Autocross tire trailer project

"MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig" (MR2_FTW)
02/26/2014 at 10:55 • Filed to: project, autocross, trailer

So I bought a small 850lb Harbor Freight trailer a while back so I can haul my autocross tires to the track. I swapped out the incandescent lights for LED's (brighter, less strain on my car's electricals) and added some driveway reflector stake things so I could see backing up (the trailer is so small it is invisible behind the car otherwise)

Here's its first outing

The other day I finally got around to mounting a storage box on it so I can also use the trailer to haul my tools/jack/jackstand/etc, as well as a wood "pad" I guess(?) for the wheels to sit on, and some some tie-down eyelets.

Wood mounts take the weight of the box

Box bolted to the trailer frame with some U bolts

Inside

Added some eyelets and a piece of wood for the tires to sit on instead of sitting on a thin metal lip

Finished product:

DISCUSSION (17)

EL_ULY > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 10:57

cooooool!

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 11:00

So the only thing holding the box on is the u-bolts through the plastic bottom of the box? That seems a little sketchy to me. I would throw some ratchet straps or something around it as well to keep it more secured to the frame of the trailer.

puddler > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 11:02

thats very cool.

mycarneverruns87 > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 11:03

Looks good! I plan to put a hitch on my Mustang to haul tires, tools, and whatnot.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/26/2014 at 11:10

I'm probably going to run some bolts through bottom to hold it to the wooden planks as well, as well as likely using a strap when towing. I tried to get the thing to budge as-is and that thing is on there solid.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 11:45

If I were you I'd also think about mounting a small air tank so I could swap wheels in a matter of seconds rather than minutes.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 12:04

It's on solid now but eventually that plastic is going to wear out and the holes will grow. I would really secure it over the top as well. Those channels in the top are perfect for straps to go through. I just hate the idea of the only thing holding something on the highway on being thin plastic.

DeltawingGothamDeserves > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 12:38

TRACK DAY BRO

BRO, TRACK DAY?

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
02/26/2014 at 12:43

That would be pretty cool. Unfortunately I don't have a compressor to refill it. A cordless impact would work great too.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > DeltawingGothamDeserves
02/26/2014 at 12:43

I got Hoosiers bro. HOOSIERS.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
02/26/2014 at 12:45

That's true. The grooves in the top are actually made for cutting 2x4's. They have rulers in them and everything.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 13:20

Kinja'd!!!

Harbor freight has reasonably cheap electric compressors.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > mycarneverruns87
02/26/2014 at 13:24

I always wanted a trailer, but nobody makes hitches for the MR2 anymore. I got super lucky and found one in a junkyard, which is what made all of this possible.

Pixel > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 13:46

Did you repack the wheel bearings when you got the trailer? Those are shipped with only thin grease in them and not proper wheel bearing grease. Pull them apart and get some poroer bearing grease in there and they will last a lot longer.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Pixel
02/26/2014 at 14:00

I didn't, but I thought about it. I definitely will now that you mentioned it. Thanks for the heads up.

Pixel > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
02/26/2014 at 15:42

No worries. I have one of those trailers that I have put several hundred miles on hauling all sorts of random crap, tweaking & modifying it along the way.

Kinja'd!!!

Some other suggestions:

If you put a piece of fuel line or coolant hose around the through-bolt that the rear of the leaf spring ride on, you can reduce a lot of the clanging noise from bumps.

If your lights start giving you trouble, don't bother trying to fix them, they are all junk, buy the LED light kit at HF. More durable, less likely to have problems and a lot brighter.

Unless you need them where they are for load clearance, consider reversing the L brackets for your tail lights, it moves them forward so they are no longer the furthest thing back on the trailer, reduces the chance of them getting damaged.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Pixel
02/26/2014 at 15:57

Those are all great tips. I already have the LED lights on there. WAY better.