good trade?

[\\'anderer]

I traded an old roof rack for this. I want to mount my bike/canoe rack on top of this. If anyone has any ideas of some other good mods. let me know. I can get a new axle with the same bolt pattern as the jeep for $150. The trailer is not real strong, but it is fairly light, a couple people could pick it up and carry it.

 

[Andrew Walcker]

OH MAN, that is priceless!!! I think you got your work cut out for you if you want to take it off road, but the effort should be worth it. The canvas looks to be in pretty good shape and the interior upholstery is a keeper Good trade!

 

[Grim Reaper]

Great score! Cool little trailer.

My family had one that was similar without the dinette and 90 degree to the body. I so wish my mom had not sold that. I'd bee using it all the time now.

Here is a picture of it in about 1974 and the VW is the tow rig.

 

[Ridgewalker]

Awesome! I am so jealous...a new tow/project with so much potential.
Just a couple of thoughts. Yes on the new axle with bolt pattern to match tow vehicle. You will probably want to increase the spring height to clear the tires as well as increase the ground clearance.
You say it is very light? Maybe you should look at adding some additional structure to the frame?
Since the canvas is so good, you have lots of potential sitting there.
Great find!

 

[Andrew Walcker]

I wonder if you could get a frame w/ the air suspension from AT and put the trailer directly on top? I'd at least put a call into Mario.

 

[\\'anderer]

I wonder if you could get a frame w/ the air suspension from AT and put the trailer directly on top? I'd at least put a call into Mario.

Not a bad idea. then I can also get one of the cool off road type hitches he sells.

Were going to give the trailer a test run this weekend in Joshua Tree. After spending some time in it, I will probably return home with a big list of wants and needs.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Is that an old Apache? As a kid we had a '63 Eagle soft side that I inherited when we got a home. I sold it for $500 and regret it much now. Anyway, that looks sort of similar, although smaller than the Eagle. But Apache campers are sort of like WilderNests, they've been gone for a while and have something of an underground following.

http://www.apachepopups.net/

 

[\\'anderer]

The trailer is a Sherwood, made in Los Angeles, the model is the Forester. I couldnt find anything online, though I didn't look real hard.

I had an old apache once, the canvas was missing. I used it as a utility trailer. As a kid, my family always went camping in a tent trailer, I forgot the brand now, but it was fun. We pulled it with a slant 6 Dodge Dart.

 

[OverlandZJ]

Cool project Wanderer! Whats the current axle width as compared to the XJ? Looks pretty close. I look forward to seeing how this evolves.

Another question...what's under the car cover...looks like it may be an old Mopar..roadrunner?

 

[\\'anderer]

Cool project Wanderer! Whats the current axle width as compared to the XJ? Looks pretty close. I look forward to seeing how this evolves.

Another question...what's under the car cover...looks like it may be an old Mopar..roadrunner?

The axle width is the same as the XJ, and the trailer body is the same width as the XJ from mirror to mirror.


Good eyes John, It's a 69 Superbee, here it is before the hood swap.

 

[riverfever]

Another question...what's under the car cover...looks like it may be an old Mopar..roadrunner?

Geeeez John....where you got Mopar or anything else from that pic is beyond me. I'm impressed. Can you spot trout holding in a lie that well? :drool:

 

[OverlandZJ]

Nice ride Wanderer! :exclaim:

River, nah...thats a skill i have yet to develop. I put more flies on tree limbs than Trout currently.

 

[RunninRubicon]

Tent and Dodge

Wow, you do very well for yourself! SuperBee's are rare! Hang on to it! I like the pics as well and was impressed with the canvas. Must have been resewn recently?! The idea of an Adventure trailer suspension is a sound one. Just a thought..4WD.com or Quadratec both sell complete CJ type, 5 & 6 leaf springs suspensions w/frame mounts, shackles, and U-bolt (everything you need short of shocks) for a little over $400. Would be simple to be a spring over version to provide you the height you are looking for. I bought this arrangement for my own Offroad Trailer and it works well and provides a very smooth ride for my stuff. I have had it in both a spring over and spring under configuration. Gives a guy some options.
Just food for thought.

 

[\\'anderer]

This last weekend we took the trailer out for a pre-modification, Easter test run. I serviced the bearings (cut out varnish looking grease globs with a knife), installed some new tires, rewired the lights and took off to Joshua Tree NP for a couple days. The trailer tows great, I did not even know it was there except that it sits lower than the jeep, consequently the back of the trailer rubs in dips.

Once unfolded the space inside was great. The canvas and cushions are all original with no rips anywhere, all sewing and zippers, perfect, unbelievable. Some of the poles and hardware needed a little straightening, but otherwise it works perfect. The frame and axle are the weakest links. The frame pictured is a little strongerView attachment 6926.

Unbolting the body and setting this on another trailer could be the easiest and quickest way to improve it. For fun, I am working on a photoshop rendition of the finished product.

 

[OverlandZJ]

That looks comfy!

From the pics it looks like you could probably add a lengthened shackle at the rear to level it off behind the Cherokee for a short term solution.

Wassup with the fuzzy trees?

This last weekend we took the trailer out for a pre-modification, Easter test run. I serviced the bearings (cut out varnish looking grease globs with a knife), installed some new tires, rewired the lights and took off to Joshua Tree NP for a couple days. The trailer tows great, I did not even know it was there except that it sits lower than the jeep, consequently the back of the trailer rubs in dips.

Once unfolded the space inside was great. The canvas and cushions are all original with no rips anywhere, all sewing and zippers, perfect, unbelievable. Some of the poles and hardware needed a little straightening, but otherwise it works perfect. The frame and axle are the weakest links. The frame pictured is a little strongerView attachment 6926.

Unbolting the body and setting this on another trailer could be the easiest and quickest way to improve it. For fun, I am working on a photoshop rendition of the finished product.