They've got those at that site as well. Cost for a trailer axle kit would be $489 (3500lb's kit which is the only one that can use a 6x5.5 bolt pattern wheels).

I think that I'll just reuse the old springs on the chassis I find. They should be 1/2 ton and fairly long as opposed to normal trailer springs. Nice and flexible for off road but I think I'll need to add shocks or a sway bar for highway use. I know someone with 63" chebby springs on his trailer, I'll ask him and report back. That torsion axle is intriguing though...

I figure that I'll use a cantilever closing lid, split down the center with a "shelf" system below it to carry a piece of 1" plywood to pull up and make a tent floor. A small propane tank and a water tank need to be installed on this bad boy as well along with a shower / wash station on the outside. Over the fender tool boxes might be neat as well.

What would the ideal size be for a midsize SUV? I'm thinking something like 5' wide X 7' long on 33's with an articulating ball mount.

Mike

Alot of the Aussie off road campers use a suspension along these lines - with a spring and shock for more travel:featherRide

I once had a truck bed redneck trailer with stock springs. I only mention this because when I got it the thing didn't have shocks. I always thought it didn't pull well but then my Dad added some shocks to it and that dramaticly improved its handling. Leaf trailers with shocks rock, but i don't think that would be best for an offroad trailer.

Cheers,
RJ

LOL, did you see what they cost? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> The last axle I bought was a custom 3500 lb'r and it only cost me $175! That was about four years ago, but still, that's a huge difference in price. I built a really nice pickup bed trailer for a demo for my bedliner business. The axle had to be a custom width, spindle drop, spindle angle, etc, dealie to fit in the fenderwells of the truck bed. It came out looking sweet. Looked like it had a 4" lift on it! I got lots of comments on that trailer, and many offers to buy it.
As for bolt pattern, you could easily get away with the adapters for a trailer <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> I like the idea of starting with a V6 gen 1 monty frame though!

Here are the 1/2 torsion axles I was thinking of...


However if they make a 5 bolt to 6 bolt adapter plate, then I'll got with a lighter torsion axle (2k lbs vs 3.5k lbs) which will be alot less expensive overall per axle unless the adapter is $100 or more which would make the savings negligable.

Shoot, still looking for a frame or back half. Looked at a Nissan rear frame half, the yard wanted $500.00 for it, too rich for this project.

Also, talked to a local trailer manufacturer / dealer and they can get a 5200 lb tube axle with surge (hydraulic) brakes for $200.00 in various widths. Pretty fair break from the etrailer price.

Mike

Glad you brought that up. I was gonna check locally first as well before building/ordering anything.

TIA,

Ray <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Detail plans for Trailer Frame & idea for Trailer shell/enclosure.