I think I found my base - sanity check?

[wandererr]

Ok, after some searching around I think I found my base for the trailer. I haven't seen the trailer yet - I will drive down to look at it on Saturday morning. What I know is that the trailer is from 1972 so I'm hoping sturdier then some of the newer bases that are out there.

What has me a bit concerned about this trailer is the narrow axle: is that going to be an issue or will I want to modify the frame and put in a wider axle in? Anything to look for (apart from bringing a screwdriver and poking for rust?) before buying?

I know that I will have to swap out the leaf springs (supposedly they're sagging) but that's not a big deal. Oh yeah, he's asking $300, I'm hoping that I can talk him down a bit

I'm attaching the pics he sent me along with what I want to build on top of it.

 

[njtacoma]

It looks like an old pop up camper frame, I think starcraft had the tires and wheels inside the body like this frame would show.

Either a wider axle all the way outside the frame or cutting out the metal perimeter near the wheels to allow a slightly wider axle with wheel and tire sticking outside the frame slightly.

Will the drop down on the neck part of the frame be too low for you?

 

[wandererr]

I don't have an issue modifying the frame - I just didn't have motivation to build one from scratch I'm trying to decide about keeping the tires the way they are - it's kind of a question regarding stability.I will be higher then a pop up trailer which means that I will probably want to spread out the width after all....

I'm looking to tow behind my JK which at the moment is not lifted and I have a variety of drop hitches so one of them should fit.

 

[njtacoma]

I must have been asleep when i looked at the pictures before. The frame is the perimeter, so no notching it out to fit larger tires. It may be possible with a simple spring-over to fit a larger tire under there without having to deal with those cross members or perimeter frame.

If you have to mess with the perimeter frame to make it work, I think I would keep looking. my $.02

 

[Mark Harley]

I like it! A spring over and some rienforcing of the frame and you will have a great platform.
14" tires should tuck under nicely.
Post your results.

 

[wandererr]

Thanks! I will be looking at it tomorrow AM and might drag it back home. I'm hoping that it will work out as finding a decent looking base at a reasonable price is hard in SoCal.

 

[wandererr]

Went, saw, bought

So here's the good - $200 with wheels (rubber will need to be replaced though at some point) The bad - one leaf is broken, both leaf packs will need replacing (but since I was going to do an SOA anyways, that's not a big deal). Rear main cross beam was cut and replaced with a bolted in one. No real answer as to why - either rusted or hit but the frame looks straight so it's a mystery. I will probably weld in the bolted beam in for rigidity.

Now the fun part begins - looking for parts and pieces and ..... building

 

[Mark Harley]

I have had good luck with parts from R&P carriages.