scbrooks87

That's killer man! I can't wait to see what the interior of this thing will look like when it's completed!

odgreen

Here is some more inspiration to get it done. Lol

JandDGreens

Yeah, I have been surfing the net for as much inspiration and info on other builds. This is going to be my first Paint and restoration project since I was around 20 yrs. old. In high school I took a couple years of welding and a couple years of auto body and paint. (back then the high school offer tech classes) I helped several friends do restorations on their muscle cars. (My favorite was the Black 68 Camaro that we took 69 SS Cow Hood and rear spoiler fin with the customary (gold) racing strips).
It is so cool to do something like that again. Although I have to re-learn most of the paint technics. Everything has changed so much since then. I will probably paint a practice panel to be sure everything gets done right.

robertj

That looks like a horrible setup though, because there's so much overhang after the axle that it would put a lot of tongue weight on your hitch.

JandDGreens

That is the main reason I took a ft. out of mine, I really want mine as close as I can to the right tongue weight. I don't want to have to worry about it whipping back and forth going down the high way. The thing is that trailer pictured still is pretty cool despite our concerns. I plan on keeping as much of my gear stored over and behind the axles to help the balancing act. One thing I have noticed that on many of the tear drop trailers was that the axle was pretty far back but the front usually is just sleeping quarters like mine will be. I am a little worried though about the weight I will be putting on the tongue. (Propane/spare tire/small generator) we will have to see how it works out. I was going to go over kill on the trailer frame but after setting the beams under the project I have second thoughts. And Monday or Tuesday I will be going back down to C.M. metal and purchasing some lighter rectangular tubing.


I must say one thing I won't try this again unless I have a Plasma Cutter. and I would seriously recommend if any one plans to do something like it to do the same.

odgreen

Surprisingly it was right around 600 pounds at the tongue. Made it that long so if I had to I could Jack knife it completely on a trail. The old girl with 450k miles towed it up the mountain with no issues.

JandDGreens

I am so glade you let me know that. I was real worried about the tongue weight. (I am hoping for about 3 hundred pounds) I did beef up my bumper mounts (tied the bumper into the inner frame but I still worry about all the weight it bears).
What gearing and what tire size did you have when you had the trailer? I am also concerns with having to re-gear so that I can handle towing it. That is another reason I am going with the lighter gauge tubing. It would save about 100 pounds of weight altogether and 70% of that weight would have been forward of the axle.
I will have to get new stock anyway because I want the rail to go all the way back and cut and bend for the front in one piece. I estimated wrong and had them cut it in half making it ten ft. and I think I need them to be around 13 ft. to be sure I can get it right.
If I go with the lighter stock I'm sure I can think of project for the heavy stuff.

JandDGreens

Odgreen Which would you do Over kill? or what I think will be perfect for the frame? I really am not planning to rock crawl with the trailer in tow.

odgreen

Just what's needed.

88 xj rookie

cool project, looks like doner had lift kit any parts gonna be up for sale

JandDGreens

It only had a budget lift (Rubican express 2" budget), and I ended buying him a 95 XJ just like this one was. We plan on putting it back on his new XJ. Just haven't had the time with everything I have been working on. I am so looking forward to getting all the parts cleared out after the camper is built and his lift is back on. I don't point my camera towards the clutter.

88 xj rookie

Thanks

kylemason

I would be curious to see how this project is coming along.

chipmaker

Ditto, forgot about this build.

JandDGreens

Sorry not much progress, been working and playing more than anything else. But I did order some bushings to mount the body to the trailer frame once I get that far. Going to work on the mounts this evening.