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The Amazon-Alaskan Expedition Trailer Build: Part 1

Posted by on March 8, 2015

Its time to build this expedition-style trailer.  Follow along as I build this project to support a family of 5 and a dog for an extended period of time on a reasonable budget.

 

I interviewed Scott from Compact Camping Concepts long time ago and ever since then, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about building a trailer for my adventures. The biggest thing doing me though was the logistics of moving. Let me explain a bit. I drive a 99 Jeep Cherokee. My wife drives a 2007 Yukon XL. Since I’m in the Army, I frequently move across the country. To save money and travel more comfortably as a family with the 3 kids and a dog, we like to all ride in the Yukon and tow the XJ on a car hauler trailer. My 16′ car hauler just wasn’t big enough to hold the Jeep and an expedition trailer. In June I’ll be moving for the 10th time in 10 years. But the difference is that this time we’re heading to Alaska! The more important bit here is that the Army is paying to haul one vehicle for me. That means my XJ can take a commercial transport up to Alaska and I can haul an expedition trailer across the country and I’ll the Alaskan highway!

I’m so excited that is finally my turn to start building a trailer! The first step was selling my car hauler. So I posted it up on Craigslist for the same price that I paid for it 7 years ago.

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Within 24 hours of listing it, I had $1300 cash in my hands! Now on to the the new project.

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I bought their extreme duty 4×8 trailer frame and some other bits to get started. I’m ordering the Explorer Box plans from Compact Camping Concepts. The finer details of the plan aren’t set yet but here’s some of the things I’m thinking right now.

– I want to be able to remove the box and use the trailer to haul general cargo occasionally.
– I want to haul a family load of bicycles
– Needs too have a propane tank, fresh water tank, a spot for my chuck box, a cooler, on board battery for 12 volt stuff, and other camping kit of course
– I’m thinking about having the box fully enclosed for security and to keep to things from being abused too much on the gravel roads
– I will likely swap the able to a heavier one and the tires to match the Yukon size/bolt pattern
– I am also planning on adding a stick of 2×2 square running the length of the trailer for added strength

I’m looking forward to working on this and starting to use it. It’s going to be a lot of fun and will of course be great content for The 4×4 Podcast.

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