Tent Trailer for weekend adventures

[RubiNewbCB]

Inspired by ATEM OFFROAD on YT

This build started life as a Lowes Carry-On 4'x5'x16" utility trailer with 12" wheels.

It now has the axle flip with 5x4.5 to 5x5 3" hub adapters and 22 JTR wheels with factory 53k mile Falken MTs. In addition the Amazon universal midsize bed rack, Smittybilt Overland XL gen2, and San Him shower tent.

Things left to do:
1. Electric setup
2. Close in the bed space between the rack and sidewalls and build a drawer system
3. Extend the tongue by several feet with 6 to 8ft piece of 2"x3"x.180 wall rectangular tubing
4. Water system
5. MaxTrax, pioneering tools, fuel carriers
6. Spare tire mount
7. Bike hitch mount
8. Maybe a small cargo basket
9. Tongue box
10. Fenders M416 style for flat work area
11. Turn the rear lift out gate into an actual tailgate with usable work area
12. Mount the trailer jacks
13. Potentially swap tires for matching 37s with the JTRD

More updates to follow as the build progresses...

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[Fpolanco]

This looks awesome! I'm in the process of doing the same thing.

Added lights to the underneath of the crossbars. Going to add some rock lights for fun. Will prob use some window well covers as fenders until my buddy makes some flat fenders.

Matching wheels/tires to your rig is a huge plus. If you carry a spare for the trailer, it's nice piece of mind to then have 2 spares.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

This looks awesome! I'm in the process of doing the same thing.

Added lights to the underneath of the crossbars. Going to add some rock lights for fun. Will prob use some window well covers as fenders until my buddy makes some flat fenders.

Matching wheels/tires to your rig is a huge plus. If you carry a spare for the trailer, it's nice piece of mind to then have 2 spares.

Window well covers is a great temporary solution, great idea! Thanks for sharing and your build looks great too. I'm digging the steelies look too.

 

[Thunderspud]

These are great! My first one was built on one of those 4x8 Harbor Freight trailers. It served its purpose, but most of the welds popped after a season or so. At that point, I decided it was easier to just weld together a trailer from the ground up instead of using a donor. Here it is in its current configuration.

Mostly 2" x 2" x 1/8" wall mild steel, a (complete overkill) 3500# torsion axle, and a bunch of leftover composite decking. It's sort of a test mule for things these days. Heavier than it needs to be, but utterly indestructible.

Fair warning, you guys should prepare yourselves for the never-ending tinkering that comes with building your own trailers, lol. Once you think you're done........you'll go camping once and then have an entire list of things you then want to modify.

 

[Fpolanco]

These are great! My first one was built on one of those 4x8 Harbor Freight trailers. It served its purpose, but most of the welds popped after a season or so. At that point, I decided it was easier to just weld together a trailer from the ground up instead of using a donor. Here it is in its current configuration.

Mostly 2" x 2" x 1/8" wall mild steel, a (complete overkill) 3500# torsion axle, and a bunch of leftover composite decking. It's sort of a test mule for things these days. Heavier than it needs to be, but utterly indestructible.

Fair warning, you guys should prepare yourselves for the never-ending tinkering that comes with building your own trailers, lol. Once you think you're done........you'll go camping once and then have an entire list of things you then want to modify.

So what you’re saying is that it’s like owning a Jeep!?

I’m actually in the process of figuring out what type of welder I would want/need. My buddy built his own and I know I’m going down that route.

We joke that owning a Jeep is never ending but at least it’s “better“ than drugs, not cheaper.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

So what you’re saying is that it’s like owning a Jeep!?

I’m actually in the process of figuring out what type of welder I would want/need. My buddy built his own and I know I’m going down that route.

We joke that owning a Jeep is never ending but at least it’s “better“ than drugs, not cheaper.

I had to run out and buy a welder to replace the 25yr old obsolete napa mig welder that died on me the day I started the project. I ran down to HOBO Freight and bought their Titanium Flux 125 Mig and it surprisingly works really well for what I needed to do as a hobbyist. Flux just likes to splatter, so I got some anti Splatter Spray, and nozzle gel, which helps.

 

[Fpolanco]

I had to run out and buy a welder to replace the 25yr old obsolete napa mig welder that died on me the day I started the project. I ran down to HOBO Freight and bought their Titanium Flux 125 Mig and it surprisingly works really well for what I needed to do as a hobbyist. Flux just likes to splatter, so I got some anti Splatter Spray, and nozzle gel, which helps.

wait…you used a flux welder on this build?! That may change my outlook on what I think I need…

 

[RubiNewbCB]

wait…you used a flux welder on this build?! That may change my outlook on what I think I need…

I ran some practice welds on some scrap to get acquainted and knock the rust off my welding skills, which are minimal. Once I felt comfortable and confident the settings were good to go, I ran the welds for the spring perches. I'm by no means a professional welder, but they turned out good. I didn't lay dimes, but those welds aren't going to fail.

I have plans to reinforce the frame when I lengthen the tongue bar, add the rear weld on hitch tube, and modify the tailgate.

 

[RubiNewbCB]

It'll weld up to 1/4".

 

[StevieY1]

Nice job Rubi! Very inspiring! Thanks for the direction! Now we all have something we can use our old wheels and tires for and it can even store the actual spare I would think!!! Ingenious!

 

[Fpolanco]

It'll weld up to 1/4".

ace

It'll weld up to 1/4".

I'll just add another search word to my Marketplace algorithm!

Thanks for this!!

 

[wachuko]

Very cool!!

I do not need another project…

 

[RubiNewbCB]

According to the wife I'm up to about 20 too many...

 

[Fpolanco]

According to the wife I'm up to about 20 too many...

You hear that sound!? That's our collective wives adding about 17 more to our list!

 

[RubiNewbCB]

A quick update, finally gotta around to more mods for the trailer and working on my welding skills.

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