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5.9 ANDY
01-10-2008, 08:39 PM
this is the off-road trailer i am building to tow behind my ZJ, its a small

cargo are size... 45" 65" long... 22" high

i am using a fullwidth 8.8 for the axle and i got some ford leaf springs.

we are super over building it, so its nice in strong.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/reddragonandtrailer004.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/reddragonandtrailer002.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/reddragonandtrailer003.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/reddragonandtrailer001.jpg

MUDDTRACKS
01-11-2008, 12:48 AM
Looking at your trailer reminds me of a time in tellico a buddy let us barow his harbour feight $300 trailer to go to murphy

but the time we got back we lost both fenders,smashed a light and after we gave it back to him on the way back to florida it broke a leaf spring.

dont think it liked trail one and 45mph

5.9 ANDY
01-11-2008, 12:56 AM
lol!!! sounds like he wouldnt like his trailer after that.

i have seen the harbor freight trailers, i thought about getting one...but decided that with 32"s and about 500lbs of weight..... the little harbor freight trailer wouldnt hold up.

piku303
01-11-2008, 02:36 AM
seems like a lot of weight to drag behind you on a trail.

5.9 ANDY
01-11-2008, 03:21 AM
seems like a lot of weight to drag behind you on a trail.

yea we thought about that....if all else fails i can get my buddy to give me a lil tug.

RDBillsJr
01-11-2008, 07:14 PM
Good luck with your project. Do you have an estimate of final unloaded/loaded weight? I've towed several different offroad trailers through the years and have learned from painful experience that some obstacles easily handled with a jeep can become real challenges with the shifting weight of a trailer.

Here is a link to some photos of my 1946 Bantam T3-C 1/4 ton trailer, set up as a field kitchen. They might give you some ideas. My trailer weighs slightly more than 500 lbs unloaded, and is rated for a 500 lb load capacity offroad and 750 lbs on the highway. I have carried more than the maximum highway load on dirt roads and easy trails with no problem, but prefer to keep the load under the offroad rating. The trailer handles better with a lighter load and significantly reduces the "pucker factor" in rocks and soft stuff.


(http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=924)http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=924

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0140.jpg


http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0129.jpg

Cody
01-11-2008, 07:27 PM
I'm building a trailer too.. hopefully fairly light weight. Using customer trailer axle, stock CJ springs, pintle ball/hitch, 35's, and a roof top tent.

I like that red trailer above--thats pretty nice. the box on mine will be just slightly narrower and instead of the soft top I'll have some sort of slide off hard top that (might) double as a camp table.

5.9 ANDY
01-11-2008, 10:19 PM
i am not shure of the final unloaded/loaded weight.

i am guessing here with this.. unloaded: 600lbs
loaded: 1200lbs
its heavyest cargo will be my friends quad, it weighs in at a heafty 700lbs.

this is also my first trailer, so i am looking foward to learning how to back up with it.

5.9 ANDY
01-13-2008, 03:22 AM
hey Rob...why dont you convert that to a SOA axle??, gain a few inches of ground clearence.

Cody
01-13-2008, 04:17 AM
I think it's odd you're going to use an 8.8 housing when you can get a custom trailer axle, with more clearance, less weight, matching bolt pattern, and whatever width you want for less than 100 bucks.

5.9 ANDY
01-13-2008, 04:25 AM
yea i hear ya cody...i would like to do that, but i got the 8.8 for free, and i wana get this thing rolling, so mabe later on in the future, but after i get everything else done on it mabe then.

nate
01-13-2008, 02:17 PM
Do you guys haul that much shit on a trail run that you really need a trailer?

I would imagine it's a huge pain in the ass to back up in obstacles?

Cody
01-13-2008, 08:55 PM
Do you guys haul that much shit on a trail run that you really need a trailer?

I would imagine it's a huge pain in the ass to back up in obstacles?

lol. Fucking Idahoans.. What do you think, we're going to pull a trailer through pritchet canyon just for shits?

When you spend 5 days doing 250+ continuous miles of dirt in the most remote areas in the U.S. I've found that my cargo capacity is severely lacking. So I'm building a trail trailer for those trips.

I guess since you only go wheelin like a dozen days a year it doesn't really come into play for you ;)

nate
01-13-2008, 10:26 PM
Dude, don't get me started on wheeling in remote locations. I lived in Alaska for 4 years.

We would head out on a Thursday or Friday night and not come back until Sunday or Monday.

60-70 trail miles from the nearest "town" which might have been a gas pump and a few houses. Places far enough out that most people that would go out there would fly in.
We usually hauled 10-15 gals of extra fuel, food for 5-6 days, clothes, etc. I did a trip like this with a TJ even.

Now here in Idaho, I don't think I even wheel 12 trips in a year. Last time I went wheeling was in October down in Moab. That's what happens when work, school and other commitments get into the mix.

Cody
01-14-2008, 03:53 AM
Dude, don't get me started on wheeling in remote locations. I lived in Alaska for 4 years.

We would head out on a Thursday or Friday night and not come back until Sunday or Monday.

60-70 trail miles from the nearest "town" which might have been a gas pump and a few houses. Places far enough out that most people that would go out there would fly in.
We usually hauled 10-15 gals of extra fuel, food for 5-6 days, clothes, etc. I did a trip like this with a TJ even.

Now here in Idaho, I don't think I even wheel 12 trips in a year. Last time I went wheeling was in October down in Moab. That's what happens when work, school and other commitments get into the mix.

Just giving you a hard time man. Thought you military alaska-ites were supposed to have thick skin ;)

I'd love to do some stuff up in alaska---beautiful country.

5.9 ANDY
01-14-2008, 01:18 PM
id love to live there up in alaska when i get a lil older. (like 24-26)

RDBillsJr
01-14-2008, 02:34 PM
hey Rob...why dont you convert that to a SOA axle??, gain a few inches of ground clearence.

I experimented with flipping the axle for a SOA and using 33" and 35" tires, but decided to keep the stock spring/tire arrangement. Not only do these old trailers look squirrelly with a SOA (WWII MBT and T3, post war M100 and civilian T3-C), the radius and width of the fenders do not allow anything more than a 31x10.5 tire without clearance problems when the springs compress. (The Vietnam era M416 with squared fenders works well with SOA and taller tires.) Also, I was trying to keep my trailer as original as possible and did not want to lose the stock fenders.

I have found that the stock 16" rims with 700x16 military NDCC tires work well (31"). My trailer is not designed for extreme trails (although it can handle the Rubicon nicely); it is set up to use for extended trips in moderate terrain and as a base camp field kitchen, with chuck box, 15 gal water tank, 12v ARB fridge and propane.

5.9 ANDY
01-14-2008, 03:38 PM
what kinds of hitiches do you guys use? will a standatd 2" ball hitich provide enough flexablity for an offroad trailer?

RDBillsJr
01-15-2008, 02:30 PM
what kinds of hitiches do you guys use? will a standatd 2" ball hitich provide enough flexablity for an offroad trailer?

The best offroad hitch is a "lock and roll." Doesn't clank and bang like a pintle and lunette. A bit spendy though. www.locknroll.com (http://www.locknroll.com)

http://www.locknroll.com/images/products/big/212.jpg

Second best offroad is the pintle and lunette.

A ball coupler will work fine on dirt roads and easy stuff, but won't handle a lot of twisting or severe off camber situations.

If you look at the photos in the link above my signature, there are some of the "shoe" I designed and built to convert my trailer coupler to a 2" receiver tube so that I can interchange a standard ball hitch, pintle and lunette and "Lock and Roll" coupler (which I will acquire when I have some extra $$). It also allows me to use different length couplers to handle the varying widths of my tow rigs (F250, ZJ and CJ-7) without jackknifing. The reason for the "shoe" rather than something welded is so I can reinstall the original 1946 Fulton coupler for those occasions that my vintage trailer needs to be 100% original.

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0133.jpg

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0158.jpg

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=924

Cody
01-15-2008, 04:43 PM
the ones I have seen are pintle/lunette, although that lock n roll setup looks pretty nice. I may have to consider that.

5.9 ANDY
01-17-2008, 02:04 AM
the ones I have seen are pintle/lunette, .

wich one is that? is that the ones with the circle and circle?

RDBillsJr
01-17-2008, 03:08 PM
the ones I have seen are pintle/lunette


which one is that? is that the ones with the circle and circle?

This is a lunette:

http://www.jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw//Trailer/Bantam08.JPG


This photo shows a pintle hitch:

http://www.jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw/pauls/NEW0058.jpg


(Photos courtesy of Jon Rogers @ www.jeepdraw.com (http://www.jeepdraw.com))

5.9 ANDY
01-17-2008, 06:49 PM
thanks, thats what i thought it was, i would like to try to get that, then mabe on of those lock and roll's, but for like 120$, i got LOTS of other things on the list B4 that.

Cody
01-17-2008, 07:13 PM
I tihnkt he pintle lunette will run about 90 bucks total, and the lock n roll about 185 it loosk like.

With the unibody, I have a feeling the banging and rattling of the pintle might get old fast.

Cue-Ball
01-17-2008, 07:31 PM
Since I never tow and know nothing about it, what is the Pintle style really used for. Seems like the banging and bumping would be problimatic regardless of tow vehicle.

That being said my tow ball is a ball with a pintle hook over the top of it so I could pull either (hell it was free from my neighbor so what the hell).

Dirk

cLAYH
01-17-2008, 08:27 PM
You usually find them on really HD trailers as you can get them rated VERY high, upto 45 ton(90,000#),vs a 2 5/16 ball(14,000#). Often found on dump trucks pulling trailers with backhoes sort of thing. A good heavily rated pintle and ring will fit quit snug and have very little banging. I had a pintle hitch(7ton) of my first trailer for the Jeep and never noticed any banging. However the "tighter" fitting the pintle the less articulation it has. Thus the swivel on the lunette.

I liked having the pintle on my old trailer, very easy to hook up, just open the jaw and when you feel the bump you are there. Close that jaw and put in the lock pin and you KNOW that sucker isn't going to pop off! Also I have yet to see the ring on a trailer wear out and if somehow you do manage to damage the pintle on the truck, you just buy another.

Been thinking about converting the trailer over, everytime I hit a gravel road with the trailer I get gravel/dirt up in the latch mechanism and have to crawl under and scratch it out with a coat hanger.

Cue-Ball
01-17-2008, 08:46 PM
Thanks that explains it.

My hitch is an 8ton one IIRC.

Mtn WJ
01-17-2008, 09:44 PM
I have been bouncing back and fourth about modify a utility trailer I have now or building some kind mild trail ready pop up camper.

Not an off road or trail ready camper but check this dudes trailer out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4QKHCB34FM&NR=1

JohnBoulderCO
01-17-2008, 11:57 PM
Keith, your 4.0L Jeep ain't never gonna pull that thing. ;)

RDBillsJr
01-18-2008, 12:31 AM
Since I never tow and know nothing about it, what is the Pintle style really used for. Seems like the banging and bumping would be problimatic regardless of tow vehicle.

The pintle/lunette setup is best for situations where you need a positive hookup in difficult terrain. Offroad, heavy equipment and construction situations are the most common. There is some slop and noise no matter what the tow rig, but nothing excessive, and the trailer will never come loose if the pintle has a sufficient weight rating and is closed properly with safety pin in place.

cLAYH
01-18-2008, 05:02 PM
Thanks that explains it.

My hitch is an 8ton one IIRC.


No problem, btw the 8ton rating is probably the rating for the pintle, if using the ball its probably less.

Cue-Ball
01-18-2008, 05:03 PM
Absolutely agreed the 8t rating is for the pintle.

7slotgrills
01-19-2008, 07:25 PM
http://www.7slotgrills.com/m100project.html
Hi Guys I've been a Jeep nut for over 20 years now and just picked up a
M100 Jeep trailer It needs work but it is coming along. I welded in a CJ7
Tailgate. It' smissing the box up front. Does anyone know the size of the box? A friend gave me a steel box that looks like it will work.http://www.7slotgrills.com/M100project.html

7slotgrills
01-19-2008, 07:29 PM
Nice trailer I only hope mine looks that good when I'm done with My M100
www.7slotgrills.com/m100project.html (http://www.7slotgrills.com/m100project.html)







Good luck with your project. Do you have an estimate of final unloaded/loaded weight? I've towed several different offroad trailers through the years and have learned from painful experience that some obstacles easily handled with a jeep can become real challenges with the shifting weight of a trailer.

Here is a link to some photos of my 1946 Bantam T3-C 1/4 ton trailer, set up as a field kitchen. They might give you some ideas. My trailer weighs slightly more than 500 lbs unloaded, and is rated for a 500 lb load capacity offroad and 750 lbs on the highway. I have carried more than the maximum highway load on dirt roads and easy trails with no problem, but prefer to keep the load under the offroad rating. The trailer handles better with a lighter load and significantly reduces the "pucker factor" in rocks and soft stuff.


(http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=924)http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/showgallery.php?cat=924

http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0140.jpg


http://www.surfacezero.com/g503/data/924/medium/HPIM0129.jpg

CrawlerReady
01-22-2008, 02:49 AM
I was in the process of building one from the ground up last year....kinda is just sitting in my backyard now sitting on 35's. It's in need of some change to the design before I finish it up...maybe I'll start working on it again after EJS.

7slotgrills
01-23-2008, 10:12 PM
I have not looked into that yet. It's winter here and cold so that is slowing me down. I have a lot of work to do.

5.9 ANDY
02-03-2008, 12:17 AM
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer007.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer006.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer005.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer004.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer003.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer002.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj143/ANDY_MASON/trailer001.jpg


more pics of the trailer, we made good progress.... we got the rear shackle brackets on, and cut the brackets off the 8.8......
and measured the distance from the deck of the trailer up to the leaf springs.

any questions just ask.