Took a trip to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes as a test for the new trailer build and it happily did incredibly well. I extended the tongue a couple feet and it still towed perfectly while allowing me to open the TnT Customs spare tire carrier and tailgate with the trailer attached. Incredibly impressed with the tire carrier BTW. I had to trim a couple inches off of the adjustable mount for the tire so that I could suck it back against the swing arm for stability. I mounted it to the right to minimize leverage on the swing arm and increase visibility. I like the spot, I can easily see over it in the rear view mirror. I set up the depth of the tire mount face so that the lugnuts actually suck the tire back against the swingarm. I will be drilling holes for a through-bolt on the tire mount tube just to be 100% certain it can't come loose while wheeling (it didn't budge on the dunes.)
I didn't load the trailer down much being the first trip out, but the Postal managed it great and it got good when I quit being cautious and started running 72-75 (speed limit 70 with common speed ~80.) With my essentially too-high 4.56 gearing, it ran in OD on level ground and slight inclines but dropped down to 4th easily when I leaned on it. I found it was taking an annoying amount of time/pedal to downshift when I was running 65. Once I had that sorted it was AWESOME.
Set it up next to Toby's (Mr Beep's) place and stayed in it the first two nights. The 40-55 MPH winds forecast the last two days we were there forced me into taking it down. Not quite ready for that much of a stress test until I have some more time with the setup.
Using a temporary stabilizing jack setup, as you can see, until I get everything on/installed and fully understand the weight distribution and where things are mounted. The trailer did not rock back onto the jack once that I noticed nor in the test camping I did in our yard before the trip. I'm super happy with the weight balance given what's left to install in the tongue box as I'm not yet leaving the fridge installed in the back during travel until the electronics are in. I have mocked it up in the garage with the battery on the tongue and the fridge on and I love where it is.
As an example of the space in the lower annex, we set up my daughter with a cot in it so she had her own "room". With my wife and I, her and the dog, there was TONS of room.
With the crap, freezing weather, we didn't get to put the kitchen or awning to use but I'm more excited than ever to have this thing fully kitted out.
The items left for the project are:
-tongue box for battery/electronics
-Odyssey house battery
-Redarc solar charger
-Renogy solar suitcase for charging
-Redarc electric trailer brake controller and electric drum brakes
-LED cube lights on rack uprights
-rock lights for trailer and Postal
-LED interior lights under tent
-Trigger 12V switch system to wire up/control all that stuff
missed this thread till now. Can’t wait 2 see this in person. Might u b bringing this 2 Sand Blast?
