Offroad/Overland Trailers -- Whatcha got?

Just picked up this Vorsheer XOC on 33s. US 285S, Kenosha Pass on my way to visit friends in Salida, CO. Very pleased with its road manners in high winds with the articulating hitch. The setup will look better when I'm on sitting on Kings and 285 70 17s.

 

2019 OffGrid Expedition 2.0

 

Saw your rig on the other thread......great looking combo for sure.

 

Today I went to a truck scales and got the weight of the trailer, 1200lbs, still need to add a few things, guessing I will be around 1700lbs full loaded.

 

some of the builds are amazing. maybe one day i can get one.

 

Got new tires for the truck........so the trailer had to have some too

I've honestly been thinking about getting rid of it and just going with a bed rack/RTT on the truck.

 

Normally my trailer just got my older truck tires, last week was the first time I purchased a new tire for the trailer in the 8 years I have owned it

 

I wanted the truck and trailer to have the same tire just in case I need to pull parts from the trailer. I know it's highly unlikely, but it gives me peace of mind

I had 255/70/17 on the truck and 265/65/17 on the trailer. I caught the tires on sale($164 each for 4, then a week later $147 each for the last 2). They're up to $258 a tire now, so I basically got 6 for 4 I wish I had bought a spare for the truck and trailer

 

I get that, why I match wheels on the trailer to the truck. They might be the matching tires but they are close, example is right now I have 265/70/16 Tacoma tires on the trailer and 265/75/16 Cooper STMaxx on the truck. On my GX470 it was 265/75/17 on the trailer and 255/80/17 on the truck. When I first got the trailer, it was behind a 2013 JKUR and those stock tires and wheels where so easy to find, because everyone switches to bigger tires. It seems to work out because when I buy the extra wheels, I can normally get older tires with it. My next set of Tacoma tires will be either 265/75/16 (32”) or 255/85/16 (33”) so they will still be close.

so the tire where either the same size or a +/-1 different

 

I just look at worst case scenarios(even though they're unlikely) and knew that with spares for the truck and trailer.....I could get my truck out even if I wrecked all 4 tires.

 

I carry 2 spares in the truck, 1 on the trailer along with the trailer wheels/tires along with a plug kit.

Wheels on the trailer match the truck and both the truck and trailer are on 285/75/16.

 

Like others I’m in the process of building one. My father built a 4x8 trailer about 15+ years ago. It’s just a flat trailer no sides, expanded metal floor. I’ve been using it mostly to haul trees & brush when cleaning our property.

So… first step was new tires. Those 15+ year old one were dry rotting. Since no one seemed to be interested in my 265x70r16 Goodyears I took off the Tacoma (only 10k miles) I decided to get some junkyard 16” rims and use them. So 3 rims, some sanding and rattle cans and the new tires are done. I’ve drawn plans for a box tube frame that will rise to about 14” above the floor of the trailer. To that, a HDPE sheet will be screwed down. Making a platform for a roof top tent. Then I’ll enclose the sides with HDPE for secure storage underneath. Jack stands on the corners for leveling and to make it sturdy while camping.

Rust prevention primer & flat black finish:

 

Quick & dirty drawings depicting my plans:

 

Temps are finally going to be warm enough to open the garage door and not freeze so that means I can finally start working on the trailer again after the long wait of winter. Its become quite the parts pile as my buying habits maintained as if I was working on it still but now I have pretty much everything ready to hit it hard as the temps come back up.

 

I've shown the trailer before but here it is with its new CVT Mt. St. Helens tent. My old one got destroyed when a neighbor's tree fell on it.

 

Same here, fuck you winter.. I did however take advantage of our last snowfall. I'm doing a rusted patina on the trailer lid instead of painting it. I love the look of a good patina, the car scene calls it "cali rust" I'm calling it "Cana Rust" up here in Canada.. Thoughts? This is one day of MIXED vinegar, salt, hydrogen peroxide then i'll poor clear resin over it when I'm satisfied with the results.

Paint prep on under side of lid


Metal prep for rust. Sand and clean


"Cana Rust" letting the snow start the process LOL


Rust mix + time equals RUST!



Next morning..

 

I love the patinaed look. I have always considered if I did steel bumpers front and back removing the pickling from the steal and letting it sit for a week outside then clear coating it but being in the rust belt any sign of rust gives me the heebee-geebees. Hopefully that turns out well for you in the final product. worst comes to worst you spend a day flap disking it to get the rust off then painting it.

 

Thanks!
It can be a pretty trick looking custom finish. IF done right and with the right "colour theme" So far so good, after the chemical application it really rusted well, now its having another weather blast of rain to wash away some of the rust that looks too uniform to me, I think I will like and embrace the final touch nature is adding to the patina now then a good thick layer of clear coat. For us, here in Alberta we live in the "desert of the North" nothing rusts unless you make it to LOL.. Good luck in your attempt!

 

Update and SUCCESS!! on the rusted patina.
4 - 150lb struts installed plus 2 - 5lb propane tank brackets straight outta Canada! Rare find from https://overlandracksontario.com for all you Canadians looking for some local stuf



Bought a gallon of clear Berliner to coat the lid. GREAT product.




Black powder coated hardware.

 

That turned out sick! It looks great having a bit of color pop to offset the black and white.