wingysataday
Adventurer
here is another option http://www.trailerpart.com/torsionaxles.htm
Tent trailers which is the toughest?
- Thread starter wingysataday
- Start date
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero: YUP, thats the axles my Tentrax has and they have been flawless for close to 11,000 miles-
:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO
:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
The Dexter is a better design IMO. The Dexter does not depend on a mechanical bond for the dampening. If you were to loose the bond between the rubber and axle you are SOL with the Flexride. The minimum design weight of the Flexride listed is 2000#.:Wow1: Not very workable with today's light weight trailers.
For the most part this is a solid design. In extreme situations, there are some concerns. AT has had them fail, after long trips over washboard. I believe that they were pulling a couple of the rubber dampeners out, to match the correct weight of the trailer. Aspen too has been using these for a long time without failure. My opinion is that they are very good but not the best available. The next step up is a trailing arm with air bag and shock absorber. But the cost is significantly higher.
wingysataday
Adventurer
Trailing arm and airbags just seems like too much to go wrong. I think I will go with the rubber torsion cause the trailer is 1251#'s so that gives quite a bit of leeway for the 2000# axles.
Anyone have tips on frame strengthening?
Anyone have tips on frame strengthening?
wingysataday
Adventurer
So I looked at a few tent trailers and they are just so weak! I looked at a 2003 that had bolts falling out as he was showing me the trailer. I am looking hard at the lifetime 1st edition tent trailer. The newer model is a piece of crap ( 200 denier poly tent, 2k axle, 84sqft interior, 79" wide, does not come with mattreses smaller bed space 2 twin xl, and can't park 4wheeler on top, you must remove the tent first.) 1st generation lifetime tent trailer has thicker 600 denier poly tent, larger 3500lb axle, bigger 92sqft interior, comes with mattresses, 2 full size beds, you can park fourwheeler on top and not as wide at 72."
Longtallsally
Adventurer
I gotta give my vote for the E1. We just got one a few weeks ago and I honestly didn't even feel like we were camping our first time out. Hot water, fridge, sink, comfy bed, furnace, crazy amount of storage? Well allrighty then.
Here is the real kicker, we climbed about 4k feet and back and ended up with 16mpg on the tank of fuel we used. We got almost 18mpg when we picked it up.
Like many others, I debated long and hard on this and even did a thread in the Jeep forum on whether we'd be able to tow it. We debated on many choices; build our own from a utility trailer, buy a utility trailer, Jumping Jack, Lifetime, and drooled over some of the crazy Aussie ones (but I'm not made of money). I think we got the best bang for the buck for the best ease of use. We paid $6500 for ours and I understand that may be stretching your budget, but I look at it in the same manner as I did when we ordered our new Jeep; it's DONE. I don't need to upgrade or add anything of consequence to have it be ultimately capable.
Now would I take this camper through the Rubicon or on anything harder than a dirt road? No. But I also am not a fan of doing that with any trailer. A base camp with a trailer is perfect and with the E1 I can either take the Jeep out or bring a motorcycle or any other toy and still come back to basically a nice hotel room.
It made camping with our infant a non-issue and allowed us to bring the dog with ease and didn't have the Jeep piled full of crap allowing us all to be comfy for the trip.
Here is the real kicker, we climbed about 4k feet and back and ended up with 16mpg on the tank of fuel we used. We got almost 18mpg when we picked it up.
Like many others, I debated long and hard on this and even did a thread in the Jeep forum on whether we'd be able to tow it. We debated on many choices; build our own from a utility trailer, buy a utility trailer, Jumping Jack, Lifetime, and drooled over some of the crazy Aussie ones (but I'm not made of money). I think we got the best bang for the buck for the best ease of use. We paid $6500 for ours and I understand that may be stretching your budget, but I look at it in the same manner as I did when we ordered our new Jeep; it's DONE. I don't need to upgrade or add anything of consequence to have it be ultimately capable.
Now would I take this camper through the Rubicon or on anything harder than a dirt road? No. But I also am not a fan of doing that with any trailer. A base camp with a trailer is perfect and with the E1 I can either take the Jeep out or bring a motorcycle or any other toy and still come back to basically a nice hotel room.
It made camping with our infant a non-issue and allowed us to bring the dog with ease and didn't have the Jeep piled full of crap allowing us all to be comfy for the trip.
I know that this post was supposed to be about the Jumping Jack. I'd vote for it as about the toughest production tent trailer. It comes with a very sturdy frame and box, and it is equipped with 3500 lb. torsion axles. The tent fabric is also fairly tough, being made of heavy canvas. Unlike many tent trailers, though, it doesn't have a hard roof/trailer cover. That's because it folds inside the trailer, and the steel "wings" fold over the top, providing a platform for transport of ATVs or other gear. It was designed to provide off-road capability, but I would suggest it be used cautiously, if at all, on moderate difficulty trails. I would not recommend it at all for "most difficult" rated trails, mostly because it's too long, too low, and too wide for that type of trail.
I really like my Jumping Jack. I've taken it all over the west, and have camped in several states in it. It's served me quite well, so far, and is ready to go when I get my next chance to use it. I've taken mine on some easy trails (so far, so good), but nothing that I would even consider moderate at this point. I wouldn't have any difficulty using it on more difficult trails, but so far, I haven't tried it. The biggest drawback is that it's about 12' long, including the tongue, and nearly 8' wide, making it much wider than my tow vehicle. It tracks well, but I have to remember that it's a lot wider than my vehicle.
wingysataday
Adventurer
Well I am headed up north saturday to purchase, the only one in america apparently for sale, lifetime tent trailer 1st edition. I like everything about the jumping jack but it is just to wide for me. The lifetime is going to do everything I can afford at this time. With all the backroads and washboards we take, a tent trailer just won't suffice unless I could afford the E1 of course. I'm really excited!
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
If you want to check out an Evolution E1 first hand, drop me a PM. I am less than an hours drive from Boise.
Here's mine: BLT Offroad Evolution E1
I found it in Idaho Falls.
Any of them will have things to improve. I am comfortable with mine. Perfect for this area. it will go as far as needed and then set up base camp and explore further. If you are close minded to the Coleman/Fleetwood, the Baja looks like another good choice.
I came from a very good offroad RTT trailer: BLT Offroad Trailer
We needed room for a growing family. My wife wanted a place to sit inside comfortably and a real sink. The furnace and hot water heater are nice conveniences too.
Not a rock crawler, but it will offroad just fine
Here's mine: BLT Offroad Evolution E1
I found it in Idaho Falls.
Any of them will have things to improve. I am comfortable with mine. Perfect for this area. it will go as far as needed and then set up base camp and explore further. If you are close minded to the Coleman/Fleetwood, the Baja looks like another good choice.
I came from a very good offroad RTT trailer: BLT Offroad Trailer
We needed room for a growing family. My wife wanted a place to sit inside comfortably and a real sink. The furnace and hot water heater are nice conveniences too.
Not a rock crawler, but it will offroad just fine
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TheThom
Adventurer
Sorry to sidetrack, but are you using the BAL leveler with those bigger tires? I'm rebuilding my PUP and had still hoped to use the BAL leveler as well.
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
I am indeed. A domestic case (import case tires are metric and tend to run slightly smaller overall diameter) 235/75-15 tire is as large as you can fit on the BAL leveler. Even then loaded and aired down a little you will find it difficult to slide under. Sometimes I shovel out either side of the tire on softer ground or sitting in a hole.
You can kind of see it in this picture:
Collapse it and a good tug gets it loose.
scot zimmerman
Observer
My first post here- I got Chris at Sierra 4x4 (yes that Chris) to modify a small off road trailer for me that I originally purchased from Rou at Bundu Gear. It is very cool and he does incredible work. The problem is I managed to destroy my back this summer and climbing into the roof top tent is hard right now. So- the point of my reply here is I purchased a used Aliner Classic. I think they're a great concept but basically junk underneath (at least mine was) so I'm having a friend of mine build a new frame and tongue and replacing the axle w/ leaf springs and larger tires. It will never be able to go seriously off road but should handle most tracks and dirt roads plus it's quite comfy for winter camping. Could be cool--
wingysataday
Adventurer
I bought the lifetime! It's so freakin cool! It's huge inside and has a neat little velcro flap on the front of it to allow you to snake a propane hose or power wires into the tent! This entire trailer is so well thought out it's crazy. There is no tools needed at all to set it up and they utilized these Coupler Safety Lock Pins - 5/16 to hold all the metal bits together. The build quality is exceptional and is very sturdy! I will start a new thread on it with many pics!