Silverback
Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
So I was planning to build an off-road trailer but time is not on my side. I want to get out there and just go! Anyhow, after designing one on paper and failing to buy the steel to make it happen I stumbled upon Smittybilts version... and its 90% of what I had planned. Differences are side boxes above fenders, rear bumper with swingout and the area where Smittybilt puts the spare would be dedicated to fuel/water cans and generator. Also wanted a fresh water tank with skid mounted underneath. Well I think I can make this Smittybilt do all that. Yes its more $$ than I planned to spend but it also gets me going faster and sometimes its just worth it. The one thing I'm not super happy with is the unibody style construction of the trailer. Was hoping for more of a boxed frame. But hey, Cherokees get beat on with unibody's and I hope to reinforce the frame with some 2x2 box that will allow me to add a rear bumper and swingout. We'll see.. its a project.
Picked it up minus wheels and tires from 4WP. You can order these for about $1000 less if you skip wheels and tires. My plan is to replace the brake hubs with some that have the 6x5.5 bolt pattern the Taco has and run mathching wheels and tires. It was supposed to be on casters as per Smittybilt but turns out the casters are in a box and they need to be mounted at the shop. Not a big deal as 4WP was kind enough to load it on the rollback with a forklift and this allowed me to strap it down a bit snugger and the slid it off into the garage onto some car dollies. Worked out perfect as the casters they provide are really nice and I will repurpose those for something else around the shop.
Now some pics... everyone loves pics right?
On the rollback.
In the garage still wrapped up.. well sorta wrapped up.
Opening it up... here is where it gets interesting.
So the web video says the instructions and key are in the driver side door compartment.. problem is the "crate/exo" is in the way to open the door. And to be honest this thing is heavy. I was really not 100% sure how to get in there and didn't want to drop the thing. So I called SB and they promptly sent me the instructions via PDF. Well whoever wrote the instructions on how to get it out of the "crate/exo" obviously never really did it. Lets just say that the Hypertherm was called upon to remove some of the rear passenger side "crate/exo" to allow it to roll out from underneath. No problem, but just know... that part of the instruction manual will make you wonder how they did it. I'm pretty sure a Transporter from Star Trek was involved for their manual. If you have one, or maybe a gantry crane you don't have to cut up the crate. Not a big deal.
Anyhow, I got it out.
The casters.. nice IMO
The kitchen slide is nice but I wish I would have had the dimensions on the stove area beforehand. Its pretty small. My Coleman won't fit in there.. its about 25" wide and the area is only good for something about 18" wide.. maybe a 18" Partner Stove is in the works. I'll just add that Coleman stove the garage sale I need to have some day... actually I have two.
It slides out further than this photo shows.. you don't have to work around the side door to cook.
The passenger side are is designed for a generator... at this point I want to put a Honda genny on it.. wasn't planning to use this area and repurpose this area for something else. But its very well suited for a genny. It may be where I put it during travel and then use it for something else while parked. Not sure yet. The white stuff is leftover foam crap from where they had the hub assemblies packaged (very nicely I might add). Pretty sure these are 10" hubs so now to take them apart and find some replacement 6x5.5 versions.
What's next? Well I need to clear out the area in front of it and get the tongue installed. Get the suspension installed, and order some hubs/wheels/tires. CVT has my Summit Series RTT on order but it has not shipped yet with is super OK with me. Don't need to find a place for it just yet. I'll feel way better once this thing is on wheels.
Am I happy with this purchase, yes. Is it perfect, well not 100% for me but its close enough and I think I can make it 100%.
Picked it up minus wheels and tires from 4WP. You can order these for about $1000 less if you skip wheels and tires. My plan is to replace the brake hubs with some that have the 6x5.5 bolt pattern the Taco has and run mathching wheels and tires. It was supposed to be on casters as per Smittybilt but turns out the casters are in a box and they need to be mounted at the shop. Not a big deal as 4WP was kind enough to load it on the rollback with a forklift and this allowed me to strap it down a bit snugger and the slid it off into the garage onto some car dollies. Worked out perfect as the casters they provide are really nice and I will repurpose those for something else around the shop.
Now some pics... everyone loves pics right?
On the rollback.
In the garage still wrapped up.. well sorta wrapped up.
Opening it up... here is where it gets interesting.
So the web video says the instructions and key are in the driver side door compartment.. problem is the "crate/exo" is in the way to open the door. And to be honest this thing is heavy. I was really not 100% sure how to get in there and didn't want to drop the thing. So I called SB and they promptly sent me the instructions via PDF. Well whoever wrote the instructions on how to get it out of the "crate/exo" obviously never really did it. Lets just say that the Hypertherm was called upon to remove some of the rear passenger side "crate/exo" to allow it to roll out from underneath. No problem, but just know... that part of the instruction manual will make you wonder how they did it. I'm pretty sure a Transporter from Star Trek was involved for their manual. If you have one, or maybe a gantry crane you don't have to cut up the crate. Not a big deal.
Anyhow, I got it out.
The casters.. nice IMO
The kitchen slide is nice but I wish I would have had the dimensions on the stove area beforehand. Its pretty small. My Coleman won't fit in there.. its about 25" wide and the area is only good for something about 18" wide.. maybe a 18" Partner Stove is in the works. I'll just add that Coleman stove the garage sale I need to have some day... actually I have two.
It slides out further than this photo shows.. you don't have to work around the side door to cook.
The passenger side are is designed for a generator... at this point I want to put a Honda genny on it.. wasn't planning to use this area and repurpose this area for something else. But its very well suited for a genny. It may be where I put it during travel and then use it for something else while parked. Not sure yet. The white stuff is leftover foam crap from where they had the hub assemblies packaged (very nicely I might add). Pretty sure these are 10" hubs so now to take them apart and find some replacement 6x5.5 versions.
What's next? Well I need to clear out the area in front of it and get the tongue installed. Get the suspension installed, and order some hubs/wheels/tires. CVT has my Summit Series RTT on order but it has not shipped yet with is super OK with me. Don't need to find a place for it just yet. I'll feel way better once this thing is on wheels.
Am I happy with this purchase, yes. Is it perfect, well not 100% for me but its close enough and I think I can make it 100%.
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