New member and new owner of an original pack mule trailer

[lchavez]

I was referred over by a member from bushcraft USA. I was fortunate to come across an old pack mule trailer from an original owner. He even had the original flyer that was passed on to me. I have been looking for something like this for some time to build into a nice camping trailer and am excited to have it.

Here is where I need your help. The original owner took most of the upgrades except suspension. I am a little worried about this. It is quite bouncy empty, but I have yet to pull it loaded.

It has very large tires, and it states in the flyer that these large tires act as suspension when loaded. It speaks of letting out pressure.

My main concern is safety on the highway.

 

[lchavez]

First thing I had done was rewire the lights, repack the bearings and I added a spare tire mount. It's going to a paint shop this weekend for some minor rust removal, spray in bed liner and body paint.

 

[lchavez]

Back from the paint shop

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[Box Rocket]

Sounds to me like it's got typical short, stiff trailer springs that don't flex much so it's necessary to run lower psi to smooth out the ride. I wouldn't worry about it one bit. I'm using trailer springs on my trailer and I run about 10psi in the tires. I've towed thousands of miles on the highway, in the dirt and all over. the tires never heat up and it rides really nicely. Let's some air out and go to town.

 

[lchavez]

Sounds to me like it's got typical short, stiff trailer springs that don't flex much so it's necessary to run lower psi to smooth out the ride. I wouldn't worry about it one bit. I'm using trailer springs on my trailer and I run about 10psi in the tires. I've towed thousands of miles on the highway, in the dirt and all over. the tires never heat up and it rides really nicely. Let's some air out and go to town.

I wish it had stiff trailer springs. It is a tube steel axle welded directly to the chassis. Nice setup by the way. A RTT is on my horizon for this. Not sure yet how to handle a lid, or rack system that will support the tent and provide access to the trailer.


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[Box Rocket]

I wish it had stiff trailer springs. It is a tube steel axle welded directly to the chassis. Nice setup by the way. A RTT is on my horizon for this. Not sure yet how to handle a lid, or rack system that will support the tent and provide access to the trailer.


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Eek. Ok that changes things a little. Well cutting that one off and welding on some spring hangers for trailer springs is a pretty simple task. I purchased my 3500# axle with spring kit for $115 at a local trailer supply place. They built me a custom axle to my specified width and with the lug pattern I requested. It came with everything I needed and it has worked out really well. I'd look into something like that if I were you.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

I saw something at Overland Expo that I thought was really cool but neglected to take a picture of it. It was a trailer wheel hub and bearings used as the pivot point for a swing gate spare carrier. I thought it was a novel way to carry a spare hub. All one had to do was R&R the spare hub with a worn/damaged one on the trail and put the bad one back where the spare was. One could also incorporate a spare hub into any spare tire carrier in a similar manner, as long as you don't mind the spare tire rotating. Anyway, I decided that if and when I build up a trailer I wanted to incorporate the idea and thought I would share it.

 

[vladig]

Sweet trailer and even nicer Xterra . Also I can't remember where but I've seen a bolt on torsion hub setup but that would change where the center of the tire is located and that might cause more issues then worth

 

[lchavez]

Sweet trailer and even nicer Xterra . Also I can't remember where but I've seen a bolt on torsion hub setup but that would change where the center of the tire is located and that might cause more issues then worth

Thank you for the info. I'm going take it to a couple of local shops and see what they think. Also going to wait and see how it runs loaded

This is our second exterra, our first one lasted 13 years. Enjoying the pro 4x, but it still feels like they haven't worked out the rear suspension. Even with the beefier shocks, I still bottom out on speed bumps with no cargo.

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

Apparently a common problem
http://www.thenewx.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22156

Probably keep it soft to keep the passengers happy, since people nowadays complain about truck riding like trucks and want a more car ride feel. Can't get more truck feel than leaf springs...

I'm sure there's more up to date threads, but I just did a quick search and it had a few options listed in there

 

[quickfarms]

I would loos into a torsion axle for the trailer.

If you add springs the trailer will raise up about 4"

Quite a few old trailers did not have springs or they were so stiff that they did little unless the trailer was loaded very heavily.