Maxcustody
Explorer
Trailer and the newly added mods look great........
Manley ORV Original
- Thread starter Anonymous Coward
- Start date
Anonymous Coward
Observer
I didn't want the weight of a swing-out carrier and there isn't really room to mount it in front of the fender. I only carry the spare when I am headed more than ~20 miles outside of town. The tonneau is also the main way I access the bed of the trailer anyways, and I typically only use the tailgate when I'm carrying something very long in the bed (Menards runs) and don't need the spare at the time, or when I'm loading or unloading the *entire* trailer. All other times I can just carry the spare in the Jeep. The carrier as it is, is actually very easy to use as you just pull the pin and it's fairly lightweight to just pull off and put back on, since I don't have gigantic tires on the trailer...
Plus, I just kinda like it there...
Plus, I just kinda like it there...
Anonymous Coward
Observer
Got the spring fever and decided to pull out my new Kelty Adjustable Tarp Poles, some guylines, bungee tarp balls, and stakes, and play around with making some tarp shelters off the trailer. Now the ground was still very frozen, so it was hard to set my stakes and get a tight pull on the guylines! But still nice weather to get out and play around with it.
I got out my tarp grommet kit and added grommets in spots to some 6x8 tarps, that would make it easier to attach to the rack on the trailer.
This one will be good for a quick setup and a few chairs and a folding table. It can be set up on either side.
I got out my tarp grommet kit and added grommets in spots to some 6x8 tarps, that would make it easier to attach to the rack on the trailer.
This one will be good for a quick setup and a few chairs and a folding table. It can be set up on either side.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
The addition of another 6x8 tarp and a couple more guylines gives a bit more coverage. It could also just be pulled down straight by the bottom of the tarp poles and staked there as a windscreen.
I should probably get a 6x20 tarp so that I don't have to have an open seam at the apex of this one. But the 6x8 tarps have many uses, so it is nice to have a couple of those in the trailer.
I should probably get a 6x20 tarp so that I don't have to have an open seam at the apex of this one. But the 6x8 tarps have many uses, so it is nice to have a couple of those in the trailer.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
It can also be set up to attach lengthwise to any of the rack bars, instead of at the ends.
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Anonymous Coward
Observer
I also organized the trailer box with a trio of Stanley compartment boxes and some Tupperwares from the supermarket.
All of my straps and cords and cables and things... no more tangles and knots... ahhhhh.
All of my straps and cords and cables and things... no more tangles and knots... ahhhhh.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
Also added this thing, a GenY hitch slop reducer device that I found on Amazon. It works pretty well to tighten up my spare mount so it isn't moving around in the hitch. I used this instead of the other types as the pin access is inside the frame, making it difficult to use the types that require tightening a bolt in the hitch pin hole.
It has the added benefit of helping me easily push the spare mount in the receiver and quickly locate the exact spot to match the hitch pin hole. No more guessing.
It has the added benefit of helping me easily push the spare mount in the receiver and quickly locate the exact spot to match the hitch pin hole. No more guessing.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
They are Kelty Adjustable Tarp Poles. I got them from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-41981003-Adjustable-Tarp-Pole/dp/B001M0NVGC
They are pricey at $40 per pole, but IMO more than worth it if you want to build tarp shelters instead of buying a dedicated awning kit. They break down super small and compact, are shock-corded, and very, very stout while remaining super light. Plus they are anodized orange :sombrero:
I am actually considering getting another couple of them, they are so nice. REI carries a pole that has almost identical specs, but I'm pretty sure they are just copies of these as I think the Kelty was the original design. Don't confuse these with the Kelty staff poles or other tent poles.... The diameter of these is gigantic in comparison.
http://www.amazon.com/Kelty-41981003-Adjustable-Tarp-Pole/dp/B001M0NVGC
They are pricey at $40 per pole, but IMO more than worth it if you want to build tarp shelters instead of buying a dedicated awning kit. They break down super small and compact, are shock-corded, and very, very stout while remaining super light. Plus they are anodized orange :sombrero:
I am actually considering getting another couple of them, they are so nice. REI carries a pole that has almost identical specs, but I'm pretty sure they are just copies of these as I think the Kelty was the original design. Don't confuse these with the Kelty staff poles or other tent poles.... The diameter of these is gigantic in comparison.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
The poles just come by themselves.
I made the guylines by just cutting a 100' roll of 550 paracord into the lengths I needed, and then put a NiteIze CamJam at each end. Aluminum tent stakes... about a dollar a piece. 6x8 heavy duty tarps are anywhere from $5-$10 and a make-your-own tarp grommet kit is 5 bucks.
Poles = $80
100' 550 paracord = $10
Stakes = $5
Grommet kit = $5
6x8 HD Tarp = $10
Tarp bungee balls = $10
8 NiteIze CamJams = ~$30 (I probably could have done something cheaper here but whatever)
So I'm probably into the whole thing for about $150, but that's deceiving, as literally every component has multiple other uses when I'm not using the stuff as a a shelter or awning.
Plus, none of it is tied to the trailer. I can move it all to my Jeep and make one off the Jeep's roll cage. Or not tie it to a vehicle at all, and instead to some trees, or just freestanding.
You can also cheaply use different size of tarps, depending on your imagination. I may buy a gigantic 20x30 tarp or something like that so I can cover a whole campsite. There are also mesh screen tarps, tarp zippers to make doors in the tarps--let your imagination run wild. The Kelty poles are also adjustable and will go about 2' higher than I have them set in the photos.
I made the guylines by just cutting a 100' roll of 550 paracord into the lengths I needed, and then put a NiteIze CamJam at each end. Aluminum tent stakes... about a dollar a piece. 6x8 heavy duty tarps are anywhere from $5-$10 and a make-your-own tarp grommet kit is 5 bucks.
Poles = $80
100' 550 paracord = $10
Stakes = $5
Grommet kit = $5
6x8 HD Tarp = $10
Tarp bungee balls = $10
8 NiteIze CamJams = ~$30 (I probably could have done something cheaper here but whatever)
So I'm probably into the whole thing for about $150, but that's deceiving, as literally every component has multiple other uses when I'm not using the stuff as a a shelter or awning.
Plus, none of it is tied to the trailer. I can move it all to my Jeep and make one off the Jeep's roll cage. Or not tie it to a vehicle at all, and instead to some trees, or just freestanding.
You can also cheaply use different size of tarps, depending on your imagination. I may buy a gigantic 20x30 tarp or something like that so I can cover a whole campsite. There are also mesh screen tarps, tarp zippers to make doors in the tarps--let your imagination run wild. The Kelty poles are also adjustable and will go about 2' higher than I have them set in the photos.
Anonymous Coward
Observer
There are also much nicer tarps that you can use with these poles. For example these Kelty tarps:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009R9FTW4
I like the good 'ol regular tarps because they are more durable, easy to repair and modify, and I can use them for lots of things. But I may get one of those Kelty tarps. They look nicer :sombrero: And it would probably be nicer for stuff like setting up a beach shelter :snorkel:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009R9FTW4
I like the good 'ol regular tarps because they are more durable, easy to repair and modify, and I can use them for lots of things. But I may get one of those Kelty tarps. They look nicer :sombrero: And it would probably be nicer for stuff like setting up a beach shelter :snorkel:
Anonymous Coward
Observer
Lake unfroze! It's paddle season again, hope "the beast" doesn't sink itself this year :snorkel:
