My (slow) Trailer build

[sk8rjess]

I've been wanting to build one of these for a while and when I do a bed cage/SAS in 2014 i'll be losing 90% of my bed space so i'll need this for my camping trips.

As the title says, this will be a slow build with a goal to finish by new years.
After seeing all the great trailer builds so far on here I can't promise this will be as good but it will def work for me.


GOAL
I'll eventually have it on 35s to semi-match the 37s on the tank already.
Onboard water.
Propane for stove and water.
Hold all camping gear.
(Eventually) Hold RTT and awnings.
i don't know what else to add here, it's a trailer haha.

I'm taking this from the other forum i'm active on, Tacoma World.
Picked up some of the steel today and have been calling around looking for an axle. I can't find a place locally that'll get me what I want without killing the wallet - they've all wanted over $150 more than online.
62" Wide. 4" drop axle. 6x5.5 hubs.
Thought about electric breaking but I don't really think i'll need it. Maybe down the road.

frame is 2.5" .125 wall

and as you can see i'm hard at work on it tonight.

 

[sk8rjess]

all i got done tonight was the main frame. i started doing miter cuts until i realized how hard it was to get perfect 45* angles cut with an angle grinder.. i really need to get a chop saw.

got the frame tacked together, some of it welded.

my welds are slowly getting better! but my welder sucks, sometimes it acts like the liner is dirty and starts feeding like garbage. i need to invest in a new welder anyways.

 

[sk8rjess]

researching the springs i should use now.
maybe someone can chime in here:
so if i understand, the shorter the leaf pack the more weight it can hold but also the more stiff. correct?

 

[highlandercj-7]

I use Jeep springs, rear CJs (76-86) or YJ's (87-95) or front grand wagoneers. They provide a smooth ride and good hauling capacity. You can use toyota rears to match your truck and achieve the same result. The CJ rear spring hangar / mount kit is also great. New parts can be had at 4wd.com or check your local salvage yards or craigslist for used.

The new hangars are available as a kit or individually:

This mount is 3" wide inside:

http://www.4wd.com/?t_pn=CROJ8127712

The kit includes everything including new spring bushings, if you go with the CJ springs.

http://www.4wd.com/Fabrication-Tool...x?t_c=86&t_s=527&t_pt=101476&t_pn=CRO5359007K

 

[highlandercj-7]

Here's another taco guy's thread too.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/111076-Jah310-Trailer-Build-Here-goes-!

 

[sk8rjess]

cool, i need to look more into them. honestly i haven't had time to research it for myself just quite yet. i need to dedicate an evening to doing just that.
another recent trailer build over at TW the guy used a front pro comp yj leaf pack.
i'd rather not use my stock pack. with my bed weighed with camping stuff they were flattened pretty good. could just be the leaf pack itself though, but they aren't all that old.
still brainstorming!
Also I've never seen that build you linked, nice!

 

[skersfan]

Just a suggestion, really consider the brakes, you never need them until you NEEEEED THEEMMM!!!

 

[sk8rjess]

i have thought about brakes, i've thrown the idea back and forth a few times. i'll do without them for now. if after the shakedown run in December I feel i need them i'll swap out the axles

 

[sk8rjess]

I'm going to go with ranger leaf packs. easily accessible at all the junkyards locally.