Little Guy

[someday]

I'm still thinking about the redesign ideas, including the under-bed storage. Those huge panels have to morph into smaller panels on hinges to be useful.

And another issue ---- weight. I gave it the one-arm tongue test and I couldn't lift it. I could barely lift it with two hands; I'm pretty sure this puppy is exceeding the JK's safe towing weight.
I thought it would have armor over the suspension bits and little here and there; it has a solid steel plate running in a giant "V" from end to end. The jockey wheel is overwhelmed by the weight and binds when you try to turn the trailer in the garage...

It has brakes on it; I just have to get the parts for the Jeep to integrate the two systems.

I have been following your build. Its a great looking trailer. I have recently purchased a RoughRider, even talked to them about building me a 'Hilldweller'. I bought one "out of the box" and I must say there were a couple little details I either felt were ill designed or poorly constructed . I have had it for 4 weeks and already have two weekends in it and I must say, so far I love it.

I was looking at the Silver Shadow and when I saw those under bed storage compartments I thought exactly what you are saying. I thought they would be tricky access, the wood was to thin, hinges etc.

The tongue weight. Do you know the overall weight of your trailer? I thought the standard R.R. was between 1500-1600 lbs with a tongue weight of about 150 lbs? I would imagine a 6 wide Rough Rider Silver Shadow might be up around 2000? I am purely guessing on that. IF that were the case, would the tongue weight be between 200-250? Assuming it was 10-15% or the trailer weight? Once again, I could be COMPLETELY wrong. I notice on mine the jockey wheel seemed stress, I was going to head to tractor supply for a disc foot? Im not going to lie, Im a newbv! http://www.tractorsupply.com/traile...lldog-trailer-jack-disc-foot-with-pin-1840013 .

And as far as the brakes go, when I picked mine up at little guy I should have dialed in my brakes with the brake controller there. When I got home I tried setting my trailer brakes with my brake controller only to find the brakes weren't working. Well after some phone calls to Little Guy and some prodding around I am PRETTY sure that the brakes just need adjusting. Is that common to buy a trailer with brakes and have to crawl under to manually adjust them before setting them with brake controller? All this is new to me.

Like I said, your trailer is freakin' sweat :drool: and by no means do am I trying to bash Little Guy. I have been following your build and thought I would throw in my 2cents!

 

[The Swiss]

I thought it would have armor over the suspension bits and little here and there; it has a solid steel plate running in a giant "V" from end to end. The jockey wheel is overwhelmed by the weight and binds when you try to turn the trailer in the garage...

I saw that when I read test report in a magazine. Made no sense to me; maybe some gravel/ rock chip protection for the underbelly, maybe a slider in front of the axle to make sure the axle does not snag on a stump or rock ...

I notice on mine the jockey wheel seemed stress, I was going to head to tractor supply for a disc foot? Im not going to lie, Im a newbv! http://www.tractorsupply.com/traile...lldog-trailer-jack-disc-foot-with-pin-1840013

I have a disc foot on my (light weight) trailer and it is a huge PITA. Every time I want to move the trailer I have to pick up the trailer tongue as those discs don't slide very well on any surface. Even on my smooth garage floor it hardly slides, screeching like fingernails on a blackboard living scratches on the floor. I'd suggest a heavy duty, high quality jockey wheel.

 

[bigwapitijohnny]

Congratulations...

Hilldweller,

VERY NICE build! I can relate to your want to improve things out of the gate. I know that is how I am with my Sherpa II. This is a real beauty, I am sure you will enjoy this for many years to come.

Congrats again,

BWJ

 

[JPK]

I'm still thinking about the redesign ideas, including the under-bed storage. Those huge panels have to morph into smaller panels on hinges to be useful.

And another issue ---- weight. I gave it the one-arm tongue test and I couldn't lift it. I could barely lift it with two hands; I'm pretty sure this puppy is exceeding the JK's safe towing weight.
I thought it would have armor over the suspension bits and little here and there; it has a solid steel plate running in a giant "V" from end to end. The jockey wheel is overwhelmed by the weight and binds when you try to turn the trailer in the garage...

It has brakes on it; I just have to get the parts for the Jeep to integrate the two systems.

Mike, have you ever done that?

As I have mentioned on other threads, I'm having a teardrop built and its under construction right now. So, I've been working on some of the issues that you have been and hope I can help.

Weight: The anticipated weight of my teardrop is ~2500lbs. Then add about 500lbs for water, gear, etc. That means a tongue weight of ~350lbs. There is no way around tongue weight. If you don't have enough you have stability problems, too much and its tough on the Jeep. I'm having a receiver tongue built in for some adjustability.

Also, one reason I'm starting with a pintle/rotating lunnette combo is that a trailer dolly can be used to move the trailer around without having to pick up the tongue. For stouter wheeled tongue jacks, take a look at the marine mraket. It's hard to find a swivel jack with enough travel for an off road trailer, but there are a couple with ample length and travel and 6" or 7" wheels.

Regarding your trailer's underbody armor, maybe switch to aluminum?

On the trailer brakes, I had a shop down the street install a seven pin connector adjacent to the stock oem four pin connector. I'm all but 100% certain that there is a plug and play option available from Jeep for the seven pin connector that also retains the four pin connector. (I think that's what the shop did but don't now recall.)

There is no plug and play option for a brake controler, the brake controler needs to be wired into the Jeep or wired/plumbed in in the case of the Max Brake controller (probably the best option but too rich for my blood.) Be careful on controler selection since many have mounting position limitations. The Prodigy P2 seems to have the least limitations with the exception of the Max Brake, which has none. See this site for info - and the fellow I spoke with was VERY helpfull too: http://www.brakecontroller.com/?gclid=CM7vk9297KcCFYHb4Aod3WMmbg

Here is a link to a thread on Jeepforum.com that includes directions for wiring in a brake controler (but Max Brake is different,) the fellow wired in a Prodigy P3 but the directions should be the same: http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f96/...dapter-brake-controller-jk-586378/index3.html

Like I said, hope this helps.

JPK

 

[Hilldweller]

I already wired a 7 pin connector and am scouting for the P2; found it for $99.
Waterboarder and I are old forum buddies and I watched his trailer build a long time ago (before he got banned).

Stump --- maybe we can have a shop day and do the brake controller over at Mike's wunder-barn. He's PM'd me and offered help and sympathy.

 

[Hilldweller]

I put most of the gear in it last night for our camping trip this weekend. Found that the cheap-o composite tool box on the tongue had warped when it was left open and didn't want to close; you have to pull on the box part of the hasp and spread the front out as you push the top down. Low quality nasty small box that wasn't worth $120 and needs replacing...

I replaced the halogen bulbs in the galley and cabin with LED to save some battery life. Found some nifty little bags to fit in the cabin. And put our dry food in plastic ammo boxes.

One tire had 36psi and the other had 27; hope that means they were just a little negligent and that the one tire doesn't have a leak.

 

[The Swiss]

One tire had 36psi and the other had 27; hope that means they were just a little negligent and that the one tire doesn't have a leak.

Check the valve stem. Almost every time I get new tires one is leaking at first. When I tightened the valves, they all kept air very well. Not sure why tire places can't tighten them dang things right.

 

[Hilldweller]

Check the valve stem. Almost every time I get new tires one is leaking at first. When I tightened the valves, they all kept air very well. Not sure why tire places can't tighten them dang things right.

I'll check that if it's low again later.

The tool box pisses me off. And the wimpy jockey wheel. And the fenders not fitting.

 

[StumpXJ]

So... what can be done about the problem items? Will he 'fix' them, or are ya stuck with it? If you are stuck with it... it can all be fixed pretty easily.

~ Stump

 

[Hilldweller]

So... what can be done about the problem items? Will he 'fix' them, or are ya stuck with it? If you are stuck with it... it can all be fixed pretty easily.

~ Stump

I keep waiting for him to read this and call; guess not.

I've been looking around for a different box to mount. He said he'd send new fender...
And I'll look for a jockey wheel.

Do you actually know how to do the brake controller? I'm about to order it...

 

[StumpXJ]

I keep waiting for him to read this and call; guess not.

I've been looking around for a different box to mount. He said he'd send new fender...
And I'll look for a jockey wheel.

Do you actually know how to do the brake controller? I'm about to order it...

I can do anything Bill. Its a pretty simple install. Ive installed a couple of them.

:elkgrin:

~ Stump

 

[d110pickup]

Bill,
I just read the last couple of pages of this thread. No, I've never installed a brake controller but Stump has so your golden on that one. I'm gone until Sunday evening but I'll be available next week and I'm happy to help. Bring Stump with ya too!
See ya,
Mike

 

[Hilldweller]

So can we make a play-date at Mike's garage for Saturday the 9th?

I'll get the parts and defrost more venison. :drool:

 

[StumpXJ]

If im working, im doing it at my shop, with my tools etc.

If im standing around with a beer, gawking at cool stuff I dont have in my shop, Id visit Mikes shop.

Im not driving an hour to Canton to work in someone else's shop, with someone elses tools, on someone else's stuff. If you want me to help, you get to drive to Decatur. Its a heck of a lot easier for me to get permission to 'go outside' for a few hours than it is to drive all the way out there.

Stump

 

[Hilldweller]

I thought you wanted to play in Mike's shop?

I noticed a black box under the deck in the trailer's cabin. It looks like a brake controller...
I emailed Chris about it but haven't heard back yet. I didn't take a good look at it yet but can't figure out what else it might be but a brake controller...
So maybe there's one in there already and I just have to tap a wire and run it to the plug.