Cheapo Tow Rig project

Reflective tape and a decal I had made really set it off. It looks brand new now from 15’ away.
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Chris_Keziah said:
I see you were unable to convince the wife that it should say "stupid hobby" however I'm much more in favor of freedom :usa:
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We discussed "Stupid Hobby" at length Saturday morning and I thought it would be a winner. Now I'm sad. :(
 
So today was a fun day. I came home early and made sure to do this in the glaring sun while it was super hot.
I got some tiny dollies and lowered the camper down into the back of the trailer.

My wife helped me, and we only debated getting divorced twice. Getting her to help me with things like this are always a good time. After some yelling and adjustments, some bricks, and several bottles of water, we got it lowered.
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After I got it lowered I disconnected the truck and used the winch in the XJ to begin pulled it forward.

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The dollies were small so I staggered them with the front on the passenger side and the rear on the Driver. This make it a little tippy but I was easily able to pushed in the bunk and manipulate it.

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There was a point where it got pretty sketchy. The dolly did not want to go over the metal slat, so I had to gently let go and let my corner rest and use the floor jack to help it get over it.

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We were taking our time and trying to keep it centered as we got closer.

The wife worked the winch. First time for me telling someone to “bump it” and it not mean “give it everything you got”

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Then we got it past the fenders and I put the jacks back on for the last little bit.

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I had to cut the side things just a bit to clear the front of the camper and the jacks.

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Then I loaded the XJ for some test fitmant and a tow test.
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The dove tail drug going out of my gravel, out of my driveway, and out of my road, along with a few other places.

I have some rollers to weld onto the rear which I will do next week. The trailer also isn’t sitting level so I will drill another hole to lower the coupler a little.

As for the truck, I made about 30 mile test tow up and down the highway and thru town. It towed amazing. I honestly feel like it pulls better than it did with the Jeep on the tag trailer and the camper in the bed.
I can feel the extra weight make me get moving slower, but I swear once I’m going it’s like it goes better than before. I believe it has less wind drag like this, since the truck breaks the wind and then it goes up over the camper. That’s my theory at least.

Trans stayed a touch under 200*, which worries me a bit cause it was already cooled off to 85* outside so it could easily get hotter when it was 95* and have more traffic. I already have a bigger auxiliary trans cooler, just gotta figure out how to make it fit and hook my lines to it. Gonna look into it more tomorrow.
 
I also realized I need to adjust the trailer brakes. They were grabbing hard when I bought it but now that it’s loaded they ain’t helping me much.

Also, I have the front axle driver side bearing getting warmer. It’s noticeably warmer than the others and I can only keep my hand on it about 5-6 seconds. I’m not sure if that brake is doing more work than the others or what. I just greased it Saturday and it felt fine, and I’m certain the spindle nut isn’t too tight, cause it spins freely with tiniest amount of play. The next notch on the spindle nut is too tight.
 
Yep. Make the trailer level when loaded. Other than that, not much you can do.

The trans being 100* over ambient is alright, but not toooo much more than that.

I try to tell everyone that's never had a gooseneck how much better they are, but it takes hauling/owning your first one to really get it...
 
Croatan_Kid said:
I try to tell everyone that's never had a gooseneck how much better they are, but it takes hauling/owning your first one to really get it...
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DUDE! The difference is crazy. I always knew that, but now I KNOW KNOW!
It rides so good. Like my truck beats me to death empty and I just deal with it cause it’s a truck. It’s always felt better loaded. But now with this load it feels way better. The way the GN transfers energy to the truck is nothing like a tag along.
 
77GreenMachine said:
So today was a fun day. I came home early and made sure to do this in the glaring sun while it was super hot.
I got some tiny dollies and lowered the camper down into the back of the trailer.

My wife helped me, and we only debated getting divorced twice. Getting her to help me with things like this are always a good time. After some yelling and adjustments, some bricks, and several bottles of water, we got it lowered.
View attachment 321024 View attachment 321025 View attachment 321026

After I got it lowered I disconnected the truck and used the winch in the XJ to begin pulled it forward.

View attachment 321027

The dollies were small so I staggered them with the front on the passenger side and the rear on the Driver. This make it a little tippy but I was easily able to pushed in the bunk and manipulate it.

View attachment 321028

There was a point where it got pretty sketchy. The dolly did not want to go over the metal slat, so I had to gently let go and let my corner rest and use the floor jack to help it get over it.

View attachment 321029

We were taking our time and trying to keep it centered as we got closer.

The wife worked the winch. First time for me telling someone to “bump it” and it not mean “give it everything you got”

View attachment 321030 View attachment 321031 View attachment 321032

Then we got it past the fenders and I put the jacks back on for the last little bit.

View attachment 321033 View attachment 321038
View attachment 321034

I had to cut the side things just a bit to clear the front of the camper and the jacks.

View attachment 321039
Then I loaded the XJ for some test fitmant and a tow test.
View attachment 321040 View attachment 321041
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I'd cut the dovetail off or make it straight. Its hurting more than its helping.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I'd cut the dovetail off or make it straight. Its hurting more than its helping.
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Agreed.

Since we're already off topic anyway, I've been thinking about adding a dovetail to my deck over. That, and a torque tube. It's probably more work than it's worth, though.
 
shawn said:
Since we're already off topic anyway, I've been thinking about adding a dovetail to my deck over.
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I might know where you can get a good deal on the materials :lol:
 
Depending on how Ed added that dove one I don't think it'll be terribly hard to flatten out. Don't think I'd cut it off just to have room for a 4 wheeler or something for the youngins.
 
Chris_Keziah said:
Wait you're agreeing with Shawn? Are you sick or something?

Imo not really no, if it were an enclosed with torsion axles yeah but it's sprung under leafs.
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I'm talking about cutting the spring brackets off and welding a piece of tube to the bottom of the frame. If it's anything like a lot of these other trailers, there's a weak spot in the frame there anyway. It might be worth considering shifting the axles aft 6-12" at the same time to get some more pin weight. It should only take about a half day to do.
 
So as far as the coupler, it’s already on it’s lowest setting, and I don’t have a great deal of room left to drill another hole. I meant to take a pic before I left for work but forgot. This is the best I have.
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I would almost consider flattening out the dove like Chris mentioned.

Not sure what I’ll do with it yet. I’d really like to get the trailer level. I don’t care if it drags a little here and there and if I put the rollers on it won’t be a big deal but it scrapes my drive way pretty good and I don’t like that. I’m starting to regret buying this trailer, but I can certainly get my money back out of it and go get what I want.
 
77GreenMachine said:
if I put the rollers on it won’t be a big deal
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Bogie wheels are fine, but they don't help if you high center the trailer. They also don't slide side to side very well. You want to be able to hop a curb or roll the trailer tires up on something without worrying that it's going to get hung on the frame when it comes down on the other side.

How much weight is on the pin? Have you tried pulling the Jeep up tight to the camper and seeing if it levels out at all?
 
shawn said:
I'm talking about cutting the spring brackets off and welding a piece of tube to the bottom of the frame. If it's anything like a lot of these other trailers, there's a weak spot in the frame there anyway. It might be worth considering shifting the axles aft 6-12" at the same time to get some more pin weight. It should only take about a half day to do.
Click to expand...

x2. Id prefer to leave the dove, for loading other vehicles/items. As Shawn mentioned, I would take a long piece of tubing, that is the length of the spring mounts. Weld new mounts to it, and weld it under the existing frame.
 
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