Apache Chief - 1st adventure trailer ever?

[highlandercj-7]

That thought crossed my mind already. I been working on designing a roof rack and thought if I made the floor into it and it folded down like a clam shell then the tent could pop out onto it. There are a few other ideas running round me head on this too lol..

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Might I suggest that you determine if the body can be unbolted from the trailer frame. If so, you might mount the box on a different military trailer frame (saving the old frame so that it might be taken back to stock if needed).

You might then devise some sort of elevated stilt floor system, or something that would allow the tent floor to sit above ground level taking up the added height.

The other thought is ... this thing has made it since 1961 without any mods. Pull it to a site and use as a base camp and don't try to off road with it at all.

Just my two little pennies.

DJ

 

[highlandercj-7]

That's the intention, Most of the east coast wheeling is set to a base camp and then go out. We aren't as forchunate as y'all out west in that aspect. The larger tires will be more cosmetic than for wheeling. Atleast till I get out that way.

The trailer is unibody the frame is 3 pieces of u channel riveted under the box. The springs mount to the outter ones and the toungue slides into the center, everything but the 2 is aluminum.

 

[ntsqd]

Sounds like a frame could be fabricated then. Use the existing suspension hard points for mounting tabs. Then all of the transmitted loads are fed into the original trailer the way they were designed to be, and with a stout enough design those loads should be significantly less even if the use generates loads greater than designed for.

 

[highlandercj-7]

Well I havn't modded much yet, but it's loaded adn ready for it's first outting. I hope for a wheeling / camping run soon.

Driving home today I pass a lil fruit and vegie stand that is always selling stuff all summer long. out the corner of my eye I thought I saw another Chief. So I goback and sure enough the turkey ius using it as a table and selling produce off it. It was perfectly straight and painted OD green the tent and mattress were gone of course but it was in good shape. What a waste. The guy procededs to tell me yeah it's all aluminum and it's got a 100 uses and he'd never sell it. Double dam* He then says he picked it up for 200.00 Figuring a new canvas it's still be only into it for 1200.00 or so. So it would be a decent buy.

 

[jatibb]

if thinking of moving to a different frame, amy i suggest a small aluminum boat trailer. some of them are totally bolted tobether and can therefore be modified very easily. ive been working on one and am very happy with the size, capacity, and weight. basically a flat platform to modify how you want it.

 

[Joanne]

Heilite also made a small aluminum trailer that was first offered in the
1950's. the first Heilites only had one small 4.80x8 tire and wheel and the trailer was secured to the tow vehicle's bumper.

My earliest camping trips were in a single-wheel Heilite. Mom loved it because she could back it up without all the problems of "normal" trailers. It was a pretty neat little trailer.

Thanks for bringing back some of those memories!

Joanne

 

[highlandercj-7]

Looks like plans are changing around here. The wife is ready to bite on a 30' RV so my little trailer is up for sale. $1500 take it home and it's just like it was the day I bought it. The other irons have kept me from modding this great little trailer, so the new owner would have a balnk canvas to make their master piece.

I also have a 2005 Aliner 12' trailer available for $4500

All located near pittsburgh, pa.