3378jakesr5 expedition trailer build

Hey guys just starting a build thread for my expedition trailer we are building.

What's going on it.

Max coupler 6000lbs model

26 gallon water tank

Sure flow 190gph water pump

Hot water heater

1500 lbs winch

Battery setup with blue sea fuse block

Custom 3500lbs trailer axle with 6 on 5.5 and 12inch electronic breaks
Chevy half ton leaf springs.

And other things I will add as time goes on. But here are some pictures of the progress so far.

 

Winch mounting plate

How it sits now

Jacks and parts.

 

Subbed, looks good so far. I'm building one very similar.

 

Thanks, got a build thread for yours yet?

Any specs on size yet? I'm still thinking the extra foot on mine is going to be a lot but we will see and I am building it for four+ people. this one is going to be a 7'8" as you see it without the tongue. The water tank will be up front then the seven foot box will be devided 2 feet up front and 5 out the back.

 

Haven't made a build thread, don't even have one for my trucks.

Dimesions will be 54" length, 48" width and box height will be determined later. Doing drawers out the back with toolboxes inside and a water tank. Toolbox up front for battery and air. Adjustable rack with a RTT on top.

 

Haven't figured out tongue length yet.

 

Sounds good. It will be nice to have something you can just leave at camp and go and explore the night. I'm planing around a five foot long tong length putting me right at a 13'6 tip to tail light length.

Also got the max coupler on its way and ordered gas struts. And arriving tomorrow should be a tank and pump along with some electrical!!!

Now I just need to find some time to work on it because working 7pm to 10 is not making my neighbors happy.

 

Where did you order your water tank from? And what are you doing for a lid?

 

The water tank is from Amazon

$138 Valterra R8048 8" x 16" x 48" ABS Water Tank , Black

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006MRSPC and is the 48 inch length Roughly 26galons. what lid are you referring to? The two front side doors are going to be 1.5 sq tube frame skinned in 14 gauge and so is the back side ways swing out door and top door that swings up.

Got latches and hinges ordered today and that about complete the parts needed for the trailer to be built.

Also any ideas where I can find a trailer tong tool box that is 48inches wide in the back?? I'm looking to spend sub 200 and looking for a metal/aluminum one.

Jake,

 

Well just an update on what has been going on with the trailer. We have been getting snow the past two days so not a whole lot. We got the tongue welded in and the winch mount in the back welded in as well and are starting on the floor.


The. We also got some things in. We received the pump and water tank along with the max coupler and second yoke. Will be getting latches and lights this week and will be picking up the axle on Tuesday next week.

So while it's snowing I am playing on the truck and working on the bhlm mod and ordering plate for a Sochi grill so not to snowed out. But rather be playing in it

 

Hope every one had a great holiday!! We had a early Christmas here and got a lot of things for the trailer. I had got the axle in on Tuesday along with the water pump, water tank, hinges, pop pins, t handle latches, and other things I probably forgot about (stupid concussions) any way we decided to go with the trailer springs instead of the 63s but it allowed me to get some things rolling on the trailer. We also got some flush mount LED break/tail and reverse lights along with a trailer breakaway box for Christmas!!!

Water pump

Piano and bullet hinges.

T pop pins and the max coupled with two yokes.
And an axle!!!

Here is how the trailer sits as of tonight.

We got the axle and springs on. And there is quite a bit of tongue weight so far and I was aware of that wheni did the axle to clear the Side doors. But now I'm worried about how much weight there will be up front with the water tank and batteries and such. Being that far forward. The tank full will weight around 240lbs and then a tool box with batteries and all the electrical. So close to 400lbs on the front with only a tire carrier on the back to counter balance that. What is your opinion on the weight any one that has built one have you had a problem off-road with that weight on the tongue and not being as balanced as possible?

Hope every one had a great holiday!!
Jake,

 

Well the trailer is starting to look like a trailer. We have 90% of the skeleton done and the floor on. I will be hooking up the coupler some time this week and see how well it drifts still trying to find a good seam sealer to seal the sides. Any ideas?

Jake,

 

Nice! I think I am going to give this stuff a shot,

3M Brushable Seam Sealer, 08656, Multi-Purpose, Fast-Drying, Flexible Workable Seams, 1 qt, 946 mL

http://www.amazon.com/3M-08656-Brus...2/ref=pd_bxgy_auto_text_y/179-1481694-4786750

or this

$46 3M Fast 'N Firm Seam Sealer, 08505, Fast Setting, Paintable In 45 Minutes, 1/10 gal/10 fl oz Cartridge

http://www.amazon.com/3M-08505-Sealer-Cartridge-ounces/dp/B000PEWDKG

 

yah i was looking at the first one and think that would work but don't know on the constancy. is it like rubber cement or is it like a past like bondo? if its like bondo it would work but if its going to be hard to make it look nice then probably not . speaking of would bondo work? speaking as using it to fill and make nice edges then the paint would be protecting it.... i dont know

 

Well we have not had that much time to play on the trailer but we did get to play with the trailer

 

Well it was not snowing today nor was I working so I got to get some things done on the trailer today.

The red is primer because spots where starting to rust so I put a coat on a couple nights ago.





and the rust primer I used (rustoleum) has I iron mixed base to it so it welded really easy compared to other primers we have used in the past to cover projects.


And here is some of my buddy's handy work doing the wiring lume with me in my truck so I can get some lights on this truck and getting it to stop looking stock doing the electrical is getting me excited for the trailer and the funny thing is I hate electrical.

 

Any updates?

 

Haha yah lots of updates sorry. Got a little (a lot) lost in life. The trailer is on its feet and served us with a trip to moab in early June for a Jeep Grand Cherokee event. Where I must have hit a black cat, broke seven mirrors and walked under a million ladders because of all the bad luck we had. First my buddy's grand Cherokee blew the radiator 20 miles out side of moab so spent that night and fallowing morning repairing that causing us to miss that day's wheeling trip and then got the jeep fixed and decided to go do an easy shake down run to make sure the trucks where doing good and stuff. Well we got stuck in a flash flood and the taco bit it and sucked water in the intake from a cut inner fender from the previous owner. And of corse it could not be as easy as removing the plugs and shooting the water out. No I had hydro locked the engine and threw a connecting rod threw the back of the engine.

But the trailer was the pride of the trip. Not a thing went wrong with it. Which I will add was a miracle because of the two week rush to get it finished. Last seen by you guys it had no doors or dividing panel. Well this is where it sits now. I do have the aluminum fenders on now.

I do have full aluminum fenders built and installed now. On the trailer.

 

Got doors on and skinned along with fender skeletons built without the first week. Tent rack and tent on and test fitted. What ride hight looks like. Got rear lights in.

What else happened with out the ideas of stopping and taking pictures....

Axle moved 2 inches forword to remedy tounge weight (wish I had kept it where it was because having an empty water tank make a very even load.)

Ran all the wiring for the lights. Spent way to long wireing in that because the truck to trailer connection all the wires where the wrong color so had to multi meter them all repeatedly to figure out what was what on a seven pin connector

Got trailer electric breaks wire up and break away box wired

Got truck wired for trailer breaking.

Got aluminum fenders cut out and installed

Got linear actuators installed and wired ony to raise and lower the tent.

Tire carrier built and tire mounted.

Painted half the thing silver in hopes of matching the truck... Way to shiny so panted desert tan instead.

Cut trailer tounge ten inches shorter after finding out the night before leaving for moab the wireing was to short for the trucks location and figured that this was the best and fastest way.

Installed water tank for looks right now.

Installed tool chest for batteries and electrical.

That's about it for the two week dash to make it street able.

 

What needs to be done yet.

Have to Finnish the finish work on the fenders.

Run wiring for lights to the tent, trailer compartments, awning, and exterior lights.

Wire trailer for rock lights.. You why not? The truck has them and I have some laying around. XP

figure out if I'm going to keep the water tank I got or put my TIG welding to the test and weld up an aluminum tank to better last in the sun.

Wire in pump for water and such

Probably should plumb the trailer for said water for sink in fender and shower.

Cut out hole in fender for a drop in sink. With quick disconnection fittings.

Send some CAD drawing to the CNC shop again for slotted mounts for linear actuators to stop binding problems.

Set up wiring dash bird for trailer and make a wiring nightmare look nice.

Wire in the 3000 watt inverter and find a place to hide that sucker.

Run wiring for ac power in the trailer

Plywood the inside of the compartments for sound defining and mounting points

Build a drawer slide for large compartment to get to things in the back.

Build fold down tables for back door and tire carrier.

If I find time. Build trailing arms for replacement of the Leafs and run air bags.

Build awning for back of trailer for the kitchen to stay dry.

Wire tent lights.

I'm sure ther will be much more but can't remember now.