Building a TJ trailer

[green50gt]

I wasn't really planning this per say, always wanted to do one - they're cute. I bought another Jeep from www.daveysjeeps.com and was checking their parts specials page to see if anything else needed to come home with my new Jeep.....





Appears to be the back half of a Rubicon - holes in the rockers, wider appearing fender flares. So I'll call it something ghey like Rubitrailer or something.

Right now the quick plan is simplistic: Get a mostly gutted 35 under it, suspension, and some rollers so it can be moved around. The next step will be to get the frame done so it can be pulled around.(obviously) Then cap off the front of the tub and have all the body work done. Lastly Id like to modify it with a small lift, rock bumper, and various other cool stuff.

I have a few questions:
1. Forgive me if this seems less than classy, but a thought. If this is properly equipped with seat belts - obviously the cage staying, would it be terribly trashy or possibly taboo to haul people around in the back? Of course I don't mean down the freeway - but at say the dunes? Is a "trailer" even allowed in such a fashion there?

2. I've read that a pintle hook is extremely strong, little to no failures, a big range of motion - but are super super noisy. Do you suggest this, or a common ball setup?

Mainly this came about as I've gotten this wild hair that it would be so incredible and awesome to have an LJ because of all the extra room. My children are now 7 and 4, so we are participating in more and more activities which means more and more stuff to pack. Its pretty much unrealistic to attempt to drive myself, wife and kids around in my Jeep. I don't figure this to be terribly cheap, but it could certainly be set up to haul coolers, camping gear, groceries, whatever. That, and I really think they are cute.

Let me know what you think. Also not sure what sure I am going to do for paint. I have a bad habbit of not staying attached to a rig for too long, but I plan for it to be hauled behind my TJ:

[whiterhino]

I think hauling people in a trailer at the dunes would be both illegal and unsafe.

But a trail trailer for expedition camping can be cool.

[green50gt]

Thanks for your input Jim. After my out loud thought of hauling people around I thought well why couldnt I haul our coolers, tents, chairs, etc. down to the beach... Indeed no kind of trailer is allowed and now I see for obvious reasons. Oh well.. None the less the trailer will definitely provide some storage space needed for my family.

Here is a picture of my Jeep and a half being picked up at Daveys not more than an hour ago. I should have this in my posession later this evening. I have a 35, springs, control arms, and track bar for it. Also for temporary use, I have some 33" Pro Comp's on Black Ravine wheels. I hope to have it rolling in the next week.

[green50gt]

Got the Jeeps the other night. Fairly dissapointed with the tub, it has a pretty good buckle in it. None the less, I have an axle and some of the suspension under it now. This is likely how it is going to sit for awhile - it might even have to go find another place to live for awhile while I work on the white Jeep in the picture. Once the white Jeep is done I will bring it back and start on it.

[itchy]

I know this is your trailer build, but whay are your plans for the white Sahara? O' and can I have your pewter TJ?

[green50gt]

Hey Keith, the white Sahara is getting some stock suspension and axles, new canvas, a front fender, computer, a flare, some polishing, then it's headed for the door. It's an 01 with a 4.0, auto, ac, cruise, full doors, fact cd with sub, 114k miles. It is pretty nice really, no rips, tears, burns, or rust. Oh I have 5 super nice tj rubi's going on it that I picked up from jcr.

The above tj? Short answer: definite maybe. :)

The "trailer" is sitting at the back corner of my property under a tree so people can't see it driving by and think we're redneck. LOL. If they only knew.

[green50gt]

Still just sitting, and see - literally at the back corner of my property hiding under a tree. Anyway, took a couple minutes and cut the cage out of it. Getting closer on my white TJ to being out of the garage, so I "hope" to be moving this into the garage mid to late fall and start working on it!

I am in the process of acquiring a tailgate from Radrick...Thanks Rick!

[99tj4banger]

cool idea, and nice looking tj i have the same color

[green50gt]

Thanks I appreciate it! Any chance you want to give me your drivers side fender? :)

[VeniVidiVici`]

Hey Derek, Your back yard is starting to look kinda REDNECK so is the trailer for sale yet? Just curious,LOL

Roland

[99tj4banger]

Yeah sure if you would like to give me a pair of tube fenders with built in flares

[green50gt]

Been a while since I updated this. Basically the thing sat stagnant for quite a while. Turned it up about 2 months ago as we have a Silver Lake trip planned next week..

Sometime last fall I nabbed a nice TJ tailgate from Radrick.


Pulled it out and started working on it a bit earlier this spring while my TJ was over with R&R Fabworks getting some stuff did,


Had a pretty good crinkle quite a ways down on the passenger side, so I located another back 1/2 of a tub in the same condition, decided to split them down the center of the wheel wells.




Fast forward about 3 weeks ago, my buddy welded the two together. Gosh it's cute, but I really envisioned it being longer.


Back at home on the frame, mocking it all up. Hitch basket going to sit in front of the tub to carry rubbermaid totes. Correct matching wheels.


CJ tailgate in front so if desired I can flip the gate down and put something longer in the tub.


And here we are almost present day. Frame is finished off and painted. Have to mount the basket on the frame section, but plan to make it removeable if need be. I basically just took the dimensions of the hitch basket thing I had, and made a basket just like it. Will have a 2x4 rock bumper on the back with reciever, that the hitch basket can fit into.. I "might" have to shorten up the tongue a bit though as it's kinda butt heavy.









It's going to be headed to Silver Lake multicolored unfortunately - time wasn't in my favor. It will be painted silverstone metallic like my TJ. I would like to buy lightdots, 35 Kevlars, and short corner guards to fit with the theme, but until I flip a few more jeeps it won't deviate much from this. Other than the basket, I have the rough Rubi flares that will be temporary units that I chop all up to make work.

[ladunnkity]

nice looking, i have one at home gettting ready to work on. any inside pics of how the floor looks?

[fsumotorhead]

Cool project!

[Mr.Green again]

Shorten the tongue about 3'.

[bigbchevy]

looks good dont listen to mr greener

[High Center Hancho]

Originally Posted by Mr.Green again

Shorten the tongue about 3'.

I was going to say add 2'

[green50gt]

Originally Posted by ladunnkity

nice looking, i have one at home gettting ready to work on. any inside pics of how the floor looks?

Thanks. I do not currently, but I will get some around for you soon.

Originally Posted by fsumotorhead

Cool project!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Mr.Green again

Shorten the tongue about 3'.

I was thinking about 2', but we'll see. Come help me build it hot dog man, I need some cool ideas. Where the gas inlet is, going to have a factory looking opening with a bottle opener inside..

Originally Posted by bigbchevy

looks good dont listen to mr greener

Thanks, Truthfully he's onto something though.

Originally Posted by High Center Hancho

I was going to say add 2'

Ok, I get it, it's too long. I was initially toying with the idea of mount the tire in front of my basket thingy - but I don't like that.

[green50gt]

The trailer is about as done as it's going to get until after Silver Lake... Basket is painted and installed, temporary Rubicon flares are chopped up and installed, and we shortened the tongue about 15". Ill only be at work Monday and Tuesday - which is about a 1 hour drive total. I plan to haul the trailer around and make sure everything is ok.

Items in basket are for simulation purposes only.









It still needs painted obviously, good condition flares, different LED's - might buy another set of litedots, mount matching wheel, attain oversize tire bracket, short corner guards, make the bottle opener where the gas filler is/was, purchase/install a jack, and buy 3-35" Kevlars.

[jeeperstrudie]

freaking cool!!!!! I WANT ONE!!!!! how much you going to have into all of it?