jscherb
Expedition Leader
Here's a thread on the project: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/137700-The-ultimate-cargo-slide-tray
Fiberglass M416/M100 Military-style Trailer Tub Kit
- Thread starter jscherb
- Start date
Here's a thread on the project: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/137700-The-ultimate-cargo-slide-tray
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Chuck Wagon Add-on for a Military Trailer
Over the course of this military trailer project, I drew a number of concepts for a "chuck wagon" add-on for the trailer. Since I've already done a fiberglass hard cover for the trailer, the idea would be to build a chuck wagon section that sits on top of the tub and is capped by the fiberglass hard cover. The chuck wagon would be designed to support a tent, and would have compartments for gear and cooking supplies. The compartment hatches would swing down to serve as counters/tables. Something like these concept drawings:
To provide easier access to cargo stored inside the trailer, parhaps a rear hatch should also be part of the chuck wagon:
I'm thinking about building a chuck wagon add-on, so I'm posting this to get design ideas - what features and capabilities do you think should be in a chuck wagon add-on?
Over the course of this military trailer project, I drew a number of concepts for a "chuck wagon" add-on for the trailer. Since I've already done a fiberglass hard cover for the trailer, the idea would be to build a chuck wagon section that sits on top of the tub and is capped by the fiberglass hard cover. The chuck wagon would be designed to support a tent, and would have compartments for gear and cooking supplies. The compartment hatches would swing down to serve as counters/tables. Something like these concept drawings:
To provide easier access to cargo stored inside the trailer, parhaps a rear hatch should also be part of the chuck wagon:
I'm thinking about building a chuck wagon add-on, so I'm posting this to get design ideas - what features and capabilities do you think should be in a chuck wagon add-on?
It looks like a nice concept but my one concern would be center of gravity. It's starting to get a bit tall and narrow, especially when adding a rtt.
Right now my biggest suggestion would be to ad an "UPDATE" notice to your original post laying out the exact status of this entire project. I might be confusing you with someone else but last I remember this was all just fun for you, you didn't plan to produce any of the trailers yourself, and was only interested in moving forward if there was some major investor that stepped up who could handle the actual production. Or something like that. And like I said, I could be confusing you with one or more somebody elses.
Either way, I think a status update at the original post would be a great idea.
Beyond that, your work is phenomenal in several respects. Outstanding.
Right now my biggest suggestion would be to ad an "UPDATE" notice to your original post laying out the exact status of this entire project. I might be confusing you with someone else but last I remember this was all just fun for you, you didn't plan to produce any of the trailers yourself, and was only interested in moving forward if there was some major investor that stepped up who could handle the actual production. Or something like that. And like I said, I could be confusing you with one or more somebody elses.
Either way, I think a status update at the original post would be a great idea.
Beyond that, your work is phenomenal in several respects. Outstanding.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Thanks, those are concept drawings, I like to make my drawings as realistic as possible. I edited these photos to add the chuck wagon concept:
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Putting a tent on a raised platform on a trailer is a common thing to do, I don't think what I've drawn has a higher center of gravity than something like these, but you're correct to point it out, it is something to be mindful of while designing, building and towing.
Thank you.
Status of the project: I completed building the molds for the tub and fiberglass cover several years ago, and built my original trailer from parts out of those molds. In the two years since completing the trailer I've put a lot of miles on it, mostly hauling parts for other projects around. I've also build a number of enhancements for it, such as a "covered wagon" style canvas top.
Shortly after I finished building my trailer, a company licensed the design from me and the fiberglass tub kit has been available commercially for about two years now. There are quite a few that have been built and are on the road now. I don't sell anything myself, I just design and build stuff like this as a hobby. I am not an employee of the company that sells the fiberglass tub kit.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
Yes. My Jeep-tub trailer kit design is manufactured/marketed (not by me) as the Dinoot j-series and my military trailer kit design is the Dinoot m-series.
jscherb
Expedition Leader
I've been thinking about building a chuck wagon add-on for a while, so I've been on the lookout for materials for it. This summer I picked up four matching hatches for the side compartments for less than $20 each:
I also picked up a large hatch for the back:
The hatch for the back is the same width as the tailgate, and it's taller than the hatches for the sides. My plan is to cut it across the bottom as shown by the dotted line in the photo below and configure it as a liftgate. I'd move the latches up to just above the cut line so they latch on the inside of the tailgate. The liftgate hatch will open/close independently of the tailgate, so just the liftgate could be opened for quick access to gear inside the trailer, and both the liftgate hatch and the tailgate can be opened at the same time full access to the inside.
So the basic concept for the chuck wagon add-on is four walls with two hatches in each side wall and the liftgate hatch in the back as I've shown in the concept drawings, but I'm looking for input about what's behind the hatches - how the compartments should be configured, what gear should go where, etc.
I also picked up a large hatch for the back:
The hatch for the back is the same width as the tailgate, and it's taller than the hatches for the sides. My plan is to cut it across the bottom as shown by the dotted line in the photo below and configure it as a liftgate. I'd move the latches up to just above the cut line so they latch on the inside of the tailgate. The liftgate hatch will open/close independently of the tailgate, so just the liftgate could be opened for quick access to gear inside the trailer, and both the liftgate hatch and the tailgate can be opened at the same time full access to the inside.
So the basic concept for the chuck wagon add-on is four walls with two hatches in each side wall and the liftgate hatch in the back as I've shown in the concept drawings, but I'm looking for input about what's behind the hatches - how the compartments should be configured, what gear should go where, etc.
jays0n
Adventurer
As for center of gravity and off roading I will say that having my tent base at about 6' from the ground is a real issue for anything too off camber. That much weight that high (even though it is somewhat offset by 2 marine batteries, lots of gear, 12 gallons of water and a set of very heavy 33" tires) is still a problem. I'm working on making my overhead rack telescope to solve this. That said, the designs are awesome and one would just have to adjust their driving accordingly (like I've done so far) 
That is very cool.... Congrats on that. I have been looking at one of those for a future purchase when I have some disposable income... I dont have a shop or a garage, so it does make it a one stop shop for an instant trailer build.
Sikocycles
Adventurer
That looks great
