My Camping Trailer Project
May 2, 2012 | 03:47 PM
#422
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From: Summit County, Colorado
..................
Good LORD that's amazing, bud! Very impressed! I know a guy named Ian who will surely LOVE that wiring job! 
lol. If I attempted that at this stage in my electrical training(hobby, not professional)>>> 
<<< that would be me! lol. KILL IT, ...and bring it with some VIDEOS, with you wheeling up some craziness.. asap! lol
Don't worry, I'll get some pictures and video once I take it out. I still need to get it registered before i can really take it anywhere, that's been the only reason why I have not used it yet (or at least bounced it around on a couple trails).
May 2, 2012 | 03:52 PM
#423
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From: Summit County, Colorado
May 2, 2012 | 04:18 PM
#425
Excellent work! A couple of questions:
1) Did you draw yourself a wiring diagram or do you remember what absolutely every wire is and where it goes? I only ask because who knows what can get bounced into a wire loom or what can fail and then you're stuck troubleshooting parts and wires. If you did, would you mind posting a copy of your wiring diagram? I think that we all can benefit from learning. I'm no wiring expert but I do understand simple wiring with relays and fuses.
2) I really like your idea of a second gas tank! When you said transfer pump, is that to give you longer range on a wheeling trip or do you have any other super secret tricks up your sleeve?
This trailer is definitely taking time to come together but I can only assume that you're doing countless hours of research and trying to work on this during your spare time. This trailer seems very well and purposely built. You have put a ton of good ideas into a small and simple package! Well done!!
1) Did you draw yourself a wiring diagram or do you remember what absolutely every wire is and where it goes? I only ask because who knows what can get bounced into a wire loom or what can fail and then you're stuck troubleshooting parts and wires. If you did, would you mind posting a copy of your wiring diagram? I think that we all can benefit from learning. I'm no wiring expert but I do understand simple wiring with relays and fuses.
2) I really like your idea of a second gas tank! When you said transfer pump, is that to give you longer range on a wheeling trip or do you have any other super secret tricks up your sleeve?
This trailer is definitely taking time to come together but I can only assume that you're doing countless hours of research and trying to work on this during your spare time. This trailer seems very well and purposely built. You have put a ton of good ideas into a small and simple package! Well done!!
May 2, 2012 | 05:27 PM
#426
this thing is coming out awesome like all projects you set your mind to.
Have you figured out a tongue weight on this thing? I have seen a couple of other similar expedition trailer builds with similar tongues.
Have you figured out a tongue weight on this thing? I have seen a couple of other similar expedition trailer builds with similar tongues.
May 5, 2012 | 01:58 PM
#428
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From: Summit County, Colorado
May 5, 2012 | 02:56 PM
#429
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My answers are in red...
Excellent work! A couple of questions:
1) Did you draw yourself a wiring diagram or do you remember what absolutely every wire is and where it goes? I only ask because who knows what can get bounced into a wire loom or what can fail and then you're stuck troubleshooting parts and wires. If you did, would you mind posting a copy of your wiring diagram? I think that we all can benefit from learning. I'm no wiring expert but I do understand simple wiring with relays and fuses.
You bring up a good point, I took notes while running each section of wiring. I also labeled the fuse blocks and all the junction blocks; I plan on having a laminated sheet with that information in the trailer in case I have an issue on the trail. I would like to draw out an actual wiring diagram once I get some time, but right now my main concern is getting the trailer finished before summer.
2) I really like your idea of a second gas tank! When you said transfer pump, is that to give you longer range on a wheeling trip or do you have any other super secret tricks up your sleeve?
The "transfer pump" is just a small electric fuel pump that I will use to transfer the fuel from the trailer, to the 4Runner's fuel tank. It's plumbed like a normal fuel tank but after the pump there will be a fuel line disconnect, I will have a section of "filler hose" that I will connect to the trailer and run up to the 4Runner's normal gas tank filler. It's not the fastest method, but I won't be transferring a whole tank at one time, most likely it will be around 5 gallons at a time. It's still less work, and less of a mess, than Jerry cans.
This trailer is definitely taking time to come together but I can only assume that you're doing countless hours of research and trying to work on this during your spare time. This trailer seems very well and purposely built. You have put a ton of good ideas into a small and simple package! Well done!!
Thank you! It's been a ton of work; the new 4Runner has taken away a lot of the trailer time, but that's good because as I get burnt out with one I switch over to the other. The hardest thing about the trailer is that there are no plans, no directions, and it's not like anything else out there, I spend hours just staring at the thing figuring out how I'm going to do something. Sometimes I don't figure it out, and I have to move onto something different until it finally pop's into my head days/weeks down the road. I can honestly say this has been the most mentally challenging project I have ever taken on, that includes the Turbo and 3rd Gen 4Runner's.
1) Did you draw yourself a wiring diagram or do you remember what absolutely every wire is and where it goes? I only ask because who knows what can get bounced into a wire loom or what can fail and then you're stuck troubleshooting parts and wires. If you did, would you mind posting a copy of your wiring diagram? I think that we all can benefit from learning. I'm no wiring expert but I do understand simple wiring with relays and fuses.
You bring up a good point, I took notes while running each section of wiring. I also labeled the fuse blocks and all the junction blocks; I plan on having a laminated sheet with that information in the trailer in case I have an issue on the trail. I would like to draw out an actual wiring diagram once I get some time, but right now my main concern is getting the trailer finished before summer.
2) I really like your idea of a second gas tank! When you said transfer pump, is that to give you longer range on a wheeling trip or do you have any other super secret tricks up your sleeve?
The "transfer pump" is just a small electric fuel pump that I will use to transfer the fuel from the trailer, to the 4Runner's fuel tank. It's plumbed like a normal fuel tank but after the pump there will be a fuel line disconnect, I will have a section of "filler hose" that I will connect to the trailer and run up to the 4Runner's normal gas tank filler. It's not the fastest method, but I won't be transferring a whole tank at one time, most likely it will be around 5 gallons at a time. It's still less work, and less of a mess, than Jerry cans.
This trailer is definitely taking time to come together but I can only assume that you're doing countless hours of research and trying to work on this during your spare time. This trailer seems very well and purposely built. You have put a ton of good ideas into a small and simple package! Well done!!
Thank you! It's been a ton of work; the new 4Runner has taken away a lot of the trailer time, but that's good because as I get burnt out with one I switch over to the other. The hardest thing about the trailer is that there are no plans, no directions, and it's not like anything else out there, I spend hours just staring at the thing figuring out how I'm going to do something. Sometimes I don't figure it out, and I have to move onto something different until it finally pop's into my head days/weeks down the road. I can honestly say this has been the most mentally challenging project I have ever taken on, that includes the Turbo and 3rd Gen 4Runner's.
Last edited by DIRTCO; May 5, 2012 at 02:58 PM.
May 5, 2012 | 03:25 PM
#430
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From: Summit County, Colorado
I think the tongue weight is right around 100 pounds, but I still need to weigh it. I can pick it up by hand fairly easy if I need to, but it is getting heavier every time I work on it.
May 6, 2012 | 06:08 AM
#433
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From: Knoxville, TN
May 18, 2012 | 04:49 PM
#436
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From: Summit County, Colorado
May 18, 2012 | 04:59 PM
#437
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I'm not planning on it. The fenders are are very stout with the struts and 1/4" strap holding them in place. Also, the deflectors are welded to the frame, while the fenders are attached to the trailer body. The trailer body is bolted to the frame with polyurethane bushings; there might be a small amount of movement between the two at times.
May 20, 2012 | 01:45 PM
#438
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I've been working on getting some of the smaller stuff wrapped up so I can get this this thing registered and on the road/trail.
I needed to get the front diamond plate bulkhead in place, so I welded a flange all the way around the opening. I was going to bolt it in place, but I thought it would look cool with no hardware holding it, so I used windshield adhesive to glue it in place.
I put five gallons of gas in the tank to flush out some of the surface rust and debris from setting for almost ten years. The trailer transfer tank uses the stock carbureted ‘85 fuel filter (it will be filtered before going in the new 4Runners fuel tank) but I still want to run a couple tanks and replace the filter before filling the tank with premium, and transferring it over to the 4Runner. I have a fuel shut off valve on the system, and I was worried that the fuel pump wouldn’t want to pump fuel though the 180’ valve, but it worked great and transferred the five gallons of gas in around 5-8 minutes. I don’t plan on transferring a whole tank at once, so I’m happy with the results!
I need safety chains for when the trailer is on the road, but when I get my off-road coupler I don’t want chains dragging on everything and rattling around the entire time I’m off the pavement. So I cut up an old 3/8” shackle (that used to be on this truck, before it was a trailer) and used it for the chains. There is one mount welded to the street coupler, and two more on the backside of the rear bumper on the 4Runner.
I also drilled a second set of holes so I can get the tongue length as short as possible, it’s only a few inches but it really changed how the trailer handles. I’ve only towed it around the block a couple time and it seems to corner, follow the truck better; but the trailer kind of feels squirrely, and I can feel the movement of the trailer transfer through the truck more than before. I’ll need to do some high speed testing before I can make up mind…
I needed to get the front diamond plate bulkhead in place, so I welded a flange all the way around the opening. I was going to bolt it in place, but I thought it would look cool with no hardware holding it, so I used windshield adhesive to glue it in place.
I put five gallons of gas in the tank to flush out some of the surface rust and debris from setting for almost ten years. The trailer transfer tank uses the stock carbureted ‘85 fuel filter (it will be filtered before going in the new 4Runners fuel tank) but I still want to run a couple tanks and replace the filter before filling the tank with premium, and transferring it over to the 4Runner. I have a fuel shut off valve on the system, and I was worried that the fuel pump wouldn’t want to pump fuel though the 180’ valve, but it worked great and transferred the five gallons of gas in around 5-8 minutes. I don’t plan on transferring a whole tank at once, so I’m happy with the results!
I need safety chains for when the trailer is on the road, but when I get my off-road coupler I don’t want chains dragging on everything and rattling around the entire time I’m off the pavement. So I cut up an old 3/8” shackle (that used to be on this truck, before it was a trailer) and used it for the chains. There is one mount welded to the street coupler, and two more on the backside of the rear bumper on the 4Runner.
I also drilled a second set of holes so I can get the tongue length as short as possible, it’s only a few inches but it really changed how the trailer handles. I’ve only towed it around the block a couple time and it seems to corner, follow the truck better; but the trailer kind of feels squirrely, and I can feel the movement of the trailer transfer through the truck more than before. I’ll need to do some high speed testing before I can make up mind…
