Low Buck "Adventure Trailer

[devildog0]

I came across thread on Jeep Forum about a year or so ago talking about using the low cost HF trailers as bases for low cost off road/camping gear trailers. Factor in the recent birth of my daughter and the fact my wife brought along 4 dogs into the marriage and even in the XJ I no longer have any cargo room. And roof loading everything isn't an option. Putting 100 lbs of tools and a spare tire and whatnot on the roof isn't going to happen safely.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f27/m...hread-1180456/

When I put the call out on the local 4x4 forums and facebook groups I got a hit within the hour. Someone had bought a HF mini trailer about a year (with the 12 in tires) ago put it together and never did anything with it. It's mine for 125 dollars (go to pick it up tomorrow).

So the gears have been turning in my head since I first came across this thread but I never did anything with it. I've been super impressed with the ideas thrown out and the builds that have come about. I'm only about 74 pages in right now. It's a long thread.

Right now the plan is to deck it with 3/4 inch plywood. I do not plan on building a box to keep everything in. Instead I'm going to go with premade off the shelf solutions. Goal is to keep the Jeep mostly empty except for us 3 and Dogs and have the trailer carry the whole load. Which should be doable with what I usually pack on these trips.

So on top of the deck I plan to mount or strap since I haven't decided if I want to permanently mount boxes or not or if I want them to be removable so the trailer can be used as a flat bed, is either one or two of these Dewalt 38 inch boxes on top. One will take up about half the trailer two will take up the whole trailer based on the dimensions give on the Home Depot Website

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-38...8000/205502769

These also have an IP53 rating. So basically little to no dust intrusion and 100KPA water sprayed on it at 60 degree angles cannot penetrate. if I permanently mount them the wheels will be removed since they won't be needed for anything. The idea is one box for tools/spares/fluids ect and the other would be for camping gear, clothes, ect, ect.

Another option I was kicking around as I want to be able to load 2 5gal water and 2 5 gal gas cans onboard for the Mojave Road was to buy one of the chests above and one smaller chest so I would have enough room on the front of the trailer to attach the heavier water/gas cans. Or I could always build/weld a small extension or hitch carrier on the front to carry those keeping in mind the tongue length and all.

Dunno lots of options and I'm ready to pick up the trailer and get to work. Would like to have it setup for the Mojave Road Trip we want to do early next year before the heat sets in.

For tires I dont' plan on adding any larger axles or anything. Maybe going with a 13 inch wheel or just sticking to the 12 inchers. Will have to see how it sits when hooked to the XJ and how it pulls. Not going to be running the Rubicon with it.