We first met Gil Meacham when he walked into Impulse Off-Road in St. George, Utah, to purchase a part for his JK Unlimited with the trailer he had built into a comfortable backcountry camp trailer. After some conversation, we knew we had to bring this to our readers.
Gil’s tow vehicle is a 2008 Jeep JK Unlimited Rubicon. Its list of modifications make it the perfect tow vehicle for his trailer, including 5.13 gears in the OE Rubicon Dana 44s, Rubicon Express 3.5-inch Superflex short-arm suspension system, Teraflex Monster track bar, Kilby skidplates, Evap canister relocator, and high-clearance front bumper with Smittybilt XRC8 winch, Expedition One rear bumper with Hi-Lift jack mount and spare carrier, and 35x12.50R17LT Goodyear DuraTrac tires on 17x8 ProComp 1089 alloy wheels. For a little more power, Gil installed a Superchips tuner, a K&N air filter, and a Rancho Dynomax exhaust system.
A Kargomaster Congo rack with Yakima 54-inch bars can carry watercraft, such as kayaks and a Portabote folding rowboat. A ham radio antenna mount was fabricated behind the custom wind deflector on the rack. Inside, there’s a complete complement of Daystar products and ham and CB radios. Gil’s JK Unlimited is built to tow and take on the backcountry in style.
Gil found a used 2007 Wells...
Gil found a used 2007 Wells Cargo 5x8-foot V-nose cargo trailer and turned it into a lightweight enclosed backcountry camp trailer. A set of 4-inch blocks raised the springs enough to run 31-inch BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires.
There are plenty of camp trailers on the market. Some are built to go off-road. They do this well. Gil had researched all of these trailers then decided to build one, as his retirement income wouldn’t allow a shiny new off-road camp trailer.
Gil found a used 2007 Wells Cargo 5x8-foot V-nose cargo trailer that was the perfect candidate for the build. The trailer was modified to be a lightweight (1,850 pounds) backcountry-capable trailer. The 4-inch spring blocks allow 31-inch BFG All-Terrain tires and custom stabilizers that are 4 inches longer keep the trailer stabilized in camp. An EZ aluminum step makes it easy to get into the trailer and the Kirkham auto shade awning supplies shade.
Gil’s JK Unlimited was modified...
Gil’s JK Unlimited was modified to enjoy backcountry roads and trails while carrying watercraft and/or towing his homebuilt backcountry trailer.
A Smittybilt XRD8 winch fits...
A Smittybilt XRD8 winch fits fine on a high-clearance Kilby front bumper. It’s unfortunate that Kilby products are no longer available.
An Expedition One rear bumper...
An Expedition One rear bumper has a spare carrier that also accommodates a Hi-Lift jack. The tailgate and tire carrier both open using the tailgate latch. A Cool Tech LLC Tailgate Strut kit keeps the tailgate open when Gil wants it to be. A regular ball hitch is used, rather than the 360 degree hitches available for backcountry trailers. The regular hitch has worked fine, no matter how rough the trail.
The control-arm bushings are...
The control-arm bushings are now replaced and are working. Rubicon’s monotube shocks are valved well for this application.
Rubin Express’s 3.5-inch Superflex...
Rubin Express’s 3.5-inch Superflex short-arm suspension system allows larger tires to be installed as well as carries the extra weight of camping equipment.
OE Rubicon Dana 44s retain...
OE Rubicon Dana 44s retain their factory E-Lockers but have 5.13 gears installed. The Teraflex Monster track bar is strong and adjustable.