Yes please let me know where to go! Lol im definitely checking these out. I'll let you know if we head that way.Great looking build! Even better price point. Was literally just looking at the smittybilt scout and at $8k, no thanks. That a lot of hotel rooms.
From NJ also (South. Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland, Ocean)
Wharton State Forest has rustic camping options
Belleplain also offers trails & camping.
see you on the trails!
I did a lot of searching for several months and was patient. I think I got lucky on the price because nobody wanted to touch that dent. I knew I wasn't going to spend $2000 on a project so for me $225 was worth the gamble. Even with the dent, I wouldn't have worried. This way any damage that comes on the trail doesn't hurt as much lol.
So, I'm finally done with the first stage of my first overlanding/camping/kayak trailer. Never had a Jeep, my Bronco is my first true off road vehicle and I love to camp. When I learned about overlanding it amazed me. Too bad I live on the east coast! Anyway, here is my build.
I started with a Vietnam era (I think, might be earlier) M416 Army trailer. This is what it looked like when I bought it. Cost me $225.
Took a chance with the damage but it's going to be used off road. Won't hurt so much when I scratch it lol. Got the dent taken out best I could for $100.
Stripped everything down to basic parts. Stripped paint and rust and I redid the wheels with new bearings and races.
Then I degreased and scrubbed everything and prepped the metal with etching solution. Next was to coat everything with POR-15.
Then I painted the trailer with Raptor Liner. I did a two tone color scheme, matching cactus grey for the outside and black for the frame, bed and fenders.
Then it was time to put everything back together. I got the original wheels powder coated black and mounted a set of 215/85/16 Falken Wildpeaks on them. They are basically the same size as the original 16x7.00 tires.
Assembled everything and I even got the original hand brake working again! I love this thing. I installed a bed rack. For now it's going to hold my kayak and canoe but eventually I want to add a roof top tent.
My future plans include a box with battery, solar panels and lights. Maybe a refrigerator and compressed air. Also want to add a water tank with some kind of kitchen setup that will fold down. Maybe some recovery tools. I'm open to ideas as this is my first attempt.
Trailer: $225
Fix dent: $100
Wheels and hubs: $60
Shocks: $70
Raptor liner and paint: $220
LED lights: $60
Rack: $120
Tires: $430
Misc parts and hardware: about $100
Total: $1385 and a lot of sweat!
Totally a fun project and I can't wait to use it!
Thank you for the kind words but this is something anyone here could do. Don't sell yourselves short. I have no formal training. Most of what I've learned I did by making mistakes and leaning on friends who showed me. Barring that YouTube is a great resource.
Yes you do lol. Big picture. Just tackle a little at a timeWow that’s amazing! I don’t have the patience nor the skill to tackle a project like that
Sig! Welcome! I bolded and underlined a part of your quote man, there is plenty of opportunity to "Overland" here on the East Coast. Yeah, we don't have the BLM Lands and as many wide open spaces as the west, but we do have some great places to plan a trip too.
No I didn't. I considered that but I would have had to change the axle, buy wheels and get 35 inch tires. Plus the wheels would have stuck out a ridiculous amount and I would have had to move the fenders. That cost would have doubled the cost of the trailer. I considered a ton of options and it just didn't make sense to me for that one time I'm going to get a flat on the trailer. I like that idea but didn't fit my application.
Wow that's awesome. I never saw that. Are those prices current?
I have been looking. I'm going to start planning soon. I welcome any suggestions
