TheGillz Explo Off-Road Trailer via Geotracker90 Build!

[TheGillz]

Looking pretty good there Clark!! Nice job on the tailgate and side box cables. All in all it looks like you are making great progress.

On item I wanted to mention, and maybe this is just because of the lighting, but the rear side reflector appears to be amber. This should be red in color, and the amber marker lights and reflectors go up near the front.

Keep up the good work!! I keep checking in to see when the latest update is posted. In the mean time I'm cooking up an idea for another trailer and working on the teardrop as well.

Mike

Yes the side reflector looks orange in the pics, but its red. Thanks for the props.

I got the suspension re-done as far as new brackets and u-bolts. The brackets they make for those little standard trailer springs and the space between the holes was about 1-2 mm too narrow for the u-bolts to fit.

I had to use my drill and take out about a mm oval area on the inside holes of the bracket to get the u-bolts to fit, but I got it and now there is a good inch above the nuts now instead of no space.

I got caught up in a ton of yard work lately cleaning up for winter, but I think I will tackle the wiring this weekend.

Anyone know of a resource online for a 7 pin wiring diagram?

Till next time.

 

[stomperxj]

Here you go Clark-

http://hitches4less.com/trailer-wiring-connector-diagrams.html

 

[Robert Bills]

Here's another:

http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm

 

[GeoTracker90]

Yes the side reflector looks orange in the pics, but its red. Thanks for the props.

I got the suspension re-done as far as new brackets and u-bolts. The brackets they make for those little standard trailer springs and the space between the holes was about 1-2 mm too narrow for the u-bolts to fit.

I had to use my drill and take out about a mm oval area on the inside holes of the bracket to get the u-bolts to fit, but I got it and now there is a good inch above the nuts now instead of no space.

I was wondering if the reflector coloring wasn't just due to the way the light reflected and how the camera picked it up.

Good to hear that you have the longer u-bolts now. That puts my mind to rest regarding that.

It looks like the community filled your request about the wiring chart. They're some darn helpful folks! I like it. The trailer is going to look swell when it's all lit up and on the trail.

Mike

 

[TheGillz]

Here you go Clark-

http://hitches4less.com/trailer-wiring-connector-diagrams.html

Here's another:

http://www.accessconnect.com/trailer_wiring_diagram.htm

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

Swell indeed!

 

[Hilldweller]

I noticed that you only put one bolt through on the cable-holder d-ring.
Here's a really stout one-bolt-only d-ring, if you need:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200358550_200358550

I've been installing shelves and tie-downs in my box and these seem to be the simplest to install...

 

[highlandercj-7]

I noticed that you only put one bolt through on the cable-holder d-ring.
Here's a really stout one-bolt-only d-ring, if you need:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200358550_200358550

I've been installing shelves and tie-downs in my box and these seem to be the simplest to install...

Jeep used these in the Cherokee XJ's as rear tie downs. They are Stainless in my XJ.

 

[TheGillz]

I noticed that you only put one bolt through on the cable-holder d-ring.
Here's a really stout one-bolt-only d-ring, if you need:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200358550_200358550

I've been installing shelves and tie-downs in my box and these seem to be the simplest to install...

You are right in that I only used one bolt with nut, however the reason is that inside the box the second bolt hole is higher up in the box and I had to use a screw in it to hold it because it didn't come through to the outside if that makes sense.

 

[TheGillz]

HOLY CRANK! What a pain in the rear wiring this thing up is. Not that its super difficult, and with the wiring guides its straight forward, but my choice to run the wires inside the frame sure slows the process. So after a couple hours on Thursday and all day today, here is my progress. 3/4 done with the trailer, and no work on the Jeep yet converting to 7 pin from 4.

Here's the wires coming off the passenger side of the brakes and into the cross member....

...and here its coming out the other side and into the main drivers side beam to go to the front.

And here is the mess of wires coming out of the main drivers side beam and through the front cross member. They will here be sheathed into the rubber sheathing that I had stripped off of the 7 wires and run into the diagnal front beam and out the front as exampled.

Here is a front marker LED.

And the rear.

Here is the rear wires as they go into the main drivers side beam. The red one is one that I will use for a back up light when I get one. Hopefully the LED worklight from AT.

And with the light on, and the rear with both.

I'll post up when I get some power to them and fire this sucker up some time soon I hope.

 

[opie]

Looks real nice!!!

You may want to consider some weathertight connectors. Those taps leave the stripped wire exposed and over time will corrode.

I use these...Not from this place, you can pick them up at Lowes, HD, NAPA etc.

http://www.connectorsupply.com/catalog/butt-connectors-heat-shrink-butt-c-22_61.html

If Ive got a splice, Ill use the next biggest size for the wire Im using and on the single strand end Ill strip the wire back twice as long as needed and fold it over. Heat them up and the adhesive oozes out the ends making a weathertight seal.

Your trailer is looking sweet! Running the wiring through the tube, albeit a huge pain in the ***, not only makes for a cleaner look, but it protects the wire. Good job.

 

[highlandercj-7]

Just incase some of y'all have one laying around too. I came up with a easy way to test the trailer lights. My kids have a bunch of power wheels jeeps, and I took one of there batteries and made an adapter plug to use to plug up the trailer lights to test them. It works sweet. If someone wanted to get real fancy they could use switches and stuff and make it really user friendly but I just plug and pull.

 

[go4aryd]

Looks real nice!!!

You may want to consider some weathertight connectors. Those taps leave the stripped wire exposed and over time will corrode.

Taps won't corrode out here in the West - at least not for 10-20 years, especially in this case where the taps are not exposed to the elements....

Trailer is really coming along. I'm gonna have to come see that before long!

 

[ntsqd]

They are a problem here on the lower left coast. If the trailer never leaves the semi-arid regions of ID then I'll defer to local experience, but if it is to spend any significant time in a moist environment I'll suggest a change.

 

[opie]

Taps won't corrode out here in the West - at least not for 10-20 years, especially in this case where the taps are not exposed to the elements....

Trailer is really coming along. I'm gonna have to come see that before long!

Hadnt thought about that.

What about stream crossings and such? Extreme temp differences? It doesnt take much to corrode 14-16 gauge wire.

 

[TheGillz]

We are in a pretty dry climate here, so I'm not really worried about dampness induced problems, we don't really get mold, moss, rust or the like in an extreme manner.

That being said, I plan to take this trailer many places in my life, and I am sealing all holes in the body or frame with all weather silicone II including the lights.