Expo Trailer build up thoughts?

[shack]

I'm looking at buying this as a base for an expo trailer. I wanted to get your thoughts on it, and whether or not its worth the cost to buy. I haven't seen it in person yet, but it looks pretty heavy duty from the pics. It looks like their might be a slight bend where the tongue joins the frame, but it might just be the pic. My plan would be to take it to a local fab shop and have them add some reinforcement in that area, so I can put a deck there. Hopefully if its bent they could straighten it too

I'm thinking this guy will take around $200 bucks for it, which would be completely awesome provided its not a total POS.

Pics!

 

[teotwaki]

I'm wondering if those funky 4-bolt rims and the axle may limit your total weight?

 

[Titanpat57]

I think it has possibilities...but...

looks like the tongue is bent up

looks like the tail lights are bent down

looks like your gonna have to figure out how to get rid of those rims as
teotwaki says

now the up side

looks like it was put together with someone with an idea

it has a bulldog coupler, which has better articulation than a standard ball reciever

Do something like the Explorer Box and your camping..quickly and painlessly

http://www.compactcampingconcepts.com/ExplorerBox.htm



Good luck, Pat

 

[Robert Bills]

I would pass.

Somebody put a lot of effort into it, but as designed it won't stand up as an expo trailer. For example, the springs and axles are light duty and look like something designed to tow a small boat short distances on paved roads. By the time you do the necessary repairs and replace the springs, spring hangers, axle, wheels, tires, fenders, low hanging tail lights, etc., the only thing you won't have changed will be the basic frame.

Better to start with something else.

But that's just me.

 

[Wyowanderer]

Before you bite, check the price if the rims- that alone might dissuade you. I'd pass it by even if it comes with plenty of spare wheels.

 

[shack]

Thanks for the responses. I was planning on swapping out the axle and wheels already for FJ ones. I'll probably still go and check this out, but I'll definitely be leery about buying it.

 

[highlandercj-7]

If it's got a good title it's probally worth $200 alone. With all the headaches to get a custom fab title any more your better off buying one with a title then modding it or scrapping it, what ever the case be. As far as I'm concerned I'd sell those wheels and tires and axle. You can get one with the same bolt pattern as your tow rig fairly cheap.

 

[ntsqd]

That bend in the tongue is characteristic of a butted tongue design. For any kind of load the tongue tube(s) should be under the main frame tubes to create an overlapping of the tubes at the front of the deck where the highest bending stress is. For a lightly loaded camping trailer the design works fine, but someone obviously overloaded that trailer. I'd pass.

 

[jmhix]

If it's got a good title it's probally worth $200 alone. With all the headaches to get a custom fab title any more your better off buying one with a title then modding it or scrapping it, what ever the case be. As far as I'm concerned I'd sell those wheels and tires and axle. You can get one with the same bolt pattern as your tow rig fairly cheap.

In Texas, if it's home built/ custom and less than 1000 pounds, you just need $40 and they hand you a plate no questions asked...