Off-Road Trailers

[Root Moose]

Try IH8MUD.com. Lot of info on there. They have a trailer section even though they are Landrover guy's.

IH8MUD is Land Cruiser, not Land Rover. Please don't confuse prossibly the best 4x4s ever made (LC) with a POS (LR).

Sorry, in a nit-picky mood.

Also check out the trailer forum at expeditionportal.com.

 

[purplexj]

Meant Cruiser and not Rover, sorry. Typing and not thinking or thinking and not typing what I think I'm thinking that I'm typing. I think!

 

[Root Moose]

LOL

Dontcha hate when that happens?

 

[Oatmeal]

Here are the only pictures I have of the one I built (from a website my nephew put together) : http://rockoma.com/Web4.htm It has 35s (on 5 1/2" on 5 wheels....same as my Bronco), electric brakes and sits on Bronco leaf springs. It's been on the Rubicon, Dusy/Ershim Coyote Lake and my brother even pulled it with his Tacoma on a run he did with you guys a few years ago!----------Hans

 

[Original_MudButt]

http://rockoma.com/Web4.htm

Nice!!

Question...

I noticed that your trailer has the main stem of the tongue that looks to be about 3-4 feet long with two angled braces meeting it a very short distance out from the trailer box.

Whereas most tailers, those are usually part of the sideframe and go all the way to the tongue.

Is there an advantage to this?

It looks like you can jack the trailer over further without hitting the bumper. It certainly looks cleaner in my opinion. And it looks like it might save a little weight.

Is there a specific design reason for this?

Thanks.....

 

[Oatmeal]

Nice!!

Question...

I noticed that your trailer has the main stem of the tongue that looks to be about 3-4 feet long with two angled braces meeting it a very short distance out from the trailer box.

Whereas most tailers, those are usually part of the sideframe and go all the way to the tongue.

Is there an advantage to this?

It looks like you can jack the trailer over further without hitting the bumper. It certainly looks cleaner in my opinion. And it looks like it might save a little weight.

Is there a specific design reason for this?

Thanks.....

Like you said, I did it that way so that I could jack knife it further without hitting the tow vehicle (I tow it with my Bronco and Toyota p/u.......maybe my XJ one of these days!) I have a platform on there to carry a cooler but, there's still plenty of clearance. It has a little wear since those pictures were taken.......I had a neighbor back into it and I've gone through a couple of sets of fenders (rocks like them :dunno: ) but, man! You can sure haul alot of camping gear with a trailer! ----------Hans

 

[Root Moose]

A friend of mine has a similar arrangement on his off-road trailer.

The only difference is that the long part of the tongue is collapsible. That way it is adjustable depending on what he is doing and if he is at full fighting weight the tongue is collpased and well supported (structurally).

Works well for him. I'll probably copy it for mine.

 

[jwtrapper]

Oatmeal,

Whats the weight of your trailer?

 

[Oatmeal]

Oatmeal,

Whats the weight of your trailer?

You know, I'm not even sure. Let's see, the frame is made out of 4"x4"x1/8" and 2"x4"x1/8" tubing and the bed out of 14ga cold rolled steel a couple of 35" wheels and tires and an axle with brake drums......my best guess would be between 300-400 lbs. Four of us were able to pick it up, fully loaded with camping gear (and I bring a lot of crap when I tow the trailer!) to get it out of tight spot once so......:dunno: ---------Hans

 

[Oatmeal]

Here's a link to the thread that has my brother and his Tacoma with my trailer in tow on run!: http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=966843 -----------Hans

 

[OverlandZJ]

Borrowed a bud's 416 for the upcoming NAC-Fest in a few weeks. Same guy who i bought the RTT from.

It's a nice trailer but i'll like mine with the tailgate.

 

[iluv83vettes]

those are some sweet rims for a trailer

 

[fyrfytr1717]

Long way to go, but I guess this can serve as a "before" picture for my trailer. '88 SWB Comanche. Guy I bought it from rolled it, transplanted the motor into a Cherokee, and then cut the cab off. Well, most of it anyway... Just a couple of dents from the rollover, but aside from that (and the rattle can paint job) it's pretty darn clean.

Plans include a custom tongue welded up to the stock uniframe, tongue mounted storage box and jerrycans, 3500# Dexter axle mounted SOA with stock leaf packs, trailer brakes and parking brake, 6-wire plugs to include electric brakes and auxillary 12V supply, Lock N' Roll hitch, 33x10.5 BFG MT's with wheels to match the XJ, and Chili Pepper Red paint to match as well.

Up in the air are the bedliner, type of cover (if any), using the stock fuel tank for fuel or water storage (or removing it), and 97+ tail light conversion. Open to suggestions...

So here it is, kind of a turd at this point, but it does have a Dana 44... :eyes:

 

[jwtrapper]

I like how mine turned out. It weighs in at 780 lbs with the tent.

 

[Xtreme XJ]

Long way to go, but I guess this can serve as a "before" picture for my trailer. '88 SWB Comanche. Guy I bought it from rolled it, transplanted the motor into a Cherokee, and then cut the cab off. Well, most of it anyway... Just a couple of dents from the rollover, but aside from that (and the rattle can paint job) it's pretty darn clean.

Plans include a custom tongue welded up to the stock uniframe, tongue mounted storage box and jerrycans, 3500# Dexter axle mounted SOA with stock leaf packs, trailer brakes and parking brake, 6-wire plugs to include electric brakes and auxillary 12V supply, Lock N' Roll hitch, 33x10.5 BFG MT's with wheels to match the XJ, and Chili Pepper Red paint to match as well.

Up in the air are the bedliner, type of cover (if any), using the stock fuel tank for fuel or water storage (or removing it), and 97+ tail light conversion. Open to suggestions...

So here it is, kind of a turd at this point, but it does have a Dana 44... :eyes:

Hey so I take it that you found the axle info. ??
Something else to think about as opposed to folding the frame rails in check out my tongue/draw-bar on page 5 of this thread... we slid about 2ft. of the tongue material into the MJ frame... there's picts. somewhere of the underside angled up to meet the tubing... not sure which would be more work.

As to the tank idea I was thinking the same, but mine hung down too far... so if I use one it'll be thinner & smaller all around...

I've got the Lock & Roll, but there might be a better idea out there... at extreme angles the L & R can drop thus causing it to bind... while not a common angle to be at it can happen... Check the trailer forum on Expedition Portal... there's mention of it as well as a different coupler that might be worth a look.

See Ya !
Curt

 

[fyrfytr1717]

Hey so I take it that you found the axle info. ??
Something else to think about as opposed to folding the frame rails in check out my tongue/draw-bar on page 5 of this thread... we slid about 2ft. of the tongue material into the MJ frame... there's picts. somewhere of the underside angled up to meet the tubing... not sure which would be more work.

As to the tank idea I was thinking the same, but mine hung down too far... so if I use one it'll be thinner & smaller all around...

I've got the Lock & Roll, but there might be a better idea out there... at extreme angles the L & R can drop thus causing it to bind... while not a common angle to be at it can happen... Check the trailer forum on Expedition Portal... there's mention of it as well as a different coupler that might be worth a look.

See Ya !
Curt

Turns out there's a Redneck Trailer Supplies about 45 minutes south of me. They don't keep the 3" beams in stock, but I'll probably be ordering one through them. I appreciate the tip.

While I think using the factory unibody for the tongue is pretty clever, I don't particularly like the way it looks when all is said and done. I'm planning on cutting my unibody just forward of the bed, but at an angle the way you did yours. I think it looks much cleaner than just chopping it off and welding in a piece of plate to cover up the hole. I also like how yours is extendable and has a receiver for the tongue. I'll probably be doing the same though I don't think mine will extend so far nor will it continue on to the rear of the bed like yours. What size is the tubing you inserted into the uniframe rails?

I don't know enough about MJ's to be familiar with the gas tank options offered over the years, however, I don't think mine hangs down too low. It also looks like it has some sort of an OEM skid plate on it. My plan was to hook up the fuel pump to a switched 12V source to be able to transfer fuel to a can or directly to my XJ's tank. I'm sure it'll require some modifications to the fuel line plumbing, but I haven't dug into it deeply enough to know what is involved yet.

As for the Lock N' Roll, I hadn't heard about the binding issue. I was concerned over the reports that they allow your trailer to tip over pretty easily on the trail, but still liked that they were quiter than the pintle hook hitches. Sounds like I need to do a little more research before making a purchase. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Xtreme XJ]

Turns out there's a Redneck Trailer Supplies about 45 minutes south of me. They don't keep the 3" beams in stock, but I'll probably be ordering one through them. I appreciate the tip.

While I think using the factory unibody for the tongue is pretty clever, I don't particularly like the way it looks when all is said and done. I'm planning on cutting my unibody just forward of the bed, but at an angle the way you did yours. I think it looks much cleaner than just chopping it off and welding in a piece of plate to cover up the hole. I also like how yours is extendable and has a receiver for the tongue. I'll probably be doing the same though I don't think mine will extend so far nor will it continue on to the rear of the bed like yours. What size is the tubing you inserted into the uniframe rails?

I don't know enough about MJ's to be familiar with the gas tank options offered over the years, however, I don't think mine hangs down too low. It also looks like it has some sort of an OEM skid plate on it. My plan was to hook up the fuel pump to a switched 12V source to be able to transfer fuel to a can or directly to my XJ's tank. I'm sure it'll require some modifications to the fuel line plumbing, but I haven't dug into it deeply enough to know what is involved yet.

As for the Lock N' Roll, I hadn't heard about the binding issue. I was concerned over the reports that they allow your trailer to tip over pretty easily on the trail, but still liked that they were quiter than the pintle hook hitches. Sounds like I need to do a little more research before making a purchase. Thanks for the feedback!

I can't remember for sure... 3" X 4" X 1/8th. I think...
I will never run with the tongue that far out... it's more for a little adjust-ability and should the need arise I can swap it from the front to the rear for a quick rescue... I wanted to tie the front to the rear of the trailer for the extra strength and the tail end of the back bone will be trimmed once a rear bumper is designed and built.

I think once you trim it up the tank will expose itself more... mine had a plastic skid. There might be transporting issues and issues with the way fuel is transferred, you know... it IS Cal. aperwork maybe leave it out till it's registered.

I think the concern would only be if & when the trailer is jack knifed... at that point around 90 deg. it can "drop" and bind... might not ever be an issue...

I realllllly need to get to crack'n on mine now that it's cooled off... a little.

Curt

 

[XJBANKER]

Turns out there's a Redneck Trailer Supplies about 45 minutes south of me. They don't keep the 3" beams in stock, but I'll probably be ordering one through them. I appreciate the tip.

While I think using the factory unibody for the tongue is pretty clever, I don't particularly like the way it looks when all is said and done. I'm planning on cutting my unibody just forward of the bed, but at an angle the way you did yours. I think it looks much cleaner than just chopping it off and welding in a piece of plate to cover up the hole. I also like how yours is extendable and has a receiver for the tongue. I'll probably be doing the same though I don't think mine will extend so far nor will it continue on to the rear of the bed like yours. What size is the tubing you inserted into the uniframe rails?

I don't know enough about MJ's to be familiar with the gas tank options offered over the years, however, I don't think mine hangs down too low. It also looks like it has some sort of an OEM skid plate on it. My plan was to hook up the fuel pump to a switched 12V source to be able to transfer fuel to a can or directly to my XJ's tank. I'm sure it'll require some modifications to the fuel line plumbing, but I haven't dug into it deeply enough to know what is involved yet.

As for the Lock N' Roll, I hadn't heard about the binding issue. I was concerned over the reports that they allow your trailer to tip over pretty easily on the trail, but still liked that they were quiter than the pintle hook hitches. Sounds like I need to do a little more research before making a purchase. Thanks for the feedback!

Look at adventure trailers new max coupler.

 

[jwtrapper]

No problem with it binding and a lot cheaper.

 

[GSequoia]

YOu know I gotta say that I don't get why people are putting so much hate on a lunette/pintle setup. They're not really that noisy, they work well (as long as at least one end rotates), and the noise they do make doesn't sound like anything other than a pintle (so you won't misidentify it).


By the way jwtrapper - Next time cross the chains (take the left chain and put it on the right of the bumper). That way if the connector fails the tongue will be more likely to fall on the chain, not on the ground catching a rut and doing more damage to the trailer.