[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif We are in the process of designing a Jeep trailer, and in order to do that we needed some Jeep weight figures. SO FAR, Dirt Dog has checked his 258 powered hardtop model, and to our astonishment, the rear axle was a little heavier with a full fuel tank and 137 pounds of "necessities" in the rear tool box. The actual numbers are: Front: 1680 lbs......Rear 1820 lbs....Total 3500 lbs. That was a big surprise, especially since a '96 Wrangler weighs 3300 full of gas(no tools) and an XJ weighs about 3250 with gas(no tools). Man, NO WONDER our ZJ 4.0 struggled to haul our CJ on a 2100# trailer uphill to our nest at 4500 Ft. elev.! I was concerned about getting our CJ to be 50-50 for snow driving, but that will be automatic, and maybe just a bit more in the rear. We have a heavy V8 and TH400, so we will have just a tad more front axle weight than DD's 258 4-spd. Now that I see the weights, it's NO WONDER that CJ5's "push" the front end in snow and locked FWD.....no wonder at all. I'm sure that the rear axle on a CJ5 is considerably heavier than the front./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[13337]

Better move that axle back a few inches so you have some tongue weight....

So Many Cats, So Few Recipes...

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif Yeah, that's the whole point of this drill, to make sure that the trailer will accomodate different Jeeps with various wheelbase, and still be tongue-positive. I'm going to have a drive-over hump so where that hump begins would be the farthest forward the rear axle can be. The actual CG of the Jeep would be halfway between Jeep axles, so the trailer axle group centerline has to be aft of that in all cases, no matter which Jeep is loaded. What's your take on how LOW I can go with the bottom of this trailer? 8"? 10"? and still be able to get in and out of parking lots?/wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[Pete88YJ]

Dave, I don't know what else you plan to tow on this trailer, but I have seen some LOW bed trailers in my british car circles, and if they are too low, with the wheels/fenders at a fixed height, you can't get out of the car once you drive onto the trailer!! Seen it happen. If you're only gonna tow Jeeps, you'd probably be ok with a lowbed, though.

Here is my trailer:

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/jeep_macgyver/cartrail.htm

It tows my Jag well, and tows my Jeep well too. I played with positions of the vehicles to get them to tow without sway, moving them back and forth. I then marked positions of the wheels on the trailer, so I could get them in the right spot each time.

Just wanted to mention that.

Good luck
Pete

88YJ,4"susp,33"BFGMT,9kwinch,homemade swingout,258,999,4.10,weber32/36,GMHEI,one moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Thanks, Pete. That is a nice looking E-Type. I think what I might do id see how high the swing-open door is on the Jeep and maybe shoot for that swinging over the fenders. I'll have rather large tires since we are using the "winter" shoes for the CJ on the trailer to get them out from under foot./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[Pete88YJ]

Yeah, you won't have any problems with the Jeep doors, just didn't know if you would be using it for other car hobbies. I met a guy with a Triumph who had to crawl out of the windows of the car when he loaded it on his trailer. /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif. And Triumphs don't have big windows. /wwwthreads_images/icons/shocked.gif. I find that the fenders of the trailer make a nice stepping point to get into the Jeep when it's up there on the trailer - be sure to make the fenders strong for that purpose. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

Pete

88YJ,4"susp,33"BFGMT,9kwinch,homemade swingout,258,999,4.10,weber32/36,GMHEI,one moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

That E-type brought tears to my eyes - I passed the best deal in the world on one in '85. A guy I know in Oneida, NY was selling his '64. All it needed was an engine rebuild and new paint. I didn't ask how much until after he sold it. $3000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everytime I see an E-type now, I cry./wwwthreads_images/icons/frown.gif

 

[Guest]

Hey Dave,
Here's another thing to think about when deciding how low to build the trailer. Backing it up a steep hill or driveway from a level spot. You don't want it so low that the tail of the trailer drags or gets hung up before the ZJ starts up the incline to "level" it all out. Just a thought that may or may not have occurred to you.

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif Yeah, SNOW, that is a big problemo at times...no doubt about it. I have decided to begin with the bottom edge of the door and work down to the ground, then up to the Jeep tire. That will literally dictate the minimum height, then look at it and see if it is too low. Tire plus clearance under fender, plus clearance over fender(1") = bottom edge of door. Bottom edge of door minus distance to tire footprint = height of trailer deck (minimum...it CAN be higher)/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[Dirt Dog]

Dave I weighed a 5 w/ a softtop today with an empty utility trailer(258) that wheighted(total) 3480. Maybe my 7 needs a diet. Or maybe it's just phat./wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif
It also had (look to be 30's) and no spare.. maybe it's just got a beer gut./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

"No officer I haven't been drinking , Thats just how my Jeep drives"

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif I don't know what a hardtop weighs, but between that and the doors, the Jeep gets fat real quick. That weight for the CJ5 seems about right if the trailer wasn't much of a trailer./wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[Guest]

I wouldn't think that there would be a big difference in aerodynamic drag between having the trailer at 8 or 10 inches. The extra 2" that Snowjeep will be up in the air shouldn't bother too much, especially behind that big ZJ. But I can think of several parking lots where the extra 2" underneath the trailer would be a big bonus. You probably would be fine with 8"...heck, there are some cars around here with only 2-3"...but if it were me, I'd want that extra 2" of insurance. Any height you build it, you can probably find a lot somewhere that it won't go in to. Maybe you could weld some little skids on the very back...some sort of wear strip to protect the trailer/paint/lights/etc. Or you could be really hi-tech and throw a set of those rock rollers on the very back edge...

Trying to come up with a witty line to end all of my posts...

 

[WILL]

i weighed mine on the way home last weekend. it had the hard top and doors on with a full tank of gas. it came in at a hefty 2120 on the front and 2080 on the rear, 4200 pounds. it's a beast.

79/CJ-7/AMC360/TH400/Q-TRAC/d30/d44/33's/RS9000s/Herculiner

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/shocked.gif Wow! I'm shocked. that is the same Jeep we have....304-TH400-QT-Hardtop-Hard doors. What is a RS9000? Is that a winch?/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gifNO WONDER CJs bulldoze their opponents across the intersection when they collide!/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

CJDave
I never believe any statistics unless my moonguys /wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif made 'em up themselves.

 

[Guest]

CJDave, RS9000s are Rancho's 5 speed air adjustable shocks...they also have a trick in-cab adjustment control and underhood compressor option. Really trick setup, and for not much more than regular shocks. Turned our project TJ from a CJ ride to a Cadillac. Well....almost... <wink> I'd recommend them to all!

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 Laramie SLT Sport Plus--5.9L 360, auto, 3.92s, antispin, BFG A/Ts.

 

[WILL]

right on the shocks. they are nice. i don't have the remote control for them yet, it's $125. i just crawl under and turn the knobs.

79/CJ-7/AMC360/TH400/Q-TRAC/d30/d44/33's/RS9000s/Herculiner

 

[Dirt Dog]

To the top

http://home1.gte.net/rythem/davescj7.htm

 

[JEEPN]

Boy, that's a good trick Dave, weighing up a jeep that doesn't exist, there is no '96 Wrangler.

I know you knew that, just pulling your chain a little.

I also like the RS9000's, well worth the monrey, especially if you're towing something.

JEEPN
Winter Harbor, Maine
'81 CJ-8 Scrambled!
It's a Jeep, Chevy, IHC kinda thing!

 

[130]

Remeber, Dave, that for the positive tongue weight you can always drive the Jeep on backwards. Are you going to have a dovetail, ramps, or just use 4-low and crawl onto the deck? Are you considering putting a winch in the front of the trailer to tow vehichles or other materials onto the deck? For that matter, are you going to have a deck or just two large beams running the length of the trailer? (I believe you mentioned the latter a few months ago...)

'Gator Chaser

 

[CJDave]

/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif The trailer design just calls for the two channels for the tires and the "T" for the tongue. A real minimum deal, for minumum weight./wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif The Jeep crawls up and over the hump where the axles go across./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

CJDave
Quadra-Tracs modified While-U-Wait by the crack moonguy/wwwthreads_images/icons/wink.gif Quadra-Trac Team./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif