Hello every one. After much thought I pulled the trigger on the purchase of another off road trailer. This time I decided to try a 2006 Chalet Arrow that was lightly used.
So the “Monster Garage” work will start this week by Jay @ Accurate Gauge here in Prince George. For starters it will receive a spring over axle lift and some new spring hanger to frame mounts & shackles. A set of 33” tires and OEM 5 spoke alum rims to match the cruiser will go on it for now. Custom alum. nose cone to hold the dual tanks, generator and some extra odds will also be added. In the back it will receive a spare tire/fuel can carrier with a 2” receiver for a bike rack. A 65W solar panel will be mounted above the front window. I’m not sure on adding a new coupler such as a roll & lock or other similar contraptions as this will mostly see rough logging roads and cross ditches. Any constructive input would be appreciated.
Finally got around to posting pix of the almost finished Off Road Arrow. Just need to add the 65 w or 85 W solar panel. Basically this camping trailer has a 2000 lb winch on top with pulley system to pull the boat on top. The box in front holds two propane tanks up top and generator below and has a cradle to hold and lock up the boat motor. The suspension is a 3500 lb axle with 3500 lb spring pack, shocks and matched with 6 bolt Toyota pattern hubs with 33" tires. The front extended tongue allows full opening of the door and has a 2" receiver for a 360 degree rotating coupler once I get around to ordering one. The rear holds a full sized spare, two fuel cans and has a 2" receiver for a bike rack.
Best regards
Runt
P.S. for those wondering about fuel economy pulling this thing. Fuel economy to Squamish with out the trailer was 18 mpg. Comming back I was very suprised that there was very little change in get up and go and calculated the fuel economy out to 18 mpg
Be sure to plan on a total dis-assembly of the interior. Factories don't use glue, and the off-road vibration will shake all the screws loose. Also, the suspension could almost always use dampening of some type (shocks, or low inflated tires or ?).
I have a small Taos (heater and stove only -no ice box, no water pump). It does great off-road, but really needs to be torn apart and glued up good with exterior grade wood glue, and re-installed. I am always finding screws that need replacing or that are now stripped out a bit and need a bit of backing.
How are you going to mount the stock FJ wheels to the Chalet's axle/hub?
Go4aryd there will be changeing out the hubs.....possibly the axle if I decide to build a rack for a alum. boat over top. But not so sure on that one.....spend most of my time in the canoe these days instead of the alum. boat so might just leave that alone. These trailers have an impressive frame under them. No wonder they cost so much......very well made.
Do you have a source for metric threaded 6 on 5.5 hubs (M12x1.5 I think)? I haven't ever found any. Closest was using SAE/English thread in the correct pattern with a wheel spacerr spec-ed with correct studs.
Let me know if you find something that works cleaner. I am fussing with this issue.
Go4aRyd.....you are correct. Wheel spacer is the only option unless you want to replace the axle. I'm leaning towards a new 3500 lb axle with toyota bolt pattern electric brakes and shocks.
Turns out the 33” tires will not fit the wheel wells. So my only option is to mod the tongue and new axle and springs. Will require it to be so high that the top folded down will be almost level with the roof. So I flipped the stock axles to see how this works out for the weekend before I start. Received about 4” of lift as a result. We’ll see how it handles the cross ditches and deactivated Forest Service roads.
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