Off Road Trailer

[TonyM]

Anyone made a good one before? I'm looking at trying to get one together, that would be durable enough to be used offroad, but still usable on the road. It doesn't need to carry much weight, 1000LBS at the VERY most.

Any ideas?

[stonerosan]

That would be great the 2 biggest problems are attach piont flexable enough for off road but stable enough for on road and trailer height so you don't drag over everything but low enough not to roll over. Easiest would be a pick up bed with a pintle setup.

[TonyM]

Thats what I'm thinking. A pickup bed would work good, but I don't want a bed as I wouldn't need that much space. However, maybe with the bed sides removed, and a type of picket style side may work better, so that I can remove them. I am going to start this trailer as soon as I get my new boggers in, and I plan on running two of the old boggers on the trailer.

It would get used maybe once or twice a year, so I'm reluctant to put a bunch of money into it, but because the bk does so well on the road, it may open up other areas to go explore.

I will be on the lookout for a doner truck, that I can chop the frame on and make this thing happen, so if anyone sees anything in the free to almost free range, let me know.

I would like the hitch to be somewhat like an ATV hitch, with the spring. Anyone seen that on something thats going to be this size?

[Rebel GMC]

There have been a bunch of homemade trailers on craigslist lately. Some could make a good base to build on.

[scout]

pintle hitch will work best for off road but you need to set it up so it wont 360 on you easy to do, and good on road use too

[Kodiak181]

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/

They have a cool set up, and a nice hitch system. Way too spendy tho... Doesn't look like it would be too hard to make something similar.

[bigsub]

Try these links. I think the first one is kind of what you are looking for, except I agree that a pintle hitch is the way to go.

http://www.alaska4x4network.com/showthread.php?t=16472&highlight=trailer+scumby

http://www.alaska4x4network.com/showthread.php?t=13855&highlight=trailer

[TonyM]

Thanks for posting those. The first link looks like what i'm trying to come up with... but on 44s. I'll read through that thread and see if it would be feasable for me... Thanks Brian.

[Jed]

With that tire size, I would recommend a nice wide trailer. More stable that way. The stability issue can be resolved by limiting the pintle. From the looks of that first link, they look like them tiny military type trailers.

You gonna use it for fuel and stuff?

[AKBearMoose]

I have a short bed chevy with a cap...on 36's...well it was...and will be again...works awesome!

[deepmud]

I'll bite.

This has worked well off-road and on, carried up to 12-1500 pounds off-road, 2300lbs (overloaded) on the road, run all the way Washington D.C. and back, carried 2 3-wheelers to Homer and toddled along behind the same 3-wheeler on the beach without bogging in the gravel. I've strapped on stacks of logs and dragged out the trailer thru the woods, right over downed trees. At a Jim Creek Cleanup I hauled a dead Subaru Wagon carcass, a Chevy cab, and misc. crap out with a bone-stock Samurai for a tow rig.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/679616/fullsize/trailer001.jpg

I don't see 44's on the Subaru axle tho'. Maybe 36 or so, once re-drilled for Chevy 6 hole bolt pattern (easy job, Suby is same bolt circle diameter - 2 studs will line up the other 4 ).

Maybe you could copy the AT trailer design, but super-size it.

I find the independent suspension really makes for a lot of clearance for the tire size, and absorbs bumps really well. Finally, the trailer weight is really low - and that can be an issue off-road - why haul 500 pounds of axle and frame around when 250 will do the job and not get you stuck?

[TonyM]

Do you have a picture of it from the front or rear? I like the idea of that, but I can't picture how its attached. I don't necessarily need to put 44s on it, but I would like to get as close to that as possible. My thinking was that I'd have two rolling spares that I could use if need be, and come back for the trailer...

[00TJ]

Thanks for posting those. The first link looks like what i'm trying to come up with... but on 44s. I'll read through that thread and see if it would be feasable for me... Thanks Brian.

You will have the biggest grin a man can have cutting up a Jeep :sad:

[wrangler]

Great land welding can bend up a box like a jeep trailer looks like or what ever shape you want, either steel or aluminum. build a frame and throw an axle under it. frame and axel easy to do.

[krylon]

lots o f homemade trailer builds here.

http://expeditionportal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=42

[TonyM]

I think im scrapping the trailer idea. Although I can see the benifits of having one, there are some concerns.

Water crossings. I have a tendency to get into some deep water occasionally, and unless this thing sits up as high as my rig, everything in the trailer os going to get soaked, possibly even going down stream, or tugging me down stream with it.

Hills. There are not too many hills that I've been on that have stopped me, and turned me back. But when it does happen, it could sure complicate things having a little short trailer behind you to deal with, while you are butt puckered sliding backwards down a hill...

Mud/Swamp. When doing swamp crossings, sometimes you have to get on the peddle a little bit, and with my rig, that tends to make a BIG mess of material shooting behind me. If I had a trailer in a situation like that, everything in the trailer would be caked, not to mention the added weight.

Thanks for all the input on this, but I just don't think its going to work for me. I'm jsut going to have to be more creative with my in-cab arrangment.

[Bronco85]

Look on the AK4x4 Board. Scumby made one a few years ago I beleive. Turned out really good. I think he even set it up to have a tent on the top.

[deepmud]

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/679618/fullsize/trailer003.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/679620/fullsize/trailer004.jpg

topper screws on - storage on both sides, one side folds down to make a cooking area for my Coleman 3-burner stove - pretty water tight. It went to D.C. and back. Big enough to lay down inside if I want too.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/679624/fullsize/trailer007.jpg

[deepmud]

Also - if you look at my frame, it's just C-channel with a tube-topper - with out the topper, it's REALLY compact, and has nearly unlimited tire size options - I used it that way for years actually. The Suby suspension is from a 2wd Wagon of early-80's vintage. Lots of travel, very soft springs but carry a substantial load. Without shocks on it, it becomes a trampoline, you can bounce really high on it :D

[deepmud]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h56/monstaru/IMG_0374.jpg?t=1173739159

Pic of Suby w/toy rims - it's super easy, no-fancy-tools conversion.

[TonyM]

Do those Brat's have frames? Or unibody?

[ryantowry_81]

i would be a little worried about water crossings with a 1k pound trailer on 44's it might just float away. i would almost look at a smaller tire to keep you ground pressure the same as your truck. maybe a 35 or so? just an idea.

[TonyM]

I think im scrapping the trailer idea. Although I can see the benifits of having one, there are some concerns.

Water crossings. I have a tendency to get into some deep water occasionally, and unless this thing sits up as high as my rig, everything in the trailer os going to get soaked, possibly even going down stream, or tugging me down stream with it.

Hills. There are not too many hills that I've been on that have stopped me, and turned me back. But when it does happen, it could sure complicate things having a little short trailer behind you to deal with, while you are butt puckered sliding backwards down a hill...

Mud/Swamp. When doing swamp crossings, sometimes you have to get on the peddle a little bit, and with my rig, that tends to make a BIG mess of material shooting behind me. If I had a trailer in a situation like that, everything in the trailer would be caked, not to mention the added weight.

Thanks for all the input on this, but I just don't think its going to work for me. I'm jsut going to have to be more creative with my in-cab arrangment.

i would be a little worried about water crossings with a 1k pound trailer on 44's it might just float away. i would almost look at a smaller tire to keep you ground pressure the same as your truck. maybe a 35 or so? just an idea.

I've already scrapped the trailer idea.

[ryantowry_81]

i know you have but their might be others reading this page thinking of it and i just wanted to add to the tech, or if you change your mind down the road.....

[TonyM]

oh yeah... good idea :sifone: There I go thinking about nobody but me again... lol

[deepmud]

Do those Brat's have frames? Or unibody?

unibody - but don't let that stop you :D look at XJ's :sifone:

[ryantowry_81]

unibody - but don't let that stop you :D look at XJ's :sifone:

dont look too long though you might catch something, i know you are half way there already tony owning a jeep and all:dita: