Trailer Build Necessities and Wants

[Uticon]

Im in the process of building an expedition trailer.
The base is a pretty good start.
I have a 40 gal water tank, Optima deep cell battery, water pump.

What else do you think is required?
What else would you recommend?
:archaeolo

[cruiseroutfit]

My build note are here:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_trailer.html

Having now run it pretty much the same for 3 years and ~10,000 miles, there are some things I plan to change or add into another build. Such as water storage, I have the tank, I just never mounted it. The only thing I really plan to use it for is showers. Other than that I want more room, less weight and a
lower stance.

[Uticon]

Weight is an issue for me.
The trailer empty weighs alot already.

I want to start looking for an electric break set up.
The JK pulls it fine but an emergency stop may be an issue.

[Martyn]

40 gallons of water is 333 lbs

If weight is an issue half that amount may be better.

[Grim Reaper]

40 gallons is a LOT of watter. Being conservative that much water should last a family of 4 for a long 3-4 day weekend with sponge baths in my Airstream with a toilet. 20 gallons is enough for 2 people for a week if you are miserly and have other sources for drinks and if you are using a chemical or other toilet.

[Martyn]

Unless you already have the Optima battery you may want to look at the DEKA.

The group 31 DEKA has 105 amp vs the Optima at 96 amp

[njtaco]

Weight is an issue for me.
The trailer empty weighs alot already.

I want to start looking for an electric break set up.
The JK pulls it fine but an emergency stop may be an issue.

What is "a lot" of weight in your case? 1000 lbs? 3500 lbs? Just curious...I'm going through this process too.

Definitely match the brakes to the trailer weight. Brakes for a 5000 lb trailer are too hard to control on a 1000 lb trailer. IMHO, stick with electric brakes with a user-adjustable controller mounted where it is natural to reach in an emergency.

Be sure to install a tank with internal baffles if you carry 40 gallons of water. 300+ lbs sloshing around can make a twisty road pretty interesting...

Install a means of draining water from the tank if the pump fails to work.

Keep us posted...and where are the pictures? We like pictures...:)

[Uticon]

Im having problems posting pictures due to their size.
How do i get them smaller?

[Tucson T4R]

Im having problems posting pictures due to their size.
How do i get them smaller?

I use Adobe Photoshop but just about any program that works with images should give you a resize option. I usualy resize down to a width of 800 pixels. That seems to work pretty well.

[Uticon]

Lets try this

[Martyn]

Your axle looks like it's placed 2/3 of the total length of your trailer. That will produce a lot of tongue weight.

You may want to balance it a little more by moving the axle slightly forward.

[Uticon]

I do need to add a shim to level the side to side so it would be a good time to move the axel.
Thanks for the input.

In the past i took on water closer to the destination or throuhout the trip.
Water is heavy and I only fill up when i know i wont have a fresh water source.