Ol' Sears Trailer to Match the XJ

[Vantams]

I picked this bad boy up last year for $80. A former scout master had it rigged up for outings and my plan is to take it back down to original build, then add my trimmings for adventuring properly!

I wanted this style of trailer because it is LIGHT! Even with gear and RTT it won't lug down the XJ.

Pics are when I bought it vs. how it looks with most of the previous owners handiwork removed.

This should be a blast!

I plan on refurbishing all of the steel, replacing what I can't, give it fresh paint and bedliner where needed, racking to hold RTT lighting, gas, electrical and water for base camp use and suspension upgrades for offroad use, plus wheels and tires to match the jeep.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Road]

I picked this bad boy up last year for $80. A former scout master had it rigged up for outings and my plan is to take it back down to original build, then add my trimmings for adventuring properly!

I wanted this style of trailer because it is LIGHT! Even with gear and RTT it won't lug down the XJ.

Pics are when I bought it vs. how it looks with most of the previous owners handiwork removed.

This should be a blast!

I plan on refurbishing all of the steel, replacing what I can't, give it fresh paint and bedliner where needed, racking to hold RTT lighting, gas, electrical and water for base camp use and suspension upgrades for offroad use, plus wheels and tires to match the jeep.

Cool! That's a great start to having a custom expedition/camping trailer. Floor and joints look pretty solid, from what I can tell.

Is the floor very thick? I had a Bantam T3-C from the 40's that the previous owner had added 3/8" diamond plate to for floor. That was WAY too heavy and thick and added considerable weight. You only really need a much thinner gauge sheet steel or aluminum.

I have a ton of links and image for jeep and military trailers and what others have done, if you find yourself needing resources or inspiration.

Good luck with it man, they're fun projects if you have the room and time.

 

[Vantams]

Cool! That's a great start to having a custom expedition/camping trailer. Floor and joints look pretty solid, from what I can tell.

Is the floor very thick? I had a Bantam T3-C from the 40's that the previous owner had added 3/8" diamond plate to for floor. That was WAY too heavy and thick and added considerable weight. You only really need a much thinner gauge sheet steel or aluminum.

I have a ton of links and image for jeep and military trailers and what others have done, if you find yourself needing resources or inspiration.

Good luck with it man, they're fun projects if you have the room and time.

I am excited about it for sure! I'm not quite sure on the thickness yet, but if I were to guess I'd say maybe 1/4 inch diamond plate... but from what I can tell it looks factory!

I'll have to post a few screenshots of the design I'd like to implement, itll be a little on the simple side to keep weight down.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Road]

I am excited about it for sure! I'm not quite sure on the thickness yet, but if I were to guess I'd say maybe 1/4 inch diamond plate... but from what I can tell it looks factory!

I'll have to post a few screenshots of the design I'd like to implement, itll be a little on the simple side to keep weight down.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Yeah - a lot of the trailers that size--even the M416 and Willys and Bantam military trailers--are only meant to have a 500lb payload. They're 1/4 ton trailers, a lot of them, so adding too much in the way of thick metal, cabinets, steel fridge slides and rack supports, etc can really add up and diminish what's left for GVW. Also, at least in my experience, no sense putting way heavy axles meant for 1 ton or heavier trailers; make the ride pretty stiff. Especially if going off-road with it.

There are a lot of good builders here and some great threads. You can find more too at places like expeditionportal (always been helpful to me there) and americanadventurist, etc.

One of these days I'm going to organize a trailer users get together, like they have for rooftop tents.

 

[Vantams]

Yeah - a lot of the trailers that size--even the M416 and Willys and Bantam military trailers--are only meant to have a 500lb payload. They're 1/4 ton trailers, a lot of them, so adding too much in the way of thick metal, cabinets, steel fridge slides and rack supports, etc can really add up and diminish what's left for GVW. Also, at least in my experience, no sense putting way heavy axles meant for 1 ton or heavier trailers; make the ride pretty stiff. Especially if going off-road with it.

There are a lot of good builders here and some great threads. You can find more too at places like expeditionportal (always been helpful to me there) and americanadventurist, etc.

One of these days I'm going to organize a trailer users get together, like they have for rooftop tents.

All this talk of the build has me excited to see the final product!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Road]

All this talk of the build has me excited to see the final product!

When you get around to changing the hitch, if that's what you want to do, @Anchor Mtn has a member discount on Max Couplers in the Member Deals section of the forums.

 

[Vantams]

Ground down some of the previous fabricating on this thing... I think I'm going to leave the 1x1 steel frame on there, less work for me...

Next step is to grind down as much rust as physically possible so I can begin to layout the design for the additions I plan on.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk