jberry's Retarded Desert Penguin

I feel you on the knee surgery. I have had two scopes on one knee and another scope on the other one. I don't think there is any cartilage left in either of my knees. Good luck.

As for the trailer, plans look and sound good. 3500# axle seems like overkill but really isn't. If you actually plan to take your trailer anywhere difficult you'll be glad it has that axle. I've seen several of the smaller axles bend the tubes or break spindles when they're taken through more techinical trails. When I built mine the goal was to have something I could drag through the Rubicon with no worries. Would have no problem doing that with it. The lighter axles can take a beating on high speed dirt roads too if their loaded and bouncing through ruts. The bigger axle is the right choice.

As for suspension and the weight discussion. Keeping the trailer light is a good thing but depending on what you do with the suspension, keeping it light will not make it keep up with the suspension better. If you go with the simple approach using leaf springs, especially if you use trailer springs like mine, those springs are short and fairly stiff. The suspension on mine works MUCH better with more weight in the trailer. If the trailer is not very loaded, my springs really don't flex at all. Which is why I typically run between 10-12psi in the tires to help soak up the bumps.

If you go with longer leaf springs that can help. A good option is some YJ leaf springs with a couple leaves removed. The longer length and softer spring rate with the leaves removed does surprisingly well on higher speed washboarded and rutted roads.

 

One other suggestion, place your axle slightly behind the centerline of the trailer so that you have more tongue weight, expecially if you are going to have a rear mounted spare tire on the trailer. It will track much better that way.

 

Jason, what is the brand and dimensions of the black boxes in the bed?

 

I've really liked my Lock-n-Roll hitch, but the Max Coupler from Adventure Trailers is a slightly better design.

 

I think colinb or whatever made a linked trailer setup in his build thread. Might want to swing by and see what he did.


Also stop hurting yourself man. You're not 20 anymore, rememeber? . Did you see the new powder alliance or some shit sierras offering? Buy a season pass and you get a three day pass to other resorts. None of them are local though.

Oh, and you should help me change and refill my cvs one of these days. Grease seems to keep flinging out of them.

 

Jason, one more trailer suggestion then I'll shut up. You've got a lot of stuff on the tongue of the trailer. No problem with that if the tongue is long enough. But something to keep in mind is ideally you want the tongue as short as possible for better meaneuverability on the trail, but if you get a lot of stuff mounted to the tongue you'll be suprised how close it can get to the back of the truck when you're crossing ditches etc and especially if you are turning at the same time. Basicallly any time you pitch the trailer closer to the truck like in this photo.


That was a big reason I recently relocated my water cans to the sides of my trailer so I could push my tongue box back farther because it would get really close to the truck in situations like that.

So finally my suggestion....maybe consider putting the water tank under the tub of the trailer. That way it won't take up space on the tongue, and will keep the COG lower making it harder to roll the trailer.

Just a thought. That's what I'll be doing at some point when I add a water tank.

 

So much awesome trailer info in the last pages

 

Hot water?
http://cruiseroutfitters.com/helton.html

I like this approach because it's actually on the vehicle rather than the trailer. I don't know about you but I do plenty of camping in the truck without the trailer and would still like the ability to shower even if the trailer isn't there.

 

Subbed for the trailer bs

.... Not for the truck

 

I like looking through the various different full commercial builds and seeing what is included.

So far, things like a camp kitchen drawer, 5 gallons of propane, and >5 gallons of on board water are the two biggies. Of course storage and support for the tent are included. I wouldn't mind access panels on one side for every day things.

 

cool, thanks.

 

I love when it's the truck haha! Hopefully will get to see it in person, just got to get out to Tahoe and not be lazy

 

I'll try to get some pics of my trailer set up on here shortly (as well as the build thread) but I put my water tank in the inside of the compartment. I don't know if you saw it in Moab but I used a lot of good ideas from Box and changed them to fit my needs and went with a slightly bigger trailer. But I have a slide out grill, water on board and a battery to charge the water pump charged off of the truck when connected.

Also I am a big fan of my longer leafs. I went to a U-Pull It and picked up a set of Ford Ranger leafs and they are fantastic for the weight and size of the tub.

 

Stumbled across this portable hot water heater. If I was designing a trailer I would need a semi to tow it with all the comforts I would try to put on it.



http://www.cabelas.com/product/Mr-Heater-Portable-Water-Heater/1322159.uts?WTz_l=YMAL;IK-518958

 

Hear hear. Hence the teardrop. Wife and I are used to High Sierra 9-day backpacks. It's all about taking as little as possible.

For car/trailer camping, food, ice chest, stove, pot, cups, axe, water tank, comfy chair, booze, bedding. Done.