Lifetime trailer @ costco

[Kipster]

I got them to build me a cover for mine right around the time you wrote this. I also got the spare tire and carrier, it's very well thought out just like the rest of the trailer. . As for going to larger tires, I bought mine thinking I would be doing that, but not real sure I need to. it has as much clearance as my stock JKU Rubi. A few offroad adventures will let me know if I need to fur sure. I probably will eventually, along with a different tongue. Wish I could see photos of RubiconGeoff's

Overall, I'm impressed with the sturdiness of the components and the apparently well-thought-out design. It went together like someone had put some effort into making the assembly straightforward.

Specific comments (from my experience, YMMV):
- The instructions are straightforward and step-by-step. Occasionally there is some ambiguity about what exactly is to be done, but a bit of study resolves it.
- I suggest assembly be done on as flat and level a surface as possible. It will reduce the amount of fiddling to get everything to line up in the end. There is not a lot of slop in how things can go together (a good thing, IMO).
- A hammer and block of wood is a good (for me, necessary) substitute for the recommended rubber mallet. In a few places, gentle persuasion with a tap of a sledge sorted things out.
- Mention of the sledge brings to mind the one area where I feel quality falls short:the two wood floor sections. If I was to do it again, I would just buy my own higher quality 2x6s and copy the supplied pieces. They were warped, split, and very uneven. I used deck screws to pull things tighter together and still had to shave a fair amount off both sides of both ends with a hand plane to get the flooring to fit (and apply the sledge to tuck the back end in the frame).
- I can post who made the axle, tongue, jack, tires, etc if anyone wants to know.
- The tent provides a huge amount of floorspace and bedspace for such a small trailer footprint (5x7). Another 2" of firm foam for the bedding will feel good to these old bones.
- I think the wheel bearings are unsealed. I remember helping Granddad grease his boat trailer wheel bearings in the 1960's - 50 years later and I will be doing it still.
- When locating for camping, you need to get the axle level (side to side). Then you can adjust front/rear height and set up the "wings" to work on uneven ground.

One person can do most of the assembly, but a second person sure helps a lot of the time, to provide someone on "the other end" or added muscle.

I think this thing will be just about bulletproof in a car camping application.

I'm still undecided about changing wheel/tire sizes. I sampled some trailer wheels and tires at TSC. The stock (no-name, Chinese I'm sure) wheel+tire combo weighs about 28 lbs. I think if I change anything it would be to go to a 14" wheel. 15"+ seems to add more weight than I care to have. 14" gives a wider variety of available tires with a similar load rating (in pounds, according to TireRack). I'd go to a wider tire - from 5.5" to 6.5" tread width. That's about the max that will fit in the stock fenders. And change from bias ply to radials, for the improved "ride".

I do think I'll go to a torsion bar fairly soon. I need to find someone locally who can spec the dimensions, or learn more about it myself. From what I can tell, there are bit players making trailer torsion bars, but Dexter dominates the market - so I would probably use them unless I find a strong reason not to.

I can't find the options mentioned in the manual at Lifetime - the spare tire and holder, the cargo cover, the storage cover. I'd like to get the storage cover. Maybe I should call them.

My main concern over the long haul is the tent. Lots of folks can keep the steel trailer going. The tent is probably not feasible to replace except from Lifetime. I thought about asking them if I can buy a complete second tent and keep it for spare parts or as a backup.

 

[Kipster]

Picked mine up for 2799 (plus the price of a costco membership) and that included free shipping.

Costco is selling a "Jumping Jack" type trailer. Price still seems a bit steep to me at $3500. The Jumping jack uses a canvas tent while this one looks to be nylon.

 

[Idlehour]

ive got a 2.5 lift on my JK unlimited and had to use a 5.25 drop hitch to level things out. im happy with the ground clearance for now
(except for the license plate hanger).

I have a set of wheels on the way and a old set of 33's that i'm going to put on it so i can use my jeep spare for the trailer too.
thinking of just using spacers to go from 4.5 to 5x5 instead of a whole new axle. ill post pics as things progress.

hanging fenders is going to be the trickiest part, but hopefully i can hang the plate and a light on the new fenders.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

I got them to build me a cover for mine right around the time you wrote this. I also got the spare tire and carrier, it's very well thought out just like the rest of the trailer. . As for going to larger tires, I bought mine thinking I would be doing that, but not real sure I need to. it has as much clearance as my stock JKU Rubi. A few offroad adventures will let me know if I need to fur sure. I probably will eventually, along with a different tongue. Wish I could see photos of RubiconGeoff's

I posted photos earlier in this thread. Is there something specific you'd like to see?

 

[zonzin]

Question about your tires and wheels

I posted photos earlier in this thread. Is there something specific you'd like to see?

First post to this forum,, woohoo!! I found it by doing a search on Lifetime Trailers. I just took delivery on mine and will be putting it together this weekend. Fun times!

I definetly will be swapping out the wheels and tires along with adding a pintel hitch, backup lights, fenders, and adding a folding coupling to the gooseneck.

What tires and wheels did you go with? Did you have to use spacers?

I'm trying to size up the tires and wheels with out using spacers. I found some white spoked 15x6 wheels with a 3.4 in backspace and some 235x75x15 tires that are 9.3 in wide at the side wall. I'm hoping I can make these work.

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

What tires and wheels did you go with? Did you have to use spacers?

I'm trying to size up the tires and wheels with out using spacers. I found some white spoked 15x6 wheels with a 3.4 in backspace and some 235x75x15 tires that are 9.3 in wide at the side wall. I'm hoping I can make these work.

3.4 inches backspacing isn't going to be enough. I have 2.5 inches backspacing and it's barely enough to get the tires to clear the frame.

Now that I have a Jeep to tow it with a different lug pattern, I may wind up swapping in a different, wider trailer axle so that the Jeep's spare tire can work on the trailer. You could always do this too, or install spacers, or source some wheels with less backspacing.

 

[zonzin]

3.4 inches backspacing isn't going to be enough. I have 2.5 inches backspacing and it's barely enough to get the tires to clear the frame.

....

Thanks for getting back to me on this. Can I ask where you got your rims for the trailer? I have not been able to find them anywhere with a 2.5 in backspacing. Also,, when you registere the trailer at DMV,, did you bring it down to register? And title,, how is the pink slip (title) handled? I did not get one with the trailer.

Thanks!!

 

[RubiconGeoff]

I ordered my 15x7 wheels (2.5" backspacing, 5x4.5" lug pattern) from 4 Wheel Parts.

I simply took all the paperwork that came with the trailer down to DMV and their trailer inspector guy spent all of 2 minutes checking everything off on his form. Then I went inside, paid my registration, and was handed a license plate. The pink slip came in the mail. Simple.

 

[markhusbands]

storage location for support legs/bars

Say - where do the wing supporting legs and bars go when the trailer is closed? In the gap between the wings? If yes, do they rattle around?

 

[RubiconGeoff]

Say - where do the wing supporting legs and bars go when the trailer is closed? In the gap between the wings? If yes, do they rattle around?

Lifetime intended for you to store the legs in between the folded wings for transport, but yes they rattle when they're there. I simply wrap the 4 folded legs in a camo moving blanket that I place on top of the tent before folding the wings down on top. This keeps them silent. I also tuck a camo tarp over the tent bag and bundle of legs, and I stuff it down the sides to keep it in place before folding the wings down over everything. This gives everything an additional layer of dust and UV protection, and it means I always have a tarp handy when I need one.

 

[Sac '68 Sport]

How easy is it to remove and reinstall the tent from the trailer? I don't have indoor storage for the trailer, but I could make a spot in the shed or garage for the tent and store the trailer outside, just wondering how much of a pain it is.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

How easy is it to remove and reinstall the tent from the trailer? I don't have indoor storage for the trailer, but I could make a spot in the shed or garage for the tent and store the trailer outside, just wondering how much of a pain it is.

It's a piece of cake. Just slide it out.
It helps if you have someone's assistance because it's big and awkward, but it's not heavy and it's not physically attached to anything.

 

[Sac '68 Sport]

Thanks,
Seems like a perfect solution for me. I need a hauling trailer since I only have an SUV. I want a travel trailer so I don't have to sleep on the ground and I don't need or particularly want all the extras that come with a popup, and I wouldn't worry about putting my kayaks on top and ruining the roof. Anyone know of the Jumping Jack bed extender will work with the Lifetime. Would be an easier sell to the wife if we could get it up to a Queen sized bed width.

 

[RubiconGeoff]

The Lifetime trailer gives you 2 queen size beds, plus a queen-size floor if you want to sleep 6 people in there.

I bought my Lifetime trailer for all the reasons you listed.

 

[VDBAZFJ]

Has the Lifetime trailer changed or is this a different model. Im not liking the door on this one. I need to see it in person I guess. Anyone know anything about it?