Camping/Kayak Trailer build

[Spudy]

hello all
We I am starting to get things around to start my trailer build. I am still kinda of drawing up plans (in fact trying to find a easy to use free cad program to do some drawing on. Not going to be too extreme except for the random different sized tubing i will be using. My family used to farm so we have a bit of this and that and i hate to buy anymore then i need to.

The goal is to make a camping trailer about the width of my jeep. Then as needed be able to haul 4 kayaks on top of it. Looking to be about a 4' by 6' box with an adjustable tongue.(so i can change from kayaks to no kayaks) Really up in the air on what tire size i am going to be running. My jeep is a Grand Cherokee running 31's. I might have access to 2 32" tires or 2 35" tires lol.

Got an axle from out back a few days ago will try and get some pics up later tonight.

 

[Spudy]

as promised here are some pics of my axle i am going to be using. I am unsure on the weight limit it has but i am going to guess 3500lb because it was on a dual axle trailer. It is 5x 5.5 but it will work till i find a 5 on 4.5. It is a full with axle so i am planning on cutting out about 9 inchs from the center so i can get closer to my jeep with. I will then sleeve or slug the axle after that.

Right now it is about 53" outside to outside on the springs so that will bring it down to about 46" outsides on my main frame. A bit narrower then i wanted but i like the idea of same width as my jeep

 

[Snowdrift]

free cad program

I have no experience with a cad program, but I see alot of talk about google sketch-up. Hope that helps? good luck with your build.

 

[Spudy]

thanks. Really on looking to do a 2d drawing of it but it is not a big deal.

 

[Spudy]

well started to work on the axle today. Made a cool yet day killing discovery. My axle is 1.75x1.75 SOLID STEEL. So i don't have what i need to narrow and sleeve it back together and of course the steel place is closed. Now to wait til monday.

 

[MOAK]

spring over

if nothing else, be sure to do a spring over conversion, and an axle slider is always a good thing, I made my slider out of 3/4 inch 7075 t6 alum, it is about 40 inches wide, and 28 inches long, hung from the trailer frame with carriage bolts,, ( key word "hung" it is literally hanging, from the frame members to allow for spring flex), and fastened to the axle with muffler clamps, we have lots of rocks here in Pa, and I have slid right over many, and have never snagged my axle. Friends think it is overkill, but better safe than sorry!! good luck with your build..

 

[Spudy]

if nothing else, be sure to do a spring over conversion, and an axle slider is always a good thing, I made my slider out of 3/4 inch 7075 t6 alum, it is about 40 inches wide, and 28 inches long, hung from the trailer frame with carriage bolts,, ( key word "hung" it is literally hanging, from the frame members to allow for spring flex), and fastened to the axle with muffler clamps, we have lots of rocks here in Pa, and I have slid right over many, and have never snagged my axle. Friends think it is overkill, but better safe than sorry!! good luck with your build..

Can i get some pics of the slider? Sounds kinda cool. Yea i am planning on SOA it but want to get the frame build so i can see how high everything is going to be.

 

[Spudy]

wait i mean it is already spring over but was thinking about switching the drop axle to a lift axle.

 

[cowboy4x4]

The computor program I use is called bend Tech, Its the most awesome tube bending program I've seen and its user friendly for guys like us.

 

[Spudy]

Well I got some more work done on the trailer. Got my axle narrowed and some 35" roller tires mounted. I only plan to run a 31" but down the road i want it to make the jeep so i want to do the wheel wells to fit 35's. I ended up narrow the axle 5" so that makes the whole thing about 77" outside to outside of the 35" tires. Once i got that it makes my frame about 48.5" so i can fit a sheet of plywood and my atv. The rear bumper is going to be build out of 2x6 .25 tubing that i had left over from building my truck bumper. I plan to put a rear hitch on it so i can do bikes or a tow point. The rest of the frame is 2.5x2.5 .125. The cross members are just some .125 angle i had laying around.

What my axle is in the center.

 

[1x1_Speed_Craig]

Nice progress, Jesse. :sombrero:

 

[Spudy]

any suggestions for how thick to skin the bottom and the sides?..

 

[MOAK]

axle slider photos

here is my home fabbed axle slider, made of 1/4" 7075t6 aluminum. it is literally hung on the frame rail to allow for movement, and attatched to the axle using muffler clamps. I keep things painted with a DTM latex, sorry about the muffler clamp shot.

 

[Spudy]

well i got a fair amount of work done on the trailer however i forgot a camera for the building part. I got the tounge built and the axle attached. Will get a pic in the morning.

 

[Spudy]

btw i like the slider idea. I might have to see about doing that.