Project Backpack, a FWD Mil Spec Trailer / Camper

[spd2918]

Hey kids. After having a Bethany tent trailer for years my wife wanted a hard sided camper. The set up time on the Bethany was a pain in the butt and she didn't like feeling insecure in bear territory. I didn't want a heavy, wind resistant hard-sider and the associated 1 ton truck. Using this site for research I decided a Four Wheel Pop Top was the best compromise for ease of set up and light weight.

Last week I picked up a old Four Wheel Grandby in St. Paul MN. I put it on my buddy's snowmobile trailer and drug it home to Superior WI. The camper is the cab over model but not the later queen bed version. The canvas is in great shape and everything looks sturdy. The previous owner used it in Colorado up until last year, so it has been in a somewhat dry environment.



My first thought was to buy an old $1,000 pick up truck and dedicate it to camper duty. 99% of the old trucks in my area have major rust issues. Those that don't are 2WD and expensive. I considered a trip to Montana or Wyoming (no salted roads) to buy one, but with the cost of gas I would double the purchase price. My wife has a 6 speed Jeep Liberty that could easily tow a trailer, so I am planning on putting the Grandby into a M-101. I will widen the wheel well gap and paint the bed, but otherwise I will be keeping the military look. I know I could save some 300 pounds by cutting a bunch of stuff off, but I want to keep the surge / parking brakes and hitch.

I plan to use the camper like a big backpack, thus the name "Project Backpack." I will add a lock box to the front of the trailer for dual propane tanks for the furnace and hot water. There will be dedicated 12V house batteries. I have not decided what to do for a cooler or fridge. The bench / bed cushions will be recovered and the cabinets will be redone. I want more interior storage, so the water tank will go in the lock box.

Any thoughts from you experts?

Brad

PS- I will probably be going to ExPo with a buddy in his Provan Tiger Dodge.

 

[spd2918]

Phase Two of Project Backpack is: Acquire a Trailer

Phase Two complete:

This thing is overbuilt to say the least. There is just a touch of surface rust here and there from some scratches, but it is solid. I took it home on some icy roads and it pulled fine. The mechanical brakes are set properly for no load.

 

[spd2918]

The Liberty spare tire location is all wrong for towing. Trailer chains rarely reach and the ball on most hitches is under the tire. What I need is an extension that moves the hitch back and way up. I plan on using something like this, flipped for more height:

View attachment 132635

I will weld chain loops to the receiver, too. I would also like to modify the trailer to extend and narrow the tongue. I can flip the lunette under at that time to level the trailer further.

 

[xxfullsailxx]

hey there-

looks good... can't wait to see you start hacking away at that trailer! that camper looks to be in pretty good shape, i'd like to see pics of how that front bunk is configured and slides out, i've been thinking of attempting to add a small berth in the front of my NCO.

the surge brakes on my trailer were NOT set up for the correct weight...i had a rude awakening the minute i made a hard stop!

good luck with your project...

-darin

 

[Overland Hadley]

This looks like a great project! And it is great to see another FWC in the Great Lakes region. Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Hey neighbor! (I'm right across the bridge)

Isn't that 101 a bit big for the Libby?

How does the FWC fit in the bed? (or how does it look like it'll fit?)

Congrats on the new trailer and the FWC!

 

[spd2918]

The Libby doesn't know it's back there. I didn't like this particular Jeep when my wife first wanted it, but now that I drive it I am impressed. I won't be asking it to do any hard core trails, so I think the 101 will work fine. I bumped up to 235s (stock are 225R16) and reduced the offset with Cragar Star steel wheels to expand the footprint. The stock wheel were rusty (does anyone want them?).

I will need to widen the gap between the wheel wells, otherwise it should fit fine. I will be happy if I can close the tailgate with the camper inside. I picked up some "L" brackets to mount it to the bed directly. My hope is that the trailer won't flex much and camper will flex if needed.

 

[Ponyracer]

You'll be alot happier if you buy an electric brake trailer axle and springs, say a 3500lb 5 lug model that has a matching pattern to your liberty. That way you can use the 1 spare for the entire setup, you get better brake bias loaded/unloaded and the biggest seller, you save 500+ pounds in dead weight. The axle, brakes, wheels, and hydro setup on the tongue, not to mention the STUPID designed jack weigh A TON.

Do some reading, thats what most people end up doing.

 

[spd2918]

Most say they save 300 pounds. If I could save 500 I would not even use brakes.

I understand the weight concerns, but right now I don't want to fix what isn't broken. I won't be hardcore off-roading and I have a few other projects going on (like remodeling my kitchen $$$). The trailer, as it sits, will get only the mods it needs for now; other things can wait until later as funds and time become available. I have picked up a height adjustable pintle hitch, two leveling jacks for the back, a flip down crank tongue jack, and four "L" brackets for camper mount points. That's as much as I can spend for a while.

On the plus side I have a buddy that welds. He is excited to help on the project and has some great ideas.

Lights- Am I able to swap in 12 volt bulbs in the stock military lights? I know I will have to change out the trailer plug. I really like the look of the military lights, but I understand I need side clearance lights, too.

 

[SLO_F-250]

Looks like a great project. Good luck! Post lots of pictures as it progresses! :ylsmoke:

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Lights- Am I able to swap in 12 volt bulbs in the stock military lights? I know I will have to change out the trailer plug. I really like the look of the military lights, but I understand I need side clearance lights, too.

Yes, you can swap in 12V bulbs, and the lights will work fine (once you swap the pigtail)

And for side markers, you can wire in some small LED lights on the sides.

Are the Libby wheels 5 on 4.5" lug pattern? If so, I'm interested in them (the stock ones) HB

 

[spd2918]

Are the Libby wheels 5 on 4.5" lug pattern? If so, I'm interested in them (the stock ones) HB

Yes, and you have been PM'd.



My German welding friend Heinz said he didn't mind doing a little more work to lighten the trailer. "Ziss vill go, zat vill go, all zess liddle tings vill add up." Or something like that. He's a great guy with good ideas. He wanted to add on to bed floor for a step / ledge, but due to my height (6'2") and the short door I decided I wanted a drop when exiting.

We measured and the tailgate has to go. The camper is 3 or 4 inches too long. The parking brake handles are in the way of a tongue box, so I think I will be taking the brakes off after all. Looking at that monster surge brake changed my mind and it will come off. I think while we are at it, we will extend to tongue and sling the extension under the tongue V. That way it will line up better with my hitch (after dropping big bucks on a height adjustable unit).

 

[spd2918]

A lighter tongue:

Heinz really liked the forward tongue. We are keeping it and keeping the tongue stand to back up the crank I purchased.

This is the man, Heinz. He is 73 but can kick your ***:

 

[spd2918]

Progress has been slow but steady. Heinz wanted a wheel on the trailer so he could move it in and out of his small shop. I bought a wheel at Harbor Freight that he added to the stock drop down leg. It has a dual lock feature on it that brakes the wheel and keeps it from turning on its mount. The height with the wheel down makes the trailer dead level on level ground. The swing down crank will do any leveling on uneven ground. The crank bracket is only tacked in photo. It will be clamped in case I want to change its location later.

Wheel down:

Wheel up:

Today we picked up more steel for the project and some welding supplies. The leading lower edge had some rust, so that will be replaced. Heinz is making a plate over the top of the tongue and will attach the lowered pintle to it. He is also fabbing up some 3 inch angle for a tongue box....

 

[spd2918]

Last weekend I worked at the motorcycle show in Minneapolis. This was the view from the Ducati stand:

Heinz finished up with the welding and I towed the trailer to a friend's body shop.

These are the rear stabilizers:

The blocks are fixed, but I think I will make them removable for clearance. I have a hand crank to deploy them, but will also pack a cordless drill to make things go faster.


The wheel wells were cuts and widened. Heinz used stainless steel rivets and backing tape.

This is how the front sits:

It now lines up with my hitch and has a tray. I will probably use a plastic box to enclose the propane and / or leveling chocks. I retained the parking brakes.

You might think I sacrificed a lot of off-road capability with the shorted and lowered hitch. That's true, but remember this will be pulled by a stock Jeep Libby on modest roads only.





Stand by for POR-15 and OD green!