Terry's Overland Trailer V1.0

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
As our kids grow, the Xterra is getting kinda small. I've been looking at a trailer to help add storage space and I've been particularly interested in the 3.5' x 5' landscaping trailer from Lowe's.

Well yesterday a decent deal on one popped up on the Bookface and after a discussion with the wife this morning about our goals for family travels, I went and grabbed it today.

20191026_160515.jpg

It's in really good shape although I had to replace one tail light and fix the wiring on the other side to get it home.

The initial plans to get it in service are:
1. Axle flip
2. 15" wheels and tall/narrow tires
3. Line the inside with plywood and build a hinged top
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Look at “Fibreglass Reinforced Panel” (it’s that white bumpy stuff that they sometimes use in restrooms on the walls). It’s easy to work with and won’t get waterlogged. Great for the bottom or sides. You can find it at Home Depot.

That’s a nice little trailer.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Look at “Fibreglass Reinforced Panel” (it’s that white bumpy stuff that they sometimes use in restrooms on the walls). It’s easy to work with and won’t get waterlogged. Great for the bottom or sides. You can find it at Home Depot.

That’s a nice little trailer.

I can see using these for the sides but I think for the floor I'm going to stick with plywood for the durability.

I've been trying to come up with a plan for the lid that will be rigid and light and inexpensive to construct for the time being.

The weather is breaking so I'm going to go out in a bit and do some planning with a tape measure and some of our travel boxes.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
I can see using these for the sides but I think for the floor I'm going to stick with plywood for the durability.

I've been trying to come up with a plan for the lid that will be rigid and light and inexpensive to construct for the time being.

The weather is breaking so I'm going to go out in a bit and do some planning with a tape measure and some of our travel boxes.

Could look on Craigslist for an old truck bed liner and cut to fit for the floor. Durable and waterproof.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Could look on Craigslist for an old truck bed liner and cut to fit for the floor. Durable and waterproof.
That's a good point. I'll see what I can find.

If the size of the thing works out the way I hope, I'll be stripping out the expanded metal and putting in aluminum and bracing up the structure.

But before I invest that much I want to use it some and see that it's going to be useful for us.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
The girls helped me flip the axle today. It's still a little low with those tiny tires on there but there's changes on that front in the future.

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I did a test fit of our boxes and tent. I think it'll work for what we're wanting to use it for.

20191027_133047.jpg

And it looks like I can pretty much back into the tongue at its current length. It's a little tight on the plastic side piece and I'd honestly like about another foot of length. Plus I want to add a tray in front of the body to have dual jerry can holders, a tool box and a battery box because I want it to have a dedicated 12V system for charging things and running lights and possibly a HAM/GMRS radio setup.

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TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Hello TerryD , check into WEST SYSTEM my uncle put this on his OLD commercial fishing boat and it's still on there. If it holds up to that kinda abuse it would be good for this . It's an epoxy system that go's on wood , just a thought ...
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Hello TerryD , check into WEST SYSTEM my uncle put this on his OLD commercial fishing boat and it's still on there. If it holds up to that kinda abuse it would be good for this . It's an epoxy system that go's on wood , just a thought ...

I might look into that but I'm only planning on the plywood being temporary to see if the trailer will really make a difference.

We're hoping that going camping will be easier with everything already packed up and ready to roll at short notice. Only a few changes depending on time of the year as far as cool or warm weather gear.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Picked up and installed a swivel drop-leg jack for the trailer today. It's welded on well enough to test the location of it for the time being.

20191102_181642.jpg

I also picked up a hitch mounted cargo carrier that turned out to be larger and slightly better made than my current one so i'm going to keep it as is and eventually slice up my old one to add to the tongue on the trailer for added storage once I extend the tongue. It'll also get tied into any side steps or sliders I add in the future.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Installed the spare tire carrier on the tongue opposite the jack last night before dark.

I guess the next step is deciding what I'm going to do for a lid for it and getting started on that. I was looking to build a frame with 1" square tubing and sheet it with some 1/4" plywood but I wanted the tubing rolled into a slight arch to help shed water and the roller I need to do that is out of my price range. Oh well, now to decide on a plan B....
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
Installed the spare tire carrier on the tongue opposite the jack last night before dark.

I guess the next step is deciding what I'm going to do for a lid for it and getting started on that. I was looking to build a frame with 1" square tubing and sheet it with some 1/4" plywood but I wanted the tubing rolled into a slight arch to help shed water and the roller I need to do that is out of my price range. Oh well, now to decide on a plan B....
Talk to an electrician, you should be able to provide them with a couple of sticks of 1/2” or 3/4” conduit and they could bend it for you for about the cost of a six pack.
Or go to Home Depot, get pipe, bend it in store using a pipe bender at the rental section, purchase pipe.
You can drill and use bolts, or use self taping screws to attach the cladding.
The ends of the pipe can be squished flat for attaching to the square frame.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Talk to an electrician, you should be able to provide them with a couple of sticks of 1/2” or 3/4” conduit and they could bend it for you for about the cost of a six pack.
Or go to Home Depot, get pipe, bend it in store using a pipe bender, purchase pipe.

I actually am an industrial electrician. :D I was looking for a nice long radius hoop instead of a sharply bent angle in the center of the tube but it's looking like I might have to settle for that though.
 

BCXterra

Bought an X
I actually am an industrial electrician. :D I was looking for a nice long radius hoop instead of a sharply bent angle in the center of the tube but it's looking like I might have to settle for that though.
Maybe a series of short angle bends, think like a barn roof.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I may just make the first top out of 2x4s. I can use a jig saw to cut that radius on 4 of them and that would make enough of a top to get an idea of how this whole thing will work and 2 2x4x8s will make 4 "rafters" that will be more than enough to make the lid for now.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Finally got around to replacing the beat up 1 7/8" coupler on the trailer today. I put a new 2" one on to match my other two trailers.

I still need to cut out the old tubes inside the bed where the light wiring is run now so I can put in the sides.

If the little trailer works out good, I have some box tubing in the garage to extend the tongue and brace up the frame. I'll look at doing a swap from slipper springs to shackle style then to lift it slightly and improve the capacity.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Cut the light wiring and removed the tubes it was running through inside the bed so I can begin sheeting it with plywood soon I hope.

Spending February sick as a dog ground all my progress around here to a hault...
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Time for a longer tongue. But first a decent rear bumper...

It's about as square as I could get it given the sad construction of the trailer and my welds hold but are anything but pretty so this is about as close a shot as you get...

20200507_191212.jpg
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Added the basket to the tongue and bolted on the spare tire carrier. I also cut down two cheap cinch straps to tie the cooler down with. It turned out pretty well I think! It pulls good but you can't see it at all behind the Xterra in the mirrors.

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TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Here's my thoughts on the trailer after the first trip out with it:

Pros:
Pulls really well
Tracks good on the trail, no worries about where it was, it was right behind me
Nice to have cooler accessible
Water can strapped to the fender was awesome for camp water
Quick and easy to drop to go explore or run a more challenging obstacle the trailer doesn't need to be on
Totes kept things pretty dry and clean
Cons:
Totes limit storage area. Completely full with only 4 people's worth of gear (have 5 people)
With the table stored vertical like that, couldn't fully open cooler lid because of tent length
Can't see the trailer in my mirrors so very difficult to back without assistance
Fuel/Water cans need actual mounts. They came loose twice on me on the dirt (almost seemed like someone took them and the cooler loose?)
So, I'm looking it over and trying to decide on the next direction and I think I'm going to extend the top of the side rails up some. 6-8" is current thinking. Then build a swing out rear door vs the lift out gate and put a top on it with a rack to carry the tent and canopy. This will open the inside up more for increased storage so we can hopefully get 90% of our gear in the trailer and hopefully it'll be slightly more weather tight. Getting everything square enough to build off of will be the major task I guess, but I think it will work out ok.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
I added walls to my Trailer, Depth of what my arm can reach. Still stinks when Driving Dusty roads. everything is covered in dust. Did add silicone creating a seal for the totes.. helps.
Plus added bottle opener to Side of trailer.. It's well used in camps.

More room more junk to carry.. never ends!!.
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
Here's my thoughts on the trailer after the first trip out with it:

Pros:
Pulls really well
Tracks good on the trail, no worries about where it was, it was right behind me
Nice to have cooler accessible
Water can strapped to the fender was awesome for camp water
Quick and easy to drop to go explore or run a more challenging obstacle the trailer doesn't need to be on
Totes kept things pretty dry and clean
Cons:
Totes limit storage area. Completely full with only 4 people's worth of gear (have 5 people)
With the table stored vertical like that, couldn't fully open cooler lid because of tent length
Can't see the trailer in my mirrors so very difficult to back without assistance
Fuel/Water cans need actual mounts. They came loose twice on me on the dirt (almost seemed like someone took them and the cooler loose?)
So, I'm looking it over and trying to decide on the next direction and I think I'm going to extend the top of the side rails up some. 6-8" is current thinking. Then build a swing out rear door vs the lift out gate and put a top on it with a rack to carry the tent and canopy. This will open the inside up more for increased storage so we can hopefully get 90% of our gear in the trailer and hopefully it'll be slightly more weather tight. Getting everything square enough to build off of will be the major task I guess, but I think it will work out ok.
Hey TerryD I've gotta throw in my 2 cent's worth :) How about hinging the back gate on the bottom and attaching leg's to the top that would pivot down .By keeping it level with the trailer floor it could double as a table for midget's or another place just to keep stuff off the ground and up and away from crawly thing's . Also from my own experience in life the more storage I make the more $hit I'll buy so I can use my new storage area/place and then the daughter and ole lady will wanna put their stuff in there and the dog will want more kibble storage , the cat's will be inviting their buddies over to play the"" Hide and Scratch $hit up game"" Eventually you'll end up putting a lift kit and locker's on your new Winnebago so you can carry more STUFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the other hand , if it's a diesel pusher you can tow Pepper with you ??????? Hey , this might work out pretty good ..................
 
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