Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

[Duffdog]

Hi there!

I'm new to the forum and have started to build a teardrop that I can off road with and also sleep in. I haven't seen many of those around. My specs for this trailer are as follows:

1: Trailer must be able to make it on the hardest trails possible
2: Trailer must survive a 6' vertical drop onto rocks with no damage
3: Trailer must be able to carry 1000 lbs on the roof
4: Trailer must have air conditioning/heat/solar power/propane/ (all normal trailer stuff)
5: I must be able to sleep in it

I had a leftover UTV trailer that I used to move from San Jose, so I was just going to use that. Luckily, the previous owner had swapped in 30" Jeep lift springs but left the wimpy 2000lb axle. First order of business was replacing that with a 6 lug 5200lb axle and springover kit for additional lift. That still was not enough lift so I made some 9" 410 stainless shackles to lift the leaves up even more.

trailer when I first got it

trailer 1.jpg (111.97 KiB) Viewed 9604 times

trailer as utility version

5200 lb axle added

trailer w 5200.jpg (127.83 KiB) Viewed 9604 times

with 5200lb axles, Toyota 4runner spare wheels and 31" tires. Cheap wood base stripped off and frame painted black

start of frame

trailer frame starting.jpg (139.91 KiB) Viewed 9604 times

Starting to weld the frame on. Using .120 mild steel 1x1 for main frame

[Duffdog]

starting interior walls.jpg (167.92 KiB) Viewed 9602 times

Here I have finished the frame and the lift and have started doing the interior walls I figured that radiant barrier sheeting would have some R factor for insulation. I will also insulate the trailer as well.

rear supports.jpg (132.66 KiB) Viewed 9602 times

Extended rear supports for off road levelling

starting interior walls.jpg (167.92 KiB) Viewed 9602 times

View of the outside of the interior walls

[Duffdog]

door frame

inside view door support.jpg (189.47 KiB) Viewed 9599 times

View of the door supports from the front of trailer. These supports are made from .095 steel to save weight

upper door

upper door detail.jpg (143.04 KiB) Viewed 9599 times

Top of door frame. There is a 1/2" gap all around for later installation of door seals

lower door

lower door detail.jpg (153.11 KiB) Viewed 9599 times

Lower part of door showing bracing to prevent sagging

[rowerwet]

Have you looked at the builds on expedition portal?

[Duffdog]

Have you looked at the builds on expedition portal?

Nope, maybe I should. Thanks

[ghcoe]

What are you putting on the roof to require a 1000lbs limit? Going to make it awfully top heavy.

[Duffdog]

What are you putting on the roof to require a 1000lbs limit? Going to make it awfully top heavy.

generator, gasoline, water, hi-lift jack, spare parts, solar panels, a boat, refrigerator. Remember this is heavy rockcrawling, so I may have to ford a 4' deep stream and put everything on the roof temporarily.

[rowerwet]

What are you putting on the roof to require a 1000lbs limit? Going to make it awfully top heavy.

generator, gasoline, water, hi-lift jack, spare parts, solar panels, a boat, refrigerator. Remember this is heavy rockcrawling, so I may have to ford a 4' deep stream and put everything on the roof temporarily.

for fording, why not just put the stuff inside the tear? I've seen campers built for the outback that had watertight doors that covered the bottom of the normal doors to about half way up the door opening, just for fording.

[dguff]

Seriously? A 6' vertical drop with no damage? Did you mean a 6" vertical drop?

Jerome

[Birdman]

I would like to see the tow vehicle that is going to be used and take a 6' drop. that is a big drop, i would assume it wouldn't need to drop that far, it would just need a really good rear bumper and a receiver that will allow for high angles. Nothing should have to drop just need to be able to drag and with the weight you are talking you may have to put some extra tube across the back to drag the trailer down steep rocks.

may want to even take out the leafs and put coils in its place, get a bit more suspension travel. only problem i see is you are putting alot of weight up high, and for "heavy rockcrawling" that could be bad with stiff suspension. it will be a battle of suspension travel to keep level and body roll on corners.

[rowerwet]

From what I see on Expo there are very few who drag their tears over super rough stuff. Most just get out away, then set up a base camp.
The few who do moab type stuff have trailers with welded frames in the wall and roof.

[Duffdog]

I would like to see the tow vehicle that is going to be used and take a 6' drop. that is a big drop, i would assume it wouldn't need to drop that far, it would just need a really good rear bumper and a receiver that will allow for high angles. Nothing should have to drop just need to be able to drag and with the weight you are talking you may have to put some extra tube across the back to drag the trailer down steep rocks.

may want to even take out the leafs and put coils in its place, get a bit more suspension travel. only problem i see is you are putting alot of weight up high, and for "heavy rockcrawling" that could be bad with stiff suspension. it will be a battle of suspension travel to keep level and body roll on corners.

Here is one of my trucks in action . Also, I'm planning on making a coupling that will let me drag the steel frame across a rock in case it flops over on its side temporarily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPFFM2OfszQ

[dales133]

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=treg+ ... UQ_AUIBigB

[Birdman]

Here is one of my trucks in action . Also, I'm planning on making a coupling that will let me drag the steel frame across a rock in case it flops over on its side temporarily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPFFM2OfszQ

Right on, cool little buggy man.

yeah, i just used a pintle hitch, its worked so far. ill be going with two "roll bars" on each side, at some point. I am just trying to get mine usable so i can get back to working on my truck.

This is my Offroad truck

[Duffdog]

About the pintle hitch. You don't find it noisy and clanky? I have one of those on my towable generator and its really kind of annoying. Do you use one of those cone/pintle adapter things?

Nice fullsize wheeler!

Anybody know a US dealer that sells the off road hitches?