On a family camping trip earlier this year, I realized how little room, rather how much “stuff” we take with us when we go anywhere. As much exercise as I get from climbing in and out of the back of our tall truck, I wanted something that could carry all our camping gear, that was easy to unhitch and move by hand, and was easy to load and unload. After talking over some ideas with my wife, I decided it was time to get a utility trailer that we could use not only to carry our camping and exploration gear, but one that could make dump runs, carry firewood, take on hunting trips and even sleep in when camping. I did not want to spend a lot of money and I did not need, or want, something brand new.
Shortly after our most recent camping trip, I became the owner of the perfect trailer. A friend of mine had made it years before and used it as a “dump run” trailer. After a short price negotiation, I bought it and brought it home to my wife and kids. The trailer started out as a 1973 Chevrolet ¾ ton truck with an eight-foot bed, but was converted into a trailer by my friend who makes trailers as a hobby.
[Note and Photo Credit: If you are not familiar with this style trailer, then see the photo above and the videos from the very creative YouTuber “CHUD327“. The photo shows CHUD 327’s short bed conversion. The one described in this article is a long bed.]
I chose this trailer for a couple of reasons. I prefer the eight-foot bed because of how much more it can hold, and I like a ¾ ton frame for the extra load capacity. Plus, who doesn’t love the classic Chevy square body look? Since this was an older truck bed that had a previous life as a work truck, it had the typical wear and tear a truck earns through years of use. There were a few dings and dents and a little bit of rust; all of which were fixable. This trailer is going to be used, scratched, and dinged. I also chose this trailer because parts are relatively easy to find and inexpensive to replace. Parts like taillight bezels, shocks, and bed panels are fairly common at a junkyard or online. Additionally, I appreciate the spare tire being easily accessible under the bed, instead of obnoxiously jetting out somewhere on the exterior of the trailer and taking up room. Lastly, I know it will not be hard to sell for a profit if I ever decide to sell.
Before the drive home, my friend and I had to do a quick re-wiring. For some reason, all the wires were about three feet too short to reach my truck’s electrical trailer plug. This didn’t take long, and I returned home without issue. This winter I will be ripping out all of the wiring and installing a new wiring harness. I want to use the original taillights and have modern and appropriate wiring to plug into my truck. Until then, what’s there works.
The Setup
The friend I bought the trailer from had accumulated a personal junkyard over the past several decades. When I picked up the trailer, I also purchased a six-foot lumber rack and a truck bed toolbox. The six-foot measurement of the lumber rack is the section that attaches to the truck bed. The total top length of the lumber rack is ten feet. Two feet hang over the main tongue frame that connects to the tow ball. I chose a six-foot lumber rack because it doesn’t hang over the front of the trailer too far and risk hitting my truck. Also, since it does not hang over too far, there is no chance of me hitting my head when climbing into the back of my truck. I can open and close my truck tailgate properly. There is no interference while accessing the truck bed when the trailer is hitched.
The lumber rack effectively carries dimensional lumber and piping as well as kayaks and a canoe. I also love the lumber rack because it acts as the ridgepole of a tent if I need a shelter. All I would need to do is throw a large enough tarp over the lumber rack, tie it down, and I have shelter.
The toolbox, he told me, came off a tractor from either the 1940’s or 1950’s. It’s made of thick metal and it’s sturdy. Instead of installing the box in the bed of the trailer, it’s mounted to the main tongue frame. It’s out of the way, allowing me to access the contents easier and it frees the bed for hauling more.
Over time, the exterior of the toolbox may be accessorized with Jerry cans that will hold fuel for the truck, and a five-gallon container of potable water. I didn’t want to get over-excited and start adding too many accessories, like Jerry can holders, without first testing if I would benefit from the additional cost and weight. I can usually fill a utility trailer full of sectioned firewood with a chainsaw tank or two of fuel. Bringing more than my one-gallon gas can is not necessary. As for carrying extra fuel for my truck, I never need to go very far to cut wood, so a five-gallon fuel can is not practical for my situation. Plus, it’s simply one more attraction for people to start snooping at what you have. As “overlanding cool” as the trailer would look with accessories, that is not what I am going for. I am designing a trailer that will do its job and be a multipurpose workhorse.
As I said, this trailer is meant to be a workhorse. It is going to get scuffed, scratched, dented and dinged. I do not want to worry about any paint job, and I did not want to invest a lot of money into a paint job. After a decent sanding in certain areas, and scuffing in others, a decent coat of primer was applied. After that, I used Rustoleum’s turbo can bed liner. I have used Rustoleum’s turbo cans before when I refurbished an old propane tank. I was happy with the results from the propane tank. Time will tell how the bed liner will hold up. The reason I did not do a Rhino bed liner or some other more durable brand, is for the same reason I did not want to paint the trailer. It’s going to get used and when the time comes for touch-ups, I will simply respray the affected area.
In time, I may paint over the bed liner, but for now, I am happy with it. The bed liner “paint job” was not expensive. It looks good and it blends into every environment; not literally, but figuratively. I firmly believe in being a “grey man”; blending in with those around me to avoid sticking out. I do my best to not draw any attention to myself or my family. A multi-colored trailer, which this was when I brought it home, is going to draw the attention of people a lot more than a simple, single-colored trailer with a lumber rack. Where I live, that kind of setup is very common and does not draw unusual attention. Being a “grey man” can sometimes be difficult. I found a great bumper sticker that I would love to put on the bumper of my utility trailer, but that is just one more thing that makes you stick out. Bumper stickers are designed to make people look. Also, in today’s political climate, you never know what may set someone off. In my opinion, it is better to be invisible when in public.
For a short time, I was trying to decide if I wanted to install a dump bed feature. Dump trailers have a place and I love them, especially when dumping stumps, rocks, or broken cement. For a camping and exploration rig, I couldn’t find a logical need. Yes, I will be hauling firewood, but how I cut wood in the field and where I unload it at my house, a dump bed would not benefit me, especially for the price. If I was fortunate to find a truck that had a dump bed built in and was able to convert it into a trailer, I wouldn’t hesitate.
With my trailer-build nearing completion for summer activities, and the change of the seasons fast approaching, different field testing will begin to take place. I say “field testing” as more of a “gear test” rather than a test of the trailer. I know it will handle whatever I throw at it. It already has. Now, it is time to test our equipment, my knowledge, and start handing it down to my children. As my son gets older, he is showing more and more interest in everything outdoors. Hunting, fishing, trapping, and exploration are all part of his daily dreams and activities.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, my beautiful wife loves to camp. Our camping trip is what inspired this entire trailer build. Because of the love of camping my wife and children have, there is a lot of gear to not only keep us comfortable, but to also entertain and teach the kids. I often joke with her that when I was young, single, and unattached to anything, I would go camping with a rifle, a fishing pole, and maybe a change of clothes. Obviously, I am teasing her, which causes her to roll her eyes and respond with, “Yes, but you didn’t have all this!” pointing to her and the children. As any father and husband, I will carry all the gear she could pack on my back if it meant their comfort and security.
Background
Years ago, the day following a long four-wheel drive trip in the deep woods, my Jeep broke down and would not start after I had parked it at a car wash. With the right tools and a friend’s help, the electrical issue was fixed quickly, but it got me thinking. I started to consider all the “what ifs” had my vehicle decided to not start while we were deep in the woods. The four-wheel trip was a very mountainous area with the only accessibility being a single-lane Jeep trail that no wrecker could have made it on. There was zero cell service, and I did not have a CB radio or ham radio. I had enough water and snacks to keep me comfortable for the duration of the trip. I had a firearm with a few extra rounds and the ability to make a fire. That was it. I was lucky that day, and I knew it.
Not long before this trip, another local guy had taken a day trip into the woods, became lost, and when he did not come home at a certain time, his family called Search and Rescue. The Search and Rescue team(s), accompanied by the local television news network, found the man quickly. The news video recording showed the man crying and gasping for air while he was being escorted to a Search and Rescue vehicle. He had only been “lost” for a couple of hours.
I began thinking of that news story, the crying adult male and also my own situation. It was at that moment I swore to myself that I would never allow myself to be a victim. I would never allow myself to be videotaped while crying from being scared while lost. It was at this moment I started “preparing” more and more. Being caught unprepared on something I could control was no longer an option. It was time to grow up. It was time to man up. I started carrying more basic equipment and gear in my vehicle and on my person at all times. I swore to myself that if I ever broke down, or was unable to leave the wilderness for any reason, I would be the man that would have a cooked meal three times a day, and a hot meal waiting for Search and Rescue when they arrived.
At the time, I worked at a sporting goods store, so it was easy for me to see all the top of the line, state of the art equipment. It was not long before I figured out what gear and equipment best suited me, my environment, my circumstances and my budget. I discovered most “essential” gadgets are just that, gadgets. Over the years, I have whittled down the gear, tools and equipment that goes with me everywhere to a select few items.
(To be concluded tomorrow, in Part 2.)