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Building an off-road trailer... need help
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=45775		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  durangotang [ Tue Aug 11, 2009 10:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Building an off-road trailer... need help
Hey all,

I'm in the beginning process of building an off road trailer for the KJ. I have a couple of options for the base of the trailer and one in particular caught my eye. We have a lot of local contractors who seem to be closing their doors and these trailers have been popping up for sale...

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/cto/1315906360.html

You guys think this would make a good platform for an off-road trailer? (taking into account that it would, of course, be heavily modified and refinished after purchase)
Author:  JeepBumm68 [ Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
it does not look like it would be too bad. I would get a m416 personally
Author:  durangotang [ Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
JeepBumm68 wrote:
it does not look like it would be too bad. I would get a m416 personally


That would be nice... but the demand for them has driven the price through the roof :shock:
Author:  JeepBumm68 [ Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
yes it has. ugh. Really any trailer that is not too heavy, but has a solid box frame, and a solid floor would be good. Cause you can always weld on flares, and everything. If it comes with a god solid axle even better.
Author:  tommudd [ Tue Aug 11, 2009 11:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Not to rain on your parade but check the weight on those real close, with that heavy frame plus the box its going to be hitting 1000 lbs or more easy unless its an aluminum box which it doesn't appear to be.
Most off road trailers seem to be more in the 4 X6 foot range a lighter frame.
Author:  durangotang [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:11 am ]
Post subject: 
tommudd wrote:
Not to rain on your parade but check the weight on those real close, with that heavy frame plus the box its going to be hitting 1000 lbs or more easy unless its an aluminum box which it doesn't appear to be.
Most off road trailers seem to be more in the 4 X6 foot range a lighter frame.


Oh don't worry... the parade hasn't even started yet :lol: For all I know that is a dually bed I pictured, it was just an example.

I was more curious about the idea of starting with a utility box and building a lighter frame under it as needed... I'll see how much they weigh though, good point there.
Author:  tjkoen01 [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:00 am ]
Post subject: 
they want $550 for that particular utility bed turned into trailer......there has been an m416 on ebay for a while.......$650 buy it now.....

i also have a red one i'd be willing to sell for the right price.... :wink:
Author:  tommudd [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:09 am ]
Post subject: 
tjkoen01 wrote:
they want $550 for that particular utility bed turned into trailer......there has been an m416 on ebay for a while.......$650 buy it now.....

i also have a red one i'd be willing to sell for the right price.... :wink:


mmmm you are closer to me than tang...... :twisted:

so PM me with the "right price" :wink:
Author:  tommudd [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:16 am ]
Post subject: 
Tang,

I have seen two now that used the Utility type of bed but both were for S-10 and Ford Rangers, smaller but still with the side boxes, also one was aluminum so much lighter, one had a flat cover with a RTT on top the other had a regular cab high type cover on it with a bed setup inside, both looked pretty good. The cover went almost the full width so he had like a seting platform on both sides on top of the side boxes. Both were being towed by full size rigs though.

Also expeditionportal has a great section for trailers and what people have built/bought/thrown together, some interesting reading on a long lonely night :wink: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Author:  tomsjeep [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:32 am ]
Post subject: 
I've been in the wish market for a Jeep trailer for quite a while. Honestly, building/having one built seems the best option. Purchase of a military-built one has a couple of problems... cost first of all, and availability/reliability. Those go hand in hand, but the Jeep trailer hasn't been made in a long, long time, and anything out there is either not serviceable or very expensive. I have seen the Tech Manual for the original Jeep trailers online (and have most of the Army trailer TMs in my library) which give enough info and specs that you could fairly easily build one from the diagrams.
Also, beware beware beware... there was a whole class of replacement trailers built for the Army that failed specification (the trailer tongue tore right off the box in off-road testing). Somewhere out there is a parking lot filled with parked DXd trailers that are a disaster waiting to happen... the good news is they are a slightly larger size than the old M-Jeep trailer.
It's not like it's that complicated a piece of equipment. I sure wish I had the one I dragged around in Korea many years ago.
Afterthought: none of the TMs I have are restricted distribution, so if we could find a way to host, I'd happily share them.
Author:  ATXKJ [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
over at Teardrops and Tiny trailers - they had a really nice alternative

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20032&highlight=expedition

and the site has lots of guidelines for buying/building trailers.
Author:  jsc7002 [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
I dont think it would be a bad starting point. It would give you a lot of storage which would be nice, and they probably have a heavy duty rear axle, like a 14B or a D60.
Author:  tommudd [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 1:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
but you don't need or want a D60 axle in a trailer, a 3500 lb trailer axle is more than enough. Lighter weight the better :wink:
Author:  durangotang [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks all!

Found an example of what I am after... turns out they make aluminum utility boxes for compact pickups... :D Here's one made into a trailer:

Image

Image

This is EXACTLY what I am after :shock:
Author:  tommudd [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:28 pm ]
Post subject: 
could of sworn I said that they did make aluminum ones :lol: :lol: :lol:
Author:  durangotang [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 9:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
tommudd wrote:
could of sworn I said that they did make aluminum ones :lol: :lol: :lol:


I know you did :D

I just wanted photographic proof... like bigfoot :lol:
Author:  Tokyojoe [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
How about converting a junked J10 bed? Replaced axle with straight bar-type axle to reduce weight.
Author:  Blue KJ in PA [ Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
http://cosprings.craigslist.org/pts/1307355245.html
Author:  LIV42DY [ Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
M 100 series are heavy, great trailer but depending on what you are going to do with it and where you are going it could turn out to be a heavy investment by the time you load it with your options. I have been working on mine for three weeks, below are a few pictures of the build. the lower section 3.5 angle iron was used, top side 2.5 the rear is angled at 35, still working on the tailgate,I chose a 3000lb axel for a larger wheel bearing since I will be running 32" tires( the ones on the picture are old 30 on the old KJ rims. I have the Moabs including the spare. I finished the coupling last weekend, full rotation 180/ 360, the small front cargo plate will house the control panel box, onboard power, next to it is the gas can holder. the top will be framed with 1.5 aluminum and diamond plated with hydrolic pistons for easy open and close.the trailer when finished will have 2 functions, utility and offroad camper. The tent will be the last piece ,since it will be expensive.


Image

Image

Image

Image
Author:  tommudd [ Fri Aug 14, 2009 11:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
LIV4

I like a lot, just make two while you are at it, and I will run over and pick it up when you're done :wink:
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