current slipper springs with a different suspension setup.
3. Add armor to sides of trailer in front of and behind wheels / fenders. Extra storage will be placed on top of armor.
4. What else???

I'm really bad about taking pics before I start tearing into a project and this time is no exception. I did get some pics from Trollhole's Cruisers of the tear down process. Enjoy!


Pic of the trailer from the previous owner.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=723&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17



Side shot with the fenders pulled off. There was a lot of surface rust but no rot, except the rear hinges that were pretty bad.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=726&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17



The bed floor was a piece of sheet metal over wood. Both were in good shape.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=725&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17



Shot of the bed floor pulled out.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=724&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17



Shot of the front. Stage one will add a ground support stand. Stage 2 will add a tongue box here.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=727&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17



Shot of the rear and the tailgate.
http://www.southeastoverland.com/in...e=img&id=728&option=com_joomgallery&Itemid=17

Pics of wheeling with the RTT on top of the Southeast Overland FJ Cruiser.

 

[jfz80]

Now your gonna have to watch what you say bout Marshall till ya get it back

cool base to start with, ill be watching as it sounds it will turn out nice!
im leaning towards the trailer for same reason, dropping base camp and ability to explore unloaded

 

[Southeast Overland]

Some progress has been made.

Sandblasting

Sandblasting completed of whole trailer

Close up of blasted tailgate

Happy to report that there was no rot or rust through. There was some pitting but everything is now clean as a whistle and now ready for some fabrication.

 

[Trollhole]

Paint has been bought. Single stage olive drab that already has the degloss added.

 

[sggoat]

Just a note- but best to use gloss first. Way more stable. If you don't want the gloss, after the paint, sand or deglaze with scotch pads or cover with a satin or flat finish. If you use deglossed(satin or flat) paint the finish will degrade a lot faster(the dryers and dullers in the paint will weaken the finish)

 

[Trollhole]

More progress. Should have it done this week so expect a lot of posts and pics.





M416 aft

Swiss trailer in front both are getting new aluminum lids.





New latches were added with a new brace plate tapped for stainless screws. I like these as they have a secondary locking feature so a limb can't accidentally open them.









Amazing what paint was hiding as we'll as the deck. One side of the trailer was broken off.




More beaks.





More were found in the front. And found out the parking brake had broken off and been welded back on haphazard.





Everywhere you see new welds is where the frame was broken.





New location more inboard and square for the parking brake crank.



All holes in the deck were filled.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Looks like this trailer had seen some rides. Cannt wait to see it finished

 

[titanpat57]

Steve, TH,

Regarding the axle and slipper springs,

I was talking with Chris Cole, owner of Campa Trailers, last year at the Vermont Overland Expo, and he explained the difference between conventional spring setups, and the slipper spring. (of which I had no knowledge of, or familiarity with)

He had a really interesting take on slipper springs, and explained that they dramatically reduce the chance of out of control sway and provide a better ride because they are independent of each other, and therefore there is transference of energy of loaded weight to create sway.

Just food for thought..the build is coming along nicely!

 

[Trollhole]

Now on to the top.

 

[Trollhole]

More of the same.

 

[Trollhole]

Almost done. I really like working with aluminum.

Made for a long day in the shop getting it ready for Steve's grand opening.

 

[Raddic]

Almost done. I really like working with aluminum.

Made for a long day in the shop getting it ready for Steve's grand opening.

Wow. You are just flyin thought that thing. Paint looks great.

 

[Southeast Overland]

Trollhole brought the trailer by the Southeast Overland shop today for the grand opening of our new location. The trailer looks great.

 

[cruiserjunkie]

Turned out great

 

[Trollhole]

Couple other pics.


Paint turned out great. Still have a days worth of little things to do.

 

[HENDOG]

.

Dang That Took Some Time!!!​

.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Seen it yesterday in person. Great job on it man.

 

[Mark Harley]

Very nice work!

 

[davegonz]

Can you shoot a pic of the hinge on your tailgate? I'm redoing my Bantam and need some ideas.

 

[Trollhole]

It's a weld on hinge. Basically I bought a steel hinge and an aluminum one and swapped heads. They are greaseable as well.