Florida B.S. Thread

I'm waiting

 

i'm drawing........

been talking over some designs with a friend of mine, so i think i'm finally drawing to design i'm gonna go with.

 

Ah gotcha since you got your thinking going I need side strode for my truck but just the right height (not for me family is complaining)

 

and here is the new project!







i already have a small flatbed trailer. it works great for what i use it for, but i'd really like to have an off road camper and tool/spare parts/gear hauler

what i have drawn is only the exo-cage that will both protect it, as well as provide a mounting platform for the rest of the build. the trailer will be completely sealed when all is said and done. the cage will protect the ply wood skin.

there is also a roof rack on top that can hold bikes, surf boats, etc. obviously the trailer spare will be moiunted on the front, as well as a jery can (water or gasoline). on top, behind the roof rack there will be a light bar that will house referse (flood) lights, another set of brake lights, and hazard lights. another feature i'll be adding is the steel roller on the back underside. most expedition trailers out there are 5 to 6 feel long, not including the neck. this one is 8 feet long without considdering the neck. that means it will naturally contact more obstacles. the purpose of such rollers is the let the trailer slide and roll over obstacles instead of getting hooked.


there will be a heavy duty sleeping platform on the inside that will be height adjustable. that way if you don't have a lot of geat, you can put the platform down for more headroom. if you have a lot of gear, you can raise it up so it all fits.
because there will be people in it at times, i'm going to run an auzilary trailer harness in the truck, so that you can have lights inside the trailer when it's hooked up.


and lastly, larger tires will be put on it, as well as a complete suspension redesign. the drawing portrays how it will sit with the current tires and suspension, which will not be there for long

I'm pumped to start this in the morning. as of right now, i'm at $200 in materials. i have so much scrap and various building/wiring materials laying around, that it should only cost about another $100 to finish it (excluding new tires and leaf springs).

here's what the trailer currently looks like:




the tires i put on will be the same diameter as the truck, but narrower, since all you need to worry abotu with a trailer is side to side slipping. also, the little red things sticking down behind the tires will be gone.

 

Colin,

Looks like a great project to carry your gear. BTW, I noticed what looks like a pivot point in the front. Does that trailer tilt back to unload a motorcycle or something?

One of the main reasons I bought my Sport with the towing package was to get a 7X12ish trailer with a V nose and convert it into a RV type thing to travel with. Toying with two axels so it can handle two Harleys and have electric brakes.

Good luck with your project!

 

Colin,

That's awesome. I was going to ask if you were going to use your trailer you already had but your pic clears that up. I have a couple suggestions/inquiries. Why not use a pintle hitch instead of the ball and coupler? Have you considered some thin gauge metal for the skin instead of plywood? I'd imagine the gauge metal would be lighter. What about some kind of roller or slider for the front of the trailer. It's more likely to dig in when the truck hits an obstacle and the trailer is still on flat ground.

 

New guy here, just picked up a 08 Tacoma SR5 Dbl Cab in Silver on tuesday. Looking forward to upgrading (aka lifting) the truck, and hopefully getting to meet and hang out with some other Tacoma guys!!! Who else here is from the Tampa/Clearwater Area?? I live in Port Richey and work in Pinellas.

 

Welcome! There's a decent amount of members in your neck of the woods. I believe they are having a meet on the 13th. Check out the Tampa thread for more details.

 

I didn't get into UCF, which is a better pick valencia or seminole state?

 

I want one of these for all my gear

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/rvs/2253013322.html

 

Jason you got anything going on this weekend?

 

Welcome to Tacoma World. I live in New Port Richey and work down in Clearwater. If your not doing anything sunday and want to try out the truck, you should run up to croom with us.

 

Was actually thinking about taking my atv to Croom on Sunday!!! I will let u know!!!!

 

you are correct, it pivots at the end of the neck, allowing the whole bed to tilt back so you can get a mower. motorcycle, etc onto it.
it also have a pivot point right above the axle, allowing the entire trailer to fold up and be easily rolled around on 4 castor wheels

like this:

Pintle hitch setup is a must for off road in my opinion. i'll deffinately be doing that, but i want to tow it home (900 miles) before i make the conversion. the ball and coupler seem to be better suited for the highway. i actually have the trailer end of that setup, but i need a new toung witht eh clamp on it.

as for the front end, i'll be doing something up there as far as a skid or roller like the back, i just haven't figured out what yet. the back is easy since it just needs to get dragged off whatever it hits. the front is a little more challenging because of the snaging aspect. i have some thinking to do, it may turn into a trial and error typ of thing.

as for the thin guage metal skin, i thought about it, but the price didn't quite make up for the advantages in this case. if i find any particular areas are getting beatin up , i' can always weld in a section of sheet metal.

i tried and tried to find one of those in my area last year when i got my trailer, but couldn't come up with anything for under $900. i got my current trailer for $275 once i factored in cost of the ply wood deck and hardwear.

i've spent $200 thus far for this project, and i forsee about $100 more to complete it, so i'll be just under $600 for an off road camper. that's not factoring in the larger tires and suspension, but i have a set of taller leaf springs from a boat trailer sitting in my basement in VA that i can use, so really it's just tires that will cost me.




if you really want to see some great off road trailers, take a look at this thread http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31599 this is where i'm getting a lot of my ideas. if i had the money, i'd get a shorter trailer and use a roof top tent, but since i don't, it'll have to be the in-trailer sleeping setup (longer wheelbase).

the biggest thing that i haven't decided on quite yet is electricity tot eh trailer in addition to the brake and turn signal lights. i'm going to have a seperate trailer harnes coming from the trugk to the trailer, but i'm still working on hoiw much power i'll need and what exactly i want to power in the trailer.....open to ideas.

 

colin,
if the cash flow allows for a little extra spending this is coupler you need.
http://www.sierra4x4trailers.com/s4x4t-max-coupler/

try this tread for some ideas

 

that's just beautiful! cash flow would be the issue there though. it looks like in incredibly simple design (k.i.s.s. design threorey at work). i may toy around with making something like that, since i don't know if i could jsutify $225 for a coupler.....it's tempting though, so who knows.

what's really impressive is that it is rated for 10,000 lbs.

 

I'm back!
I've been busy with school including getting grounded for what my grades were

 

Off to Texas in the morning. I will be sure to keep yall posted

 

making some good progress on the trailer today. a very optomistic goal is to have the cage done by the end of the evening. i'll throw ups some pictures tonight.

have fun on your trip.