Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
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Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
So, I've got this little truck bed trailer. It's been sitting on the side of my house, being used for occasional dump runs, and that's about it. Sitting next to it was the hardtop that I saved from the '86 4Runner That Is No More. The other day I got to looking at it, and I took a couple measurements, and I wrestled the top onto the trailer, and "hey" I says. Kevin has a new project.
The trailer:
Fixed up the lights, solder and heat shrink so they don't go out like they did last time:
And the top mocked on:
I'll seal off the front with painted plywood, put a chunk of plexiglass on hinges on the rear, throw down some carpet inside, scrounge some 31s, and have myself a camp trailer. It'll be ugly as sin but that's ok. It's more of a proof of concept, really. If I end up liking it, I'll find myself an '84-'88 Toyota bed that matches the 4Runner and start over... custom frame, stabilizer jacks, curtains, house battery and solar charger, etc.
The trailer:
Fixed up the lights, solder and heat shrink so they don't go out like they did last time:
And the top mocked on:
I'll seal off the front with painted plywood, put a chunk of plexiglass on hinges on the rear, throw down some carpet inside, scrounge some 31s, and have myself a camp trailer. It'll be ugly as sin but that's ok. It's more of a proof of concept, really. If I end up liking it, I'll find myself an '84-'88 Toyota bed that matches the 4Runner and start over... custom frame, stabilizer jacks, curtains, house battery and solar charger, etc.
Last edited by Kevin on Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:38 am; edited 1 time in total
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
The 4Runner bed rails come farther inboard than standard truck rails, which is where the mounting points are on the top. So I fabbed up some simple brackets and welded them to the trailer's bed rails.
I was going to just wall off the opening in front, but Wifey decided she wants some shelves there. My carpentry skills are marginally better than my welding skills, so we'll see how this turns out. Here's the start of it:
One unconsidered benefit - instant playpen! That'll be SUPER handy.
I was going to just wall off the opening in front, but Wifey decided she wants some shelves there. My carpentry skills are marginally better than my welding skills, so we'll see how this turns out. Here's the start of it:
One unconsidered benefit - instant playpen! That'll be SUPER handy.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
The kid will have a blast rolling around in there on the trails!
Finding a Toyota bed would really finish it off nicely.
Finding a Toyota bed would really finish it off nicely.
dutchman- Resident Gorilla
- Posts : 1912
Join date : 2012-08-21
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
They're all over the place. The trouble is finding a clean Toyota bed, which is a much different bucket of fish.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I've been looking into getting my trailer put back together in time for the Swell trip. I think I'm just going to put the box back on and give it a nice coat of paint and call it good until I can afford to build it how I want it. It will be good to at least throw my gear in.
By the way, do you still have those couple sets of lights of mine?? The tail lights and pro comps??
By the way, do you still have those couple sets of lights of mine?? The tail lights and pro comps??
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I do, they're sitting on the shelf waiting for a chance to get them to you.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Got the box done - ended up skinning it with fleece and fiberglass resin, and then painting it with Als Liner bedliner. It won't win a fight with a tree branch, but it'll work for now.
I picked up a set of worn out 32x11 BFG ATs and dropped them off to get mounted yesterday. I'll find out in the morning if they fit - the trailer is currently spring under, and I'd like to keep it that way if I can. I also ground off the old flat spare tire mount, and I'll replace it with a vertical mount that puts the spare up in front of the box. That'll free up space on the tongue for a propane tank/house battery/cargo box/whatever.
I picked up a set of worn out 32x11 BFG ATs and dropped them off to get mounted yesterday. I'll find out in the morning if they fit - the trailer is currently spring under, and I'd like to keep it that way if I can. I also ground off the old flat spare tire mount, and I'll replace it with a vertical mount that puts the spare up in front of the box. That'll free up space on the tongue for a propane tank/house battery/cargo box/whatever.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Looking good!
Andrew- Resident Strongman
- Posts : 1019
Join date : 2012-09-06
Location : Saratoga Springs
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I like it. Are you planning on mounting anything on the trailer tongue?
dutchman- Resident Gorilla
- Posts : 1912
Join date : 2012-08-21
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
It's a definite possibility. I might not get around to it with this trailer, but there will be room for a propane tank, battery box, and cargo tote if I want.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
That's totally not going to rub...
... right? Right?
Gonna need flares on it anyway, although I'll probably skip the mudflaps. Anybody got a set of flares kicking around?
... right? Right?
Gonna need flares on it anyway, although I'll probably skip the mudflaps. Anybody got a set of flares kicking around?
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I've got a bit of flexy flare left over after I cut the lengths I need for Het Beest. You're welcome to it.
dutchman- Resident Gorilla
- Posts : 1912
Join date : 2012-08-21
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Garden edging fleet flare+sheet metal screws. Done!
offroad_medic- Law Dog
- Posts : 912
Join date : 2013-02-28
Age : 35
Location : Layton
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
EFF the flares!!!
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Ty wrote:EFF the flares!!!
That's not very nice. What did those flares ever do to you?
Nah, I gotta hack up the wheel arches to clear those tires. Flares will help cover the raw sheet metal edges.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Much better. Now you can at least clear your worn out tires.
offroad_medic- Law Dog
- Posts : 912
Join date : 2013-02-28
Age : 35
Location : Layton
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
offroad_medic wrote:Much better. Now you can at least clear your worn out tires.
Maybe you can pass safety to with those flares!!!
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I'm happy those flares are finally being put to good use!
Andrew- Resident Strongman
- Posts : 1019
Join date : 2012-09-06
Location : Saratoga Springs
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Remounting the spare was an odyssey. The wire on my 110v machine broke, and a snag in the liner wouldn't let me reload it. So I spent a morning driving around to Praxair and Airgas and a couple other places, nobody had a liner. So I tried to use the stick machine, but I still suck too hard and wasn't happy with the boogers I was laying down. So I took the 110 gun apart, pulled the liner out, shoved wire through the liner by hand and then put the liner back in the gun and the gun back on the welder. It worked, but I need to order a new liner so I don't have to play that game again.
Last edited by Kevin on Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:15 am; edited 1 time in total
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Looks good!! I was having issues with my 110 the other day. The wire kept tangling on the roll. It was pissing me off something fierce.
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Keeping the roll from unspooling and tangling has been the bane of my welding experience to date. I hate that.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I don't know if it got tangle when it was loaded or what, but I have no problem with it unspooling. It just keeps getting tangled.
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
Maybe we're not talking about the same thing? The wire I buy is under tension on the spool, it'll pop out like a spring if you let it. Once that happens it's almost impossible to coil it back onto the spool tightly without crossing it over itself, and then it tangles while it's unspooling and turns into a mess.
Re: Kevin's backcountry trailer experiment.
I'm sure that's what happened. I didn't load the wire so I don't kno .
Ty- Social Media Admin.
- Posts : 1823
Join date : 2012-08-21
Age : 43
Location : Santaquin
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