Offroad PUP build

[BlackWidow]

Hello everyone

My Father in law recently gave me a 1986 Palamino Shetland Pop Up Trailer which turned out to be in an almost brand new condition. I had recently made a small post of a trip me and the kids took with it http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...imino-Shetland. Even as i was driving it home for the first time from Long Beach I knew i had to raise it if i wanted to be able to take it camping in remote areas. Once i had some time I started to look on the internet to find if others had the same idea and i came across this posting http://forum.ih8mud.com/trailer-tech...per-build.html which was exactly what i wanted to do. The major difference was that unlike the PUP in that build mine did not have any defects inside so the thought of taking the PUP apart was out of the question. My basic plan is to Build a new frame under the PUP And leave the original frame untouched with the exception of removing the tounge. I also wanted to be able to put it back to its original condition if i ever decided to sale it. I had taken it on two camping trips and decided that if i was going to build a new frame for it i would make it longer then the original frame so that i could have extra storage.
Here it is after i first got it home Yes those are 8 inch wheels with very little ground clearance.



The start of the new frame build



After about 2 weeks and a few modifications this is what i ended up with. The length of the frame including tounge is 13 feet give or take a few inches. I took apart a 3500lb axle and shortened it and used 1750lb springs I did this because i had the axle and parts available to me for free. Later i might replace them with Toyota leaf springs but I will see if there is any reason to after a few trips offroad. I plan on adding shocks too.



Here I am marrying the two old frame to the new frame.








Once I had the trailer in place I noticed that i needed to raise the old frame off the new frame by 3 inches to get better wheel clearance. I ended up raising it 4 inches and today i will cut off the old tounge and start fabricating a extra wheel carrier.

Thanks for reading and have a great day.

[Black_ZJ]

The Palomino Shetland is the perfect candidate for this, and even more perfect that you had one given to you in such nice condition. I was looking for one myself locally but they either sold before I could get to it or would be beat up.

[Ozarker]

Just a thought, would it hurt to raise it a little more so you could have storage between the camper frame and the new trailer frame? A few inches more you might get more water, batteries, tools, etc with outside access doors.

I have a stout little utility trailer and I'm thinking the same thing, to slide the campe on when needed and off to use the utility trailer....it's a tilt trailer so it would be easy to mount and dismount something.

Great job BTW!

[BlackWidow]

I thought about raising it more than 4 inches because I did have some 5 inch c channel I decided that 4 would be fine and i do plan on building an Aluminum holding tank for waste water and a storage tank for drinking water. between the frame rails and the bottom of the trailer floor if i made a 46Lx20Wx8H holding tank that would give me 31.8 gallons Now of course it will have to hold a little less but I hope 31 Gallons is enough That is a significant amount of weight when full roughly 260lbs nothing my F350 cant handle but coming from a race car building background I am always thinking of weight.

[Ozarker]

Great job! Yes, I know, every ounce counts! I'll bewatching this one....

[ColoDisco]

I have been planning on doing the same thing.
Even seen the same thread you have been looking at from the guy in Aspen. (great build)
Are you planning on using the same leveling option as him?
I am watching your thread on pop up portal as well.

[unionmine]

Is that 510 in the backround? I love old 510s

[BlackWidow]

Yes that is a 1972 510 4 door I am in the process of turning it into a rally car.

ColoDisco I am not sure how i plan on doing the leveling system yet. I will be updating the build this weekend I have already mounted the original frame to the new frame and cut off the tongue and the rear bumper. I will post the pics on POP UP Portal as well.

[Heat Miser]

Is that 510 in the backround? I love old 510s

Damn! You beat me to it. I love these cars and wanted one so bad, but they're impossible to find in my area. Great car!

[stomperxj]

ColoDisco I am not sure how i plan on doing the leveling system yet. I will be updating the build this weekend I have already mounted the original frame to the new frame and cut off the tongue and the rear bumper. I will post the pics on POP UP Portal as well.

Not sure if you have seen these yet:

http://norcoind.com/bal/products/con...s/c-jack.shtml

I put the 36" models on my trailer but it looks like they only offer up to a 31" model now. Still something to look at. They work great-