4x4 Cargo trailers

[Oswegatchie]

OK, we bought a Lance 1172 with 2 slides to full time in. Too heavy for offroading! We have decided to get a 4x4 popup truck camper (not sure of make or model yet), but due to space considerations, we are looking at storage options. One that seems very intriguing is towing a 4x4 enclosed trailer of some kind. We want to carry some bikes, a couple of small canoes and assorted stuff inside. Does anyone have any experience towing something like this into the backcountry? How much lift do we need, how durable does it need to be (such as using a typical enclosed cargo trailer that has been lifted, and how about utilizing a utility trailer with a truck on it to enclose it? Any feedback would be helpful, since I am sure there are many experienced people on here.

 

[highdesertranger]

for lift, have the axles moved to under the springs(you cannot flip most newer axles), do not use torsion axles. then run at least 30" tall LT tires. use over rated axles, in other words run a 5k axle for a 3500lb trailer. make sure there is nothing behind the axle of the trailer that could be hurt by getting hit or rubbing, cuz it's going to happen. a long trailer tongue is most useful. a tall tongue is also useful. the trailer needs to be very durable, expect desert pin stripes. in the forest expect branches rubbing. note branches can punch a hole through thin aluminum. carry spares. brakes are a must. marker lights need protection. do not mount ladders on the sides. anything you mount on the side is going to get beat up it must be able to handle it. do not install the type of RV window that the glass is sticking out further than the frame of the window. that's a quick run down. there is probably more that I missed. any questions ask away. highdesertranger

 

[Gunny]

Check the Govt. Auction sites, they sell military spec'ed trailers that will go most anywhere your truck will.

Rob

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Good advice from HDR and Gunny.

Expedition Portal has a sub-forum devoted to expedition trailers, you'll get lots of ideas there:

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/forums/42-Expedition-Trailers

 

[Oswegatchie]

for lift,  have the axles moved to under the springs(you cannot flip most newer axles),  do not use torsion axles.  then run at least 30" tall LT tires.  use over rated axles,  in other words run a 5k axle for a 3500lb trailer.  make sure there is nothing behind the axle of the trailer that could be hurt by getting hit or rubbing,  cuz it's going to happen.  a long trailer tongue is most useful.  a tall tongue is also useful.  the trailer needs to be very durable,  expect desert pin stripes.  in the forest expect branches rubbing.  note branches can punch a hole through thin aluminum.  carry spares.  brakes are a must.  marker lights need protection.  do not mount ladders on the sides.  anything you mount on the side is going to get beat up it must be able to handle it.  do not install the type of RV window that the glass is sticking out further than the frame of the window.  that's a quick run down.  there is probably more that I missed.  any questions ask away.  highdesertranger

Thanks for the info. It sounds like the original axle that comes with most of them stock will need to be replaced. At least I think that is what you are saying? I did read that springs are better than torsion for off-roading and durability. We planned on putting our boats on it, so we will have to be careful there. Mine is made of carbon fiber and is not exactly indestructible. We don't need windows since this is only for storage. Seems some of the low end trailers could end up with some holes punched in them. Most 4x6 or 5x8 cargos go for between 1500 and 2500 dollars. Did see some that have been modified the go for upwards of 5K. Looking to do something that works well in between those 2 figures.

 

[Oswegatchie]

Good advice from HDR and Gunny.

Expedition Portal has a sub-forum devoted to expedition trailers, you'll get lots of ideas there:

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/forums/42-Expedition-Trailers

Thanks, I did see their site come up a few times and I checked it out a little. Seems like many great ideas, with most oriented toward actually camping out of them. Ours should be somewhat simpler since we only want it for storage.

 

[masterplumber]

Before I built my cargo trailer camper i used to have an F350 with a Four wheel pop up on it. If I was taking extra things like my motorcycle, canoe, bicycles, etc, I'd tow my 5x10 utility trailer. It has 2' sides and is built much tougher than cargo trailers as it's made for hauling things like lumber and gravel. I've put the springs over the axle, added brakes, etc. The width is perfect to track behind a single rear wheel full size truck - important in deep ruts or snow. I did toy with the idea of enclosing it at one time for work, but I ended up buying a second cargo trailer that was already set up for tools. I think for your purposes that might be a better way to go - the open utility trailers are generally built tougher and if all you want the enclosure for is security - it wouldn't be too much to build. It might even end up cheaper - I've seen utility trailers here in Colorado for as little as $800 in decent shape for a starting point.

 

[mayble]

How about something like this?

http://forum.expeditionportal.com/threads/52404-Full-Size-Pickup-Bed-Trailer
I see these homemade pickup bed trailers a lot around here. Seems like they'd be pretty sturdy, tho probably heavy.

 

[Gunny]

Here's a start.

http://www.govplanet.com/for-sale/T...0,ct|31,c|2268,mode|8&rr=1&hitprm=&pnLink=yes


http://www.govplanet.com/Trailers+-+Utility?kwtag=navbar

 

[highdesertranger]

a word about the pick up bed trailers. they are home builds, the builder better have known what they were doing. 2 big mistakes are made when people build these.
1. they leave the pickup rear axle on. if it was a 1/2ton it's not even worth building a trailer around. if it was a 3/4 or 1 ton then the axle is way to heavy. you end up towing all that dead weight around for no reason. it's much better to put a real trailer axle under it.

2. most people make the tongue way to short. a lot of times this has to do with the truck frame they are working with. there is just not enough straight metal to work with so the tongue ends up being way short.

imo the best way to utilize a truck box is to start from scratch and build a frame with a trailer axle, then set the box on it. highdesertranger

 

[Oswegatchie]

Before I built my cargo trailer camper i used to have an F350 with a Four wheel pop up on it. If I was taking extra things like my motorcycle, canoe, bicycles, etc, I'd tow my 5x10 utility trailer. It has 2' sides and is built much tougher than cargo trailers as it's made for hauling things like lumber and gravel. I've put the springs over the axle, added brakes, etc. The width is perfect to track behind a single rear wheel full size truck - important in deep ruts or snow. I did toy with the idea of enclosing it at one time for work, but I ended up buying a second cargo trailer that was already set up for tools. I think for your purposes that might be a better way to go - the open utility trailers are generally built tougher and if all you want the enclosure for is security - it wouldn't be too much to build. It might even end up cheaper - I've seen utility trailers here in Colorado for as little as $800 in decent shape for a starting point.

I gave thought to the utility trailers as well too. I know they are much cheaper and probably more durable. What about the feasibility of putting a truck cap on it? If not, any other possible ideas on enclosing it? Not sure about the security issue, but I guess nothing is ever fully secure anyway. Even a cargo trailer can probably be compromised easily with a saw or sledgehammer. We just want to possibly leave it for aday or two and get further into the back country without it.

 

[ArtW]

There was a post I saw somewhere where someone did just that, bought a utility trailer, built a box on it, and put a cap on top

 

[Oswegatchie]

There was a post I saw somewhere where someone did just that, bought a utility trailer, built a box on it, and put a cap on top

The site TwoHappyCampers have a utility bed box (picture lots of tool boxes) with a cap on it. It looks wonderful and they told me they got it on Craigslist. Would like to find that post!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I gave thought to the utility trailers as well too. I know they are much cheaper and probably more durable. What about the feasibility of putting a truck cap on it? If not, any other possible ideas on enclosing it? Not sure about the security issue, but I guess nothing is ever fully secure anyway. Even a cargo trailer can probably be compromised easily with a saw or sledgehammer. We just want to possibly leave it for aday or two and get further into the back country without it.

It should be possible to mount several of those truck boxes to a utility trailer.  You can often find them used. something like this:

 

[DrJean]

I bought my 4 x 4 trailer from Northern Tool and they still have them. It's just the frame though (I added wood framing which is gone now) , with lights and tires I have it for sale, along with spare tire and carrier, as I just don't need it now.