Off road trailer build

[thefirstzukman]

Took it for a run around the block tonight. Looks like the tongue is probably going to work. I am going to spend Friday night in the tent as a test run before I take it back off and finish the rack up and paint it. Almost have all my paint supplies here and hope to have the bed liner done this weekend.

I ditched the idea of the Smittybuilt tent after oredering it and not hearing from 4wheelparts for a week, I called to find out they are on back order and should be in sometime in July. I hate companies who put that an item is in stock when it is not, my friend ordered the same tent today and it still says in stock. I found a used Tepui with annex and grabbed it, I think I will be happier with it in the long run anyhow.

 

[thefirstzukman]

First night testing, slept good but the trailer has major issues towing. I’m thinking the issues are mostly in the hitch but it’s not good right now.

 

[bryson]

What issues? I'm guessing with the high COG that the trailer is super squirrely? Longer tongue and more tongue weight might help?

 

[thefirstzukman]

What issues? I'm guessing with the high COG that the trailer is super squirrely? Longer tongue and more tongue weight might help?

The receiver on the tundra is really loose and the trailer receiver is loose also, add in a ball in the middle and you have a lot of movement. As you go down the road the tent hits the wind and took weight off the tongue and all the looseness at the hitch would let it move a ton. I added 9" of tongue length and added material to the hitch tubes and replaced the hitch on the trailer, all it tight now and at 70 it is smooth sailing. now the issue is the larger tires are rubbing the fuel filler on corners because the tent weight up high creates more pressure, the tank will probably go.

 

[thefirstzukman]

 

[thefirstzukman]

Slowly making progress, hopefully I’ll finish this up for the 4th o July weekend.

 

[thefirstzukman]

I pretty much worked on this damn thing all day long. I need to spend a good amount of time stripping the side boxes and prepping them, that is the next task. I was hoping to have this all done this weekend but that’s not going to happen...

 

[thefirstzukman]

Color matched to the Tundra.

 

[thefirstzukman]

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can’t wait to see how it looks finished.. I’m not looking forward to seeing how much money I spent.

 

[thefirstzukman]

Well! The first multi night and trail experience is over. We drove Skyline from Spanish fork canyon to Fairview canyon and spent a night at Gooseberry res, the road was closed going south on skyline so we dropped down and spent the second night up Ephraim canyon on skyline, there was still a lot of snow up there and not too many places you could go. We dropped down into Orangeville and headed south to the Swell Saturday morning. We went to Swasey Cabin and I decided to drop into Eagle canyon. I was a little nervous being by ourselves in a stock Tundra but Toyota for the win, the only touchy spot was that the tunnel under I70 at Justensen flats is a very tight fit... mirrors in and go slow, the ARB awning was almost touching the sides. The last night we hit 6 mile canyon in Manti and then up 12 mile canyon to the 12 mile campground where we arrived at 10:00pm just like if we were camping with Steve and Tess. Manti can keep 6 mile canyon, whoever put a road up that had severe mental issues.

Here are some pics, I have a few things to add to the trailer really quickly but then it’s not changing for a while.

 

[thefirstzukman]

 

[thefirstzukman]

Well, we have spent 8 nights in the tent and put 1150 miles on the trailer in the last month. The battery gave out this weekend, not sure what’s up with that but I’ll take it back for a new one. We need to find some good foam to add to the tent bed, we threw our Dreamtime pads in there this trip but can’t fold it up with them in it so we need a different solution. The dog has adapted well into letting me carry her up into the tent and getting back down.. I added a set of air shocks to help with the extra load and calm down the bump reactions and that seems to have been a good move but the shackles have seen better days and it’s time to address that old issue from the original build.

 

[rholbrook]

Nice

 

[nnnnnate]

Did the shocks seem to help? I just keep my tires aired down pretty low. As far as the tent pad, I just bought the exped megamat double wide which is a perfect fit width wise for my kukenam. I spent three nights in it last week and its awesome. I already had two of the single megamats which when together were a bit too wide for the rtt. Now I think I'm going to sell one of the singles since the double was pretty pricey.

 

[Rock Taco]

Cool trailer.

Did the shocks seem to help? I just keep my tires aired down pretty low. As far as the tent pad, I just bought the exped megamat double wide which is a perfect fit width wise for my kukenam. I spent three nights in it last week and its awesome. I already had two of the single megamats which when together were a bit too wide for the rtt. Now I think I'm going to sell one of the singles since the double was pretty pricey.

Im interested in one of your singles.

 

[nnnnnate]

I'll send you a message tomorrow @Rock Taco.

 

[thefirstzukman]

Did the shocks seem to help? I just keep my tires aired down pretty low. As far as the tent pad, I just bought the exped megamat double wide which is a perfect fit width wise for my kukenam. I spent three nights in it last week and its awesome. I already had two of the single megamats which when together were a bit too wide for the rtt. Now I think I'm going to sell one of the singles since the double was pretty pricey.

The shocks definitely helped, I had to angle them more than i wanted to fit them under but at 90 psi they seem to add just enough extra support and the lateral movement has been reduced quite a bit.

I am thinking of having a new mattress made to my specs and seeing if they can add an adjustable air bladder too. If not I may order foam and do it myself. We plan on spending many nights in the tent and we are getting old!.