Another Trailer build

[Jhowery]

My first post...

Building this for the family. Can't put all the camping/beach needs in the rear of the CJ now that the kids will be going with us. Plan is to track smaller than my CJ, but have the same inside width as the CJ tub. I am building this as cheap as I can. Started with 2.5 tubing I picked up from a metal salvage yard. It was thrown in when I bought a 4x6 sheet of diamond plate. Using old CJ rear springs. Right now I am in for $31.

4 hours progress over the past two weekends.

 

[mountainclimber8]

Looks like a good start. You could build anything you want from this point.

We're assuming you'll be pulling it with the yellow CJ and not the pink one.

Keep us posted on your progress. These creative homebuild are always fun to watch come together.

:elkgrin::elkgrin:

 

[elmo_4_vt]

Looks like a nice build... Any chance you'll reconsider the track width, and make is the same as the CJ? There are a lot of good reasons to do that, stability being easily the biggest?

I see the Hokie chairs in the background, any chance we'll see the rig at a football game this year? I'll have mine down there for a few tailgates this fall.

Don

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[Jhowery]

Spent another $61 on welding supplies and metal.

Got the box welded up, ends capped and metal cut for the adjustable tongue. Gotta order axle, hubs, and spindles, weld spring perches, finish up the open basket in the front, and mount the tailgate.

My welding skills have improved over 10 years!

Apparently something happened to the Jeep. Don't worry kids, we've all been there!

 

[Jhowery]

Looks like a nice build... Any chance you'll reconsider the track width, and make is the same as the CJ? There are a lot of good reasons to do that, stability being easily the biggest?

I see the Hokie chairs in the background, any chance we'll see the rig at a football game this year? I'll have mine down there for a few tailgates this fall.

Don

-

The track is within a couple of inches of the CJ, which is wide track axles. Not sure if the CJ will make it up to a tailgate. It isn't taken it out much for highway travel.

 

[Jhowery]

after thinking about it and talking with friends, track width will be the same as my CJ. Good call.

Updates to the build. Cut the diamond plate for the floor, finished up the front open storage area, got the tires mounted, and started on the spring mounts. Ordered a 3,500lb axle with 5x5.5 hubs. Axle will be here in a week and a half.

 

[Jhowery]

haven't been able to work on this much the past month until this weekend. Here's what I accomplished:

- 3,500# axle arrived and welded on the spring perches (had to go to #3,500 to get the 5x5.5 bolt pattern).
- tires mounted, balanced, and installed making the trailer mobile.
- I made my own U-bold plates and mounted the axle. Couldn't find any local that fit 2.5" springs. The axle is a spring under for height. My 2 year old son helped me drill the 5/8". Is 2 to young to work a drill press? BTW a 5/8" drill bit is expensive!
- 1/4" floor plate installed and tacked in for the bed of the trailer. Much appreciation to those that helped with cutting this
- 1/8" floor cut and tack into place for the sides of the bed.
- ball coupler installed on the adjustable tongue

Still need to complete before the beach trip:
- install the Jeep tailgate
- weld in the basket floor on the front
- install lights and wire
- temporary paint
- register the with the DMV

I know I will not complete the trailer before the beach, but it will be modile. Over the winter and spring I plan to build the fenders and clean up the trailer (i.e., grind down welds, sand blast, etc) and water proof it before the final painting.

 

[Jhowery]

I drilled the tongue for hitch pins and installed. We took it for a test run this afternoon. It is bouncy, but I planned on shocks from the begining. Need to wire and install the lights tomorrow. Hopefully have law enforcement come look at it next weekend.

 

[ex m38a1er]

Very nice combo:victory:

 

[womacje]

Whatever you do, don't paint it! that thing looks tough as hell! Ok, maybe a clear coat, I like the patina on the metal.

That build happened pretty quick! Nice work.

Jeremy

 

[Jhowery]

Painted her black yesterday. Rattle can job, but I plan on repainting it this spring. My wife said it look good once it was painted. She called it "redneck" while I was building it :victory:.

 

[goldenbeagle]

I dig it....been tossing around ideas to build one similar to this design. Thanks for sharing...Safe travels!

 

[jarmstrong]

trailer

I bet that "redneck" was one of the nicer words your neighbors used ! have you loaded it on trailer with jeep yet ?

 

[Jhowery]

Neighbors :ylsmoke:

Not yet. Measured it out, but haven't loaded it. It will definitely happen in 3 weeks. I take a pic once it do...

 

[Jhowery]

I have been unable to work on the trailer for a few years. However, the trailer has worked well the last couple of years for family beach trips. Personal and professional life has slowed, so I am able to get back to the original plans.

The fender frames are complete. I am ordering tread plate and metal for the securable lid/table today. I have been unable to find a metal salvage yard close enough to my new location.

Below is progress on the fenders.