expedition/over landing trailers

That is AWESOME!!! Is this a utility truck bed with a custom frame? I've been wanting an overlanding trailer for a long time. I've been looking at Turtleback and Hiker trailers. I'm thinging I might build one now.

 

Yes it is. It is a bit heavy being a steelbox. I'd recommend going with aluminum if you do.

 

Good idea! Did you buy it used?

 

Yes. It was white, had the entire box linexed

 

Looks great! Thanks for the advise!

 

Anytime! Good luck. Report back with your build.

 

'82 Ford Courier bed and frame. Frame cut and angled to form the tongue.
Lock N Roll hitch
Dexter 3500lb axle. Wheels and tires to match my Jeep. (31x10.5r15)
10 gallon water tank in front of each wheel well, 20 gallons total. Tanks are plumbed together so they fill and drain equally.
deep cycle battery on top of each wheel well, in parallel.
rv water pump on left wheel well.
drawers for food on and behind right wheel well.
behind left wheel well is switch panel (lights, water pump, fuel pump) and camp stove that slides and folds onto tailgate. Stove is plumbed to 20 lb propane tank on the tongue.
Storage shelf on tongue around propane tank for firewood.
between wheel wells is open for cargo. Ice chest, kitchen kit, chairs, etc.
In OEM spare tire spot is a 15 gallon fuel cell, with hole long enough to reach tow vehicles fuel filler (if on driver side.)
Trailer tongue jack up front, RV leveling jacks back corners.
All topped off with a Maggiolina Grand Tour, which is a pretty decent fit to cover the bed.
Hopefully I'll have a batwing awning on left side of the RTT soon, but that's not a priority.

My jeep has dragged this around full with no problems (unless it's up hill highway speeds) all around Big Bend and surrounding areas.

Hopefully the Taco will do much better

 

What size are your stock tires? I just picked up a used SmittyBilt Scout with upgraded tires/rims (33s?) And it's ridiculous. I'm driving it back home like this and our MPG is just sucking hard. I also probably need an adjustable hitch. This trailer is completely empty except RTT on top.

 

An adjustable hitch is nice but expensive new. you could probably get away with a larger drop hitch turned upside down...little cheaper alternative.

 

I assume you'll be losing the crappy ball and getting a better off road hitch?

 

I heard about switching to a drop hitch / flipping it.

Would the tires help this at all?? Smaller tires to more evenly distribute weight?

Don't mean to thread hijsck, just started one in the Second Gen genetge section. My apologies.

 

Found this trailer on the local craigslist. It is not mine, and I have nothing to do with the sale. It's something I didn't know existed. Like a RTT on a tiny trailer with a 1970 commercial flair. its listed as a "Lees-sure Lite Excel Pop-up Tent Trailer"

https://greenville.craigslist.org/rvs/d/lees-sure-lite-excel-pop-up/6546697864.html

 

Slightly smaller ones made for motorcycles. Popular with Goldwingers.

 

Has anybody been doing any mods to their trailers this year or just camping? Hell i’ve Got so many projects with it I don’t have time to camp

 

Get a lock n roll you can get a 4” drop and it’s completely reversible it works the same up or down.

 

Depending on how off level it is I think tires would help. I run 285/75/16 on mine and have a drop hitch. Sits perfectly for me.

Some dope was trying to get me to lower my trailer sale price just cause he saw another with 35s for less $. I feel like 35s are way too big for a trailer unless you're regeared and are running similar or larger size on tow vehicle.

 

Camping and truck projects.

I need to add some interior lighting to the teardrop, and build some fender guard/slider-like things.

 

Been camping once so far this year then I jumped asshole deep in mods to the Tiger Moth

I took some amber pods odd the truck and mounted them on the TM for auxillary lighting, 1 in the center of the back so it lights up under the awning and 1 on the front rt corner



I added a outlet with USB ports for when we're at camp grounds


I cut everything off the tongue, added a cross member, extended the tongue 22" with 2.5" x 1/4" thick square tubing, extended the wiring harness, relocated the safety chains, and installed a Lock n Roll hitch







Just started a pare tire relocate I'll finish it and then start on a 2' x 2' x 60" box that will mount to the tongue. It'll have a door on each end and the fridge will be mounted on the slide in the passenger side compartment. The spare tire relocate is almost done thn I'm going to fab up a quick detach table that'll mount to the top and rest on the tire

 

Question about your trailer tongue.

I use a MaxCoupler vs. the Lock 'n Load, and have a receiver on the front of my trailer. The receiver gives me the ability to use a regular coupler (mounted to a 2x2) to tow the trailer. With your welded setup, you always have to use the L'nL. Did you consider a receiver?

Now, truth be told, I have yet to build a "normal" coupler, and always use the MaxC to move the trailer.

Nice welding job, by the way.

 

The lnr hitch part I installed is actually for the exact application you described. I contemplated installing it that way as a security measure but decided I didn’t care for the idea of there being any slip or looseness to it so welded solid.you only see about a third of the hitch “shank” the rest is inside the 2.5” tube. It’s welded solid at the end and then I decided, after the fact of course, to drill a hole 2.5” back from the end of the outer tube top and bottom and plug weld it. As for the security aspect, almost nobody around here had a clue what a lnr hitch is let alone one on their truck to haul it off. Alrighty back to welding