Camp Trailer Build

Ha! I have enough parts leftover from the teardrop that I'm thinking about building a trailer like yours for dump runs and helping friends move.

 

With many thanks to @TheSchwartz and @SearArtist , the overlandy trailer is now ready for:

 

So I rounded up some factory Tacoma steel spares the past couple weeks, and they seem to be perfect for these hubs. The lugs centered the wheel up quite nicely! Will have a test report next week.

 

The trailer worked great again going up to Asheville and back! It's got about 900 miles on it at this point.

Next mod for it will be bearing buddies as preventative maintenance

 

Love the trailer build! Hoping to do this but have to wait until finished saving for wedding.

May I ask, roughly, how much this cost in materials? Obviously not including the tent.

 

Absolutely! I have about $1500 in materials in this, I bought drops when could to save having lots of extra tube. It came out a little heavier than I would have liked, but I erred on the side of overbuilt and ease of welding. The frame is 11ga (.120" wall tube) and the calculated weight is just under 600lbs.

Next one I would like to make lighter.

 

600 is still not bad at all with the quality materials.

I probably won't get around to building mine until late next year. So if you decide to build a lighter one and you sell this one, let me know . I am in Greenville, SC, so it would be a short trip!

 

Looks good.

 

Just wanted to check in and see how this thing was handling - specifically the axle and suspension. Does it do okay off road? Nothing extreme, just some forest roads plus ruts

 

So it never made it offroad. It did drag out to Colorado just fine (loaded down with bikes and all). Its been sitting in storage until the snow melts and quarantine gets lifted unfortunately

 

Thinking about starting this as the quarantine project... Essentially would be making my storage area height to be just a little bit above Rubbermaid action packer height and my cooler. Would make it so the Dog could get in and out easier as well.

Only change I was considering what doing Timbren axle-less suspension, but I am not sure what the right setup would be.

Thanks for the inspiration for the build man! Hopefully starting soon unless my refinance costs too much haha.

 

Any updates?

 

We did make it out with the trailer! First proper offroad trip and the fenders nearly came all the way off LOL. Overall, it was awesome and served us very well the times we did use it. Getting the dog up and down was tricky sometimes. We ended up on an ATV trail (whoops) and it pulled just fine through everything, but I wouldn't want to make it a regular thing.

We sold it during the pandemic to make some room for other toys. Thinking about a wedge camper as it will be much easier with the dog, but really have no solid ideas.

 

So it got some time on a pretty rough trail. It bounced a lot. I think probably because it was still oversprung. Shocks may have helped it settle down?

 

This got put somewhat on the backburner. Expensive Mountain biking hobby took over. Still on the list though!

I hear fantastic things about the Timbren axle-less suspension but I can't give any personal experience

 

I have Tinbren springs on my truck instead of bump stops...they are fantastic. Different than the axle-less suspension yes... but the product is quality and works well. Had a horse trailer with them and they were ideal for that application.