Hey all, long time lurker.
My wife and I have recently started going camping more often and planning more camping trips. We thought it would be cool to build a trailer for a fold out tent. Initially we were considering building an offroad tear-drop of sorts, but the project was a bit ambitious given our current time constraints. I have a friend who lives an hour from me who has a full metal fabrication shop in his garage, and I should have some time this summer to go to his place and build the trailer.
I designed a rough sketch of the trailer in sketchup. Conceptually it's pretty simple. It's going to be a 48"*82* box with an adjustable height rack for the fold out tent. I am trying to keep it as "flat" as possible when not raised so the dogs can easily get in and out when we take them with us. I want to maintain the ability to raise it up for when we don't have the dogs with us or if we are in an area with a lot of bears... which frankly is probably just for the cool/peace of mind factor.
My plan was to use trailer receiver stock at the 4 corners and for the 4 corners of the top rack. Because the trailer is only going to be 18" deep and I want to be able to lift the top rack up over 2 additional feet, this will allow me to keep 4 36" inch pieces of 2" stock in the trailer that can be dropped in from above and held in with clevis pins. I plan on mounting a 30" scissor jack in between the trailer top and the tent rack. to lift the tent rack I'll slide in the 4 guide rods/uprights from the top, and jack up the rack with the scissor jack. Alternatively, I won't have bars sticking up out of the trailer when I don't need the added height. This will also allow me to fold out the tent at a lower level and get it set-up, and then jack it up. Having done some research we are looking at the Smittybilt overlander XL.
I am planning on buying a 46" spring width 3500lb axle and using 1200 or 1500lb springs and shackles with shock mounts attached. It will be towed with my or my wife's JKU, and we'll grab a couple JK wheels off craigslist for it. In the immediate future it will be used at designated campsites and not too far off the beaten path, though I would like it to be overland-worthy. I am planning on using 2X2 stock to frame it out.
Longer term plans include a water tank, RV pump, and propane water heater. I will have a propane tank on it anyway for a tent heater... which will hopefully encourage the wife to come out camping more in the fall/winter which is my favorite time to camp.
Criticize it, give me ideas, etc. I'm all ears. I want to come here before I make any crazy mistakes. Initially I may just use a standard tongue and ball, but eventually I'd like to buy or a build a hitch with greater articulation.
It won't let me add image links, but they can be seen below by removing the bolded text.
htt[removeme]ps://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18422450_4600302325950_8305150895316964266_o.jpg?oh=78b4f3c795b7a3bd76ba5a90a6db1120&oe=59AE067E
htt[removeme]ps://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18425472_4600302285949_1000256513248806201_n.jpg?oh=07fc111af6cfc9ab42dbb1f555ceffe7&oe=59AF7F86
Mike
My wife and I have recently started going camping more often and planning more camping trips. We thought it would be cool to build a trailer for a fold out tent. Initially we were considering building an offroad tear-drop of sorts, but the project was a bit ambitious given our current time constraints. I have a friend who lives an hour from me who has a full metal fabrication shop in his garage, and I should have some time this summer to go to his place and build the trailer.
I designed a rough sketch of the trailer in sketchup. Conceptually it's pretty simple. It's going to be a 48"*82* box with an adjustable height rack for the fold out tent. I am trying to keep it as "flat" as possible when not raised so the dogs can easily get in and out when we take them with us. I want to maintain the ability to raise it up for when we don't have the dogs with us or if we are in an area with a lot of bears... which frankly is probably just for the cool/peace of mind factor.
My plan was to use trailer receiver stock at the 4 corners and for the 4 corners of the top rack. Because the trailer is only going to be 18" deep and I want to be able to lift the top rack up over 2 additional feet, this will allow me to keep 4 36" inch pieces of 2" stock in the trailer that can be dropped in from above and held in with clevis pins. I plan on mounting a 30" scissor jack in between the trailer top and the tent rack. to lift the tent rack I'll slide in the 4 guide rods/uprights from the top, and jack up the rack with the scissor jack. Alternatively, I won't have bars sticking up out of the trailer when I don't need the added height. This will also allow me to fold out the tent at a lower level and get it set-up, and then jack it up. Having done some research we are looking at the Smittybilt overlander XL.
I am planning on buying a 46" spring width 3500lb axle and using 1200 or 1500lb springs and shackles with shock mounts attached. It will be towed with my or my wife's JKU, and we'll grab a couple JK wheels off craigslist for it. In the immediate future it will be used at designated campsites and not too far off the beaten path, though I would like it to be overland-worthy. I am planning on using 2X2 stock to frame it out.
Longer term plans include a water tank, RV pump, and propane water heater. I will have a propane tank on it anyway for a tent heater... which will hopefully encourage the wife to come out camping more in the fall/winter which is my favorite time to camp.
Criticize it, give me ideas, etc. I'm all ears. I want to come here before I make any crazy mistakes. Initially I may just use a standard tongue and ball, but eventually I'd like to buy or a build a hitch with greater articulation.
It won't let me add image links, but they can be seen below by removing the bolded text.
htt[removeme]ps://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18422450_4600302325950_8305150895316964266_o.jpg?oh=78b4f3c795b7a3bd76ba5a90a6db1120&oe=59AE067E
htt[removeme]ps://scontent.fbos1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18425472_4600302285949_1000256513248806201_n.jpg?oh=07fc111af6cfc9ab42dbb1f555ceffe7&oe=59AF7F86
Mike
