I like your stabilisers,might have to steal that idea! Trailers coming along well,it looks good
My DIY offroad utility (base camp) trailer
- Thread starter Red_Leaf_Overland
- Start date
Advocate III
It is a touch tall. My idea was to put a solar panel up there in the future and have it rest under anything mounted up top during travel. Top of rail to floor is 6'4" and fender edge to fender edge is 6'6". Most of the weight is in the base as the "platform" is 2x2x.125 square tube and the control arms are 2x2x.188 with 1/4" skid plates, but the top is all 1.25x1.25x.100 wall tube or 1x1x.100. Also the drawers hold a significant weight and that is where all of the heavier gear will go.
I'm hoping that since the bulk of the weight is low, the extra height shouldn't be too much of an issue... but it is in the back of my head lol.
Advocate III
They are just some 1.5" x.100 wall tube and some 1.25" x.100 wall slid in. I may add a brace to go to a pin stil to keep them from sliding out but I need to figure out 100% how I'm mounting them
Explorer I
- 3,680
- First Name
- Brian
- Last Name
- McGahuey
- Member #
-
23711
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRMV941
Have you thought about building the rack to be height adjustable? If you use linear actuators, raising and lowering is as simple as hitting a button.
Advocate III
I hadn't really thought about it but I want to try and keep things as simple as possible. Most of the time there likely won't be anything up to since I don't have a roof top tent. likely just and awning and shower maybe a RTT in the future but I made the top half with enough room to stuff my gazelle tents in and that's what I have been using for the last few years. The rack may also hold some kayaks, but generally not a whole lot of weight.
Explorer I
- 3,680
- First Name
- Brian
- Last Name
- McGahuey
- Member #
-
23711
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRMV941
The it sounds like you're good to go. If you're not putting a tent up there, COG shouldn't be much of an issue.
Advocate III
Was doing some work the other day and thought about how to carry extra fuel on the trailer. Normally I bring race style fuel cans when I take my TJ out for a weekend ( and most of the time I go through it all) and I wanted to get them out of the back of the jeep and I had considered making a hitch mount fuel holder for them but then I realized I have wide fenders lol. Coincidentally they fit perfectly between the fender and the front lower door.
I made up a quick base and I think a self retracting ratchet strap over the top should hold it down well enough. Or at least until I find a better way .
I made up a quick base and I think a self retracting ratchet strap over the top should hold it down well enough. Or at least until I find a better way .
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Advocate III
Finally managed to get the drawers bolted down and tested for clearance while they are installed, and the floor down and fastened in place. Now the drawers are back out and being painted before reinstall, as well as the floor.
Next I need to start framing doors and getting the latches lined up so I can finally start getting everything sealed in.
Next I need to start framing doors and getting the latches lined up so I can finally start getting everything sealed in.
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Advocate III
yes the slides are mounted through the floor and into the frame below. I used rivnuts to squeeze the floor and frame together and provide mounting points for the slides. There are 4 bolts per side ( 8 bolts per drawer) holding them down to the floor
the rivnuts sit proud of the sheet below,so the angle sits on the rivnuts not the sheet-right? Does this work ok?
Advocate III
Yes they sit a bit proud. It works just fine and I have a sheet of rubber that I was going to lay down under everything to help keep vibrations down as well, but when I unrolled the sheet I realized that the smell may be an issue lol. I still have some light sound deadening material from my jeep that I may use instead but I am still up in the air about that.
My only concern with the rivnuts was that they wouldn't grab enough material on both pieces to hold. I did run a test piece and though it has a small amount holding its enough to hold it tight, and with 8 of them per drawer I am confident with how it will hold up. I was able to stand at the very end of my drawer and hop and it was sturdy.
Advocate III
It's finally starting to take shape. Got my doors framed out and started laying on some sheet material and getting it cut out to size.
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Advocate III
Got 1 door tacked and roughed together to test the latches. Going to need a strike plate of some sort behind it because I can't adjust the latch close enough to close tight.
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Advocate III
Been plugging away at the trailer slowly. Most of the outer work is roughed together now. Still working on the doors but it's got walls and the upper platform in place. There will be a lot of finish work in my future but it feels good to have something visually achieved instead of all the little odds and ends that can't be seen lol.
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Advocate III
Not sure how much it weighs.... I know it was more than I planned for but still not completely unreasonable. I'm guessing it will end up around 1200 lbs ..... maybe more... there are a lot of things I should have went a lot lighter on with material but I figured it would be fine .... on the plus side it's rock solid lol. Also most of the weight is in the bottom so it's pretty well planted.
Cool. Just checking as mine doesn't have as much steel, but it's larger. I really don't know how much it weights right now...just hoping for the best.
Advocate III
There will be a lot off fit and finish work in my future. Some things aren't fitting together quite as well as I'd like them too, and some areas the welds got a little too warm ( patience has never been a strong suit of mine) so some of the sheets have some warping. Still need to figure out exactly how I'm building the lower rear doors because there isn't enough room for a sill so I'm thinking angle instead of tube. And I had some seals on the painted doors and came out to the garage the next morning an they weren't sticking so I am changing to a trim seal that will seat on the inner ledge.....that will pretty much wrap up the major components. Then it's capping tube ends, paint, door struts and electrical. A pile of little odds and ends. Hoping that it is usable by the end of the month.
