Enthusiast I
I’m looking an off road/overland trailer. Doesn’t have to be very fancy. I have a rooftop tent already so om not looking for another. Let me know what is out there that isn’t gonna bankrupt me. Any suggestions or ideas?
Overland trailer.
- Thread starter Queco
- Start date
Explorer I
- 3,680
- First Name
- Brian
- Last Name
- McGahuey
- Member #
23711
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRMV941
Your cheapest option is the smittybilt trailer, if you can find it.
Pretty much everything is going to be in the 8k plus range.
I was in the same boat as you, so I ended up building mine.
Symmetry trailers out of Wyoming are reasonably priced. Full metal construction, and they can customize it. That would probably set you back 12-16k.
Pretty much everything is going to be in the 8k plus range.
I was in the same boat as you, so I ended up building mine.
Symmetry trailers out of Wyoming are reasonably priced. Full metal construction, and they can customize it. That would probably set you back 12-16k.
Queco,
You may want to look at surplus military trailers. Price will generally be lower and you can build to meet your needs if you want to take the diy approach. The picture is of my project, had a custom rack fabricated and built storage in the bed of the trailer.
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Member II
- 889
- First Name
- Matt
- Last Name
- Lewandowski
- Member #
25489
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KG4DIE
I have to disagree with Reaver. Your cheapest trailer option is a flatbed utility trailer with modifications to the suspension to bring it up to a ride height similar to your trucks. Following that would be a mil surplus. The smittybilt trailers are not bad, but a simple DIY is often a better choice because it will give you exactly what you want. Mil surplus often need a replacement axle so you can use wheel/tire appropriate to your tow vehicle, and potentially a change of hitch unless you like pintles.
Explorer I
- 3,680
- First Name
- Brian
- Last Name
- McGahuey
- Member #
23711
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRMV941
This is the route I went, but not everybody has the ability to do that, so I didn't suggest it.
Mine is constantly being tweaked as we learn things about our setup, and being diy, it makes it much easier to do.
Member II
- 889
- First Name
- Matt
- Last Name
- Lewandowski
- Member #
25489
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KG4DIE
Red_Leaf_Overland
Rank V
Advocate III
I have been designing my own to fit my needs. I will be towing it behind 2 different vehicles and a variety of terrain so I designed it around that in mind as well as how I pack and mainly the tire size I figured it would need to get through to some of the spots I planned on taking it.
The top will hold larger gear like tents, axes, shovels, traction boards ( I may still split it into 2 sections but the idea was to be able to access everything in the top no matter how it was parked). The bottom will be a series of drawers for cooking gear, tools, coolers, fuels, etc. The roof will have roof rails so if I do decide to go back to a RTT I can fit it up there, but will likely just haul kayaks.
The only reason for the trailer in my case is because my vehicles are small on the inside and I have a growing family. This will allow me to have less gear crammed in the vehicle and help get things a little more organized.
The top will hold larger gear like tents, axes, shovels, traction boards ( I may still split it into 2 sections but the idea was to be able to access everything in the top no matter how it was parked). The bottom will be a series of drawers for cooking gear, tools, coolers, fuels, etc. The roof will have roof rails so if I do decide to go back to a RTT I can fit it up there, but will likely just haul kayaks.
The only reason for the trailer in my case is because my vehicles are small on the inside and I have a growing family. This will allow me to have less gear crammed in the vehicle and help get things a little more organized.
Off-Road Ranger I
- 1,146
- First Name
- Bruce
- Last Name
- Collins
- Member #
19170
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- GMRS WRKP 397 Groundhog
- Service Branch
- EMS
Take a look at the Dinoot no weld trailer racks at Compact Camping Concepts. It's everything you need to convert a small utility trailer ( Lowes or Home Depot) into a nice lightweight overland trailer.
KISS. KEEP IT SIMPLE ST$#@()
took a harbor freight, added 3500 lb axles and 2.5 inch hitch and reinforcing steel. Used take off Toyota rims to match my rig. Added boxes front and back and made a frame to hold my RTT. The center is lockable and I carry 2 pro pain tanks, spare, pottie, 5 gallons gas, 15 gal water, and blackstone griddle, chainsaw, propane fire pit in the center, front box is kitchen, rear box is other supplies. I have owned 7 rvs. Jeeped off-road my hole life and built a lot of storage things for my rigs. This was built on the design of simple. If I am out of town on a long trip and a bearing fails, they are the most common bearing and I can get them at any auto parts store. its 1500 pounds and can be towed by most anything. Wheel lug pattern is very common and you can get trailer tires to fit. Same as my rig so 2 spares. If my rig breaks down, it can be towed home with a uhaul truck. Stayed leaf springs because I can buy trailer springs in most towns and the leaf spring is strongest and most tried and true system. And no slides. Slides will not hold up to abuse in off-road or just constant gravel road situations.
took a harbor freight, added 3500 lb axles and 2.5 inch hitch and reinforcing steel. Used take off Toyota rims to match my rig. Added boxes front and back and made a frame to hold my RTT. The center is lockable and I carry 2 pro pain tanks, spare, pottie, 5 gallons gas, 15 gal water, and blackstone griddle, chainsaw, propane fire pit in the center, front box is kitchen, rear box is other supplies. I have owned 7 rvs. Jeeped off-road my hole life and built a lot of storage things for my rigs. This was built on the design of simple. If I am out of town on a long trip and a bearing fails, they are the most common bearing and I can get them at any auto parts store. its 1500 pounds and can be towed by most anything. Wheel lug pattern is very common and you can get trailer tires to fit. Same as my rig so 2 spares. If my rig breaks down, it can be towed home with a uhaul truck. Stayed leaf springs because I can buy trailer springs in most towns and the leaf spring is strongest and most tried and true system. And no slides. Slides will not hold up to abuse in off-road or just constant gravel road situations.
