I figured I should make a new thread about the build and get your guy's input on it as well.
This is/was
the basis where I got the idea of how easy it may actually be to build a trailer of my own. That build is exactly what I need. Simple and effective, looks nice and won't break the bank. I don't want or need anything really fancy, like an adventure trailer, just a "truck bed" of sorts that I can fill with gear when I have a jeep full of kids, wife and pup. With the jeep loaded with passengers, I need a way to carry all our stuff and so a trailer is the natural solution. I won't be beating on, or abusing it, just taking it on paved roads to established campsites. I am sure it'll see dirt roads, and maybe some mild wheeling, but I won't need it for the serious off roading I'll do.
This is what I am working with:
Fenders - I may trade them for squared off ones, but I like the round and will probably keep them.
The tub - it is roughly 48" square (upper lip measurements). It has a 1.5" inner boxed frame built into it on the bottom. I plan on crisscrossing the bottom with more of the same 1.5" tube. A buddy gave me a sheet of 1/4" thick ABS plastic, in black, and I am going to make the floor out of that. It will bolt in really easy and if I have issues with it, I can replace it with no problem. It will be 17" deep with the floor installed. The walls are made of 10 gauge steel.
The tub was actually 2 feet longer but I didn't want it that big so 2 feet were cut off and then the end welded back in. It turned out nice and clean:
As of now I only plan on running 32s on some stock "Canyon" Jeep wheels I picked up for free. I'll paint the wheels black (of course), and the trailer will be black and fenders will be gray. It should match the jeep nicely.
Ideally, I would have liked a tailgate, but this will work. I am debating on making a "rear bumper" for it to mount the turn signals in. If I do it will just be a 2"x 4" tube that will be welded to the rear of the tub and will have angled corners. For the tongue I want to do as the guy in the link I posted did, and use some square tube that will run from the "rear bumper" (if I make one it will be welded to it), and then extend about 40" past the front of the tub to the hitch coupler. I will weld the tongue to the floor cross-members I am going to weld in. I may use rear turn signals just like the ones the guy in the link did. I think I am just going to use a ball hitch as well.
I think I will be getting a custom axle, made to specs for the trailer. The guy quoted me $125 for it including hubs that will work with the 5x4.5 wheels I have. I am unsure what kind of springs I need to get the right height and spring rate though.
What does everyone think? I am doing this on the cheap, so I won't be going all out, but I am hoping it will still come out nicely. Lastly it will have JEEP in big gray letters on the back of it.
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