Cool little trailer

[Big Daddy Chia]

I actually talked to a guy the other day about one similar to this he had that was lifted. Might be a starting point for some one. Little pricey in my opion but again might be an option for some one. http://austin.craigslist.org/for/616428620.html

 

[Superu]

Agree that it's a bit pricey.

If the price was about 1/3 of what they're asking, it might be a good jumping off point.

I built this one for under $300 complete from new parts. Granted, it's not gonna go with you on the Rubicon, but it does well on fire roads and moderate trails to get to campsites and fits tent, sleeping bags, etc. nicely.

 

[Big Daddy Chia]

Is that the harbor freight 48x40 trailer and a thule roof top cargo box??

 

[Superu]

It's the HF 40" x 48" with upsized wheels and a 20 cu. ft. Sears X-cargo painted with Krylon for Plastic.

Planning to put a piano hinge on it to let it open from the side rather than back to front, but it works well as is.

I painted the trailer to match the grey metallic trim of the Superu before assembly. I also took one of the leafs out of the springs since it was a bit too bouncy for the weight I usually carry in it.

It's a nice little starter and serves my purposes until I can afford an AT with a RTT. I used a set of waterproof LED lights from West Marine on it for the occasional water that it sees.

Also repacked the bearings with decent grease since they came with little more than vaseline in them!

Put about 1500 miles on it late last summer through NH, VT and Canada camping with the wife and kids. :1888fbbd:

South Hero Island, VT

Mount Washington - pre light bar

 

[Funrover]

Cool, nice suby also!

 

[DaveInDenver]

I built this one for under $300 complete from new parts. Granted, it's not gonna go with you on the Rubicon

That's a great trailer for $300. I'd bet the thing could be picked up by a couple of people, so in my mind there's no reason it couldn't do some harder trails. It's light and with a couple of well places skids I'd bet it would do alright. What it can't be driven through, it could just be carried or very easily winched. Cool idea!

 

[jagular7]

Luggage trailer
motorcycle cargo trailer

Do an internet search on these terms and get a vast amount of trailers with a box on it. HF short trailers are used a lot for these. The standard HF trailer has slipper springs with 8" wheels ~$130. An upgrade to that is heavy rating and still slipper springs, but 12" wheels for ~$180. Catch it on sale sometimes down to $120.
Get your Sears X-Cargo at Sears or check your local CL under carrier, cargo, rooftop, etc. I picked up a Sears X-Cargo off CL for cheap and its rather large at 55" long, 36" wide, and 20" tall which is ~20 cu.ft. There are several more listed today in the KC CL.

With a HF frame, raise the frame height by adding drop brackets to your leaf mounts. They are readily available from a trailer supplier.

 

[Big Daddy Chia]

Man thats some great info thanks guys. This may be what I do as I can not really afford an AT and I have a big cabin type tent. I am just more wanitn gsomething I can haul my gear in to the offroad parks or base camps.

 

[The BN Guy]

That's a nice little trailer!

 

[droyalbh]

Great Idea

Yes, the ATs and similar trailers are great, but, even though this sort of trailer in the OP is no where near as sturdy as an M416 or AT, for the price and intended use, it could be a good intermediary solution, until one can afford better.

 

[oldcj5guy]

Pull off the top and grab a paddle. Looks like it would make a field expedient boat

 

[stick]

One of the things I like about this site is how creative people are with making / modifying their trailers. :elkgrin:

 

[jagular7]

Yes, the ATs and similar trailers are great, but, even though this sort of trailer in the OP is no where near as sturdy as an M416 or AT, for the price and intended use, it could be a good intermediary solution, until one can afford better.

Or start off with a small boat trailer. Cut off the long tongue, weld in another, change the hubs for better wheel/tire size choices or keep them (mine were 4on4 and wheels no bigger than 12" so I swapped over to 5on4.5 for up to 16" rims), add level beams on the frame, recenter the axle and be done. Most boat trailers will have shackles and stiff springs. Remove the shortest springs to get better ride. I also added drop leaf mounts similar to the M416. My frame is 44" wide and 58" long.

And I wanted to add some luggage chests...

But they are pricey!!!

But will go with

 

[Big Daddy Chia]

Yes, the ATs and similar trailers are great, but, even though this sort of trailer in the OP is no where near as sturdy as an M416 or AT, for the price and intended use, it could be a good intermediary solution, until one can afford better.

Yeah AT's are cool and all but I live in Texas and dont travel to places that have publiuc land access like Arizona or Utah. I was more looking for something to haul my camping equipment(I pack a lot) to and from the offraod parks and for when I go camping at the state parks. Superu's idea is exacatly what i need.

 

[CA-RJ]

Something like this might work if you're staying on the road. It would probably do fine on a graded dirt road too.