Concept Question

[tweenerlj]

I am thinking about building a trailer out of a Jeep tub and here is a quick and crude concept drawing:

My question is about having the trailer axle so far back. I'd like to have a 5' bed, so that is why I drew it up like this. Do you think that I'd have too much tongue weight with the trailer axle back so far? Maybe shorten the tongue? Any suggestions from those who have experience building trailers is appreciated.

 

[ntsqd]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32330
:sombrero:

I've got to ask though, why are you constraining yourself to using a Jeep tub?
Put another way, you could create the whole thing from scratch and while having it *look* like a Jeep tub, be of totally different dimensions. Somewhere out there is a page on scratch-building a "flat fender" body to fit a TJ rolling chassis. Essentially the process is to outline the corners of the 'tub' with 1/2" x 0.065" square tube using the HF small Hossfeld bender clone, and then skin it in sheet stock.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, your tongue weight would be high due to the axle being so far back. No, I don't think it would be a problem assuming your trailer is lightly loaded as I expect it will be given it's small size.

 

[SAR_Squid79]

Have you seen this build:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29983

 

[tweenerlj]

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32330
:sombrero:

I've got to ask though, why are you constraining yourself to using a Jeep tub?
Put another way, you could create the whole thing from scratch and while having it *look* like a Jeep tub, be of totally different dimensions. Somewhere out there is a page on scratch-building a "flat fender" body to fit a TJ rolling chassis. Essentially the process is to outline the corners of the 'tub' with 1/2" x 0.065" square tube using the HF small Hossfeld bender clone, and then skin it in sheet stock.

Thanks for the link...I'll have to check all that out. The reason that I am constraining myself at this point is that I have a line on a jeep tub that I could proabably pick up pretty cheap. I'm thinking that I could possibly mount the axle a few inches further forward if I were to move the fender flare as far forward as I can in the existing wheel opening. I guess that it would be worth considering the scratch-built tub. My fear is that anything that I were to build would end up being heavier than the modified factory tub.

Have you seen this build:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29983

Yes, I have seen that build. I could do something like that, but the box is way shorter than what I would like to have.

 

[orangeTJ]

Most of the weight will be over the axle when loaded. If you add doo-dads to the tongue, then tongue weight will increase (things like tool box, etc.)

 

[97tjguzzy]

just got your pm.

from the picture you have, just turn the tub around backwards. so that the overhang is on the rear. Then you could just put your cooler/gascans/ect on the tongue.

the way we have ours loaded it is actually pretty balanced but has some tonge weight.

 

[tweenerlj]

just got your pm.

from the picture you have, just turn the tub around backwards. so that the overhang is on the rear. Then you could just put your cooler/gascans/ect on the tongue.

the way we have ours loaded it is actually pretty balanced but has some tonge weight.

Thanks for the input. It is looking like this project will be on hold for a while as I must move it down on my priority list. When I get around to a build, I'll document it here.

 

[highlandercj-7]

Here's a picture of my CJ-8 trailer. The box is larger like you mentioned. It's also for sale, to help fund my CJ-8 Jeep project. Take this one home complete for $1595.

 

[tweenerlj]

Still brainstorming on this...I kind of like the tub that was built on the trailer in this thread:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42596

Just need time and money to work on it. The more I think about trying to use the Jeep tub, the more I dis-like it. The biggest pro I see is having the Jeep tailgate.