I’m ready to build my first offroad overland trailer. I will be pulling it either behind my Jeep TJ or Jeep JL wranglers. I had a old M-100 military trailer but decided to build a new trailer from scratch more purpose built instead of destroying a really nice old trailer to make it work. Anyway my trailer needs to be capable of holding a RTT, ARB fridge, folding table and chairs, 10 gallons of water, and other camping supplies etc. As far as size goes. Have you all ever wished you had gone smaller or larger in your size of trailer. I have been back and forth on size to build the main box. Anywhere from 42” wide x 48” long At the smallest 4’x6’ or 5’x8’ etc etc. id like to stay as small as I can for offroad use but really don’t want to wind up regretting going too small. I have my wheels, tires 33x10.50-15’s and my lock n roll hitch set up. Even have my steel and springs already just have to order an axle with brakes but that’s depending on width I decide on.
Trailer size?
- Thread starter Rescue6
- Start date
billiebob
Well-known member
So the TJ is 5' wide. make the trailer 5' wide too. It is nice if the track on the trailer and TJ are the same. Pulling thru mud it will follow better and weaving around tree stumps or rocks..... if the Jeep goes thru the trailer might also.
Width is incredibly important when backing up. You need to see both sides of the trailer ot it will fock off. Plus, why give up storage if the lead vehicle is 5' wide.
Length depends on how you use it. Of you are sleeping in it,... for me 7' long would be the minimum. If not, what are your minimum needs. Will it store a mountain bike or a white water kayak? Skis? Length is purely functional to fit your needs. Beyond storage, comes manueverability. Short will follow around switchbacks better if the tongue is long enough... ie 4 ' long behind a TJ.... 5' long behind a full size van. Also a longer trailer will be easier to back up. There is a balance point reversing, I find behind a TJ 10' long trailers with a 4' tongue are ideal. Shorter you will need to pull ahead if it focks off. Longer you lose too much when backing around a tight turn.
An F450 towing a 6' Expo trailer is an exercise in in futility. Reversing is pure frustration. Go to a boat launch and watch the full size trucks launching 10' fishing boats. Plus, you will have zero comprehension of what is happening behind you, the trailer could flip upside down with zero impact on your driving. The opposite, a TJ towing a 20" trailer is not as bad but on the highway a long trailer, even if it is light, behind a super short tractor becomes skittish.
Width, be sure you can see it in both mirrors. Length, is more about function, but a longer hitch to axle will follow and reverse more intuitively. Track, match the tow vehicle.
Width is incredibly important when backing up. You need to see both sides of the trailer ot it will fock off. Plus, why give up storage if the lead vehicle is 5' wide.
Length depends on how you use it. Of you are sleeping in it,... for me 7' long would be the minimum. If not, what are your minimum needs. Will it store a mountain bike or a white water kayak? Skis? Length is purely functional to fit your needs. Beyond storage, comes manueverability. Short will follow around switchbacks better if the tongue is long enough... ie 4 ' long behind a TJ.... 5' long behind a full size van. Also a longer trailer will be easier to back up. There is a balance point reversing, I find behind a TJ 10' long trailers with a 4' tongue are ideal. Shorter you will need to pull ahead if it focks off. Longer you lose too much when backing around a tight turn.
An F450 towing a 6' Expo trailer is an exercise in in futility. Reversing is pure frustration. Go to a boat launch and watch the full size trucks launching 10' fishing boats. Plus, you will have zero comprehension of what is happening behind you, the trailer could flip upside down with zero impact on your driving. The opposite, a TJ towing a 20" trailer is not as bad but on the highway a long trailer, even if it is light, behind a super short tractor becomes skittish.
Width, be sure you can see it in both mirrors. Length, is more about function, but a longer hitch to axle will follow and reverse more intuitively. Track, match the tow vehicle.
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billiebob
Well-known member
If one is more highway, don't match that one, match the track of the one seeing more extreme overlanding.
And length is all about function.
slimtwo
Adventurer
"Billiebob" is on the right track with the width. I modified a 1/4 ton 1940's jeep trailer for my adventure trailer, and replaced the axle with an axle that was the same track as my 05 TJ (61 inches). works great on the trail. I also suggest electric brakes. A must have on the trail. As for the length. The "MBT Willy's" trailer is 6ft long, and my CVT RTT just fit on the trailer (48" by 72" stowed, and 96" by 72" deployed). I also added aprox. 18" on the front for firewood stowage, and a longer tongue so I could orient the trailer 90 degrees to the jeep without damage to the jeep, in case I had to get out of a tight spot. so the trailer length overall, is about 10 1/2 - 11 ft.
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slimtwo
Adventurer
I'm actually getting ready to build a new trailer my self. I designed one to build before I found the jeep trailer. But I took the easy way out when I found the trailer. After having it for a few years, I have a better idea what I want, and need. I hope to post the build for this as I go. Right now I'm just collecting all the material. My axle should be here in a couple weeks. Then It's off to the races.
Sounds familiar. I had an old military M-100 1/4 ton trailer for a few years. But felt bad about wanting to cut it up so I sold it to fund my build. I’ve got my steel for the tongue and frame. Plenty to do any size I want. I’m going to run the 2.5x2.5x.25 wall front to rear so it can have a bike rack out back or as a recovery point if needed. Then I have the 30” lock n roll trailer side hitch so I can extend it a bit for pulling on the highway for stability then shorten it up offroad however I still plan on making it at its shortest option clear the side of the Jeep when Jack knifed. What dimensions have you decided on building?
slimtwo
Adventurer
I'm gonna pattern it pretty close to the Patriot X series trailer dimensions. About 66" wide by about 90" long for the box. And the tongue will be about 3 1/2 ft long. I don't have a definite height yet. I like my RTT high enough so I can walk under it when deployed, and I am 6' 4". So I am planning to engineer a lifting platform for this.
slimtwo
Adventurer
I was actually thinking of doing the same thing with my trailer tongue. It makes sense should you ever need a recovery for rig and trailer.
I’m 6’4” as well. I’m planning to make a lifting tent platform as well. Sounds like we are both after basically the same trailer.
billiebob
Well-known member
yes, this is what it is all about !! ???
billiebob
Well-known member
On this note, also keep it skinny enough so the factory mirrors are not blocked. All too many guys drive rigs where the trailer blocks the mirrors. A TJ pulling a 5' wide trailer is pretty ideal.
Not quite a perfect pic but this trailer fit behind my YJ perfectly and the tiny factory mirrors worked well.
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old_CWO
Well-known member
This post is spot on. I concur with Billiebob regarding width matching your track as well as mirror visibility. The traditional military quarter tons are scaled to flat fenders which are laughably tiny compared to modern Jeeps. They disappear completely behind a pickup truck. While setting the standard for the adventure trailer format, I honestly find them to be a bit tight on space and think a little bigger is better.
Based on what you are describing I would consider 5x8 with an adjustable length/removable tongue. Most of us with 4x6ish trailers have stuff clabbered onto the tongue and sides so you're basically at that dimension anyway. Just make it 5x8 and put everything inside instead. Plus if you ever need to use it for general utility hauling it's way more convenient.
Went out and took some measurements using my wheels and tires, the Jeep tj etc. have settled on on doing a 61” wide hub face measurement on the axle. That will have it track within the TJ’s path. Going with a 4’x6.5’ box and 10” fenders with platforms / rock rails front and rear of the wheel itself. So I really width will be 68” whatcha matches exactly the overall wheel width of the TJ.
billiebob
Well-known member
on the money, excellant choice. I am mulling over ways to make my trailers track equal to my TJs track. I'll get there eventually