Whew! I've cranked enough jacks today to last me a year! I built a platform to lift up the 5th wheel using 2" ID reciever tube and some trailer jacks. Two lengths of 2" tube were welded across the bottom of the frame and then 2" OD tube was welded to the trailer jacks and then inserted into the receiver tube. Then the 5th wheel was lifted up in stages using its own landing jacks and the trailer jacks. Once it was high enough I backed the GN under it. Unfortunately the pin box on the 5th wheel wouldn't clear the neck on the GN and I had maxed the jacks out. So I had to drop the 5th wheel onto the the deck of the GN and throw some rims under the jacks to give it a bit more height. I then dropped the pin box of the 5th wheel into the 'V' of the GN hitch. Here are some pics.

 

Last summer I invested in 2 fire extinguishers. I'm always doing goofy projects involving grinders/welders as well I run a grass cutting business in the summer and figured it would be a good idea to have one in the truck in case I started a grass fire. Well today having that extinguisher paid off. I was doing this project at my parents acerage and was a fair distance away from the house. I was on top of the neck of the GN trailer grinding off the spare tire mount when I noticed that the sparks from the grinder had ignited the grass. There was just a small spot about the size of a dinner plate burning but with the stiff wind that was blowing it was quickly growing. By the time I got down off of the trailer it was about 4ft in diameter. I started to stamp it out but was only making it worse. I started for the RV to get a pot of water but then remembered I had drained the tanks. I started for the house thinking to get a jug of water but knew that by the time I got back it would be WAY out of control. Finally I remembered the fire extinguisher in the truck. I grabbed it and in no time the fire was out. By the time it was all done I had a burn patch about 10feet long and 4feet wide. This all happened in probably less than 2 minutes! I spent the next hour mounting my weed sprayer on my quad and soaking the ground around where I was working with soapy water before even going near the grinder again!




Now I just have to decide how I want to tie it down and wire the 5th wheel into the GN wiring.

 

Took it out for its maidian voyage this weekend. Worked great! Towed great!

 

Looks really good... now ditch the Grand chokee for a yota :-D

 

You're making my want to trade out my 20' bumper pull for a larger 5th wheel...

I had also thought about getting a coleman popup trailer to mount on the trailer deck, but I'd still need a longer trailer.

 

that's freakin' awesome Clay! Nice job!

 

Very nice scenery!

 

Yeh nice job... I wouldn't call it a "redneck" toyhauler though. I'd call it a REAL Toyhauler. Whats the pin weight like without the toy?

 

Pin weight is heavy without the jeep on. It doesn't make the truck squat with it nose in the air but it rides noticably rougher on the highway. The bumps are very harsh.

It won't often be hauled without the Jeep on though, just to town from the acerage for loading and to the waste transfer site.

 

Very nice!

What are you using for a step? This is my set up and we've been looking for something that is a little more convenient than walking up the ramps.


Thanks,
*****

 

The steps you see in the pic were made from aluminum and are solid(non-folding). I stole them from my sister's slide in camper

They just attach to the side of the trailer with some hooks. When traveling I just throw the steps in the back of the truck, they are quite light but a bit awkward.

Been trying to think up a design that would fold away underneath or something.

 

I've been trying to figure out some type of folding steps too. Maybe one of these days I'll find something...

*****

 

Folding camper steps are easy to find and simple to mount, not as stable though....

 

Here's a few more pics from the last trip.









The loading ramps are usually at a steeper angle I just found a dip to pull the trailer into this time.

I tried moving the ZJ back on the deck this time as opposed to last trip where I had it pulled as far forward as possible. It defiantly reduced the hitch weight on the truck and made it ride better.

 

Time to revive an old thread!!!
cLAYH, how long is the GN, from ball to rear end? How long is the deck?
I'm going to try something similar with a 40' GN so I can haul my JK & my ATVs.
Thanks in advance.