This is one of the reasons I love Forums-
This is a pretty cool idea and i'll be watching
<>
Best of luck

 

Thanks, I wish I had a plasma cutter I hate using an angle grinder to cut metal. But that is what life is all about, doing with what you have on hand.

 

This is an awesome build. Ive seen pop up campers modified to get onto trails, but this is going above and beyond. Keep up the good work. Im anxious to see it finished

 

I am starting to get the frame put together. Going to track every thing up and pull it back out to weld it up soon.

 

sweet

 

More progress made today, I got to pull the frame out this morning to do some welding. Some of the welds don't look as good as I'd like (kind of windy at times). But it is welded solid as Sears.
Got the Spring mounts welded up. Still need to weld the rest of the top the frame.

 

Lookin good!! Glad to see you're back at it and making good progress. Keep up the good work!

 

Made the extension for the tongue. and cut out the expanded metal for the tongue.

 

So I seem to get the itch to get work done on my trailer after I go wheeling. I cut out some plates so that in the areas that my body mounts to the frame it's double plated. Then I mocked up the body/Frame/axle to be sure of where the mounts need to go.

 

I think the way you did the front hitch point is a major weak link in that trailer. Thats not how trailers typically are setup. You usually rest the square portion on long arms that go under. or you box it.

 

Or something like this would be similar to your use.

 

Thanks for your advice but, but it is not finished up front, nor is the whole frame braced the way it will be once it's done. I need to get the body mounts located before the rest of the bracing is done. Those areas of concern will be plated for strength and so that I can mount drop supports to stabilize the trailer when camp is set-up. I have confidence in the way it will turn out. Really don't want the tongue to be too heavy. You would be surprised at how little the shell actually weighs also.

 

That is true. ITs light. Great work by the way.

 

Honestly I can't believe How light the gauge of metal they used on these XJ's is, With all the flexing these XJ's take on the trail it is a wonder they don't rip in half. These things were not built to wheel like we do. That is one reason I decided to build this the way I am. so that the frame is independent of the body.

 

ummmmm they do rip in half lol