Small Utility Camping Trailer?

[TonyB66]

I find myself staring at my mine periodically, and then I start coming-up with new or improved upon ideas. I'm in no particular rush. A front/back sliding top is my current fixation... Simple, crude even, strong and ideally not too heavy and easily removable.

I haven't worked on my 4Runner, so that will be first, after the house is 100% "done". Almost there...

I decided to buy a mig welder, probably a Hobart, and even began watching some online welding video tutorials. It has been a long, long time... I recall getting frustrated, but that was with aluminum (blowing holes through the material). Now that I reflect, my steel welds were decent. Will try to pick-up some scrap metal at a garage or estate sale for practice...

Speaking of the DMV, I was paranoid about mailing-in the title, now over a month ago. They still have not cashed the check. A rep last Friday said that they received it though, and I should be getting my title to it this or next week.

Look-forward to see what you do with yours. If anything like your 4Runner build, it will be one very capable trailer! Please do provide updates to it here, and/or in your build thread...

 

[psraff]

Of course I want to copy some things from Dirtco's Trailer, and I just found this thread that I love how he made the top:
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/silversurfers-m101-cdn-expedition-trailer.143714/

Then have a platform for the Tent. My tailgate drops down, but I might convert it to open side to side. I have to rebuild the tongue and make a new rear bumper to have a hitch mount in it. I'll have a storage box on the front (on the tongue), and I think the front 20" or so inside separated from the rear and have access doors on the side to get to that section. The main thing I want to do is have a solar panel on it to charge the electrical system. But it will be designed that it's on the front of the trailer folded up(facing backwards against the front of the trailer) when driving. Then when parked, it will pivot forward and raise up to be in use. Or reposition it to be horizontal (above the tent) to charge when driving. Like I said, I can see it in my head. I have to get it on paper. That will help power the radio, lights and other electrical gear.

I suck at mig welding. I need practice and videos. LOTS! I was just thinking of hiring a welder to help me with some of this. I would have him help with my front bumper since I know quality counts there and I really have to get it done. Then I can have him do the serous sections of the trailer that I don't trust myself to do (the tongue mostly). There's plenty of inside welds that won't be seen that I can learn on, on the trailer.

 

[TonyB66]

Thanks for sharing that build. Very neat top.

With a RTT on my trailer's "construction" rack, I'd want access to the stuff inside though. Still envisioning the rack's four vertical supports on the outside corners of the trailer. The top would slide back-and-forth within those supports, allowing for access at all times. When slid back, maybe two drop-down adjustable legs so it can serve as a large (6' x 5') table.

Wish I could work on this now!

 

[BrianSD_42]

This thread is like a commercial for why to get AAA haha. Ok so I have AAA and it includes registering for vehicles at the AAA facilities and filling all the paperwork through them directly.

AAA is one of the only companies, if not the only, in California that offers this service. They charge nothing for it btw beyond simple annual $60 towing membership. I have used it in the past and each time I did a walk in and a AAA employee registered me in a few minutes. They have a computer in the AAA office that is directly connected to the CA DMV computer networks which only certain AAA employees can access. I plan to never go to the DMV again except for picture license renewals.

Btw how much does your trailer weigh as is?

 

[psraff]

Digging into mine a bit more, I think it might be a Bantam TC-3 Trailer. It looks like the hubs were originally 5 lug, and I have 6. The hitch is a screw type (Foltron Coupler) and still looking for Specs. It might be from the late 1940's to early 50's and it appears these things have quite a following.

Only thing that doesn't match up is my tailgate is rectangle, while on the TC-3 trailers, it's flared out at the top to match the sides of the trailer...

Specs so far:
Specification Result
Body type Cargo
Weight Net (lb.) 485
Weight Payload (lb.) 1000 (onroad spec.)
Weight Gross (lb.) 1485
Overall Height (in.) 42
Overall Length (in.) 109
Overall Width (in.) 56
Floor Width (in.) 38
Body (ft.) 6 x 4
Tail Gate (in.) 18
Tires Size 6.00 x 16
Tread--Center to Center (in.) 49
Springs (in. x in.) 36 x 1 3/4

 

[BrianSD_42]

Is 1500 lbs pretty heavy for an empty trailer? That is a bit less than half of an entire 3rd gen.

 

[TonyB66]

Nice legwork psraff. That looks to be it alright:

The Bantam T3-C Page

For trailers this size, empty, 500 lbs or less is pretty normal. Mine was noted at less than 400 pounds. The box is aluminum, which helps of course...

 

[TonyB66]

When we were evacuated several months back I wasn't able to bring our trailer. With the current wheels/tires on 4Runner and trailer I need a drop of a few inches. I had borrowed a neighbor's drop hitch when I purchased the trailer... I was not happy that I didn't make the time to purchase one after I got it home.

Anyone have this, or something like it? If so, I'd appreciate any feedback...

Amazon.com: Uriah Products Aluma-Tow Drop Ball Mount for 2" Receiver (UT623410): Automotive

Eventually I'll lose the ball design, but that will need to be later... Thanks.

 

[Chris_Overland]

Here's my build thread: Northern Tool 4ft Overland Trailer Build | Expedition Portal

My RTT finally comes in this week too so it'll be complete!

 

[TonyB66]

Here's my build thread: Northern Tool 4ft Overland Trailer Build | Expedition Portal

My RTT finally comes in this week too so it'll be complete!

Appreciate you chiming-in and sharing your build thread. Enjoyed going thought it. Kudos on the results!

Please feel free to report back once you get the RTT. Curious what you decided upon and if that factored-in, or influenced your design...

 

[TonyB66]

The drop ball mount arrived and seems very well-made.

With the current wheels/tires on the trailer, which are somewhat smaller (rolling diameter) than the 4Runner's, this setting looks to be best at this time...

Matt, if you are still around, you had showed interest in how I might go about a rack on this trailer. With some time today staring at it, I had an idea using angle iron on each corner, all the way down from the bottom. A bit of a mock-up with some cardboard.

Figuring to have the rack about 12" lower than the 4Runner's rack so that with a RTT atop it will not be taller back there.

For reinforcement of the four verticals, I'm thinking of square tubing within each angle from the top of the trailer wall upward. Sort of like this...

I wish my welding was better. I retire after the New Year. I'll practice on some scrap...

 

[varol1]

Hey [MENTION=175921]TonyB66[/MENTION] - hope retirement is going well! Any updates on your trailer build?

 

[TonyB66]

Hey [MENTION=175921]TonyB66[/MENTION] - hope retirement is going well! Any updates on your trailer build?

Thanks for reviving this thread. I did not forget about it...

No updates, sorry. I actually just hand pushed/pulled the trailer into a new location in the yard while I work on various projects. I used it once for a dump run, but that's it... I still have a few 4Runner projects that will take priority, so it will be a while.

Retirement has been busy, mostly in a good way. As expected, real estate is starting to correct and I've been looking at properties, even abroad, like in Italy where the Euro has fallen quite a bit against the dollar. Time with family and so much going-on...

I'll be sure to update this thread when any type of work is even planned on the trailer. As I believe I stated earlier, others should feel free to use this thread for their trailer finds and projects.

A nice weekend to you, everyone.