Custom trailer

I recently experienced the lack of cargo capability of my Tacoma. I do volunteer trail maintenance and had to transport tools, food, water, and camping equipment to a remote site over rough forest service roads. Thankfully, my brother was willing to drive his Landcruiser, too; so we managed to get everything to the site.

My Tacoma couldn’t handle it on its own without making 2+ trips. I’ve considered adding a roof rack and upgrading suspension, but most times when I’m out for a weekend in my own the truck is just fine.

I’m considering building a custom trailer with Lock N Roll hitch and Timbren suspension using some extra Tacoma wheels. I’m upgrading the electrical to my garage so I can plug in a welder. Am I crazy for thinking I can do this? I’ve been brainstorming trailer ideas for the past few days, but I don’t have any welding experience.

I’m not looking to spend a lot on tools. Welder and PPE may be 1500-2000. Plus an angle grinder. I have access to a drill press and plasma cutter. Has anyone else built their own trailer?

 

Lots of people have done it. But whether or not it makes sense depends on what kind of trailer as well your skill and tool set to build it.

Camper or cargo trailer?

 

I wouldn't recommend a trailer as a first welding project, unless you're starting with a prefabbed frame.

I think I would start by looking at what trailers are available new/used and see how close they come to fitting needs. It might be very easy to modify one to be exactly what you need and save considerable work.

 

Just got done with one. Lots of hours, of course mine has linear actuators and lifts a rtt.

 

Flatbed cargo trailer. Bulkhead front and rear. Plywood deck with tie downs. Overhead tool basket and a tongue box.

 

Road trip?


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/texas-classifieds-2-0-read-post-1.620549/page-79#post-21723290

 

I think you're already overbuilding it for what it sounds like you'd be using it for.

Some forest service road use isn't horrible for a trailer setup with some basic changes, mainly suspension since anything but smooth highway roads will suck with trailer leafs. Add in a lock-n-roll hitch and some matching Tacoma wheels/tires and that's the base recipe. Build out the rest to suit your gear/hauling needs.

I bought a 5x8 cargo trailer brand new (~$2,000, used can be less) and turned it into a camping setup, but the basic bones of it would mostly fit your described needs as I use it in the same way; get to remote forest locations hauling gear.

I used Jeep CJ-7 suspension components (leaf springs and their mounts, shocks and shock mounts, 4" lift shackles, etc) to replace the stock stiff as hell trailer suspension, retained the nice Dexter 3,500 lb axle and matched the wheels to my Tacoma so I wouldn't have to carry another spare. This thing rides super nice off road and has no bounce at all. I think the Timbren setup is nice, but overkill in your situation. Plus, if something breaks in a remote area, it's going to be hard to repair versus a field repair of simple leaf springs.

Suspension was done for about $400 (used leafs, new mounts/shocks/etc from 4wdparts)

Tiny stock trailer suspension with Jeep leafs installed over them:




Lock-n-roll hitch too, which does make it very usable off road (and offers a nice extra layer of security as most folks won't be able to hook up to it and steal it).




Everything done using a Hobart 120V welder (about $400 for it on Amazon, then another $400 in PPE, gas/bottle, etc). Welding isn't overly difficult, when facing hobby jobs like this. Watch some youtube videos, experiment, review youtube videos and practice some more. It's easy to see what a good weld looks like and does...practice will show you what you need to do to improve until you see those results. Go for it!

Here's my build thread, has all the infor on those Jeep CJ-7 suspension components and such (end of post #2 has PN). https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-off-road-worthy-5x8-camper-build.569960/

Let me know if you have questions about the setup, I really think (based on my experience) it'd be a perfect setup for your described needs.

We haul ours all over Colorado (forest roads, washboard roads and general bumpy off roading, across ravines and all type of terrain) and it does great.







Jake