[pentaflex]

Another consideration when replacing a leaf spring setup with a torsion axle is frame loading. A leaf spring setup distributes the load across four point spread out on the frame. Switching to a torsion axle concentrates the load on two points in the middle of the frame. Being a C-channel frame, you should at minimal box in the frame under the mounting area and around 6" in front and behind it. A 2x2 square tube sub-frame would also provide the necessary reinforcement and lift at the same time.

Yes, good point. And good idea to add a square tube brace. (If I were to do this, pretty soon I won't have anything left from the original HF trailer. :laugh

 

[schaney]

Yes, depending on your needs, there is a point of diminishing returns on modifying an HF frame, especially if you are a proficient welder (or have a friend that is).

 

[mrnavy2]

very good article. I like the Black Trailer and the box but I am wondering what I can use as a hard cover on the top of the box.

 

[armyRN]

Yes, depending on your needs, there is a point of diminishing returns on modifying an HF frame, especially if you are a proficient welder (or have a friend that is).

True; but the whole purpose of this thread is to talk about what you can do if using a little 4' trailer as a starting point. You can buy one for less than $200 (HF 4' trailer with 12" tires"), add some plywood & nuts/bolts and be on the road with it the next day. Then as time and funds permit modify as you see fit based on what you want it to be able to do.

Kinda like buying a new or used stock Jeep and then figuring out how you want to modify it.

But if you've got the welding skills and materials on hand - go for it. Pretty much all that's left on my trailer that came stock is the frame and flooring. I've swapped out the springs, axle, front coupler, wheels, tires, and soon will be lengthening the tongue with some 6' lengths of angle iron. So if you can build a frame and such from scratch, buy the correct stuff the first time (instead of replacing a bunch of stuff like I've done) and be done with it then you're ahead of the game.

And jscherb's plans for trimming a HF 4x8' trailer to 40" wide x 60" or 72" long is about the best between both worlds (custom frame vs. a HF trailer).

Hopefully if someone out there is planning on building a trailer from scratch, this thread has given you some pointers.

How's your trailer build coming along coops2k?

 

[armyRN]

very good article. I like the Black Trailer and the box but I am wondering what I can use as a hard cover on the top of the box.

Plywood, T-11 siding, T&G boards, diamond plate aluminum; use your imagination.

 

[pentaflex]

very good article. I like the Black Trailer and the box but I am wondering what I can use as a hard cover on the top of the box.

My trailer box is made of wood, so I used treated 3/4" plywood for the top. (I used half of a 4x8 sheet for the floor, and the other half for the top. Both primed and painted for looks.) I weigh about 200 lbs. and can jump up and down on the middle of the top without fear of breaking it. I thought I might stack cargo on top, but in practice I've never done so. Therefor I might replace it with something lighter some day.

 

[schaney]

True; but the whole purpose of this thread is to talk about what you can do if using a little 4' trailer as a starting point. You can buy one for less than $200 (HF 4' trailer with 12" tires"), add some plywood & nuts/bolts and be on the road with it the next day. Then as time and funds permit modify as you see fit based on what you want it to be able to do.

Sorry for drifting away from the thread purpose ... Yes for many peoples needs they are a great starting point. Tweaking over time and spreading the cost out is nice benefit of this approach.

 

[armyRN]

Sorry for drifting away from the thread purpose ... Yes for many peoples needs they are a great starting point. Tweaking over time and spreading the cost out is nice benefit of this approach.

Don't apologize! Some of the little detours we've gone off on have brought up some great ideas and ways to improve these little trailers. That's what's keeping this thread interesting. And things like your products that can be used on these little HF 4' trailers are awesome. Who would have thought when we started this thread there would be a company that's making fiberglass tubs for these little trailers? And with a military flavor no less. Too cool. Keep sending us your ideas and pics of what you've got that'll work on these little trailers. You've also got a nice bolt-on 29" long spring tune-able suspension upgrade that's perfect for these little 4' trailers.

And some of the ideas we've come up with can be used if you're building a trailer from scratch. It's all good. Anything to help folks get themselves a useful little trailer to pull behind their Jeep that doesn't break the bank.

 

[schaney]

Thanks ... Yes, cool, functional and budget friendly can go together, add some fiberglass and it's easy to reshape one of the 40x48 trailers in a sweet mirco M416

 

[R3dRid3r]

very good article. I like the Black Trailer and the box but I am wondering what I can use as a hard cover on the top of the box.

jscherb is currently working on a modular system that uses fiberglass for a frame and various materials for the field.

He has a couple of ideas on how to make a hard cover over in his thread.

Check it out.

 

[NMBruce]

True; but the whole purpose of this thread is to talk about what you can do if using a little 4' trailer as a starting point. You can buy one for less than $200 (HF 4' trailer with 12" tires"), add some plywood & nuts/bolts and be on the road with it the next day. Then as time and funds permit modify as you see fit based on what you want it to be able to do.

Kinda like buying a new or used stock Jeep and then figuring out how you want to modify it.

But if you've got the welding skills and materials on hand - go for it. Pretty much all that's left on my trailer that came stock is the frame and flooring. I've swapped out the springs, axle, front coupler, wheels, tires, and soon will be lengthening the tongue with some 6' lengths of angle iron. So if you can build a frame and such from scratch, buy the correct stuff the first time (instead of replacing a bunch of stuff like I've done) and be done with it then you're ahead of the game.

And jscherb's plans for trimming a HF 4x8' trailer to 40" wide x 60" or 72" long is about the best between both worlds (custom frame vs. a HF trailer).

Hopefully if someone out there is planning on building a trailer from scratch, this thread has given you some pointers.

How's your trailer build coming along coops2k?

Something I have also gotta out of this thread is ideas for a trailer and the plus and negitives on building a trailer one way or another.

I have choosen to go away from the HF trailer and with a friends help will build a trailer, but how I will build that trailer came from this thread and others, but without this thread, I am not sure I would have a plan.

Axle & springs are in, will pick up this week.

 

[R3dRid3r]

Something I have also gotta out of this thread is ideas for a trailer and the plus and negitives on building a trailer one way or another.

I have choosen to go away from the HF trailer and with a friends help will build a trailer, but how I will build that trailer came from this thread and others, but without this thread, I am not sure I would have a plan.

Axle & springs are in, will pick up this week.

Coop,

I was following your lead as your original plan and mission was/is identical to mine.

I'd like to follow your build, are you going to start a build thread or continue to post in this thread?

Like you, and before you posted this, I was wondering if starting from scratch and build a frame would make more sense b/c I was going to replace the axle and hubs as well as modify the frame. Seems like that is the break-even point: new axle/hubs to match JK bolt pattern puts modification cost and effort > just starting from scratch [although I'll need to come up w/ what frame pattern and material and find a welder]. I'd sure like to hear what you've concluded on frame design and material?

Anyway, keep us informed on your build, if you would please?

Thanks,

John

 

[armyRN]

Coops2K and R3dRid3r,

If you guys build a trailer from scratch, please do us a favor and either post your build here, or post a link here to your build thread. Either way, please include plenty of details and pictures! I'm sure plenty of folks out there are on the fence too as how to go about building a little Jeep trailer, and would be very interested in how you guys go about it. The more step-by-step the better in case someone wanted to replicate your build.

This thread is almost up to 300,000 views!

Spring is coming, and I'm sure lots of folks are wanting to take their Jeeps (and camping gear) out on an adventure, and getting a trailer built is part of the plan. Isn't that part of what owning a Jeep is all about - adventures?

Anybody putting together a little trailer for adventures this year? If so, tell us/show us what you've got. It doesn't have to be all custom; even if it's just a HF 4' trailer show us how you've finished it off to make it work for you. I started off with a basic trailer and built it up from there as shown below (these are my before pictures); you gotta start somewhere!

 

[armyRN]

"Shaney",

You build little trailer frames. Got any pointers for folks wanting to build their own frame?

 

[kjg26]

"Shaney",

You build little trailer frames. Got any pointers for folks wanting to build their own frame?

Material: size or sickness? Cross braces? A frame? Tongue through the main frame or under the mainframe? Full length tongue?

 

[NMBruce]

Axle & springs are in

 

[jscherb]

Anyone need any spare Harbor Freight fenders? I've got 4 unused ones from my trailer projects. Make me a reasonable offer for 1, 2 or 3 or 4 of them, pay shipping and they're yours.

 

[bobdog]

Thanks ... Yes, cool, functional and budget friendly can go together, add some fiberglass and it's easy to reshape one of the 40x48 trailers in a sweet mirco M416

I know I've been busy and not keeping up with this thread, but where in the heck did this trailer come from? Did someone build this on a HF frame? I want one, and now!

 

[jscherb]

I know I've been busy and not keeping up with this thread, but where in the heck did this trailer come from? Did someone build this on a HF frame? I want one, and now!

I didn't do that post, but I can provide some explanation about that trailer.

The trailer in the photo is a Dinoot "m-series" M416-style fiberglass tub kit on a modified Harbor Freight #94564 1720-lb. frame. The tub kits are available at www.dinoot.com.

The Dinoot m-series tub kit comes standard at a 6' length, the same as the original military trailer. But because of the modular design of the tub kit, you can shorten it to any length you like, say 48", by just trimming the side panels shorter. Here's a 6' panel, and in front of it, one that's been shortened to 5':

The tub width at the bottom is 40.5", so if you shorten the tub to 48", it'll be the perfect size for the HF mini trailer. Or, as in the posted photo, you could modify the HF heavy-duty trailer to be 40.5 x 48, and get 5-on-4.5 bolt circle hubs, which match the TJ/YJ Wrangler, and supports the Wrangler wheels shown in the photo:

But... the photo posted is an edited photo showing what the kit would look like if you shortened the tub to 48". Here's the original photo, the tub is the full 6' long. The edited photo is an accurate representation of what the trailer would look like when shortened to 48".

The 48" photo edit:

And a 60" photo edit:

 

[bobdog]

Ahhh...That explains it then. Thanks for shedding light on my blown mind jscherb. I still like it a lot and maybe more now that I know I could "build" one. I think I like the 5 footer the best, though that 48" looks kind of interesting. What I'd like to see is someone who can take the fiberglass molds and use them as templates for aluminum sheet. Now that would be a very cool trailer. Thanks again.