Trailer has arrived! This heavy duty utility trailer is rated for 3,000lb of load and features a 3,500lb single axle with big wheels, a ramp, and a long tongue.
It was delivered by my friend Colin who drove up to Anderson (CA) to pick it up from Trailering4u, one of the few dealers that carry Iron Eagle trailers.
The first thing I did was to remove the tail ramp and save it as stock material for other mods and parts. Sincerely too heavy and bulky to serve in this project it’s 1.5″ steel square tubes and mesh that will work out perfectly for entry steps or even a smaller, narrower ramp.
I did save the pressure treated wood planks, but I’m not planning to use them in this build. The idea is to keep the trailer free from toxic materials by manufacturing frame, insulation, and paneling with inert chemicals and low off-gas adhesives and fillings.
The main constraint for the build is the dimension of my garage door which measures 7ft and 2 inches in width, and a little more than 7ft in height. Unfortunately there’s a AC duct that lowers the possible height of the trailer to 6ft and a fist, so general expected dimensions will get closer to 136″x80″x74″
What? Another trailer build?
Currently on the market there are lots of options from hobbyists, small companies, big corporations, anyone out there is either building or selling one. Unfortunately for me:
- Most of the camper trailers are fitting 2 to 3 people and our family needs 4 beds
- Only small teardrop trailers can fit in our garage and be used as a guest room or small office desk
- They’re hyper expensive
- They either try to recreate an RV experience (cooking tops, big fridges, restrooms, AC unites, furnaces…) or they come as boxes on wheels with a foam mattress and a fishnet.
- They use lots of toxic or harmful materials we know might affect the quality of living especially after breaking down in a few years of use.
- They sometimes have lead times of several months, 6, 12, sometimes 18, so I’d rather try to complete the build myself instead of waiting for so long.
Also, if this design will have a notable success among our camping and overlanding friends we may start a small production run with a more structured schedule and less scraps.
Froog T1 is a prototype, and for now, a unique way to experiment new ideas and designs.