computeruser
Explorer
My trailer is rolling now, and has made its way back to my house to start on paint prep and enclosure design and construction. I still need to find someone to bore out my extra set of rims, but we did snatch a couple wheels off my utility trailer to get a couple pictures. The tires pictured are 26" tall (205/75/14), and the trailer will be wearing 31-10.50-15 on stock Jeep aluminum rims; the substantial backspacing will keep the 31s tucked in neatly (we hope...).
And best of all, it looks like the trailer will be able to be stored inside my other trailer...without too much room to spare!
Side:
Rear:
Front:
The next challenge will be to figure out how to design and fabricate the enclosure and jerry can storage system, preferably without spending a small fortune on steel. The tongue and rear receiver steel alone cost almost $150. Thankfully all the other steel was free scrap, or else this project would not be happening! I also have to be thankful for the fact that Kris likes to weld so damned much; I really haven't done much on this trailer building process up to this point, to be totally honest.
I already have a fairly respectable investment in plastic storage containers that could be packed in the back of the TJ, but they're going to be a little bit too wide (or not wide enough, depending on orientation) to make sense in the proposed enclosure design. We were thinking of sizing the interior for six (3d, 2h) large ActionPackers, along with a bit of extra space for larger, bulkier gear (cooler, firewood, etc.) than cannot be easily fit inside an ActionPacker. We'll see. I'm hoping I can do some sketching at work this week and come up with something that is fairly cheap and easy.
We also need to find a way to accommodate my canoe, and possibly a second canoe. My current canoe transport system kindasorta works, but even with a few more straps than are installed in the picture below, the canoe wants to move around on anything but smooth pavement. The super-stiff springs in the utility trailer don't help much with canoe transport, either, though they work wonders with loads of gravel, soil, compost, and mulch (Thanks, Chrysler, for those two transmission rebuilds under warranty!). I rolled a few 34x16" rounds of wet, fresh-cut norway spruce into the trailer and that softened the canoe's ride up a good bit, but that is no real solution. With the tongue fully extended on the off-road trailer, I should have less rear overhang than I currently do, and at a lower, easier to load height.
And best of all, it looks like the trailer will be able to be stored inside my other trailer...without too much room to spare!
Side:
Rear:
Front:
The next challenge will be to figure out how to design and fabricate the enclosure and jerry can storage system, preferably without spending a small fortune on steel. The tongue and rear receiver steel alone cost almost $150. Thankfully all the other steel was free scrap, or else this project would not be happening! I also have to be thankful for the fact that Kris likes to weld so damned much; I really haven't done much on this trailer building process up to this point, to be totally honest.
I already have a fairly respectable investment in plastic storage containers that could be packed in the back of the TJ, but they're going to be a little bit too wide (or not wide enough, depending on orientation) to make sense in the proposed enclosure design. We were thinking of sizing the interior for six (3d, 2h) large ActionPackers, along with a bit of extra space for larger, bulkier gear (cooler, firewood, etc.) than cannot be easily fit inside an ActionPacker. We'll see. I'm hoping I can do some sketching at work this week and come up with something that is fairly cheap and easy.
We also need to find a way to accommodate my canoe, and possibly a second canoe. My current canoe transport system kindasorta works, but even with a few more straps than are installed in the picture below, the canoe wants to move around on anything but smooth pavement. The super-stiff springs in the utility trailer don't help much with canoe transport, either, though they work wonders with loads of gravel, soil, compost, and mulch (Thanks, Chrysler, for those two transmission rebuilds under warranty!). I rolled a few 34x16" rounds of wet, fresh-cut norway spruce into the trailer and that softened the canoe's ride up a good bit, but that is no real solution. With the tongue fully extended on the off-road trailer, I should have less rear overhang than I currently do, and at a lower, easier to load height.
