Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Possible trailer build

MountaineerTom

MountaineerTom

LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
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I may get this trailer from a friend of mine and wondering if it's worth it for building a trailer.

I don't know the weight rating on it, didn't see a tag on it with just a quick look over. It's 51" wide at the outside edges of the frame. The boxed part is 49" long and the overall length (not including the lights) is 138".

I'm not sure of the thickness of the metal frame. It's definitely not 1/4". It's a C channel frame. I'm thinking of different springs/axle (centered in the squared area) with 5 on 4-1/2 hubs, a simple boxed cargo are, fenders and platform on the A-frame part. Maybe beefing it up a little and extending that center beam all the way to the rear crossmember.

So, would it be worth the effort?


A little backstory; this used to be my youngest son's trailer and jet ski. He bought it used in high school. A year or two after joining the Navy he decided to get rid of it due to some problems with it that he wasn't able to fix. He ended up selling it to my best friend really cheap who was planning on fixing it. He ended up not having time with deployments, new baby, retiring from military, divorce, school and now job hunting. So it's basically sat at my house for about a years then at his house for 6-7 years. LOL

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IMG_8083.JPG
 
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I’ve built a small utility trailer out of a pop up camper years ago. It was old enough that it had full size wheels. The only good thing I see in a jet ski trailer is it’s already got plates and a title. The wheels are small and only 4 bolt as far as I can see, and it will be pretty narrow and long. Just my thoughts.
 
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If your planning on just using the frame and its free I'd say go for it..It may take a bit of working out depending on what your going to use it for.
How handy are you with a welder ?
 
Yes, just the frame, but not the axle, wheels or leaf springs that are on it.

I have welder, but I’m not real proficient at it yet. My friend that has the trailer now is really good at welding though. He’s they guy I go to if I don’t think I can do it properly.
 
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MountaineerTom said:
Yes, just the frame, but not the axle, wheels or leaf springs that are on it.

I have welder, but I’m not real proficient at it yet. My friend that has the trailer now is really good at welding though. He’s they guy I go to if I don’t think I can do it properly.
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I have a mate like that too lol
 
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I've been keeping an eye out for a small trailer that I could make a small camper from to pull behind the LJ.

I've got a decent size home made utility trailer that I've had for years, but it's axle is welded to the frame and I have to be careful to not put anything on there that could shake apart. It's great for ATVs and riding mowers though. And hauling downed limbs around the farm too.
 
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MountaineerTom said:
The plan would be to replace the axle and use 5 on 4-1/2 hubs.
Click to expand...
If you want to start with a light bolted trailer there is a better way. Plans and examples for converting cheap Harbor Freight utility trailers for camping and offroad can be found over at the tventuring forums. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/trailerforum/ I think the owner's store also sells almost every part you need if you decide not to source them elsewhere.
 
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Too bad you don't have the axle or leaf springs. I used an abandon jet ski trailer and used the axle and leaf springs for my traler build. Even had the same lug pattern as my jeep. That frame would be plenty strong for a small jeep trailer.
 
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steelhd said:
If you want to start with a light bolted trailer there is a better way. Plans and examples for converting cheap Harbor Freight utility trailers for camping and offroad can be found over at the tventuring forums. https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/trailerforum/ I think the owner's store also sells almost every part you need if you decide not to source them elsewhere.
Click to expand...


The link didn’t work.
 
I have that same jet ski trailer, I bolted a wood deck on it and have towed it all over the US, put 4 dana 44's on it, and pulled it from Great falls MT to Cheyenne, WY with a Kia Rio. Great trailers as long as you realize that it does have limitations and sucks to back up because it is short and 14 inch wheels are nicer than the small ones. Good luck, Tim
 
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MountaineerTom said:
I may get this trailer from a friend of mine and wondering if it's worth it for building a trailer.

I don't know the weight rating on it, didn't see a tag on it with just a quick look over. It's 51" wide at the outside edges of the frame. The boxed part is 49" long and the overall length (not including the lights) is 138".

I'm not sure of the thickness of the metal frame. It's definitely not 1/4". It's a C channel frame. I'm thinking of different springs/axle (centered in the squared area) with 5 on 4-1/2 hubs, a simple boxed cargo are, fenders and platform on the A-frame part. Maybe beefing it up a little and extending that center beam all the way to the rear crossmember.

So, would it be worth the effort?


A little backstory; this used to be my youngest son's trailer and jet ski. He bought it used in high school. A year or two after joining the Navy he decided to get rid of it due to some problems with it that he wasn't able to fix. He ended up selling it to my best friend really cheap who was planning on fixing it. He ended up not having time with deployments, new baby, retiring from military, divorce, school and now job hunting. So it's basically sat at my house for about a years then at his house for 6-7 years. LOL

View attachment 102322View attachment 102323
Click to expand...
That is certainly a much better trailer than those HF pieces of shit. There is a very key feature that needs to be paid attention to. At the back of that slipper spring is a capture for the aft end of the spring.
 
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Cisco Kid said:
Ben working on this for a month. 4 X 6 . tires 12" 5 X 4.5
Moved the axle under the springs and put 3.5 inch shackles on it. Trailer is now the same height as the Jeep.

Bought it for $150

View attachment 102628View attachment 102629
Click to expand...
I would keep a very close eye on those springs. I'm pretty sure that a slipper spring doesn't respond well to a lift shackle. That type of spring depends on the forward eye to locate the axle under the frame. The other end just rubs on the bottom of the frame and floats around since it doesn't have another eye like a normal spring. Adding the shackle to lift it adds more play and I can easily see where a side load can dislocate the slipper end out from under the frame and up on the side which will be a mess. Add the capture shown on the end of the Jet Ski trailer spring at the least.

I would have done it with either a eye-eye spring or half the shackle height and then a lift block with a capture at the slipper end to get the other half of the lift.
 
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