BLT Offroad trailer

[R_Lefebvre]

198 for the TT-R 125? Wow, I thought it was much less than that. My WR250 is... 230 IIRC? I still have an 82 XT125 kicking around at the cottage, but it hasn't been run in years. The muffler rusted out and I can't get a replacement. My wife will never take a safety course, because I'll never let her drive anywhere a license is required. She's bad enough driving a car.:Wow1: Just looking for something she can plonk around on with me and the kids (when they get older). Anyway, the courses tend to use DR200's and XT225's. I've only ever seen 1 TW for sale used or new. I assumed they were totally unpopular, maybe it's because they just move so quickly.

You know, I'd actually been thinking a TW would be a great "secret weapon" on some of the Hare Scrambles I've done. If it's pissing down rain and just turns everything into soup, people spending more time on the ground than upright, the big bikes just digging ditches everywhere... It can get so nasty people give up after one 10-20km loop. Some guys win their class just because they go around for a second lap. Plonking around on a short fat tire TW seems like it would be way easier.

 

[ntsqd]

I thought I heard something like that years ago too. I think it only applies to fixed load utility trailers. Actually, this may qualify now? Dunno. I went to get the title transferred and got the plate with it. Guess I need it
My boat trailer doesn't have a plate. No title either.

:Wow1: Now you have me second guessing what they did to me

The one thing that I've wondered about is their location was rural and on 23 acres. Might have qualified them and the trailer as "Agricultural"?

That is a dandy looking trailer. Your Granddad had one built to last generations. I really is worthy of a little attention. Not too much so that you have to worry about it leaving home, but enough so that you can enjoy it.

Thanks!
I was given some industrial paint & catalyst that had to be removed from a friend's workplace because of the VOC content being too high. So prep and paint hopefully sometime early July. I'm booked until then. There's a few other things that I'd like to do and the trailer has some rather unique features, so I think that I'll start a thread when the time comes.

 

[HenryJ]

...have an 82 XT125 kicking around at the cottage, but it hasn't been run in years. The muffler rusted out and I can't get a replacement.

Seems like something should be adaptable. Used or new aftermarket there should be something that can be made to fit.

My wife will never take a safety course, because I'll never let her drive anywhere a license is required.

The course is good even for those who never get a license. I am experienced , but have still taken the course here three times. Maybe have her just take the Oregon offroad education card. That license is required for offroad areas in Oregon. Knowledge is power. I pick up tips anywhere I can. If she is as dangerous as you say, then she needs all the help we can get her

Some guys win their class just because they go around for a second lap. Plonking around on a short fat tire TW seems like it would be way easier.

There are many stories of just that happening. Sort of a Tortoise and Hare thing. I think you'd be pleased.
I watched Craigslist for over a year before I found my TW200. Crazedlist.org is a great tool to find things. I have only recently been using it.

 

[highlandercj-7]

Ours was a 87 the one a neighbor had last year was an 02 nothing but the color changed in the span that I know of. They are a great mochine! They handle the slop well, most bikes like to kick out in the mud this one doesn't do that. Plus ours rode great on wet pavement too. I was impressed they tire design had to be near poerfect to work so well in all sits. I could have had that 02 for 1800.00

 

[R_Lefebvre]

There are many stories of just that happening. Sort of a Tortoise and Hare thing. I think you'd be pleased.

Have you seen the video of the stadium endurocross where a guy showed up with trials bike and won? This guy entered just on a lark, and ended up kicking MMM. He was slower on the straights, but just cleaned up on all the obstacles.

 

[HenryJ]

Ours was a 87 the one a neighbor had last year was an 02 nothing but the color changed in the span that I know of. They are a great mochine! ... I could have had that 02 for 1800.00

2001 lost the kick starter and gained a bigger alternator as well as a front disk brake. Other than that the changes are subtle.
I agree that they are pretty great. That '02 will still probably go for that price today.

Have you seen the video of the stadium endurocross where a guy showed up with trials bike and won?

I haven't seen that, I'll watch for it. The underdog prevails!

Here is a thread with some nice action shots: TW200forum- BlackSCRunner's post

 

[HenryJ]

Good and bad from the shake down run.

We headed out to Twin Springs Creek. The weather was cool and cloudy. Sprinkling rain we still decided to give it a shot.
A brief tour of the Owyhee Dam museum and we were off late in the day. 5:00 pm before we left the pavement for roads unknown.

The climb up was not too bad. Pretty rough from all the rain the area has been getting. Every wash and rut had been cut deep.

I scrubbed the rear tank shield and hitch pretty hard on that crossing. A bit more tongue weight without the TW on the back may have made a little difference there.

Up on top , after a pretty good beating in the rough, the left front trailer spring mount broke loose. Those mounted Highlifts really came in handy. We jacked it up, pried it forward ,used tie downs and a ratchet strap to pull the axle forward into place.

That got us further. Rain and dark setting in we decided to make camp near an old windmill damaged and abandoned , with a dry stock water tank made from a large equipment tire. This is Cleaver's as I was later told. They now fill it using a gas powered pump. No cattle out here until much later in the year.

The night was good. Dogs and chili for dinner. Cold drinks, and hot chocolate. A nice campfire that held all night. The rain let up just in time for dinner prep.
The RTT works great.

Hazel nut chocolate creme crepes with homemade strawberry syrup. Ziploc baggie omelets, hash brown and patty sausages for breakfast. About four miles short of our goal we decided that it was best to head back the way we came.
Morning brought clear skies and warmer weather. Roads drying.

On the way out we got a little winching practice. A large boulder in the middle of the road.
The line is synthetic so the spectators were allowed to be closer than otherwise would have been safe.

We set up two pulls using two straps and a snatch block.

Resetting the straps several times, We moved it to a position where two of us were able to tip it off the road down hill.

Not far after this the right front spring hanger also broke. One ratchet strap and one tie down left we did the same trail fix to the other side.
That was enough to get us home.

The Good: The trailer is a nice size. RTT rocks! I like it. Highlift jacks mounted like that are REALLY good both as stabilizers and for lifting a wheel.

The Bad: I knew the lack of frame might be an issue. It was! Boy it was! I probably should have inspected it closer as it looked to have been cracked around the mounts before we got it. I am currently considering the direction that I want to go to fix this right.
The jacks were handy, but they get too easily coated with mud and effectively disabled. I really need to add a boot to protect them. The right side faces rear and was not as bad when covered with mud, but the left side was a real pain.

Over all it was a good learning experience. I have plans for some reorganization in the trailer. I will not leave home with out my good heavy ratchet straps again. Now I need to make time to tear the trailer down and revise the suspension mounting system.

 

[HenryJ]

Second big trip went much smoother. 450 miles with no problems

Album

 

[HenryJ]

Added Level-o-gauges to the front and side:

Finally found a matching set of wheels too.
I very good price on a LED light bar for the back prompted its installation. It is barely visible under the tailgate:

This offers redundant driving, directional and brake lights. It really improves the visibility from the rear at night too.

 

[cnskate]

Looks really nice, color matched and all!

 

[elmo_4_vt]

What did you end up doing to fix/reinforce the springs?

-

 

[HenryJ]

What did you end up doing to fix/reinforce the springs?

Built an internal frame and added crossmembers for the spring mounts. The hitches tie it all together.
Much like sectioning in subframe connectors on a unibody. I am confident that it will hold together now.

 

[G-force]

That`s a sweet trailer, you`ve got there

I espesially liked the supports for the kano. Mind if i copy those? Its exactly what i need for my own project.

 

[HenryJ]

That`s a sweet trailer, you`ve got there

I espesially liked the supports for the kano. Mind if i copy those? Its exactly what i need for my own project.

Thank you. The canoe mounts are pretty simple. The front piece "goal post" comes apart in two pieces. The top just fits over a straight piece of tubing. This makes it easier to store and also change the length should I need to. Both fit into hitch receivers. The front being vertical, but does not need to be pinned as a strap is welded across the bottom of the tube.
I used the same EPDM "D" shaped seal that I used for the lid to line the inside of them. This works pretty well to protect the rails and has served to be very durable.

I can not take the credit for them exclusively. I took all my ideas from what others have done. I hope they all think as I do ..."imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
You are more than welcome to use any ideas you find. That is why we all share on forums like these :victory:

 

[HenryJ]

The power system is complete. Lighting done.
I moved my Group 78 Deka Intimidator to the trailer , mounted in a nice big battery box. That left room for power ports, switches and fuses. The power ports supply the fridge, and LED RTT light strip, as well as offer a place to attach a solar panel if one is in my future.
For now charging will be through a cable plugged into the trucks rear power quick connector. This same connector plugs into the winch, booster cables and the generator. Lots of ways to connect different combinations. The parallel connection to the vehicle battery should offer a boost if needed.
The truck got a new Diehard Platinum. Both batteries, although not the same brand, are very similar. Both AGM group 78 compact plate design batteries. Hopefully they will play well together and charge up while traveling.
The manual quick connector is part of the KISS. Easy to connect and disconnect. The parts all interchange and can be swapped in a pinch. I don't think I would have problems if I forget to disconnect, unless is sits for a very long time. A good battery can run the fridge for three days on its own.

Here is the light strip installed.

The led light strip attaches with zip-ties to the top bow. The little black box on the right is the switch to shut them off at night. I stitched the power cord to the flap around the outside of the tent. The connector plugs in to the top of the power box.

This port has a switch on the box to turn it off too. That way we can switch the lights on from outside before we crawl in for the night.

I struggled with what to do for a weather tight access port for the fridge cord. It took my nine year old son a little while to get his idea through to me, but he was right on the money. A simple outlet cover.

The cover can be pinned closed. I filed a notch at the bottom for the 12 volt power cord to fit. It should work great. Listen to those little helpers. I was trying to make things way too complicated.

The mounting strap for the power box was installed and the two supports for the shelf bolted in place. Next I decided it needed a cover , so I made one from some marine vinyl.

I installed a couple grommets and put the power studs through it. This bolts the cover to the box and allows me an easy way to attach a charger.

All ready for a test run!