please help with my oddball trailer

oldboyscout · Apr 19, 2013

I'm starting on a special purpose trailer and need some advice. i'm building a small trailer to carry camping gear to be used on and off road. I have a 42" x 60" box of 16g sheet metal, and started a frame of 2"x1/8" angle. I figure the usual utility trailers seem to be fine this way. I need to carry a few hundred lbs of gear plus the same in kayaks on top, no more than 1000 lbs. Does this sound like it will be okay? I'm trying to keep it lightweight to pull with a 4cylinder jeep, but still want to make it reasonably strong. I'll post pics tomorrow

camshawn · Apr 19, 2013

Consider wide, flat fenders. A wide flat surface above the ground to set up the camp stove or BBQ on is very nice as one gets older.
Cam

bcp · Apr 20, 2013

Do a Google image search for

expedition trailers

for lots of ideas.

Bruce

yelbike · Apr 20, 2013

Consider torsion axle instead of a conventional axle, not for the better ride but for the added ground clearance. The torsion axle mine had were only studs so there was no beam going all the way across the trailer.

Arc weld · Apr 20, 2013

I think I'd use tubing instead of angle. It's more rigid. 1/8" isn't very thick and it's probably a good idea to have a little bit of weight or the trailer would bounce around too much. Also consider using larger diameter tires. They don't spin as fast and are easier on the bearings.

oldboyscout · Apr 20, 2013

this is based on the expedition trailers. In fact I already have an M416, but it is too heavy with 4 people in a 4 cyl Jeep. So I want to build a very lightweight version. Not planning on doing the Rubicon with it, just rough roads. I have a common utility trailer made of 1/8 x2 angle, so I thought it's doable. I'm wondering if I add diagonal bracing to the frame and unitize it with the box if it will be good enough.
I had an axle made the proper size to use the same 31's that are on the Jeep.
Good point about the flat fenders. I have a set of round ones, but I'll fab something flat instead.

Gary Fowler · Apr 20, 2013

You could use the light weight angle and regardless of size of angle, you do need to put in some cross bracing to stiffen up the frame. Unitizing the box would make for a very strong frame just like a crane boom, light but strong. You didn't say how tall the box is going to be, but you may want to consider putting a box frame of light weight angle around it and welding the whole thing to the trailer frame. 1 1/2" x 1/8" angle run at the perimeter of all the corners of the box and tied back to the trailer frame would make it much more capable and not add a significant weight factor. 2 each 20 foot pieces of light weight angle would be all you need and be less than 100 pounds of weight and by having that frame around your steel box it is going to add some stiffness to it as well to allow top carrying on it without damage.

Attono · Apr 20, 2013

You can probably buy the flat fenders at Northern Tools or TSC cheaper than you can make them...

Did you consider aluminum?

oldboyscout · Apr 20, 2013

aluminum would be great but I can't weld it. I'll have to look for flat fenders big enough for the 31's-I haven't sen any yet

I was planning on 1x1 x1/16 tubing around the top, with corners braced with angle also-hence the unitized idea. The box is 18" deep.