Trailer overlanding

[wibornz]

I think trailers are a real PITA and I dont look forward to towing them on road or especially off road....but I will and be happy I have it.

Trailers are at there best when using them as base camp. Freeing up your jeep to go exploring and bring only what you need is pretty cool.

I just retired and doing the final touches on my trailer. I few more close by test camps should have it dialed pretty close for my BIG trip.

You will never truly be dialed in. We boondocks camped 170+ days this year already and we are still not dialed in. We have a good routine, but we still find things that we change at times.

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[wibornz]

Tip for the day. I do not use tent stakes to secure my awning. I use these

I use my 1/4 impact gun to run them into the ground and to remove them. They hold way better than tent stake. You can power them into the hard pack and rocky ground with easy and still hold better in loose soil than a tent stake.

 

[Krondor]

Tip for the day. I do not use tent stakes to secure my awning. I use these

I use my 1/4 impact gun to run them into the ground and to remove them. They hold way better than tent stake. You can power them into the hard pack and rocky ground with easy and still hold better in loose soil than a tent stake.

Well damn.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083LVZXMV?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

A bit too late, but I'll keep these in mind for next time.

 

[ArmyRN]

I built a small trailer for overlanding that can be pulled behind my Jeep. The base of the tub is 40" x 50" (the old WWII trailers were 40" x 72"). It is built off a modified trailer frame I got at Harbor Freight. I had the tub built by a company that makes dog hunting boxes for trucks. It has literally been across the country more than once, and up to Alaska and Canada more than once. The trailer's track width is the same as on the flatty, narrower than the TJ's, and even more so compared to the JLU. Definitely easy to thread between trees - it can go wherever the Jeep goes. I'm running a pintle-hitch set up (I also have a rotating pintle hitch - it is a NATO hitch).

There's nothing fancy about the tub - just a box with a hinged lid. I had it made tall enough so two 8-gallon ActionPackers could stack on top of each other, and the lid still be able to close. It is amazing how much stuff I can put in this lil' adventure trailer of mine.

Build thread (and then some): Mini Harbor Freight (type) Trailer Ultimate Build-Up Thread | Jeep Enthusiast Forums (jeepforum.com)

It is plenty sturdy, and not expensive to build. Send me a PM if you have any questions. If you're in the PNW and want to see it up-close, let me know. The factory slipper springs have been swapped out for real springs with a shackle on the rear, the axle is a 3500lb axle with electric brakes, and it has shock absorbers.

I've yet to pull it behind my new 23 Willys JLU. I've got the towing package, but I don't have a brake controller for it yet (I need to see if the 7-pin connector on the JLU will still work the brake lights/running lights and turn signals if there's no brake controller). But here's a picture of it behind my TJ, and behind my other Willys Jeep.

That's a Cabela's double sized tent-cot on the lid of the trailer.

 

[wibornz]

I built a small trailer for overlanding that can be pulled behind my Jeep. The base of the tub is 40" x 50" (the old WWII trailers were 40" x 72"). It is built off a modified trailer frame I got at Harbor Freight. I had the tub built by a company that makes dog hunting boxes for trucks. It has literally been across the country more than once, and up to Alaska and Canada more than once. The trailer's track width is the same as on the flatty, narrower than the TJ's, and even more so compared to the JLU. Definitely easy to thread between trees - it can go wherever the Jeep goes. I'm running a pintle-hitch set up (I also have a rotating pintle hitch - it is a NATO hitch).

There's nothing fancy about the tub - just a box with a hinged lid. I had it made tall enough so two 8-gallon ActionPackers could stack on top of each other, and the lid still be able to close. it is amazing how much stuff I can put in this lil' adventure trailer of mine.

Build thread (and then some): Mini Harbor Freight (type) Trailer Ultimate Build-Up Thread | Jeep Enthusiast Forums (jeepforum.com)

It is plenty sturdy, and not expensive to build. Send me a PM if you have any questions. If you're in the PNW and want to see it up-close, let me know. The factory slipper springs have been swapped out for real springs with a shackle on the rear, the axle is a 3500lb axle with electric brakes, and it has shock absorbers.

I've yet to pull it behind my new 23 Willys JLU. I've got the towing package, but I don't have a brake controller for it yet (I need to see if the 7-pin connector on the JLU will still work the brake lights/running lights and turn signals if there's no brake controller). But here's a picture of it behind my TJ, and behind my other Willys Jeep.

That's a Cabela's double sized tent-cot on the lid of the trailer.

That is an awesome build.

 

[ArmyRN]

That is an awesome build.

Thanks. I'm definitely in the pro-trailer camp.

 

[ArmyRN]

So in a previous post above, I asked myself the question:

"I've yet to pull it behind my new 23 Willys JLU. I've got the towing package, but I don't have a brake controller for it yet (I need to see if the 7-pin connector on the JLU will still work the brake lights/running lights and turn signals if there's no brake controller)".

So today I went out with a test light to see if the 7-pin connector would work without a brake controller. I know it won't work the electric brakes on the trailer, but what about the other lights?

Turns out it will work the lights. I connected the test light clip to a good ground on the back of the JLU, and then started up the JLU and turned on the turn signal. Yup; one of the seven contacts made the test light start blinking (also looks like the constant-on contact works too).

So that's good to know if I want to use my lil' trailer before I get a brake controller installed. And yes; I need to get a picture of the trailer behind the JLU.

 

[Ratbert]

So in a previous post above, I asked myself the question:

"I've yet to pull it behind my new 23 Willys JLU. I've got the towing package, but I don't have a brake controller for it yet (I need to see if the 7-pin connector on the JLU will still work the brake lights/running lights and turn signals if there's no brake controller)".

So today I went out with a test light to see if the 7-pin connector would work without a brake controller. I know it won't work the electric brakes on the trailer, but what about the other lights?

Turns out it will work the lights. I connected the test light clip to a good ground on the back of the JLU, and then started up the JLU and turned on the turn signal. Yup; one of the seven contacts made the test light start blinking (also looks like the constant-on contact works too).

So that's good to know if I want to use my lil' trailer before I get a brake controller installed. And yes; I need to get a picture of the trailer behind the JLU.

I'm surprised something that small has brakes.

 

[ArmyRN]

I'm surprised something that small has brakes.

It is a very lightweight but sturdy lil' trailer. I weighed it once fully packed, and it was like 1200 lbs. My TJ is only rated to pull 1500lbs.

When I originally built the trailer, it didn't have brakes. Over the years as the trailer got built up, I decided to upgrade the axle to a 3500lb axle. Which now gave me the option of having trailer brakes. Being pulled behind a short wheelbase TJ, I figured it can't hurt, might help (sometimes on slick roads the trailer wants to tell the TJ where to go). So I also rewired the trailer for a 7-pin connector go to along with the electric brakes. I'm glad I did the electric brakes - and I think the TJ is grateful. The JLU is rated for 3500lbs. I'm sure the JLU will pull the trailer better than my four-cylinder TJ, and while I'm sure I would be "ok" pulling the trailer without the electric brakes hooked-up, it would only make things better pulling the trailer (more like when stopping with the trailer) once I get a brake controller installed on the JLU.

Here's a picture of my buddy beside the trailer when I first built it and on our first lil' trailer adventure (running the Highway 101 loop around the Olympic Peninsula). The trailer did great, but we learned a lot about trailering on that trip. The trailer was pretty much stock; factory axle, slipper springs, 12" trailer rims, and of course, no brakes. Of course, it weighed a lot less too.

It was probably more of a pain wiring my TJ for an electric brake controller than wiring the trailer for brakes (and I used the same kit from etrailer to wire the 46Willys for using a brake controller). I used a junction box on the trailer for the wiring for electric brakes. I'm glad the JLU comes wired for a brake controller (now I just need to install one).

The brakes on the 46 Willys are adequate at best before thinking about pulling the trailer. I have the Brennen's disc brake conversion up front, and 11" drums in the rear. I definitely think the electric brakes are worthwhile when being pulled by the 46 Willys. I'd like to take the 46 Willys and trailer and run the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route (I live in SW WA).

Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR) - Backcountry Discovery Routes (ridebdr.com)

The trailer's done the WABDR, the TAT, and other overland trips (all over the USA and Alaska/western Canada). Having a lil' trailer makes things so much easier - so much less I have to pack in the Jeep. It follows the Jeep like it isn't even there. Where folks go wrong is getting too large of a trailer - one that is wider than their Jeep, weighs more than it should, and then they're limiting where they can go with their Jeep.

This picture is me and the lil' trailer somewhere in Colorado.

 

[Mocopo]

It is a very lightweight but sturdy lil' trailer. I weighed it once fully packed, and it was like 1200 lbs. My TJ is only rated to pull 1500lbs.

When I originally built the trailer, it didn't have brakes. Over the years as the trailer got built up, I decided to upgrade the axle to a 3500lb axle. Which now gave me the option of having trailer brakes. Being pulled behind a short wheelbase TJ, I figured it can't hurt, might help (sometimes on slick roads the trailer wants to tell the TJ where to go). So I also rewired the trailer for a 7-pin connector go to along with the electric brakes. I'm glad I did the electric brakes - and I think the TJ is grateful. The JLU is rated for 3500lbs. I'm sure the JLU will pull the trailer better than my four-cylinder TJ, and while I'm sure I would be "ok" pulling the trailer without the electric brakes hooked-up, it would only make things better pulling the trailer (more like when stopping with the trailer) once I get a brake controller installed on the JLU.

Here's a picture of my buddy beside the trailer when I first built it and on our first lil' trailer adventure (running the Highway 101 loop around the Olympic Peninsula). The trailer did great, but we learned a lot about trailering on that trip. The trailer was pretty much stock; factory axle, slipper springs, 12" trailer rims, and of course, no brakes. Of course, it weighed a lot less too.

It was probably more of a pain wiring my TJ for an electric brake controller than wiring the trailer for brakes. I used a junction box on the trailer for the wiring for electric brakes. I'm glad the JLU comes wired for a brake controller (now I just need to install one).

The brakes on the 46 Willys are adequate at best before thinking about pulling the trailer. I have the Brennen's disc brake conversion up front, and 11" drums in the rear. I definitely think the electric brakes are worthwhile when being pulled by the 46 Willys. I'd like to take the 46 Willys and trailer and run the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route (I live in SW WA).

Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR) - Backcountry Discovery Routes (ridebdr.com)

The trailer's done the WABDR, the TAT, and other overland trips (all over the USA and Alaska/western Canada). Having a lil' trailer makes things so much easier - so much less I have to pack in the Jeep. It follows the Jeep like it isn't even there. Where folks go wrong is getting too large of a trailer - one that is wider than their Jeep, weighs more than it should, and then they're limiting where they can go with their Jeep.

This picture is me and the lil' trailer somewhere in Colorado.

Holy cow that trailer got quite the makeover over the years! Excellent work!

 

[ArmyRN]

Holy cow that trailer got quite the makeover over the years! Excellent work!

Thanks!

Oh yeah - the trailer's kinda like a Jeep. You're always thinking of ways to make it better after your last trip. But I think I can honestly say (famous last words)... I think I've done about as much as I can to this trailer. It has so earned its keep - I have so many good memories of trips we've taken, and looking forward to many more.

Here's a later mod done to the trailer (that's a younger skinnier me pictured). Here we're up in a small town somewhere on the Alaska/Canada border (Ankin? something like that).

Edit: It was Atlin, BC. Destinations:: Atlin, British Columbia - Expedition Portal

By this point I'd put a wider axle on it (still no electric brakes), 205.75.15" tires on 15" rims... and it did great. Factory slipper springs are still in place (and they suck - too stiff - trailer would bounce and go airborne). On this trip we decided we needed to put a tray up front for the cooler so we could take the cooler out of the tub and have more room (and quicker access to the cooler). Also decided the factory slipper springs needed to go. We added extra fuel carrying capacity on this trip (four gallons on the back, and 1.5 gallons on each side). Like a Jeep, the trailer was a work in progress.

The best thing I ever did to the trailer was have the diamond plate tub built - totally changed what the trailer was now capable of doing.

So all this to tell you you can start with a simple HF trailer frame, and build as you've got time and money (you can see how mine progressed over the years). I'm a nurse, not a mechanic. I'm a gear head though (like many Jeep owners) who likes to tinker. Building a trailer like this isn't difficult or expensive, and it is so worth it if space is an issue with your Jeep and you like to go on adventures. If you can put a lift on your Jeep, you can build a little trailer like mine. I provided a build link in an earlier post (read it if you're interested in building a little trailer of your own). Let me know how I can help you with your little trailer build.

 

[Mocopo]

Thanks!

Oh yeah - the trailer's kinda like a Jeep. You're always thinking of ways to make it better after your last trip. But I think I can honestly say (famous last words)... I think I've done about as much as I can to this trailer. It has so earned its keep - I have so many good memories of trips we've taken, and looking forward to many more.

Here's a later mod done to the trailer (that's a younger skinnier me pictured). Here we're up in a small town somewhere on the Alaska/Canada border (Ankin? something like that). By this point I'd put a wider axle on it (still no electric brakes), 205.75.15" tires on 15" rims... and it did great. Factory slipper springs are still in place (and they suck - too stiff - trailer would bounce and go airborne). On this trip we decided we needed to put a tray up front for the cooler so we could take the cooler out of the tub and have more room (and quicker access to the cooler). Also decided the factory slipper springs needed to go. We added extra fuel carrying capacity on this trip (four gallons on the back, and 1.5 gallons on each side). Like a Jeep, the trailer was a work in progress.

The best thing I ever did to the trailer was have the diamond plate tub built - totally changed what the trailer was now capable of doing.

So all this to tell you you can start with a simple HF trailer frame, and build as you've got time and money (you can see how mine progressed over the years). I'm a nurse, not a mechanic. I'm a gear head though (like many Jeep owners) who likes to tinker. Building a trailer like this isn't difficult or expensive, and it is so worth it if space is an issue with your Jeep and you like to go on adventures. If you can put a lift on your Jeep, you can build a little trailer like mine. I provided a build link in an earlier post (read it if you're interested in building a little trailer of your own). Let me know how I can help you with your little trailer build.

That is awesome indeed.

So I'm looking at starting from a slightly more "ready to camp" platform and getting the Smittybilt Scout. I've seen some conversions on youtube and it seems like a pretty versatile platform as long as you are ok with what is offered as the base. Although I'd love to build something from the ground up, it might be a little beyond my current capabilities. If I have the platform ready to go, adding stuff like power, water, galley mods... it all seems super doable.

And if I never make a single change to it, hey it will still do what I need and get my gear from A to B!

 

[ArmyRN]

Here's a very long thread about the Smittybilt Scout trailer from the Expedition Portal - check it out:

Smittybilt Scout Trailer Reviews? | Expedition Portal

Whatever helps you get you and your gear (and Jeep!) out on an adventure!

Lots of posts in there about their Scout trailer experiences, and what folks have done to their Scout trailer to better suit their needs.

 

[GATORB8]

It is a very lightweight but sturdy lil' trailer. I weighed it once fully packed, and it was like 1200 lbs. My TJ is only rated to pull 1500lbs.

When I originally built the trailer, it didn't have brakes. Over the years as the trailer got built up, I decided to upgrade the axle to a 3500lb axle. Which now gave me the option of having trailer brakes. Being pulled behind a short wheelbase TJ, I figured it can't hurt, might help (sometimes on slick roads the trailer wants to tell the TJ where to go). So I also rewired the trailer for a 7-pin connector go to along with the electric brakes. I'm glad I did the electric brakes - and I think the TJ is grateful. The JLU is rated for 3500lbs. I'm sure the JLU will pull the trailer better than my four-cylinder TJ, and while I'm sure I would be "ok" pulling the trailer without the electric brakes hooked-up, it would only make things better pulling the trailer (more like when stopping with the trailer) once I get a brake controller installed on the JLU.

Here's a picture of my buddy beside the trailer when I first built it and on our first lil' trailer adventure (running the Highway 101 loop around the Olympic Peninsula). The trailer did great, but we learned a lot about trailering on that trip. The trailer was pretty much stock; factory axle, slipper springs, 12" trailer rims, and of course, no brakes. Of course, it weighed a lot less too.

It was probably more of a pain wiring my TJ for an electric brake controller than wiring the trailer for brakes (and I used the same kit from etrailer to wire the 46Willys for using a brake controller). I used a junction box on the trailer for the wiring for electric brakes. I'm glad the JLU comes wired for a brake controller (now I just need to install one).

The brakes on the 46 Willys are adequate at best before thinking about pulling the trailer. I have the Brennen's disc brake conversion up front, and 11" drums in the rear. I definitely think the electric brakes are worthwhile when being pulled by the 46 Willys. I'd like to take the 46 Willys and trailer and run the Oregon Back Country Discovery Route (I live in SW WA).

Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (ORBDR) - Backcountry Discovery Routes (ridebdr.com)

The trailer's done the WABDR, the TAT, and other overland trips (all over the USA and Alaska/western Canada). Having a lil' trailer makes things so much easier - so much less I have to pack in the Jeep. It follows the Jeep like it isn't even there. Where folks go wrong is getting too large of a trailer - one that is wider than their Jeep, weighs more than it should, and then they're limiting where they can go with their Jeep.

This picture is me and the lil' trailer somewhere in Colorado.

Paul, just to give you a new option, that would have worked well for you over the years. I installed an “Autowbrake” on the one I built. It’s a trailer mounted brake controller that can be wired to run either off a 7 pin with no controller, or with 4 pin.

 

[ArmyRN]

Paul, just to give you a new option, that would have worked well for you over the years. I installed an “Autowbrake” on the one I built. It’s a trailer mounted brake controller that can be wired to run either off a 7 pin with no controller, or with 4 pin.

Hmmm... I'm interested. Thanks! I didn't know this thing existed.

A little more expensive than the redarc controller, but no need to drill into my JL's dashboard and go pulling dash panels.

Autowbrake Electric Brake Controller - Trailer Mount w/ Remote Fob - 1 to 3 Axles - Proportional Autowbrake Trailer Brake Controller 3430001

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