Looks great! I love wiring projects. It's always nice to see a good clean install.

 

Thanks man! My old green 4Runner was a wiring disaster, after that I decided to take my my time and do it it right. It's time consuming, but a clean install is so nice. This is by far the most complicated wiring project I have ever tackled.

Here is a good picture that puts the 4Runner and trailer in perspective.

 

This may be a newb question... but, why such a long tongue? Wouldn't that hurt you on the trails when you're in a tight spot? Or did you build the trailer high up just to look good on the runner?

 

It's not a newb question, there's a couple factors. First, I started building the trailer around the Turbo 4Runner which had a spare tire carrier. I wanted to be able to get up into the tent while it was hooked up to the truck. As you can see the trailer matched up better with the old 4Runner.





Also, I needed the tongue to be long enough that I could jack knife the trailer without it hitting the 4Runner or breaking out the tail lights. When I had the old 4Runner I was able to completely jack knife it without contact, that really helps when it comes to tight area's on the trail. I tested it out, and turned the truck and trailer around in a spot that was pretty tight. I still need to test out the new 4Runner, but I think it will be okay.

Again, the height of the trailer was built around the Turbo 4Runner and with the parts I had. It will come down a little once it's done and loaded up. Switching trucks has defiantly created issues, and if I had started building the trailer around this 4Runner i would have done things completely different. It's frustrating, but I have WAY too much time in this to start over.

 

have you thought about issues with sway on the highway? you might want to look into a friction sway control system. i know it's helped me a bunch

 

I see. I don't remember in your previous pages if you mentioned anything about this, but, do you have any plans for an on-board heater for the tent when it gets cold? It would be cool if you could have some on-board heating system that can heat water and push some hot air in the tent for the winter months.

Either way, awesome project!

 

Thanks for the input! I'm curious how it will handle on the highway too, but so far the fastest I've towed it was 25mph. Without lights and plates I've only taken it around the block. If I have issue's I will defiantly look into the sway control, but I'm really trying to focus on the major stuff to get the trailer completed, then I'll work out the details.

Thanks! I would love to have a tent heater; I've been looking at them for a while but I have not found one that I like that also fits in the budget. Adventure Trailers sells a really nice heater that I like, but it's way out of the price range of this trailer build. If it was a nice tear-drop camper I could justify the price, but not for this tent and trailer. I'm going to wait to see how (and where) this trailer gets used, then I'll decide if a heater is needed.

 

maybe one of these since you have a propane tank already
heard they are self contained and used in tents
http://www.mrheater.com/ProductFamily.aspx?catid=41

 

Heat source in general plus nylon equals bad!! Lol plus it the tent has a seperate rain tarp it could potentially cause u to suffocate in ur sleep!

 

here's the link for installing one, if you decide to. a full kit, minus the special hitch, should run less than $80, and the hitch add-on is < $20. I recommend welding the trailer ball plate instead of bolting it on. just info for if you need it later

http://www.casitaclub.com/forums/ind...ttach_id=17823

 

Yeah, the idea of a heater inside the tent scares me a little. I've looked into something like this, which is safe for use indoors (including tents) but they can deplete the oxygen level inside the tent. They have a low oxygen shut off but at high elevation's (which I'm at all the time) that means it's not going to work very well. I would really prefer some kind of forced air unit, but in all reality I'll throw a couple extra blankets in the trailer and hope that does the job.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...ne-heater/7729

 

Thanks for the link! Let's hope I don't need it.

 

This is the only tent heater I'd call safe. Good luck finding one, they don't make them anymore. Gotta find one used and they are expensive!

http://www.zodi.com/Consumer/zodihotventhp.html

DIRTCO doesn't need a tent heater. He's usually one of the last guys to bed on our camping / wheeling trips. He's always tending the fire and nursing a beer. That's how you keep warm in a tent!

 

Heck you could make one of those! They even have the fan and hose if you didn't want to source them yourself. Someday I might just do that. Been following this build and it is awesome. Can't wait to see more!

 

That's a lot like the Adventure trailer heater but more portable, too bad they don't make them any more. That's really the only kind of heater I would trust; something that blows the heat into the tent, but keeps the ignition source, CO2, and the heated element at a safe distance away. And something that won't suck all the oxygen out of the tent.

So true!!! But at least I find my way back to the tent ("Cough" Jeff & Cory "Cough" )! Your 100% right. For the camping I do, I would be better off buying a nice cold weather sleeping bag and keeping it in the trailer.

 

Summer is quickly approaching, and if I want to use the trailer I’m going to need to spend some extra time getting it done. My goal was to have it done before spring, but building the new 4Runner has taken time away from the trailer build. I’ve been working on it whenever I can but I’m not going to kill myself to get it done, a couple extra hours here and there make a huge difference.

I got the fenders cut, painted and installed. There will be braces/struts on top of the fenders to strengthen them, and to make a good spot to set (and secure) my seven-gallon water jug at the campsite. They will also make a good mounting point for my shovel, axe and stabilizer legs.

 

I’ve also decided that I’m changing the wheels. The whole point of having 35’s on the trailer is so I can run one (or two) on the 4Runner in an emergency. Since the new 4Runner doesn’t have a spare, and I have no intensions of running one; this is important. The first problem is that 15” wheels will not clear the front brakes on a Limited 4Runner, especially once I upgrade to the Tundra calipers and rotors. The second problem is that the 2” backspace wheels I had on the Turbo 4Runner will tear the rear fender flares off the new 4Runner the first time I hit a bump. I’m not going to buy two new 35x12.20x17 MTR’s with 17” wheels for the trailer, so there’s not much I can do about the first problem, but by changing the backspace of the wheels I could run them on the back of the 4Runner if I need to (If I get a front flat I’ll have to swap a rear tire to the front, then use a trailer tire). I needed a wheel with 3.5” of backspace; the Mickey Thompson Classic Lock had that, and also looked very close to the Trail Ready beadlock wheels I have on the 4Runner.

(Knock on Wood!) I’ve only had two flat’s my entire wheeling life, and both of those were rear tires that I lost the bead. I now have beadlocks, and I also have OBA with multiple plug kits. The chances of me needing to rob the trailer tires are slim, but I still like the fact that I can if I need to. I also don’t want to ditch the trailer out in the middle of nowhere, so I’m going to install the stock spare tire from the 4Runner under the trailer (that’s all that will fit) and use it as an “Emergency Donut” to at least get the trailer to a paved road. (Knock on wood again, just for the hell of it!)

 

There’s one thing that has really been bothering me about the trailer for a while, and that was the Tent-Cot. It was a good idea at first, considering I had the tent to begin with, but the trailer has turned into more of a project than I ever thought it would be. After all the time and work I’ve put into the trailer I wanted to be happy with the entire project, and there needed to be a better solution for the tent.

The Tent-Cot is great, but it was never designed to be cut-up and welded to the top of a trailer; its small, and only borderline comfortable with the bar that runs though the middle of the tent. Also, finding a way to weatherproof the tent when it’s not in use was going to be a huge issue. It was time to upgrade to a real tent, a roof top tent.

I cut the old tent off, cleaned up the top of the trailer, and built some crossbars for the RTT. I also had to move the back-up/camp light. I’m very happy with the new tent, it’s bigger and a lot more comfortable. I can't wait to test it out!

Tent closed





Tent open





Back up light

 

Thats a heck of a lught!! Trailer looks real good!

 

Thanks!

The new wheels came in today, so I got them mounted up after work. I think they made a big difference in the overall look of the trailer and the new offset helped bring the wheels/tires into the fender more (1 1/2" per side). The new stance is a lot better.

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