Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

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Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:26 pm

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 1.jpg
trailer when I first got it
trailer 1.jpg (111.97 KiB) Viewed 8211 times
trailer as utility version

trailer w 5200.jpg
5200 lb axle added
trailer w 5200.jpg (127.83 KiB) Viewed 8211 times
with 5200lb axles, Toyota 4runner spare wheels and 31" tires. Cheap wood base stripped off and frame painted black

trailer frame starting.jpg
start of frame
trailer frame starting.jpg (139.91 KiB) Viewed 8211 times
Starting to weld the frame on. Using .120 mild steel 1x1 for main frame
Last edited by Duffdog on Mon Dec 07, 2015 1:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:33 pm

starting interior walls.jpg
starting interior walls.jpg (167.92 KiB) Viewed 8209 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
rear supports.jpg (132.66 KiB) Viewed 8209 times
Extended rear supports for off road levelling

starting interior walls.jpg
starting interior walls.jpg (167.92 KiB) Viewed 8209 times
View of the outside of the interior walls
Attachments
external wall view.jpg
external wall view.jpg (153.36 KiB) Viewed 8209 times
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Sun Dec 06, 2015 10:43 pm

inside view door support.jpg
door frame
inside view door support.jpg (189.47 KiB) Viewed 8206 times
View of the door supports from the front of trailer. These supports are made from .095 steel to save weight

upper door detail.jpg
upper door
upper door detail.jpg (143.04 KiB) Viewed 8206 times
Top of door frame. There is a 1/2" gap all around for later installation of door seals

lower door detail.jpg
lower door
lower door detail.jpg (153.11 KiB) Viewed 8206 times
Lower part of door showing bracing to prevent sagging
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby rowerwet » Tue Dec 08, 2015 5:51 am

Have you looked at the builds on expedition portal?
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Tue Dec 08, 2015 10:29 pm

rowerwet wrote:Have you looked at the builds on expedition portal?



Nope, maybe I should. Thanks
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby ghcoe » Wed Dec 09, 2015 10:35 pm

What are you putting on the roof to require a 1000lbs limit? Going to make it awfully top heavy.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Thu Dec 17, 2015 1:19 am

ghcoe wrote: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.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby rowerwet » Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:38 pm

Duffdog wrote:
ghcoe wrote: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.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby dguff » Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:45 pm

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

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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Birdman » Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:03 am

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.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby rowerwet » Tue Dec 22, 2015 8:31 pm

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.
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Tue Dec 29, 2015 6:32 pm

Birdman wrote: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 :D . 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
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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby dales133 » Tue Dec 29, 2015 8:01 pm

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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Birdman » Wed Dec 30, 2015 7:08 am

Duffdog wrote:
Here is one of my trucks in action :D . 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

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Re: Off Road Teardrop for heavy rockcrawling

Postby Duffdog » Thu Dec 31, 2015 6:35 pm

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?
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