Ted's XTrailer

[Ted_Z]

Edited to update cost breakout (as of 8/9/2009):



Total cost to date: $508

• $100 TJ body and frame
• $40 partially usable TJ rear clip
• $23 scrap metal
• $8 spring hangers
• $20 Tailgate
• $10 Tailgate hinges
• $9 Ball Coupler
• $0 springs/shackles
• $157 trailer axle with u-bolt kit
• $9 lights
• $6 spring perches
• $25 TJ flares
• $22 trailer tongue storage box
• $45 2 Used 33X10.50 Tires (50% and 25% tread)
• $34 Wheels (Soft 8's that match my ZJ)

Original post:

And so it begins...

So I actually found a cherry TJ body in town for a reasonable amount. That's where my good luck ended. I went to pick it up on Saturday. I asked the head dude at the JY about moving the TJ out of the row of cars so I can chop it half. Boss tells loader driver to move it so I can get the body. I tell the driver again that I'm after the body so please be careful. Either the guy was being a dick or just an idiot, but he f***ing nails the jeep's back corner with the fork and knocks it off the stands. I nearly walked out of there empty handed until I realized that its just a trailer, not a show car. Because of the new dents I got the price down to $100.




I also found another TJ at a different yard that had been rear ended. Too bad since I would have been able to use it to close the front, but as is I'll be able to use it to stretch the above body to a more reasonable size.






Here's an example of what I'm after for an end result.




Another score: I got a free camper shell that I should be able to cut the roof off and use it as a lid for the trailer.









Things required for the build:

• Trailer axle (got a quote for $160 shipped from abctrailerparts.com, woot!)
• Springs & shocks (I'm looking for some stock CJ or YJ springs)
• Tires (I need another 33X10.50 or two 33x9.50)
• Tailgate (I might just fab one up)
• Landing Gear
• Lights (LED's would be cool, but not really needed)
• Coupler (I'm looking at the "Lock-n-Roll" but will start with a 2" ball)
• Flares

[canadian_driver]

cool, lets see more

[friscokidd]

more more more more more

[Varkyl]

What's wrong with the trailer you already have? As it is it might flow during river crossings if it isn't very loaded down.

[Ted_Z]

Quit making fun of my $100 craigslist special.

[jsteves]

That is gonna be sweet!

[tank]

Would a 2wd xj frount axle bolt under it? i have no idea myself just a thought.

[zjrog]

I saw the goofs on Truck U TV did this over the weekend... I like the way it turned out, and I expect I'll like this one too...

[Gaze]

Nice to know a TJ rear body fits snugly in the back of a Patriot! I have one of those too!

[Ted_Z]

Nice to know a TJ rear body fits snugly in the back of a Patriot! I have one of those too!

What is crazy is that the Patriot seems to have more cargo space than the ZJ, (well unless you pull the seat).

[Ted_Z]

Would a 2wd xj frount axle bolt under it? i have no idea myself just a thought.

I suppose, but you'd have to fix the knuckles. As it stands I was able to find a true trailer axle with the bolt pattern I need for less than $160 shipped to my door. For that price its not worth messing around with anything else (unless something free landed in my lap).

[Ted_Z]

I saw the goofs on Truck U TV did this over the weekend... I like the way it turned out, and I expect I'll like this one too...

They posted their "plans" here http://www.tvmechanic.com/PDFS/TjTrailerPlans_503.pdf It looks like they did the typical TJ trailer, take two tubs and split them at the center of the wheel well, and weld them together. This gives you a approx. 4' long box. My plan is to use 90% of the green tub, and cut some bits off the gold tub to make it look more finished. This should give me a 5' long box, hopefully with less fab.

[Varkyl]

Quit making fun of my $100 craigslist special.

Who was making fun?
If you used it as a trail trailer and you ran out of firewood you would have backup!

It gets the job done does it not? If it does that then it functions perfectly fine. I like your idea for your Xtrailer and look forward to seeing the progress of the build.

[Ted_Z]

I consider that pile o sh** wood trailer to basically be a free rental. I paid $100 for it, and I'm sure I could resell it for that again. In a few weeks when I don't need it again, bye bye. I could also strip the lights and landing gear and keep title from it and then toss it.

In other news I found a cheap CJ tailgate (hurray for craiglist). I'll post some more pic's this weekend when I do the tailgate conversion (straight forward).

[K2]

I have some stock YJ springs that might work, I might also have some stock YJ flares. I will look when I get home.

[Ted_Z]

I have some stock YJ springs that might work, I might also have some stock YJ flares. I will look when I get home.

Thanks for the offer, let me know.

In other news I picked up a CJ tailgate. It fits perfectly, thankfully Jeep never changed the tub opening dimension. This worked out great since I wanted a drop down tailgate any way. I just need to get the hinges installed.

[Ted_Z]

Ok, minor update:

I picked up some scrap sheet metal steel and aluminum plus some 1x2 tube. I also found some spring hangers.

[Ted_Z]

Another minor update:

I picked up a pair of tailgate hinges off eBay, $10 shipped. I also got a 2" ball coupler, on sale for a whopping $9 at harbor freight. Lastly I scored some freebee YJ springs, I think they are procomp 2.5" lift springs, came with some monster shackles.

The original plan was to SOA the axle with stock springs, I guess now I'll SUA with the 2.5" lift springs and use the lift shackles too. Nice thing is I don't have to worry about pinion angle or spring wrap with a trailer axle.

Made some progress on the gold donor body I successfully removed the floor to graft into the green body. I had to drill out a bunch of spot welds, but it wasn't too hard.

I removed the roll bar off the green body despite those damn torx bolts! I had to drill 6 of the 10. If you need a TJ roll bar let me no, I don't have any use for it.

Springs:



Drilling out the spot welds:

[OverlandXJ]

I like your plans. Any ideas for a parking brake or will you be using a chock?

[Ted_Z]

If I had the original axle I would have kept the parking brake. But with an aftermarket axle its wheel chocks, and the tongue jack.

[Mtn WJ]

Ted,

Nice project. I think you did the right thing on axle choices. You will save weight and increase ground clearance. Keep in mind you will not be able to finesse the trailer around obstacles like you will with the Jeep. The axle clearance will be a big plus..

[Ted_Z]

I ordered the axle, u-bolts, spring perches and lights from ABCtrailerparts.com. $172 shipped. That's a great deal if you ask me since the best local quote I got was $185 for just the axle before tax.

Total cost so far is $377. I might actually pull off my $500 budget if I can find some cheap flares and tires.

A couple new pictures below. I cut the front section of floor out (where the e-brake handle was) and mocked up the new floor to be grafted in.

I haven't decided what to do with the "pockets" on either side of the new floor section. I could leave them, cover them up and make the floor level, or graft in the other inner fenders and create some cubby holes and put a access door on the outside.

[canadian_driver]

i like the door idea

[K2]

I am sorry I took so long. I found a set of YJ flares. I know the fronts are different, but I am pretty sure the rears are the same. They are yours for whats remaining of the $500 after the tires.

[BigDaveZJ]

I'm working in Northglenn about 5 minutes away from Ken's place if you want me to run those down for ya Ted. PM coming your way after I talk to Pam too about those tires on CL.