Offroad Trailer

[Chookman]

I'm looking at building a 7x4 offroad trailer. Was wondering if anyone has some drawing plans/ideas/opinions on the best way ti buyild one and any problems I may encounter.

Thanks

Chook

[fnukle]

supercheap auto have a heap of trailer parts including leaf springs, axles, lights etc. all you need is to weld up a lil frame to fit.
im gonna do that myself down the track

[pongo]

try this site. they have regs as well

http://www.alltrailerspares.com.au/

Cheers

[6.5 rangie]

I designed my own trailer and had a mate build it (he's a trailer manufacturer), you think you've thought of everything you want, but after it is done you'll be making changes. Think about it carefully. Mines 6x4, wish it was 7x5, runs Adelaide Springs leaf springs, not $40 springs morelike $200, and O'briens coupling not the imitation ones (apparently they break).
The most important thing is not to run cheap shit if you plan to really offroad this thing, it'll break.
do you want to put a boat on it?
a fridge?
pushbikes?
it all depends on how much stuff you want to carry

[chunkz]

also make sure you have same wheel base as ya truck...

(when we did central, ours didnt match n it was fooked)

[Nigel R]

G day mate

I build off road camper trailers.I use all states trailer spares at tuggerah or try car van, i think they both have websites.

[Slayer]

also make sure you have same wheel base as ya truck...

(when we did central, ours didnt match n it was fooked)

whats a wheelbase?? rolf lol... im guessin u mean wheeltrack.. asin the width between the left and right wheel, as opposed to the wheelbase, which is the gap between the front and the rear wheel, which, unless u build a boagy axle trailer, then u cant have a wheelbase measurement on it

just clarifyin!
cheers!

[chunkz]

lol thanks....
smart ass

[mickyd555]

lol thanks....
smart ass

you got owned, abd style.............

[G_loomis]

I work for a camper trailer company in south brisbane...and I am contimplating doing the same thing. Although I have the canvas work of my experiment well under control (thats what I do!) its the trailer design that is holding things up. Although the trailers we make are very well made, I know the offroading my trailer will do is fair worse than 90% of the population that buys them...so looking to upgrade a little...ok...a lot!

The best thing I have found to do is to go around to as many trailer/camper trailer manufacturers as possible and look at theirs. Get some ideas...discover new places of fitting things and so on and so forth.

You dont have to follow a single trailers design specs...but if combine a few you may well come up with something you want! But be ready to make changes (as said above) after you use it a couple of times!

[ludacris]

What are peoples opionions on using coils or leafs, Solid axle or independant. Steel frame, but the rest like sides alloy or Galvanised tin. All for a tough offroad trailer. What would you use for a water tank and best place to fit it.

LudaCris

[AJ]

Im building one at the moment. Its almost finished (much more advanced than these pics show)
Im running a leaf/live axle combo with shocks.

Steel tube frame. I was going to clad it an ally 5bar plate but decided to just use steel sheel welded on. Heavier but strong.
Flip over lid is clad with 5bar ally though to get the weight down.
62L caravan water tank just behind the axle. Filler on the side of the trailer.
Rear swing out tailgate has kitchen mounted on it.
Dual rear swingaway wheel carriers.
Large storage box on draw bar.

[AJ]

More recent pix

[Chookman]

..... Mines 6x4, wish it was 7x5.......The most important thing is not to run cheap shit if you plan to really offroad this thing, it'll break.

Thanks Rangie

Was thinking about a 6x4. Why do wish you had a 7x5????
Have been burnt in the past for buying cheap stuff and won't that mistake again.

[Chookman]

Im building one at the moment. Its almost finished (much more advanced than these pics show)
Im running a leaf/live axle combo with shocks.

Very Impressive!!!

If you don't mind me asking what are the dimensions of the trailer Chasis.(sub-frame)
Am trying to figure out angles for the draw bar, wheel placement etc etc.

Thanks Chook

[AJ]

Im building one at the moment. Its almost finished (much more advanced than these pics show)
Im running a leaf/live axle combo with shocks.

Very Impressive!!!

If you don't mind me asking what are the dimensions of the trailer Chasis.(sub-frame)
Am trying to figure out angles for the draw bar, wheel placement etc etc.

Thanks Chook

The trailer body is 2400 long x 1950 wide (width to match the GU)
Coupling is about 1300 from front of trailer.
sides are 700mm high, without the lid

[awill4x4]

Hey Hercs. Did you run a weld across the top of your A frame where the body and front storage box crosses it?
If so, that's a big "no no" it creates a "stress raiser" and with the continual flexing done by the A frame it could fracture at those points.
Regards Andrew.

[AJ]

Hey Hercs. Did you run a weld across the top of your A frame where the body and front storage box crosses it?
If so, that's a big "no no" it creates a "stress raiser" and with the continual flexing done by the A frame it could fracture at those points.
Regards Andrew.

What? You think its amateur hour here?
Engineering 101: Never weld across a structural member, particularly tubing.

I did though - single pass - to prevent a rust trap but before adding the box I gussetted the joint to remove the stress raiser.

[Chookman]

Hey Hercs. Did you run a weld across the top of your A frame where the body and front storage box crosses it?
If so, that's a big "no no" it creates a "stress raiser" and with the continual flexing done by the A frame it could fracture at those points.
Regards Andrew.

How would you recommend to attach the trailer body and/or toolbox??

Thanks Chook

[AJ]

Also did something a bit different to most others.
The box is actually structural - incorporated in the space frame - so the length of draw bar that is subject to flexing is only about 500mm

[Chookman]

I did though - single pass - to prevent a rust trap but before adding the box I gussetted the joint to remove the stress raiser.

Do you have any close up pics??

[Marty1]

let us know the weight when its finished...
cheers

[AJ]

let us know the weight when its finished...
cheers

Heavy. LOL

Springs are 1250kg so it needs to be around that mark.

[Chookman]

let us know the weight when its finished...
cheers

Heavy. LOL

Springs are 1250kg so it needs to be around that mark.

What Size springs, axle and brakes did you use??

[AJ]

let us know the weight when its finished...
cheers

Heavy. LOL

Springs are 1250kg so it needs to be around that mark.

What Size springs, axle and brakes did you use??

Eye to eye 1250kg springs from Adelaide Engineers and Springmakers.
Landcruiser BJ42 shocks from Terrain Tamer (Copaks) - extended length of 487mm and collapsed 305mm with 16mm eyes. Angled 45degrees to the rear.
50mm square axles with mechanical (cable) disc brakes
Treg rubber block coupling with override brakes and handbrake.
Narva waterproof trailer lights
wheels are 16x8 ROH Monsoon alloys running MickeyT Dick Cepek FC2s - 285/75/16

[Chookman]

let us know the weight when its finished...
cheers

Heavy. LOL

Springs are 1250kg so it needs to be around that mark.

What Size springs, axle and brakes did you use??

Eye to eye 1250kg springs from Adelaide Engineers and Springmakers.
Landcruiser BJ42 shocks from Terrain Tamer (Copaks) - extended length of 487mm and collapsed 305mm with 16mm eyes. Angled 45degrees to the rear.
50mm square axles with mechanical (cable) disc brakes
Treg rubber block coupling with override brakes and handbrake.
Narva waterproof trailer lights
wheels are 16x8 ROH Monsoon alloys running MickeyT Dick Cepek FC2s - 285/75/16

Thanks for all the info very much appreciated.
Another question for you though.
How have you attached the main trailer box to the chassis?

Thanks Again

Chook

[AJ]

Have a read of this thread:
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/inde ... eadid=9107

[Chookman]

Have a read of this thread:
http://www.4wdmonthly.com.au/forum/inde ... eadid=9107

Great thread......

Thanks Heaps

Chook

[AJ]

New pics. Ready to go to the painters (grit blast, zinc rich primer and 2 coats of Avocado Galmet Hammered Metal)

Its gonna be fast coz its got twin jet engines on the back

[crankycruiser]

This is my "offroad" trailer