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Towable tent

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Offline Derek

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Towable tent
« on: October 04, 2012, 07:17:09 AM »
I know not exactly all zuk topic but going to color match and modify for off highway travel and make towable by my fourdoor. At only 650 lb. I found this trailer on craigslist last week. I towed it comfortably at 70 down the freeway with no problems slowing down. So far got canvas off and the very loud 70's carpet out. Metal in great shape and only one corner of the ply floor rotted. Off to pressure wash this evening after work.


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Offline Toy Box

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2012, 07:45:48 AM »
I made it to Lopez Inland this summer camped out what a grant place did a lot of hiking. Are you going to fall classic with the trailer. Doug
You Play you Pay

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Offline crewcabrob

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2012, 08:15:11 AM »
It looks like a fun project and how nice will it be to get off the ground camping. 

Rob
92 Sami, OME YJ SPUA, 15x10 Ultra wheels, 32x11.5x15 MTR/k, Corbeau Moab seats, Shrockworks bumpers and tank skid, Mighty Kong, 6.5:1 gears, hi-rock rails, Bushwacker 6" flares, Rampage tinted top, Grant wheel, Truck-lites LED head lights, PIAA LED driving lights, MOAB Husker Spirit license plate

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2012, 11:06:59 AM »
The goal is to have it at the Fall Classic this year.  We'll see how much I need to haul in my Tracker to keep the weight down.  :D

Keep us updated!
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #4 on: October 08, 2012, 07:02:02 AM »
Got the trailer apart. Little further then I was hoping. Drilled out all the corroded snaps. The rot in the front right corner had to be replaced but to get the old piece of ply out it was a complete disassemble. My friend found some paint from an old car project that looks like a perfect match. Going to cut some new plywood and try to get some stiffness back in the tub. With it apart it is lick a wet noodle. once I paint the frame I'll wire it for backup lights. just going to use a flat five type connector. I'll post how I tied in the trailer plug to the sidekick.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #5 on: October 08, 2012, 02:33:37 PM »
I will see what I can do about getting some new vinyl stickers so you can strip the current ones off.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2012, 07:06:56 AM »
Was able to pressure wash almost all the rust off of the frame then treated the whole thing with a rust converter. Added some heavier safety chains with shackles. moved the tongue out six inches so while tents up it will clear the spare tire on the sidekick without detaching it. For clearance did a spring over axle conversion (real easy on a trailer). Cut the new ply. Lastly wired a flat five plug on the sidekick so I will have backup lights on the trailer. Hopefully I'll have time to top coat the frame today with hamerite.

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2012, 07:10:12 AM »
I will see what I can do about getting some new vinyl stickers so you can strip the current ones off.

I'll get you some sizes. Probably a TR decal also. Oh and a zukiworld maybe. 

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2012, 09:21:16 PM »
first coat of hamerite on the frame underside will see how it looks in the morn. left the picture phone at home. looking to get it ready for Nov.

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #9 on: October 15, 2012, 06:20:35 AM »
Apparently the Nimrod company never thought the none treated ply would rot. A real pain to get everything lined back up and bolted to the frame. Now have pressure treated ply in the front and all stainless bolts and washers holding the tub down to the shiny frame. the hamerite paint scratched off easier that I thought it would when I was sliding the tub back on the frame. but will touch it up later. Hopefully today I can get the lights cut in and wired.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2012, 10:47:39 AM »
Are you going to put a coating on the new plywood or just paint it up?
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2012, 06:44:42 AM »
I'll coat both pieces of ply but for now I have some outdoor carpet in grey to cover it. Got the new lights installed yesterday. of course forgot my phone for pics. The back up lights are great and very bright. Think I'll put a set on the Sidekick also. I'll get some pics today then it'll be ready for sand and paint.

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2012, 10:09:12 PM »
Here is the lights and the flat five trailer connection. Got all parts from local Napa store. Could've gone LED in the same housing but the extra cost didn't make since for a low use trailer. Remembered the reverse light switch was being intermittent on the sidekick so ordered one today. Going to add extra reverse lights on the kick also with an override switch to manually turn them on for trail operation or to help with camp setup,tire change or what ever. Have put rig in reverse for a little extra light in the past without the draw of the headlights so figured a switch would be nice since I'll be into that wiring to replace the switch anyways. Also noticed I added side marker lights to the trailer for safety and to see clearance at night around trees and what not.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2012, 11:06:09 AM »
Going to get some gromits and seal up the holes you drilled for the light wiring?
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline Derek

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Re: Towable tent
« Reply #14 on: October 18, 2012, 06:54:20 AM »
Yea I have a bunch of stuff kicking around the shop to seal it up. Still have to secure the wires on the underside  of the trailer and finish bolting the flashing were I replaced the plywood. The guy helping me paint it will be back from hunting soon but with the weather I'll probably have to help him clean his shop so we can move it inside.