almost any new truck will have integrated brake controller with a trailer tow package. bueller i was serious about building you a trailer. i know of a cheap pop up camper pull the axle out from under it there are some tag frames at the one salavage place in elkhart. you may have 1500 in to it with some flooring the pop up camper is 500 one of the small ones. needs some screen repaired from a mouse. but clean. i am pretty sure the frames are 500... with double axles with brakes.. we can set the tongue wieght..
you can buy a good enough (timer based applicaion) for around $50. It will good enough to get you by with a light trailer. If you are hauling any distance on the interstate or very twisty and/or hilly roads I would go with a higher end controller. It makes the work load a lot less.
I really appreciate the offer. I used to be like you, but I'm getting quite lazy in my broken down middle age. I used to be all about fixing, building, and saving money doing it. An abdomen full of mesh, shredded elbow tendons, and a 65 year old skeleton in a 45 year old body really changes one's perspective (thank you auto business). Nowadays I'd rather spend my work time at work making money, because I'm good at that. Then I can simply show up and buy what I want. Don't get me wrong, I'll still work on stuff. But I have no interest whatsoever in building a camper, and I really don't want to pay someone to build a one-off. I'd rather buy something existing with a warranty. Looks like my two best choices to tow with the jeep would be the K-Z sportsmen 16' toy hauler or the VRV 6' X 14'. The VRV is lighter and is a much better built unit, but costs a hell of a lot more, the interior isn't as nice, and is a foot narrower than the K-Z. If I decide at some point to off the jeep and do this with a truck instead, the weight issue won't be nearly as critical and I'd have a lot more choices. Realistically if I want a toy hauler with full amenities getting rid of the jeep is the answer and I know that. I've just got to determine how much I really want to do this. If I want it bad enough I'll probably just go through the mourning process and sell the jeep.
I got the go-ahead from Herself-- no objections to dealing with an overhead bunk, so in a couple of months...
A couple hundred is top shelf, there are cheaper good quality ones. Tekonsha is a good brand, also, and I wouldn't be surprised if a controller is plug-&-play in a Jeep (it was in my Dodge pickup).
I thought about this again this morning. Fuck that. I still want to do some (mild) rock climbing in Moab and do a few other things with that jeep. It ain't gettin' sold. I'm going to call Livin' Lite and see if they offer a full wet bath option in their 6 X 14 toy hauler.
I do have to agree about not selling toys you like. You'd just end up buying a replacement down the road.
For that price to rent, I could have MADE money when I was in the oilfield. My co gave me $75 per day to supply a tt, I could have pocketed the difference at those rates.
I spoke with the owner of VRV this morning.towing that trailer with a stock 3.8 is easy. You aren't going to tow it at 90 like the idiots coming back from the nascar races do with their 30 foot campers and chevy suburbans, but a wrangler will pull it just fine. My concern was stopping. He said the trailer comes with brakes on both axles. considering that I have no worries about pulling this setup at all. Complete with a full LP package, a/c, and a wet bath it will weigh 2200 lbs. in a 6 X 14. That is what I'm going to consider buying. I'll make a decision when/if my house sells.
Todd has some great ideas. We use ho system for scoring and I am the techie/scorekeeper for our clubs enduros so I contacted him about the bike shoes. I really wanted to use them in my van and not have tie downs, but it is doesn't seem like it will work well.
saw this on the north side of Elkhart county boonies. For sale. Only about a mile a way from a salvage place that would have everything to complete it,including a/c. Could be done for about 2500.00 and a little time.
This is on the Orlando CL. I'd love a trailer to pull behind the Taco, but the RT or the future GS must come along as well. I'd be curious to see how this tows with a load that far in front of the axels. http://orlando.craigslist.org/rvs/2254645031.html Trailer was extended by AmeraTrail Trailer, 35" to haul my Kawasaki 750 Brute Force with 30" tires.
I like these ones for behind smaller vehicles. All aluminum construction too. Don't know pricing yet.. http://livinlite.com/camplite-gallery.php