2007 Red Trailer 4X8 Utility Trailer

[bobbywalter]

its tough for a do all in the smaller footprint. i want something vagabond capable as well...

i have a feeling i will just be using a rolloff tarp deal on my car hauler for 350 bux and have to drag that big bastard all over the yard

but i want a medium trailer...

 

[sgtsandman]

i was going to go with air bags....but thats a potential complication that may prove disasterous. i would need to keep more battery and air source power that the already heavy hydro dump system is hogging up....

Everything I've heard from those that have made a name for themselves in long distance overlanding discourage air bags because of the complications.

I have no idea what the off road crowd you typically run with has to say about them.

To me, there is just more junk to fail. While it might not be as flexible in ride, travel height, and so on, simple systems like a leaf, torsion, or the Timbren axle less suspension has less things to fail.

 

[sgtsandman]

its tough for a do all in the smaller footprint. i want something vagabond capable as well...

i have a feeling i will just be using a rolloff tarp deal on my car hauler for 350 bux and have to drag that big bastard all over the yard

but i want a medium trailer...

Me personally, I wouldn't go any bigger than a 4x8. That way the trailer isn't wider than the tow vehicle. You'll be surprised what you can pack into a 4X8 with 2 foot stake sides.

Any trailer is going to be an anchor, but a 4X8 with the right frame and some truck sized all terrain or mud tires shouldn't be too bad with the rigs you have.

While mine is not trail rated, I have had in on trails in the woods and on fire roads and I barely knew it was back there and backing up to turn around hasn't been horrible. The Rock N Roll hitch helps a lot towards that. You can swing the trailer right up to the bumper and the hitch design doesn't have the banging or binding issue a lunette ring and pintle hook can have. And it's rated for 11,000#. So, not weak.

 

[sgtsandman]

The left side has been drilled. I was able to balance the suspension arm and mount on two floor jacks and pin it snug against the frame before I center punched the holes for drilling. If I wasn't at a point of no return before, I sure am now! I did note that the steel in the frame is harder to drill through than the hot rolled mild steel in the steel angle.

 

[sgtsandman]

The left suspension arm is on. The task really wasn't that bad once I got the whole "how am I going to hold it in place while I work on it?" thing figured out. Now to move to the right side.

 

[sgtsandman]

Now that the winter is more along the lines of where it should be and I've had some time to settle into the new job, I'm back at working on the trailer.

I got the holes drilled and installed the right arm.

Installed the supporting cross member

Installed the hubs

And temporarily installed a tire so I can figure out what I need to do to the fender so the tire has the clearance it needs. Based on what the technical drawings are telling me, the fender bracket needs to go up about 2". The fender itself is going to need to move out some as well. Anyway, the other tire is going to need to be put on and have the trailer suspension supporting the weight of the trailer so I can figure things out better.

 

[Curious Hound]

Now that the winter is more along the lines of where it should be and I've had some time to settle into the new job, I'm back at working on the trailer.

I got the holes drilled and installed the right arm.

Installed the supporting cross member

Installed the hubs

And temporarily installed a tire so I can figure out what I need to do to the fender so the tire has the clearance it needs. Based on what the technical drawings are telling me, the fender bracket needs to go up about 2". The fender itself is going to need to move out some as well. Anyway, the other tire is going to need to be put on and have the trailer suspension supporting the weight of the trailer so I can figure things out better.

I like that suspension. Nice job.

 

[sgtsandman]

I like that suspension. Nice job.

Thank you. The suspension was the easy part. Getting the fenders and front steps to work with it is going to take some fabrication and perhaps some trial and error.

 

[sgtsandman]

The suspension got aligned today and the trailer is supporting itself again. I took some measurements of the existing fender bracket to see what I need to do to is so it is properly clearing the tire and the fender is centered over the tire. The new suspension dropped the trailer some. So the existing setup is no where close to properly clearing the tire. I'll get it figured out but it is going to require some pieces of new steel and some welding. Luckily, there is a local welding shop that does good work at reasonable prices and I can pick up a metal bending attachment for my press for the rest of the work that needs to be done to adapt the other existing pieces so that they fit over the new suspension and tires.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The suspension got aligned today and the trailer is supporting itself again. I took some measurements of the existing fender bracket to see what I need to do to is so it is properly clearing the tire and the fender is centered over the tire. The new suspension dropped the trailer some. So the existing setup is no where close to properly clearing the tire. I'll get it figured out but it is going to require some pieces of new steel and some welding. Luckily, there is a local welding shop that does good work at reasonable prices and I can pick up a metal bending attachment for my press for the rest of the work that needs to be done to adapt the other existing pieces so that they fit over the new suspension and tires.

I was gonna say, if you need some welding I can fit it into my schedule somewhere

 

[sgtsandman]

I was gonna say, if you need some welding I can fit it into my schedule somewhere

The thought crossed my mind but you are so behind in what you want to get done, I figured spending the $20-$30 at the local welding shop is worth saving you the delay in getting your stuff done.

The important thing at the moment is the trailer is back on it's on wheels. So I can use it at any point to start getting the 2019 ready for the camping season. The fender supports are going to need to come off anyway for the modifications and I won't need the trailer to be road ready until July when we go for a week long tent camping trip at some state or national park.

EDIT: I had also thought about picking up a Harbor Freight welder. A project like this might be the perfect time to start learning to weld being that more than the fender supports support and steady the fender. So, if I do a poor job at it, the fenders won't snap off because of poor penetration or crappy welds.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Any excuse to buy new tools is a good excuse!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

The thought crossed my mind but you are so behind in what you want to get done, I figured spending the $20-$30 at the local welding shop is worth saving you the delay in getting your stuff done.

The important thing at the moment is the trailer is back on it's on wheels. So I can use it at any point to start getting the 2019 ready for the camping season. The fender supports are going to need to come off anyway for the modifications and I won't need the trailer to be road ready until July when we go for a week long tent camping trip at some state or national park.

EDIT: I had also thought about picking up a Harbor Freight welder. A project like this might be the perfect time to start learning to weld being that more than the fender supports support and steady the fender. So, if I do a poor job at it, the fenders won't snap off because of poor penetration or crappy welds.

I’m not really worried about adding to my list of things I have to do if all I have to do is some welding and not all the fab and prep, it’s not going to be a big deal to squeeze in.

Also, personally, I’d consider trying to pick up a used Lincoln Weld-Pac. I’ve used a few other welders and even though my Weld-Pac is older and the whip is starting to give me issues, parts and consumables are readily available and it has the ability to add a bottle. Plus it holds a 10# spool which makes it rather weighty but pound for pound, 10# spools are cheaper than five 2# spools.

Dad has a HF Titanium wire feed welder. It stopped working on its second spool of wire and of course was just out of warranty and I haven’t been able to figure out why it stopped working. When it worked, it worked great. I bought my Weld-Pac after that though.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have an old lincoln weldpac 100. It's probably 40 years old. Works great. And as said consumables are still available. Used Lincoln, Miller, Hobart are all great machines. Some of the newer off brand ones are getting great reviews too. Check for parts availability and service reviews...
Also keep in mind your local welding supply store and what they keep in stock. Sometimes it's really nice to just run to the store and get something that fits...