Off Road Trailer Questions

Hi Guys

So I've been reading about off road trailers and I'm getting more and more interested. Especially this thread inspired me.

Restoring a trailer isn't exactly for me though.

So I looked through craigslist.. all the trailers around here seem to be over priced and for lack of a better word, they suck... rusty or rotting boards or blah blah blah..

So I went to Harbor Freights web-site and was very pleased. I found four options I'll link below, but basically it's 2 different lengths and then 2 different tire options. I will be adding larger tires and rims, area lighting, siding, flooring, probably an air compressor, etc.

The benefit of the longer one is that it would hold my dirt bike and be considerably easier to load it there than on the bed of my truck. The short one would be easier to store and navigate.

I have never owned a trailer, so I'm looking for some advice. I know the length is up to me, but I'd like your opinions on tire size and if i can modify these tires and what not.

I have the tow package.

alos, what do you think it would cost me to license this in california?

 

I would definitely get the longer trailer if you are lifting it with bigger wheels and tires

Dad has a 5x8 and it is a little too big for an offroad trailer imo though.


Build thread coming?



EDIT: why not weld up a trailer if you are going to do all of this work to it anyways? that frame doesn't look too beefy...

 

I can tell you, you want to stay away from the shorter one's. They are a bitch to back up cause you can't see them. Someone else on here made one out of a HF trailer try looking around a little more (It may have been Colin from Florida).

 

Definitely a build thread coming!

I go out to the desert because i'm a preRunner (yes I wish I had 4x4), so size isn't really a huge matter. Just thinking about if I really need that extra size.

Any tips on bigger rims / tires?

 

I had one, they're not bad. They get stiffer when you add the plywood to them. But you do have a point. If your going to build it up and have the tools to do it, you might as well just build the whole thing. But then again if you've never owned one you might not ought to be building your first one. lol

 

I would match the lug pattern to the truck so either a trailer spare or a truck spare would work

but idk how to actually swap that stuff out

 

I have one of the harbor freight 4ftx8ft trailors and they are not very heavy duty, if you just want to go down dirt roads it will be fine, but i dont think mine would hold up long dragging it through ruts and mud holes loaded. Maybe you could reinforce the frame some and that would help but the frame of mine will flex and creak alot just from normal use.

 

True, but you could ask a welding shop to make the basic frame and tongue for 300-500 and go from there. That would be my advice if not familiar with welding.

 

Here's one for you. Look towards the end of his first post and check that trailer out.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/163804-colinb17s-kinda-sorta-build-thread.html

 

Then another $200 for an axle and you haven't even started on the top of it. Then you start thinking I should have just bought a used military one sanded the hell out of it and fixed it up.

 

I would say find a beefier axle. From the stuff that the other guy put on the m416 trailer, it seems like you would need atleast a 3500# axle underneath it. Then I would do some 35's. Find some taco rims to match yours.... My brother actually has 3 of the 16" 2nd gen rims that he wants to sell.
The one on the top left he was going to paint the inside red. The part that isn't black.
Just giving some ideas.

I know they are 6 lug but hey if you upgrade the axle then find one with a six lug taco pattern

 

I guess I should have clarified more when I said off road trailer.. I have a pre runner, so my off roaring basically consists of flat desert and some simple fire roads.

It would actually be mostly for getting out to the desert and using to set up a nice camp site.

That said, do you guys think I could use the axel provided on the trailers and bolt my new rim and tire onto that? Rim and Tire would essentially be for looks, even though I'd feel a lot better with the bigger tires back there than those tiny things.

It seems like for those prices I couldn't go wrong as a beginner project. I'm 18, and will be going to college soon, so I'd be looking to keep my costs down on this, but to have fun with it. Nothing like the camper trailer linked above, although I do love that!

 

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/cto/3019307517.html

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/for/3010154413.html

Build your own man, I think it would be a pretty fun project. And believe me dude, get a job this summer and spend the money before you get to college, or this is gunna wait for a while...

 

boxrocket


EDIT: here it is
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/other-builds/192955-box-rocket-trailer-build.html

 

Yep, but you would know everything about it, be better off than basing it off a cheap trailer frame, and be able to brag about it lol.

IDK it all comes down to what you want to do OP. I would rather build (or have built) a custom trailer that fit my needs/wants than retro fit one that I would be happy enough with. If that makes any sense...


No matter, GL!

 

The first one is way too rusty for my taste.. I know I could fix it up.. but still

The second one is okay, but it's basically what I'd be starting with, and I'm pretty good with wood, so I'd like to start with my own new one.

It does seem like a fun project! I'm even thinking I may put a small stereo in it or something for when i get to my camp site..

I've saved enough money right now to do the project, I'm just wondering if it's the foremost project I should begin on. I'm still getting a job though. My summer is June to October!

 

It may just hold up then. I gave mine hell when I had it. I just drug the hell out of it, jumped it off the ground when I went over a RR track. Never had a problem out of it. You will have to take the fenders off to fit bigger tires. I had the 12" ones. You should be able to find a bigger rim for that setup. I only paid $200 for mine and sold it 3 years later for the same so win!

 

I don't know man, I kind of dig the first one... Looks sturdy. And you could use that rack if its built well to stick a sleeping loft in or whatever, lots of directions you could go with it.... If it were only surface rust like he says I'd probably haggle a little and take it. You could just sand it up and paint it. Also this would be a good time to take up welding ha. I wish I knew how. Thats a loooong summer!

 

Although if you could find something for 200 bucks like he said ^^ it might be worth it to go that route...

 

So it sounds like it held up well! I'm thinking it would hold up for what I'm doing. As much as I'd love to be out in the Desert flying around in my truck like it's a trophy truck, I'm only 18 and can't afford to damage it in any way, so I'm going about 15 - 20 mph when I'm out there. Then I have fun on the dirt bike!

The other problem is that I kinda have to convince my parents that this project is worth spending the money on, and my dad's never bought a used anything in his life.. so convincing him that I could fix up the surface rust he would never go for.. my dads cool and all, but building is not his thing..