Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest banner

New Trailer Project *updated pics 11-15*

5K views 43 replies 18 participants last post by  SANDVIPR 
#1 · (Edited)
OK- I snagged an older KZ 29' traver trailer a couple weeks ago. The previous owner had gotten it from KZ in 2000 because of some slight blemishes in the frame or something for cheap and it suposidly never had the rest of the trailer built on it. It has dual 5000 lb axles under it and they both have brakes on them:woot: 25' deck that I'm going to dove and add some mini ramps. The whole thing will also be lowered about 6" since it was one of the tall-boys. My goal is to have something long and heavy enough to get my stretched ZJ and baybe another big CJ/TJ or cherokee on it and a little room for gear. The mini-ramps will extend the back out another 2 1/2 to 3 feet wich should get me all the length I need for the expected use. The main frame is 10" I-beam so I have plenty room to drop in water tanks, air tanks, and storage compartments between the rails and keep a clean look. Here's some pics and captions so far....

1st day home. It's big!!!!


My shop/barn is 30' deep!

Adding the side supports- and making them a little more beefy with some 1/4" 2" angle and flat stock...



Did I mention I REAYY love the new welder????:thumb:



And lastly- getting ready to dove it......


More updates to come later this week. I really need to get the steel-work done before the rain starts Thursday or Friday. The rest of it can get finished up between showers over the next couple weeks.

Comments/suggestions????
 
See less See more
7
#11 ·
My 1st choice would of course be diamond plate, but at $400 for a 4x8 sheet, that definately won't happen.
So that I can git-r-done in a timely manner and start using it as soon as the ZJ is done again :teehee: I'm just going with 3/4" walmunized plywood. I figure I have a little aliminum 2-place trailer that I move tons of stuff with and that one is only constructed with 1/2" and it's almost 10 years old and still looks new.

I will either use thin dimond plate over that or replace it all together with 2x10 planks after a couple years.
 
#14 ·
Yeah- a few didn't turn out so great, but others were oh so nice..... I'm still getting use to that thing.....:sonicjay:
 
#16 ·
Going in a completely differnt direction as far as decking goes, a friend of mine suggested some 1/4" steel mesh- it will be rigid enough to walk and drive on and will let the mud/dirt fall through and always look clean. It would make clean-up nice after a muddy day on the trails in the spring... He said that he had paid like $30 per 4x8 sheet for the stuff.
Does anyone have any other tips on using that stuff????? Wood will be the old stand-by, but I'm really liking the idea of that mesh. Do it 1 time and do it right!!!!
 
#17 ·
Nice build.

Please share the source for the mesh. I need to do the center of my trailer.

Main drawback of mesh is.=
Won't keep small things you want on or not on your trailer from going through it. What I mean is, if you had to haul in the winter, salt and slush will go right through it. Another thing is, if you had to work on something on it, bolts will fall through and it is not easy to roll around on.

I bought my trailer mostly covered with it, but the center is not, so I will stick with what they started with.
 
#18 ·
Yeah- I've been contemplating those very things you brought up.......
Maybe wood the center and mesh the outers? And then allminum diamondplate "fenders"????
 
#20 ·
Nice looking trailer and even nicer looking rig! We are pretty much on the same page with just about everything. I have just a couple different directions I want to go with this than just a big flatbed. I love the double marker lights on the corners. My trailer is definately built with larger materials than yours was though. Your's must be really light in comparison to mine. How long is the deck????
 
#21 ·
Old pic of my truck. Here's a newer one.



Anyway..........

Mine started out really light except for the big I-beams. I removed all the round stock shit and replaced it with 2x2 tubing - 1/8" wall in most spots, 1/4" wall at the back and front tie-down xmbr.

The deck is exactly 20' long.

My goal was to build it for under $2000 and under 2000# and I did achieve that goal. It tows very nicely, even being my underpowered old GMC.

I've already made a sweet toolbox for the tongue. I'm hopefully going to get some fenders on it this winter.
 
#22 ·
Here's a couple updated pics-...

The side support "wings" and center supports welded in place and the dodetail almost complete:


it will be about perfect once it's lowered another inch and a half...:


More to come later this week as the outer angle is added tonight and the paint and wood this weekend!!!!
 
#23 ·
OK- It's been a busy last week and a half working in the dark with halogen lamps since the time change.
Lights and mounts:




The payoff:



What are these???

This will look reeeel niiiice!!!!



That's about it for now...... Hopefully if the weather holds out I'll be fabbing the ramps and decking it this week!
 
#28 ·
yeah- looking forward to it. If I wouldn't have worked too late too many nights on this damn thing I may not have gotten sick! Anywho- I may be up for picking that up tomorrow night, but that would be about the extent of my adventures this week......
 
#30 ·
Right now they are to move it around. I'm hoping that the wheels are rated for it... I need to check on that yet. They are some Mickey Classic II's. They would look SICK on there if they will hold up.....

Tires- I'll dig something up when the time comes. Right now my intentions are the Jeep and a quad or two. so they should work out fine. Later when we go to throw another vehicle on there, I'll have to get a little more serious about it having the correct rating.
 
#31 ·
Well, a quick trip to the Mickey Thompson website and yes, the wheels should work out fine thanks to the steel reinforcements that are cast into the wheels. The ones I have are rated for 3100 bls each. That will be pushing it with 2 vehicles, but I'll take my time when I'm that heavy and I should be fine!!!! Getting a 8 or 10 ply tire less than 25" tall for a 16" rim may be a bit of a chore though......

Does anyone have any leads on them?????
 
#36 ·
Yours and mine should fit. It will be cozy, but should be long enough. Any other super-stretch jobs may not quite make it though....

I have about 325 x 93 inches after everything is complete to work with for loading surface. I think they will both go..... If not, you can rent a trailer and I can take Mini with me.....:sonicjay:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top