What's the best starting point?

[Kiriesh]

Hey guys, I'm in an odd lull with my wrangler being more or less trail ready with my future taco still probably around a year out before I actually get one so I've found myself projectless and well... that's just odd to me. I've always been fond of overland trailers, especially the ease of going from DD to overland ready simply by hooking up a trailer. I have some previous machining knowledge and a newfound access to a welder (gonna see if I can learn that via trial and error) and I figured, why not occupy my time with a low cost slow trailer build? I've done little projects in the past so I know that the framework and main body can be done fairly reasonably using recycled metal (pennies on the dollar, this stuff is awesome), so this leaves me to ask, where do I begin? I've lurked all sorts of build threads here and I've seen anywhere from custom built from the ground up to modified M416 trailers. I know literally nothing about trailers and registration (I'm in California), would starting from scratch be best? Modifying a utility trailer? Modifying a ex-military trailer? I'm in absolutely no rush. Any advice would be great. Hell I'll take links to a trailer FAQ, I just can't seem to find anything out there. Thanks in advance guys!
-Kiriesh

 

[Titanpat57]

I would always choose an ex military trailer...yes, heavier, but certainly able to take more stresses than a standard landscaping trailer.

Almost always better clearance as well.

 

[cyclic]

I definitely second the mil trailer.
Here's where I'm starting a M1102. All aluminum, a bit wide but I love it.

Going to add a truck style ladder rack for carrying stuff, and also make a tent topper as its big enough already for a queen bed. Going to attach the front and rear poles/arches to the front and rear lift points.

 

[Kiriesh]

Thanks guys, I have my eyes on a couple M116A3 trailers that are selling locally (one for $700, one for $900). Any average price for military trailers in general? It seems to be across the board from what I can find. Also, I'm hoping to have it the same width as the eventual tacoma and I noticed many of these trailers are really wide, so that would be my major concern running one.

 

[cyclic]

With the 1102, the trailer is wide BUT the tires are tucked under like a regular truck. No fenders to stick out. It comes stock with 37" tires, if your Jeep is pretty big it would match nicely. I swapped mine to 265/70R16 tires on regular Dodge 8 lug rims, lowered it nicely to match my truck. I paid $850 for mine, then sold the 37" tires/rims back to the seller for $150. It has the best ground clearance on a trailer I've EVER seen. It has a torsion axle, so even the tire to axle height is huge. I plan to put a spare tire under the back like a pickup.
Eventually I'll change to electric bakes and 6 lug hubs to match my suburban. All bolt on parts, and can be done one at a time.
Here it is stock with my 6' tall son confused about just how tall it was.

And here you can see the ground clearance, even with the shorter 31" tires and a dropped regular hitch.

 

[OwyheeMagpie]

I'd figure out what kind of "overlanding" you plan on doing, also, will the trailer serve just that function or maybe multiple uses? I've got a nicely built wheeler and a dual sport and I've been slowly gathering parts to make my 4x8 flat bed trailer a semi-overland/camping trailer that can serve as a junk mover also. Lots of tie downs, storage and maybe a rock system to fit a RTT over the bikes. My buddy has a M416 if I remember correctly. Its the common little military trailer. Anyway, its really wicked for a overland trailer. He put Thule cross bars on it and mounted his RTT over the storage area. Its super low profile, TONS of ground clearance and the best part is its got a really nice tail gate someone fabled into it so its lockable. The cool thing is you can reach your hands in and grab stuff, but anything worth stealing can't be pulled out because the tent sits so low over the top. Yeah, its not 100 percent secure but it keeps from inviting a quick grab n go while your getting gas on the road.

I live near you, check out that surplus store in moss landing off highway 1 or that other place up in Oroville. They usually get all kinds of trailers, also, craigslist in Tahoe and Reno has random stuff too. Good luck.

 

[OwyheeMagpie]

Oh yeah, I'm not sure whats "legal" but when I bought my little trailer I transferred the title and was never asked to see it or verify anything. There is no real description on the pink of what type of trailer it is either. My plan was to mod it to my needs and not mention anything. I honestly have no idea how anyone would ever know or care. I've seen some sketchy garage hunks of crap on the road with no marker lights, fenders or license plates and they don't seem to be bothered. I doubt if you make it nice and not a safety hazard anyone would care. As far as a scratch build, I think you can have the CHP inspect it and then get it registered through the DMV.

 

[Kiriesh]

Luckily I have easy access to a 98' ram 1500 whenever I need to haul stuff so this trailer can be dedicated for overlanding (instead of also a general utility trailer) which means drawer systems, power utilities etc. I've considered M416 trailers but all the ones I've seen easily go 1.5k+ for rusted out junk locally. I've been to the moss landing surplus and I haven't checked their larger equipment but their small soft goods were always super overpriced compared to other surplus stores. I wouldn't worry about registration quite so much if it were just a wheeling trailer or utility but I plan to tow it wherever I go, including other states and countries (lookin at you Canada) so I'd rather it be as legal as can be. Also, this will probably be towed behind a stock or nearly stock 2nd gen Tacoma (future DD/overlanding rig), as my jeep has reached the point where it is pretty terrible for long trips. Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[OwyheeMagpie]

My buddy paid 2200 or something ridiculous. Its not all clapped out or rusted and its on 35's with aluminum wheels, custom fenders and that tail gate. Personally there is no way in hell I would have paid that much but to each their own. When I was looking Ive seen some good contenders under a grand. One of my friends found a score of a deal, he got a Banche (what ever the civilian equivalent is with a factory tail gate), 500 bucks! AND ITS CLEAN! Lucky. The nice thing about the little M416s are super solid, also assuming its not trash, the tub and axle are worth 600-800 bucks in materials alone. So yeah 1,500 is steep but its not shabby if you think about it. Plus if you want to sell it later on someone else will over pay like you did. But I agree, they're still a lot of dough for what you get as a piece of equipment.

 

[Kiriesh]

Wow that's a lot of cash to put down... Suddenly the $500-900 range I've been finding for a few trailers are looking a helluva lot better...

 

[Nd4SpdSe]

I'd figure out what kind of "overlanding" you plan on doing, also, will the trailer serve just that function or maybe multiple uses?

Exactly. Other's can't tell you what you want for a trailer, the size and function. What will you do with it, and where will you go with it. What you need for equipment and features. Only you know this. Figure out your end game, then find the style trailer that'll suit your needs

 

[Kiriesh]

Exactly. Other's can't tell you what you want for a trailer, the size and function. What will you do with it, and where will you go with it. What you need for equipment and features. Only you know this. Figure out your end game, then find the style trailer that'll suit your needs

Thanks! When it comes to size, my main concern is being able to have it track behind a Tacoma or other smaller truck. I'm seriously considering an M116A3 since there's one local in good condition asking $700. I would theoretically have to narrow it a bit which would be my only major issue. Anyone have any other input on it before I buy it? Just looking for a last minute sanity check or anything I should look for when purchasing.

 

[myers]

I am assuming you don't want to weld your own frame, I didn't either. I was comfortable with welding everything else but the frame was out of my league I felt like, too risky. So I found myself an old single (not double) jet ski/seadoo trailer and used that as the base. It worked perfectly, light weight and strong. I think it was $100, another $800 in parts and metal to build an enclosed box and you will have a great little trailer.

We have a '09 Wranger JK and it is just a touch narrower than it. Granted I did have to order a new axle, springs, and fenders. New axle worked great because I was able to order the axle wide enough so it tracks the exact same as the Jeep. With 27" tires on the trailer it has the exact same ground clearance as the Jeep with 33's (measured from bottom of diff and lower shock mounts on Jeep to bottom of trailer axle.) The frame of the trailer is exactly the same height as the frame of the Jeep so ground clearance is no issue at all.

Granted you have more welding and modifications to do to the trailer but that is the beauty of it, you can completely customize it as opposed to a military trailer that weights a ton and you are somewhat stuck to what you have. Before everyone jumps on me, I know, you can customize a military trailer I just feel it is MUCH easier (and more fun) to customize as you build instead of having to cut stuff up.

Good luck with the build and have fun with it!

 

[cyclic]

The M1102 are actually pretty light, WITH the 37" military tires they weight about 1400 lbs. Those tires are heavy as hell, once you swap to "regular" 265/75r16 truck tires and rims it drops to around 1200 lbs. Still giving you a 2800 lbs payload capacity. Other than adding what you want to it, there is really nothing to remove from them. If you search online you can see several pics of Tacoma's pulling them.

 

[jscherb]

What about a fiberglass trailer tub kit? You could use your welder to build a frame to your specs, put the fiberglass tub on it, and then do a roof-top tent on it. All of the photos below are fiberglass tub kits...

If you're not comfortable welding your own frame you could put the tub on an inexpensive Harbor Freight frame, the one pictured above is on an HF frame:

Fiberglass tub kits are available in both jeep-tub and military style.