My Camping Trailer Project

[JCMatthews]

Just finished rereading your entire build. The trailer and the 4runner look great. Can't wait to see the finished projects.

[Dirtco]

Nice work so far. I've often wondered about mounting drawer slides on the floor like you have rather than on the sides but never done it because they aren't designed to work that way. Have you done this before? Do you think they will be strong enough? Will the leverage just break them?

HB

It should work fine, but it's not ideal. They are rated for being mounted this way, but it's less than being mounted the standard way. The package says they are rated at 300 pounds in the standard vertical position, and 100 pounds the way I have them mounted. I will only have a small cooler that will be closest to the trailer and the dry food box will be on the outside, I should be well under that 100 pound rating.

I didn't plan on having slides when I built the main frame work, otherwise I would have made it easier to mount them in the vertical position. I guess we'll see how it works.

[Dirtco]

I started the time consuming process of wiring the trailer, it’s going to take a while but I got a good start. Excuse the crappy phone pictures.

Started at the tail lights





Testing the tail lights…



And the brake / turn signals.



I got most of the wiring from the rear of the trailer ran to the control box, and started the process of sorting through it.



I also installed a small battery operated light in the box.



And where I’m at right now…

[Dirtco]

Just finished rereading your entire build. The trailer and the 4runner look great. Can't wait to see the finished projects.

Thanks man, I can't wait to get it out on the trail!

[Dirtco]

Summer is quickly approaching, and if I want to use the trailer I’m going to need to spend some extra time getting it done. My goal was to have it done before spring, but building the new 4Runner has taken time away from the trailer build. I’ve been working on it whenever I can but I’m not going to kill myself to get it done, a couple extra hours here and there make a huge difference.

I got the fenders cut, painted and installed. There will be braces/struts on top of the fenders to strengthen them, and to make a good spot to set (and secure) my seven-gallon water jug at the campsite. They will also make a good mounting point for my shovel, axe and stabilizer legs.

[Dirtco]

I’ve also decided that I’m changing the wheels. The whole point of having 35’s on the trailer is so I can run one (or two) on the 4Runner in an emergency. Since the new 4Runner doesn’t have a spare, and I have no intensions of running one; this is important. The first problem is that 15” wheels will not clear the front brakes on a Limited 4Runner, especially once I upgrade to the Tundra calipers and rotors. The second problem is that the 2” backspace wheels I had on the Turbo 4Runner will tear the rear fender flares off the new 4Runner the first time I hit a bump. I’m not going to buy two new 35x12.20x17 MTR’s with 17” wheels for the trailer, so there’s not much I can do about the first problem, but by changing the backspace of the wheels I could run them on the back of the 4Runner if I need to (If I get a front flat I’ll have to swap a rear tire to the front, then use a trailer tire). I needed a wheel with 3.5” of backspace; the Mickey Thompson Classic Lock had that, and also looked very close to the Trail Ready beadlock wheels I have on the 4Runner.

(Knock on Wood!) I’ve only had two flat’s my entire wheeling life, and both of those were rear tires that I lost the bead. I now have beadlocks, and I also have OBA with multiple plug kits. The chances of me needing to rob the trailer tires are slim, but I still like the fact that I can if I need to. I also don’t want to ditch the trailer out in the middle of nowhere, so I’m going to install the stock spare tire from the 4Runner under the trailer (that’s all that will fit) and use it as an “Emergency Donut” to at least get the trailer to a paved road. (Knock on wood again, just for the hell of it!)

[Seeker]

Just found this build from your post in the Rig & Trailer photo thread. Great build. Both the rig and the trailer look nice.

Out of curiosity, what all have you had to do to run 35's on your 4Runner? It looks like you may be getting some rub at full stuff, or full lock steering, but I can't tell from what I've seen.

[RobD]

I know it's almost like reviving the dead, what with the last post by the OP being almost 7 months ago, but this gives me inspiration to get out to the garage and finish up a couple of my projects.

Thanks, Dirtco, for the outstanding thread.

[Mark Harley]

One of my favorite builds.

An out of the box design, that turned out great!

[Ozarker]

Very nice fab work! Lots of great ideas and details I need to copy, like your electrical work, neat and clean. Nice vehicle gives you a total package. I have the expanded steel on my tailgate/ramp, your wood box reminded me to leave room for the campfire!