my xj camping trailer

[Gojeep]

My Tregg hitch is now 8 years old and have been travelling around Australia in bad conditions and no wear at all. The block does not touch anything as it has pressed in brass bushes that the pivot bolts go through.
http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoTrailercoupling.htm

 

[RogerTango]

Awesome camper/trailer! I like it!

 

[duntov]

If anyone is in the Vegas area I saw a XJ that is pretty much stripped down for $150. http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/car/710641100.html It would probably make a pretty sweet camping trailer. My cash fund is too low right now though.

 

[Chad29860]

My buddy and I have been drawing up plans to do this. I am going to use a two door and he wants to use a 4 door. We are cutting it right at the firewall and leaving windshields intact. I am going to tint all the windows in mine out limo black so I can see out and my wife changing but yall cant. :clap: I am going to run a pintle hook so the trailer doesnt bind when going into remote camping spots. I also was going to run and solar powered battery tender in the roof so that I can run a radio and maybe a small fan or something. That is a real nice trailer but now I am bummed because I wanted to be the first to do it. I was going to look into it when I started the build about actually running part of the tongue into the existing frame rails and then bolt and weld them in. Also we were going to buy a 3500lb axle from tractor supply and use it to save on weight but still be able to run 5 on 4.5 wheels. That way our trail spare could be a trailer spare. I was planning on running 4 add-a-leafs on mine to set it close to height as my trail rig. Tell me what ya think and when I start the build I will post up picks. Also got any more ideas for me?

 

[law.74]

We are cutting it right at the firewall and leaving windshields intact.

Way too much tongue weight.

 

[Chad29860]

Way too much tongue weight.

You think it will be even if we remove all the dash and stuff. We are talking about gutting the complete interior and putting the beds right at the back so the added weight will be over the axle. The only thing going to be up there will be a small shelve in similar locartion as the dash to hold misc stuff like a drink, wallet, radio, etc. I figured with the interior gutted it wouldnt be that bad. I am also going to be running a rock bumper on the back with a hitch hauler and whenever we go anywhere the cooler and stuff will be on the back of the trailer so wont that balance out the tongue weight because the rear end will be acting as a pivot wont it.

 

[kyro]

Way too much tongue weight.

yep you woll have a ton of weight on the ball like that i have enough with mine as i have the big box drawbar and prob went overkill on steel sheet size so with a windscreen and firewall it will be heavy..


yeah mine has limo tint on the windows it's great

i'm also going to put a caravan window in the front panel but made in a plastic not glass to remove some weight, a drop down dvd player on the roof for the kids, and a roof rack on the top at the back to mount some awnings off for shed and protection from the weather

 

[Chad29860]

I do appreciate the info. I was hoping to be able to keep the front window but looks like I may have to get rid of it. I may be stupid and build one like I wanted to and see how it does. If nothing else it can be a trailer queen trailer for the longer trips. I am going to look into possibly cutting out the firewall and using light construction to build it back more square anyway. I wanted to use manual window doors so they would be operational for those cooler camping trips when some breeze would be nice. I figured a good rock bumper with a hitch hauler would increase space for bulky items like a cooler or two or possibly some firewood. When ever I get around to build it I will get in touch with you and post some pics.

 

[kyro]

yeah i will be wiring my window up so i can use them as i have insect screens on the window so i can have them down at night

 

[kyro]

here are a few more of the camper

 

[XJ Eric]

I see the stock axle was removed and others have said they'll switch theirs out when they do it. But why? Is the weight savings that great?
One other question. Have you ever weighed the camper? how close is the weight to your rigs? I was going to flat tow one XJ with another, and got some advice saying it wasn't the greatest idea. Something about the trailer shouldn't be more than half the weight of the tow rig. How's your compare?

 

[kyro]

as for the axle it is illegal to use a diff so you have to have a solid axle..
the weight of the trailer was just over 440kg

 

[XJ Eric]

oh wow, I wonder if thats just an Aussie thing... We've still got the stock axle in a trailer we made from an old chevy LUV...
anybody know the metric weight of a cherokee?

 

[Root Moose]

I do know that in Ontario (Canada) you are not supposed to use diffs as trailer axles.

People do it though.

 

[WrenchMonkey]

anybody know the metric weight of a cherokee?

Well, figure 2.2 lbs/kg.

So his trailer was ~968lbs

And a 3300# XJ is about 1500kg.

Robert

 

[xj_mike]

On that pic with the trailer on the trail it looks like theres a lot of articulation. Is there any system that is the best for a trailer on a trail as far as a hitch goes. Is there a chance of twisting the receiver off the ball or is there a better option? Just curious.

Actually a US legal system is available call Lock 'n Roll http://www.locknroll.com

This is what I have on my XJ and trailer.

Works great. Not cheap at about $200 but worth every penny. Combine it with a set of Silent hitch pins and you won't even know you have a trailer behind you. Quiet as a mouse.

 

[FlexdXJ]

um.... didn't they stop making XJ's in australia in the 80's? that looks like a 97+

 

[jeepcomj]

um.... didn't they stop making XJ's in australia in the 80's? that looks like a 97+

you may want to stop talking.:laugh: :rof:

 

[Gojeep]

um.... didn't they stop making XJ's in australia in the 80's? that looks like a 97+

They stopped making FSJ's in the 80's here and no XJ's were ever made. No Jeeps were then sold in this country until XJ's in mid 94 and are just imported from the US. Apart from the stamping moulds going to Beijing after 97 and produced there, no XJ's were made outside the US. We do though get our Grand Cherokee from Graz Austria in Europe however.

 

[BobDog]

??? you cut up the XXXpedition xj for a trailor? why?

looks good though, i like the looks

Man why would you cut this jeep up when there are so many junk XJ's to cut.
Even if it wouldn't pass in Europe, I'm sure it would pass in AU. w/ a little roof repair.......What a waste of a xtraordinary rig!

And as to the looks....its okay if you want that sheep herder look....A nice roof top tent would have done it for camping space.

There are 1000's of XJ's in the USA who look just like yours....

Geeez something special to something plain....nice job.....