Smittybilt Scout Trailer Reviews?

[Flatland_XJ]

I did that also, great kit well designed.

I bought the upper brackets from Habitat but sourced the rest from Amazon for less than half the price of Habitat's kit

 

[Crashphil]

So it happened !!! I was cleaning the trailer and notice my frame is cracked on the left side, between The side marker light and vin plate.
I contacted smittybilt just waiting for a reply now.

 

[trae]

I bought the upper brackets from Habitat but sourced the rest from Amazon for less than half the price of Habitat's kit

I didn't realize you could purchase the brackets separately. Did you just purchase their "light" brackets? And what did you do for the lower mounts?

 

[trae]

So it happened !!! I was cleaning the trailer and notice my frame is cracked on the left side, between The side marker light and vin plate.
I contacted smittybilt just waiting for a reply now.

Yikes! Do you have the tongue strengthening plates installed?

 

[Crashphil]

Yikes! Do you have the tongue strengthening plates installed?

No I don’t , my trailer is a 2017 and doesn’t have them ! Waiting to hear from smittybilt for the brackets and thinking about welding in square tube, I saw member here posted pics how you he did it.

 

[ebrabaek]

No I don’t , my trailer is a 2017 and doesn’t have them ! Waiting to hear from smittybilt for the brackets and thinking about welding in square tube, I saw member here posted pics how you he did it.

Yeppers.
That would be me.
If you search back several pages before I build the CF tongue box you can see what I did.
Cost less than $25 in square tubing.
Just make sure you bring off all the galvenization on the stock square tube.
I was having a hard time sticking the welds, but at least mine have not cracked yet.....post welding.
Easy to do.
Were I to do it again I would remove the OEM tongue box and cut the crossmembers then insert and weld in place a full length gusset.

 

[Crashphil]

Yeppers.
That would be me.
If you search back several pages before I build the CF tongue box you can see what I did.
Cost less than $25 in square tubing.
Just make sure you bring off all the galvenization on the stock square tube.
I was having a hard time sticking the welds, but at least mine have not cracked yet.....post welding.
Easy to do.
Were I to do it again I would remove the OEM tongue box and cut the crossmembers then insert and weld in place a full length gusset.

Unknowingly you are the person I was making reference too about adding the scare tubing ,
Good advice thanks for the details !!! I would like to add both the plates from smittybilt and the tubing !

 

[Flatland_XJ]

I didn't realize you could purchase the brackets separately. Did you just purchase their "light" brackets? And what did you do for the lower mounts?

Yes, I purchased their light mount bracket. It's the same one they use in the kit. I bought 13mm ball studs to go into the bracket. Then found 13mm flat plates for the lower part

 

[Flatland_XJ]

Amazon.com: Qty (2) Ball Stud Joint 13mm=(1/2") 2 Hole Flat Bracket Zinc: Automotive

Buy Qty (2) Ball Stud Joint 13mm=(1/2") 2 Hole Flat Bracket Zinc: Lift Supports - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Here's a link for the bottom bracket

 

[Flatland_XJ]

I'm still trying to find your rear bumper build. I have to get my tongue weight down. I found another option that I'm still researching to see if it will work.

Yeppers.
That would be me.
If you search back several pages before I build the CF tongue box you can see what I did.
Cost less than $25 in square tubing.
Just make sure you bring off all the galvenization on the stock square tube.
I was having a hard time sticking the welds, but at least mine have not cracked yet.....post welding.
Easy to do.
Were I to do it again I would remove the OEM tongue box and cut the crossmembers then insert and weld in place a full length gusset.

 

[Flatland_XJ]

Yes, I purchased their light mount bracket. It's the same one they use in the kit. I bought 13mm ball studs to go into the bracket. Then found 13mm flat plates for the lower part

Amazon.com: (4 Pack) 13mm Ball Studs With Hardware - 5/16-18 Thread x 5/8" Long Shank - Gas Lift Support Strut Fitting: Automotive

Buy (4 Pack) 13mm Ball Studs With Hardware - 5/16-18 Thread x 5/8" Long Shank - Gas Lift Support Strut Fitting: Ball Studs - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Here's a link for the studs too

 

[trae]

I'm still trying to find your rear bumper build. I have to get my tongue weight down. I found another option that I'm still researching to see if it will work.

@ebrabaek's build is all the way back on page 39: https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/smittybilt-scout-trailer-reviews.174189/page-39

What do you have in mind, i'm curious. I like someone elses idea with Yakima backswing. Easy to put together with off the shelf components but not as nice as this.

 

[Flatland_XJ]

@ebrabaek's build is all the way back on page 39: https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/smittybilt-scout-trailer-reviews.174189/page-39

What do you have in mind, i'm curious. I like someone elses idea with Yakima backswing. Easy to put together with off the shelf components but not as nice as this.

Thanks for the page number. I had someone else tell me about the Yakima back swing also. It does look like an easy solution for the time being.
I had found a kit with all the parts you would need to build your own, you supply the tubing. My only issue with that is that I dont have the equipment or the space to do it. And custom fab work gets expensive real quick

 

[Crushjkur]

So I see this thread is very long about 170 pages. Is the Smittybilt trailer worth it? It’s a great price right now at 4WP I don’t have time to read through all the pages. Looks like I have some time off this summer and might get one. I have a 2012 JKUR to tow it with so it may need a rehear as well. Thank you for your help.

 

[Tkhawk]

So I see this thread is very long about 170 pages. Is the Smittybilt trailer worth it? It’s a great price right now at 4WP I don’t have time to read through all the pages. Looks like I have some time off this summer and might get one. I have a 2012 JKUR to tow it with so it may need a rehear as well. Thank you for your help.

It depends on what your needs/wants are. We had ours a little over 2 years and enjoyed it. It's pretty much bare bones so its an open canvas for sleeping arrangements, electrical, water, and what ever else you might want to add. I have a 2012 JKUR on 35's and it handled it ok with the stock gears, not saying a regear wouldn't help it just wasn't necessary for us.

We sold ours because I was getting tired of setting up/taking down the roof top tent with the annex. Most of our trips are 1 or 2 nights and both of our kids are still to little to be much help and need to be watched over so I was having to do everything by myself. Our new trailer isn't near as rugged but setup is 10-20% as long which means more time enjoying camping with the family.