Very cool! I like Frankentrailers!
And people who think out of the box.
And people who think out of the box.
Hillbilly Delux Camper/Hauler build by Brian
- Thread starter jeeper
- Start date
My wife told me I needed to actually do some work to earn some money this week, so progress has been a little slow.
I had quite a few things I wanted to get done on the trailer today, but after all the Saturday 'to do's' are done it seems like the 'to-wants' don't get much time.
I did a bit more welding to tie the trailers together. I am still getting used to the stick welder, but really enjoy it.
I have had a junction box kicking around for a couple years, so I thought I would put it to use.
This one is at the front of the trailer, and splits from the pigtail to the gooseneck and Fifth wheel trailers. It was fun to use the right parts instead of the usual splicing and taping..
I had quite a few things I wanted to get done on the trailer today, but after all the Saturday 'to do's' are done it seems like the 'to-wants' don't get much time.
I did a bit more welding to tie the trailers together. I am still getting used to the stick welder, but really enjoy it.
I have had a junction box kicking around for a couple years, so I thought I would put it to use.
This one is at the front of the trailer, and splits from the pigtail to the gooseneck and Fifth wheel trailers. It was fun to use the right parts instead of the usual splicing and taping..
Smittyauto
Member
- Location
- Orem Utah
I have 2 that I would let you borrow, I do need them back though!!!!
Thanks, but we have that part done now.. It was nice of you to offer!
This is a permanent set up.. I have welded the 5th to the gooseneck, and am going to use the 5th axles for a flatbed trailer (we could all use more trailers, right?)
i guess i might have worded it wrong, i meant to ask if the camper was going to be permanently mounted to the trailer or if you are going set it up so that you can take it off in case you needed the extra trailer space for something else?
Lots of progress today.
I picked up some jacks from Dill rental for *free*. He had a new set for the trailer these were on, and gave them to me for cutting them off.
I was getting quite a bit of tongue flex when hitching up the trailer, so I added a few braces to tie the 2 trailers together hoping for more rigidity and it seemed to work, however I am not sure I like the idea of the camper absorbing the weight of the whole camper..
Fender are on. Not a big fan of them now- The new axle hanger I used pushed the axles apart by about 3 inches, so they are awful close to rubbing the fenders.. I may have to cut them a bit.
Decking going into place
This is how I put the D rings in. Not my favorite solution, but I didn't want to bolt them through the wood, so it is what it is.
Deck finished:
Jeep loaded up, and ready for a test drive..
I picked up some jacks from Dill rental for *free*. He had a new set for the trailer these were on, and gave them to me for cutting them off.
I was getting quite a bit of tongue flex when hitching up the trailer, so I added a few braces to tie the 2 trailers together hoping for more rigidity and it seemed to work, however I am not sure I like the idea of the camper absorbing the weight of the whole camper..
Fender are on. Not a big fan of them now- The new axle hanger I used pushed the axles apart by about 3 inches, so they are awful close to rubbing the fenders.. I may have to cut them a bit.
Decking going into place
This is how I put the D rings in. Not my favorite solution, but I didn't want to bolt them through the wood, so it is what it is.
Deck finished:
Jeep loaded up, and ready for a test drive..
The jeep I believe is 3,300lbs, the camper is 2,800lbs, and my guess on the flat bed is about 2,500. so in the neighborhood of 9k with gear...
I had estimated about 8k before building it. It feels real heavy though... Just got back from a quick drive.
I had estimated about 8k before building it. It feels real heavy though... Just got back from a quick drive.
It seems to be holding itself fairly well. I am going to take the jeep off tonight with before and after measurements to see how much it may really be affecting it. I'll let you know.
Update on this:
The trailer holds the jeep really well, and seems to sag less than I would have anticipated. We took it to the dunes over the 30-31st, it towed a rail and a few dirtbikes very well. I think i have a little bit of dog tracking, but not enough to worry me.
Apparently when I welded the fenders on I only finished 3 of the 4 mounts, so the back end of the left fender fell onto the tires. This was very exciting for me because I have recently read up on battery welding, and my brother just so happened to have rod with him!
Here is my first time.. It worked much better that I thought, and provided a really nice weld.
We didn't have a mask, so I used 4 pair of sun glasses
I have a list of items to still finish or repair, but we really enjoyed the functionality of the trailer.
The trailer holds the jeep really well, and seems to sag less than I would have anticipated. We took it to the dunes over the 30-31st, it towed a rail and a few dirtbikes very well. I think i have a little bit of dog tracking, but not enough to worry me.
Apparently when I welded the fenders on I only finished 3 of the 4 mounts, so the back end of the left fender fell onto the tires. This was very exciting for me because I have recently read up on battery welding, and my brother just so happened to have rod with him!
Here is my first time.. It worked much better that I thought, and provided a really nice weld.
We didn't have a mask, so I used 4 pair of sun glasses
I have a list of items to still finish or repair, but we really enjoyed the functionality of the trailer.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Cool. I need to learn how to weld with batteries. I've heard that you want to cover them with a welding blanket or something in case a spark gets in there. Otherwise you'll go boom... or something like that. I don't understand electricity so take it for what it's worth.
- Location
- The Land Northward (Bountiful), Utah
Very cool build, I highly doubt that XJ is 3,300 lbs. I'll bet it's a bit more than that.
You should pull the whole setup over to some scales and see what it weighs. That thing is pretty awesome.
- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
I believe the rumored boom would be from hydrogen and an ignition source (a spark). Probably wise to do a blanket or something as a boom may or may not be big enough to splash battery acid from a fragged battery case?
Many of the "how to's" state to use a blanket of floor mat to cover the batteries to minimize the risk of the boom.. I guess I didn't think of it as that big of a risk.
Just got back from a week in Moab. Trailer towed great. I stopped on the scales outside of helper, and the trailer is weighing in at 12,000 loaded with jeep.. Yikes!
It was a bit much for my truck to get over the summits and hills, but we eventually made it both ways.
I think I got about 7mpg though.
It was a bit much for my truck to get over the summits and hills, but we eventually made it both ways.
I think I got about 7mpg though.