The trailer is looking great! I'd love to build one of my own someday!

 

Hows the cost so far?. Ive got a long single axle trailer but im debating if im better off with a new frame vs reinforcing this one.

Any plans for cheat rails to the tire?

 

Thanks man, the price of steel is pretty expensive, but it's definitely cheaper than buying one (if your doing it for fun and not counting your labor involved, lol)

So far the cost is around $1800 (that's not counting the cost of supplies like welding wire, cutoff wheels, etc)..... I know that seems like a lot to me too when I was adding everything up! But a lot of the extra cost were do to the suspension and doing the 3-link and air bags. The air bag kit was $500 not to mention the poly bushing link ends were $30 each (x6= $180 total) and the extra cost of the other axel brackets I bought, so if you were to just use leaf springs it would definately keep the cost a lot lower. But compared to buying a Sierra 4x4 Trailer (base cost $4500 + $1100 for the hard tonneau cover = $5600) it's a lot cheaper, lol.

As a side note I'm going to take your advice and add the other link to the axel like you were talking about to prevent the axel from twisting, I was looking at some pics and that make a lot more sense, don't know why I didn't go that way to begin with, lol.

For your trailer, it might be more cost efficient to reinforce the existing frame work than building one from scratch, that is if you can make it work and still meet your needs.

Not exactly sure what you were asking about the cheat rails?

 

Made up name.

Dirtco's trailer has em
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1447700-post94.html

 

Ah, I see what your talking about... I was thinking of doing something similar, but more of a running board/step like on the Sierra 4x4 and Adventure Offroad trailers.

http://www.sierra4x4trailers.com/wp-..._n-300x225.jpg

I really like Dirtco's trailer build, that was partly what inspired me to build mine.... I might have to give his build thread on here a bump, I haven't seen him give any updates in awhile, lol.

 

Yesterday, I reworked and trimmed the bottom edge of my tailgate where it was binding up, now it opens like it should. Today I started mounting the tailgate stops, but ran into a snag.


^^^ after mounting the stop, I could only close the tailgate to this point (sorry about the crappy cellphone pic) and the stop would hit the tailgate. So I ended up shortening the top part of the stop by 1" then I added the 1" piece to the other side of the stop, lengthening it


^^^ here is a comparision pic of the stop after modifying it


^^^here is one side finished, it opens and closes nice now.

 

Nice work Ed. Sucks when you run into little details like that huh.

 

Thanks bud, yeah it seems like it's always the unforeseen little stuff that ends up taking up the most time, I had the entire tailgate assembly (latching mechanism, tailgate stops, hinges etc) planned out in my head as to how I was going to build them, and expected to have the tailgate completed in one afternoon....well you see how that went, lol.

I got a little done on the latching mechanism today, basically I'm going to have a handle that turns and pulls on the cables (one for each side) in turn that pulls the spring loaded pin and unlatches.


^^^got one side finished...


^^^ I need to find some different bolts for the tailgate stops, these were just for mock up, I need ones with a lower profile head, maybe an (allen head)...

I originally was going to have a locking "T" handle (like off a canopy) for the tailgate handle, but decided to just simplify and just have a handle on the inside of the tailgate. Once I have the hard tonneau cover built and it's locked you wouldn't be able to open the tailgate anyway.

I have enough sheetmetal to cover the inside of the tailgate and hide all the inner workings when I'm finished, I'm just going to use self tapping screws that way it will be easy to run the wiring for my taillights, license plate light, etc.

 

*list update*

will update as things are completed

 

It's really coming together. It's about time I subscribe. I've been waiting patiently to see the finished product. Oh and the proper term for "allen head bolt" is socket head cap screw lol.

 

Thanks man, I'm really getting anxious to see this project finished myself!

LOL, I'm horrible with remembering the correct names of parts and components... everything is either a dew-hicky or thing-ama-jig, lol.

 

Haha I hear ya, the only reason I know is because I'm a toolmaker and that's what we use on dies. It got burned into my head when I went to school. Another thing we learned at school is that all "bolts" are technically screws, until u put a nut on them. Then they are bolts lol. Uh, another thing i just thought of that may be useful to u would be a socket head stripper screw. They have an "allen" head and a solid shaft with threads at the very end. That way your springs would have a shaft to ride on rather than threads. It may make the whole mechanism function smoother.

 

That's a good idea on the socket head stripper screw, I will probably go back and replace a lot of the nuts and bolts later, I have been just using what I have on hand, the mechanism operates smoothly, just makes noise when it contacts the threaded portion of the screw.

I finished up the latching mechanism the other day, I ended up stealing a "T" handle off my old canopy for now. For the cables to actuate the latches I used some coated cable I had, it worked good because it was a straight shot into the other side of the T handle, but for the other side the cable would have rubbed, and eventually frayed the cable, so I ended up using a bicycle hand brake cable, worked out really good. I didn't get any pics of the setup, but can take some if anyone is interested.





I also made the recessed area where the license plate will go, I plan on adding a LED light into it later. Now I just need to finish up welding some seams, and also need to modify the other tailgate stop and the tailgate will be finished. It's pretty heavy, probably as heavy as a full size pickup tailgate, but over all I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

looks nice man. how long did this take you? seems like i've been following this thread for months now

 

thanks... ha, ha, ...well I built the main part of the trailer frame in the spring of 2012, then it was put on hold when I started building my 4runner. Then I started working on it again in March of this year, so yeah it's this last bit has taken me the better part of 6mths, a lot longer than I expected, lol, I had hoped to get some use out of it this summer, but now I just hope to get a cheap paint job on it before winter hits to keep it from rusting!

 

Looking good, as usual. It's nice to see it behind ur runner. The proportions look just about right and now ur far enuf along that u can see the end in sight I'm sure. That's always a good feeling.

 

Looking good. Anyone think a strip of red through the box would finish it?

 

Thanks guys, sorry but I haven't worked on the trailer very much lately, the weather has gotten cold and rainy, (I think fall is definitely here!) I got a little primer sprayed down today just before it rained. I also got the sheetmetal cut out for the floor, and got it laid down and fitted into place, still need to weld up a bunch of seams... honestly, I don't see me getting much done on it this winter, might just put the project on hold till spring

 

I just looked at your post today, getting inspiration to possibly start one of my own. Good job so far.

 

sooo sick. exactly what I want to build for my camping/utility trailer.