Wow, all I can say is Rainman has skills. Beautiful build. Do you remember what materials you used{size of square tube} for your awning posts? I want to do similar for our trailer but am having a hard time finding sizes that fit together snugly so not sloppy. Again, amazing build.Went camping over the weekend and really enjoyed the setup! After using it twice now, I can remove everything, finalize the metal work, plumbing, and wiring, paint it, reinstall everything, and it should be finished for good!
Awesome little spot on the Colorado River by Lake Mohave
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We took a different route out than we did in. It took almost twice as long, but the views were amazing and the trail was awesome!
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We are able to keep the reverse camera on to keep an eye on the trailer on the trails
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We had a great weekend! 40 and the trailer did great! It was nice having the AC blasting on the way home in 95 degree desert heat!
So inspired by your trailer build! 3 weeks in and here’s where I’m at. I’m making mine a couple inches taller and longer to accommodate my Smittybilt RTT. Plan on installing fridge, water tank, deep cycle battery, and drawers. “Imitation is the best form of flattery“ Hope you don’t mind the likenesses but when I looked at your build it was exactly what I wanted.
Just spent 2 nights in Death Valley with my wife. The trailer was awesome... we enjoy it more every time we use it. A few photos from the trip-
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Is this the FJ with the Tundra V-8 swap? Looks familiar.....I knew I wanted the back of the trailer to be the kitchen area, with no access for cargo. The fridge takes up about 1/3 of the rear door area. After a couple years of camping using Rubbermaid storage bins for dry food and utensils, I wanted to find some way of organizing our gear. I was also looking for a nice storage solution for our stove. I knew I could build drawers, but I really didn't want to go through the hassle of that.
There is a local hardware store that sells Durham brand bins/drawers/dividers. Our of curiosity, I took my camp stove down and tried placing it in one of their drawers, and it was a perfect fit! It seemed as if they were made for eachother! It was snug on all 4 sides, with about 1/2" to spare on the top! I couldn't believe it!
I purchased the setup with 5 sliders, as well as 4 different layouts of boxes. This is what the end product looks like! The best part is, the storage compartments just lift out of the drawers when extended, so you can use them around the camp! It's also very easy to take the stove out and cook elsewhere!
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Fridge out, table down, stove extended!
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My goal for the trailer was take it to Overland Expo West. I had a huge list of things to finish on it before it was ready, including getting it registered. With only 5 evenings to finish it, some of those bigger items were-
Wire the lights
Wire the brakes
Wire the FJ40 for the trailer and brake controller
Mount the drawers
Mount the tent
Make interior dividers
Weld on safety chains
Mount Rotopax
Mount, plumb, and wire freshwater tank
Mount and wire area lights
I had an appointment at the DMV at 9am on Thursday morning for inspection/registration. I stayed up till midnight the night before wiring the trailer, and woke up at 6am the morning of to wire the FJ40. Left my house at 8:40 to arrive just in time! It passed inspection without issue, but more importantly, it towed fantastic!
Inspection station at Henderson DMV
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Getting its VIN etched!
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Hurry back home, load everything up, and leave town by noon to get to Flagstaff by 4!!!
We arrived in Flagstaff right at 4PM without any issues! I was so relieved after the long week, and I was extremely excited to park and set everything up!
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We had a great time at OEW! Met some awesome people, saw awesome vehicles and products, and of course spent some $$$ on new gear! It was a great weekend and the hard work on the trailer paid off! Out of all the extremely expensive and nice trailers I saw there, I didn't see any I'd rather have. I like the size, look, and functionality of mine, and so far, I wouldn't change anything about it.
Back at home after an awesome weekend-
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Looks great! Looking forward to seeing the finished project...So inspired by your trailer build! 3 weeks in and here’s where I’m at. I’m making mine a couple inches taller and longer to accommodate my Smittybilt RTT. Plan on installing fridge, water tank, deep cycle battery, and drawers. “Imitation is the best form of flattery“ Hope you don’t mind the likenesses but when I looked at your build it was exactly what I wanted.
It was white then I painted it with Krylon fusion flat black. It’s a RecPro RV baggage door 18” x 18” and I found it on Amazon.Where did you get the black door for the front of the trailer?
l welded a 3/4 inch by 1/8” thick flat piece about 1/2” spaced back from the door sealing surface that I affixed a self adhering weather strip to. it is yet to be tested in a rain storm but at the very least it should keep dust and dirt out.Any suggestions for waterproofing the rear gate?