Yep. Another Off Road/Adventure Type Trailer Build

[titanpat57]

well, well, well...


I don't have a lot knowledge about an all new build...but several things always come to mind.

Why have a trailer with 12" more clerance than the tow vehicle? (as in SOA)

If you go SOA...what other issues, complications, costs are brought to the table?

I like the builds where they go with the Jeep front end springs (which I guess is a nice, long spring) and a 3500lb. brake axle.

The new build came with a SOA...not my first choice though. I'd much rather would've had a SUA, less top heavy, and probably would've been 6-8" lower.

I'm sure either way it will be nice.

 

[VFRMAN]

Well here's what I'm kinda thinking(copying). Still using the camper shell, just making new frame. Similar to Box Rockets frame here(Thanks). And kind of like the AT Horizon with the fenders.

My "CAD" contributions are in red.

Really not much different than what you already proposed with the old trailer being used.

 

[VFRMAN]

Well, the new axle actually made it as far as the back of my truck before I realized they put 5 lug hubs on it.

I guess I have to wait til tomorrow to play around with it now.

 

[VFRMAN]

Got the axle back with the correct hubs. Just mounted up as a standard spring under for now to play around with making the new frame but I picked up an extra set of hangers to weld on the other side later for the spring over.

Lug nuts I didn't even think about so I have to get new ones that fit the 1/2" wheel studs.

Shank style wheels so is there a simple part # out there before I go looking for suitable lug nuts? Or should I have just bought the hubs blank and pressed in 12mm x1.5 studs? Not looking to re-invent the wheel here, but looks like buying new lug nuts is my best option now.

edit:
"Disclaimer": I've just got the wheels snugged up with some 1/2" washers and the lug nuts flipped backwards to sit flat against the rim face while I look at designing the frame.

 

[VFRMAN]

I took the old trailer out from underneath so I have a blank slate to start from fitting the new frame around the axle/wheel combo and topper/shell.

I just cut out the 2x4s in between to space it out with a max outside dimension of 46" which is what I need to clear the wheels/tires with about 2 1/2" clearance on each side. Is this enough? Springs are just resting on the 2x4's roughly where they will end up.

This whole "wood" design is all just because I can't design/visualize anything without seeing it in front of me. (Though Pat's Google Sketch has helped tremendously). Eventually build the new frame out of steel tubing and skin it with sheet metal once i understand how it all fits together.

Now that I don't have to conform to the old trailer dimensions, I may re-look at how long it should be. The more I look at it, the more I kind of like the extra length, though I'm sure most of these trailers you all build would be a lot more manageable on a tough trail than this thing will be. Not really an issue for me and my intended use I guess.

Now that my 2 yr old is up from his "late" nap, I'll have a few hours to think about it before I go back in the garage.

Sure is nice when momma and the other 3 kids go BMX'ing for the weekend and leave me to think in peace.

All comments welcome.

 

[VFRMAN]

One more question. The pic attached shows the door and I'm wondering if this thing is going to be sitting too high? Looks like I could easily cut off the bottom 4 1/2" or so of the door (up to the second piece of tubing) and reduce my overall height by that much.

Worth it?

 

[VFRMAN]

Right now overall height is 65" to the top of shell. Have to add the hanger brackets which is about another ~4" so should be about 69" before the tent goes on.

Confusing me the most is the area behind the wheels in the back. Angle it? Square it off? Haven't got my head around that area yet. The rest is coming together in my head at least.

Propane tank is just sitting there as I try to figure out how to use the available space.

And how to make the fenders.

And how to skin the thing.

And how to slope the nose and make it a little more aerodynamic if that's even possible.

And how to mount the Yakima bike racks to a framework.

Just keeps going.

 

[VFRMAN]

Couple more and one of my "helper".

Barefoot in the garage. Nails and tools everywhere.

At least he was two-fisting the waters and not beers.

 

[VFRMAN]

Set the tent on to open to the back and to try to decide how to make a framework rack on top to mount tent as well as bike mounts on the front.

Since tent opens to back now, the double Yakima tower mount is parallel with the aluminum mounting rail of the tent. Probably not the beefiest connection. Thinking the square tubing rack idea that runs the full length of the topper may be the way to go. Then I could slide the tent back and forth depending on my load without worrying about specific mounting locations. Also could move the bike mounts around if necessary. Like the idea of options.

Also set a couple of my big drawer slides on where I think the slideout kitchen should go.

Planning on nose box/water tank location/front end shape now. Looking like about a 25 gallon water tank mounted just in front of the axle between the frame rails. roughly 36"x8"x16" to play with. Then maybe make a flip down skid plate to protect it from underneath.

Comment away where I'm going off the rails here.

 

[titanpat57]

Set the tent on to open to the back and to try to decide how to make a framework rack on top to mount tent as well as bike mounts on the front.

Since tent opens to back now, the double Yakima tower mount is parallel with the aluminum mounting rail of the tent. Probably not the beefiest connection. Thinking the square tubing rack idea that runs the full length of the topper may be the way to go. Then I could slide the tent back and forth depending on my load without worrying about specific mounting locations. Also could move the bike mounts around if necessary. Like the idea of options.

Also set a couple of my big drawer slides on where I think the slideout kitchen should go.

Planning on nose box/water tank location/front end shape now. Looking like about a 25 gallon water tank mounted just in front of the axle between the frame rails. roughly 36"x8"x16" to play with. Then maybe make a flip down skid plate to protect it from underneath.

Comment away where I'm going off the rails here.

Don't want to think I've been ignoring you Love....


Obviously I have my own set of issues going right now...



But my first thought after seeing the rough assembly is there is no bearing for the sides...so if you want to go with the current design...you're going to have to external skeleton to carry the tent and bikes. I just don't think that top was made to carry that much weight. Get it close and then we'll colaborate for a new design drawing.

I think once you include some basic frame changes...you'll be able to drive a tank up there...hell....maybe even me!

 

[VFRMAN]

I thought maybe you broke up with me and I missed the memo?

Nice build you got going there too. Pretty pimped out. Nice.

 

[VFRMAN]

Ordered some Spidertrax spacers to solve my wheel nut issue. Couldn't believe how hard I had to search for a definitive answer on making my 80 alloys work on these hubs. Is everyone else just using earlier alloys with the acorn lug nuts?

This actually should help me out getting an extra 2.5" for bed width.

 

[VFRMAN]

So much for this incarnation of an offroad trailer. Storm last night picked the topper right off the wooden mock-up frame and threw it 4 houses down the street. Back to the drawing board I guess. On the flip side I now have a bunch of aluminum tubing i can salvage to use in a boat refurbishing project I have in mind. (But probably will never get to)


Neighbors house across the street fared about as well as the topper

 

[alfio]

sorry to hear that, things were looking good.

 

[titanpat57]

Damn.....



Well.....




Might as well buy the ROAM......perfect timing!!






Seriously, glad everyone's ok...weather is berserk lately

 

[VFRMAN]

Thanks. Maybe I should try to utilize the other Ford Ranger topper lid I have in the garage? Who the Hell am I kidding? We just had baby #5 a month ago today. I can barely look at the garage let alone go out there and actually work on anything. Maybe in about 18 years?

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Nice Avatar pic...

It's the same one I've been using on ExPo for years.

 

[VFRMAN]

Nice Avatar pic...

It's the same one I've been using on ExPo for years.

Thanks. Rollie must have been a crazy SOB to run 150 mph in a speedo and some flip flops.

I don't think I'll mess with the fiberglass topper any more. It just came along for free with the utility topper that was destroyed. Trying to design around it Pat did an awesome job, but now that I have the axle and wheels set up, maybe just build from scratch. Don't know yet. Never enough time to do anything.

Case in point about no time. 80 degrees and sunny here right as I type this. First nice weather so far this year. As I'm helping my wife weed the damn flowers(while I'm supposed to be changing oil in the maxivan), I see my next door neighbor (who's kids are all grown and gone) hooking up his 619 Ranger for a weekend of fishing. "Yep, guess I'll have to go ice up a 30 pack now". Bastard.

Gotta love kids. Otherwise I'd have traded all 5 of them in for something fun.

If this one couldn't catch fish, or ride a bike, like he does, he'd be the first to go. 10" and 13" Crappies off the dock the other night.

 

[VFRMAN]

Update:

Well, back at it again. This time instead of sitting at the computer asking a boatload of questions, i just started screwing 2x4's together. Progress so far is below.

Little update on the planned use as it's changed a little bit. Hauling bikes around for BMX we've overran the space in the maxivan so a trailer just makes sense. I didn't like the gas mileage hit we took with a 5x8' enclosed trailer so i thought just modifying the trailer i have for now will have to work.

That being said, the more i looked at it, the more I still wanted all the crap I planned on before with the other trailer project.

So now I plan to use the 3 sets of 500lb drawer slides for a cooler/stove slide like the Adventure Trailer combo slide. Only my redneckengineered version. That will be the far left opening at front of trailer.

Opening to the right is fit for 2 Jerry cans for water.

Opening above that will be slides for bike tools/parts, etc. All 3 sets of slides are 36" so just one big drawer with maybe some dividers in it.

Opening above the stove/cooler will be camp kitchen stuff I suppose, or just more parts.

Other side of trailer will have room for a 20lb propane tank in one opening, and misc storage in the other. Not sure what I'll do on the upper openings on that side yet.

Wife's home. Gotta run.

More later.......

edit: most of the 2x4's are just sitting there not screwed yet so it hopefully won't be quite that crooked when I'm done.

 

[titanpat57]

wow...

I just had this crazy, whacked out dream that VFRMAN was working on a trailer again...

damn I have to stop eating eating peanut butter pizza and drinking gin and tonics before bed...*shakes head*

























lol...looks good...keep up the progress!