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.]Continue reading“Building a Utility Trailer – Part 1, by Lodge Pole”