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Anyone here building their own trailers? For the cost of these "off-road" trailers, it makes sense. Going to modify one my buggy trailers into an off-road trailer (single axle so probably make it a three-place motorcycle trailer that can convert into a storage box...or both). Problem is, besides wiring up my new shop for my welder, hubs and wheels. Think it makes sense to find 8-bolt hubs so I can run the same wheel/tire combo on the trailer as my SMB (the little 13s or 14s that on are there now just won't cut it). That way the need for a spare tire is already covered. So, if you have any good shots of a quality home-built off-road trailer, I'm all eyes.

You might want to look at military surplus M416 trailers or one of the derivatives as a starting point for customizing your own trailer.

http://groups.msn.com/M416


Herb

I suggest to check out the Teardrop and tiny trailers forums...you can get lost for days reading about them

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=39

Here is a member design I like....

Always loved those military trailers. Those are fetching a hefty randsome last time I checked E-Hell for one.

Here is a trailer I built for wheeling and camping. The wheels were interchangeable with my old jeep liberty diesel. It pulls great behind the SMB too. Time for new paint though.

is that your new vanity plate in the avatar? Love it!

-d

thanks for noticing, just made a post about it in show and tell.

And...the trailer is nice too...

If someone wanted to look for a military trailer for sale, where would they look?

Either Government auctions, or Government surplus resellers are a good place to start.


Herb

Well, started my trailer build (rebuild). Mad because I realized I didn't take any before pics of the trailer. Trailer is/was a single axle, two railed/tracked trailer used for hauling a dune buggy. Clearly, it has had several incarnations through its life. Overbuilt, but not well thought out. Right now, its too heavy (the rails/tracks are 6" structural steel which are very, very heavy). I've been busy going through Sawzall blades like crazy removing the ineffective cross members and the rails. Outter structure and new cross members will be comprised of 3x1.25" channel (of the outter structure, only the trailing end of the trailer needs to be replaced). Will build three bolt on motorcycle wheel chocks (sure I could buy them, but I'm going to have all this extra steel I've cut from the trailer, so I guess I can claim I'm recycling). Since it was a dune buggy trailer, the axle is further back than regular trailers (bacuase of the rear engines in buggies). Not going to extend the deck or move the axle. Since primarily a motorcycle trailer, I'll just keep the bikes further back. Thus, the front "V" will be fairly long. Long enough for a pair of dump cans and/or a tool box and long enough to keep from hitting the SMB spare or box when backing. Long trailers tow and back nicely, so I'm good with that. Usable deck area will only be approx 6.5' wide by 7-8' long. Currently has 13" wheels and a missing fender (lost in Baja during a blow out a few years back). Going with 15" wheels (w/one spare -fortunately the same bolt pattern as our horse trailer (which doesn't have a spare). Picked up new fenders. Ramp will store underneath like the setup on my Big Tex car trailer. Deck will likely be brown treated 5/4 deck lumber. Yea, wood is heavy, but have you checked alumn prices lately? Thought it might be fun to do a patchwork deck of old alumn signs available through our county's road department, but I'm just not that artsy (or a member of the Partridge Family). Thought about going with 8-lug hubs and a pair of like 16" wheels and tires as my SMB, but that's a lot more work and $. Will post up a couple of pics of the mess later.

Forgot about this thread and never posted a pic of the M/C trailer I built. Nothing special, but works great (and I did some stylish lines too). Anyway, after our Baja trip, Mrs. Deminimis indicated that we needed a cargo/camp trailer. Sooooo, I need to figure this out. I mostly bought the SMB so we could tour Baja with my dune buggy in tow (on a 16' car trailer). The buggy is big and takes up the car trailer and then some (hangs out past the rear of the trailer). Here's a pic of the buggy from last year to give you an idea of the siz of its footprint (its going through substantial changes right now, but the over-all size is constant) At most, I might be able to install a M/C rail on the tounge IF I place stops on the trailer to keep the buggy further back. Perhaps there is enough room on the tongue to install a tool/storage box instead. Perhaps if bringing the buggy, the M/C could stay home and I could fab a storage box that could carry the extra goodies (water/shower system, perhaps another 4D, etc.) Now, when in CA I saw a RV, pulling a cargo trailer, pulling a small boat trailer. Is that cool down there in Terminafornia?? Its not allowed up here, otherwise problem solved. Really would like to have the benefit of a small SMB-styled trailer (no, can't afford an Adventure Trailer). What to frick'n do, short of a massive toy hauler?? Any good (viable) ideas bouncing around your collective noggins?

Does your buggy go on the trailer nose in?

How tall does that make the load?

maybe you could build a box that sits over the front end of the buggy when it is on the trailer?
(something that could be removed when not needed)

Greg,
Thats a great idea. Sort of like a race trailer, but instead of a rack of tires/wheels, I could fab a camping gear storage area. That's a fine idea. I like it. Could bolt it into the trailer stakes so it could be removed easily. Thanks!

The M416's are nice but also an good alternative is the M116 Pioneer Trailer.
These units are originally military pioneer tool trailers which used to carry heavy tools. The trailers are built on 3/4 ton frames. We sanded ours down and spray painted it white. Plan to use it on a long expedition someday. We picked one up off Ebay a few years ago for about $650.00! and then proceeded to clean it up and put BFG's one em.

Here are some Pics(not of ours) and the link of some dude who's got one decked out:







http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech/20 ... ailer.html

NRL,

That's a totally sweet trailer you posted from the Landcruiser site! Never saw that thread when I used to hang out on that forum (my Chevy V8 FJ60 days).

BTW, if you don't mind my asking, are NRL your initials, or did you work at the Naval Research Lab? I worked with a bunch of those guys on a program some years back.


Herb