Unnamed offroad build - updated July 18 2010

[StormRider]

I wanted an easy to build trailer to pull behind my jeep offroad, and finally decided to start building. I started with the look from the weekender and played with it until it started to look like a grasshopper :)

I wanted the same track width as the jeep to make it easy to tow offroad, and a queen size bed. I also wanted a common tire size with the jeep- 35x12.5 r15. I also wanted an entrance at the foot of the bed so I wasn't constantly dragging dirt/mud/sand across my head.

[StormRider]

4x 10' 3"x2"x.120 steel tube - $120 Wasatch steel
3500lbs trailer axle, 10" brakes, 5 on 4.5 pattern - $340 state trailer
2x 3"x6"x.625 steel plate for recovery tabs - $18 metal supermarkets
2 used 15x10 black steel wheels: $50 classifieds
2 used Jeep CJ front Leaf springs, shackles, and shackle hangers: $40 Keep it Jeep
CJ bushings: $20 Amazon
6" x .25 x 4' steel plate - $20 metal supermarkets remnants
12" hitch receiver tube: $29 state trailer
Axle u-bolt kit: $19 state trailer

[StormRider]

Frame tacked together:


and ready for the welding inspector:


3"x6"x.625 recovery tabs cut, drilled, and ready for welding:


Picked up the 3500lbs rated axle. 62" wide, 10" brakes, 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern:

[doug hodder]

Congrats on the start! It's so nice to work on new clean iron...what springs are you going to put under it? Doug

[greekspeedoman]

Storm.

I like the design. As another Jeep/teardrop person, I look forward to watching your build grow. Great photos. love the one of the Kiddo with the welding glasses! ha ha

[Rigsby]

Great going, and in my opinion a proppa frame, non of this mecanno bolt together stuff

[StormRider]

welded the recovery tabs on:


I'm starting with 2000lbs trailer leaf springs. Eventually I'll replace the leafs with a 4 link airbag setup, but that's more fab work than I want to do this spring.

[StormRider]

Updated the sketchup model on the tongue so I can cut the arms and plates:

[StormRider]

Busy weekend-
Picked up most of the suspension pieces from Keep it Jeep, a Jeep salvage operation in SLC. Got Jeep CJ front leaf springs, shackles, and shackle hangers for $40. Ordered Poly bushings from Amazon for the springs, so I'll be ready to install the springs and axle later this week.

Metal Supermarkets has a great remnant section, and I picked up a piece of 6" x .25 x 4' plate for $20.

Also got a 12" receiver tube and u-bolt kit from state trailer supply.

Tacked and welded the A arms on:


Cut the receiver tube support plates:

[StormRider]

more welding done tonight-
Added .25 plate to the top and bottom of the receiver so it's 3" tall, matching the tongue arms, and cut to length:


And ready to be aligned and welded to the bottom plate:

[StormRider]

More progress than pics:




Got the floor put together, interior wheel wells done, axle tacked onto the frame, and some walls up :)