e36m3 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 i am playing with the idea of getting a 8 foot pop up camper next spring to modify it so i can put 31s on it : 3500 lbs axle, electric brakes, 1-2 solar panels, etc so it can be a decent off road trailer. i am also getting a quad next spring so i can build a camp on my piece of land. i would rather not buy 2 trailers to do the same job and dont want the big pop ups / toy hauler as they are too long. so what me and my buddy Pat came up with the idea of building an exoskeleton that would be welded on the pop up's frame all the way to the roof when folded ( in steel ), then build an aluminum frame around the roof plus an aluminum sheet ( 3/16 thick ) that would sit on the lower frame to withstand to weight of a honda foreman 500 on the roof. of course, i would remove the quad before lifting the top as the mechanism would handle the weight. i have seen people with 4-5 bikes plus AC unit on top and it worked, so am i crazy in thinking that if i reframe it, it would be possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekmac Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Myself, I'd probably prefer an extension on the front like this: But something like what you're thinking should work just fine, and it would be shorter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 those 2 trailers are exactly what i dont want though. the toy hauler is well over 20 feet long with the long tongue. the second one, i might as well sleep in my Cabella's tent as its a cheap tent they put inside the trailer. i wouldnt want to sleep in that if it pisses rain like saturday night. i dont intend on taking a trailer like that down in the most retarded places, but it still has to follow me in a tight trail without the quad on, and just logging roads if the quad is on top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekmac Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 The only thing that would worry me is the weight on top. We had an 8' pop-up and it only weighed 900lbs, so adding a heavy ATV would make it pretty top heavy. You'd get extra width with the 3500lb axle, which would help though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sar4x4 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Yeah, I doubt the trailer frame and tongue, etc would be designed to handle an extra 800(?) lbs, especially top heavy. Going to a larger axle or heavier springs on a truck doesn't increase your GVWR, which is determined also by frame, engine, front brakes, etc etc, IMHO. It might be better to build a heavy duty trailer, and then drop the camper part on it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 the top heavy part is what really concerned me. the trailers i'm looking at are about 1500 lbs, before i reframe and all. i was also concerned by how strong the frame and tongue are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekmac Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Some trailers frames are only C channel instead of being boxed. I'm sure if you boxed it in yourself you'd be ok for the weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 yeah, the trailers i looked at have boxed frame and look real sturdy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sar4x4 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 John, you can calculate how strong the frame is I'm sure! HxWxthickness, I'm sure there is a table for that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 i still have all the charts here at home for that kind of stuff. i'm really worried about it being too top heavy to be a viable project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodie Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 "Strong enough to park a quad on top! (we do not recommend hauling ATV's)" Lol kamparoo shows this, but doesn't recommend it. I think you might be in for a lot of fab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 i ve been looking for a pic like that for a while and its the first one i see. i have really no problem with fab. i ll give it some more tought hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 i sold my bimmer, i m just waiting for the guy to come pick it up with his enclosed trailer. i will be buying an 8 foot pop up camper in the next couple weeks. what i will do is cut the tongue of the trailer, weld some square tubes so its longer and stronger plus weld a platform over the tongue so i can fit a honda foreman 500. i plan on getting stiffer and longer leaf springs, something of a jeep maybe, and make new mounts for them. i also plan on moving the mounts forward, around 8-10 inches, to shift the load a bit since i will always be carrying the quad with it. i will also get a 3500 lb axle with electric brakes. i will also install a second marine battery and 1 or 2 solar panels + inverter. we will get a rack for 2 x 30 lbs propane tanks. we also plan on lifting the trailer to fit 235/75/15 BFG ATs. i will be adding a water tank to it, probably around 70 litres. my girlfriend will be in charge of re-finishing the interior so new curtains, reupholstering the cushion and bed covers etc and we will remodel the kitchen together. i will post pics as soon as i go get the camper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'monster Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 You are not going to want the axle moved ahead .rule of thumb is 1"back of centre for every foot of trailer . So if it is 15 ' from tongue to rear bumper you want the axle 15" back from center other wise it will be all over the road Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastcoastcam Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 And the hitch on the FJ is a ??? ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted September 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 not sure yet. its either i get a hitch now, but i dont plan on towing it this year. i ll tow it with my buddy's truck. or i wait until next spring and i could fabricate a metal bumper, tire carrier and hitch in the bumper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastcoastcam Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 The reason for my question is that you have to think about tongue weight as well as the overall weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 the hitch i m getting is rated for 5000 lb, my truck is also good for up to that until i install a tranny cooler from a tacoma. i dont see tongue weight being too much of a problem. that was part of my reasoning with moving the axle a couple inches forward. i will always be carrying the quad on it, if not i ll have a good load of wood or a ton of camping gear on there, so pretty much always a minimum of 300 lbs on the tongue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomWood Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I think James is trying to say to make sure the hitch on the FJ can handle a large tongue weight. Also I would listen to Clarence about the axle position, he has the knowledge and experience with trailers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastcoastcam Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Just remember that you are planning to put 630# practically on the tongue. That's a lot of weight for a 5000# hitch with a max tongue weight of 500#...just saying... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'monster Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 If you use torrision bars it raises your allowable tounge weight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 so what do people use to tow this then? i m not too familiar with trailers and all that stuff since i never owned one. what if i get something like this to help : http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Pro-Series/49585.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
e36m3 Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 http://www.goodsamcamping.com/plan/SizeLimitsCA.aspx#foot according to this site, triple towing is allowed in nova scotia, as long as it doesnt exceed 72 feet. is that true or the guy is just retarded? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'monster Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 It is true . I followed a ranger towing a camper and a boat and trailer on the number 7 a couple years ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'monster Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 pop-up-tent-trailer-toy-hauler.jpg so what do people use to tow this then? i m not too familiar with trailers and all that stuff since i never owned one. what if i get something like this to help :http://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Pro-Series/49585.html Ya that is what I meant by torrision bars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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