Turtle Expedition

Return policy:

If you are not completely satisfied with your order, please contact The Turtle Expedition directly at wescott@turtleexpedition.com

Orders from outside the United States:

For orders out of United States, please contact us directly at wescott@turtleexpedition.com for shipping information.

Click a picture to learn more.

RACE / EXPEDITION / CAMPING SUPPORT TRAILER
FOR SALE
Designed by The Turtle Expedition Built by Hoofer's Welding

Click to enlarge with caption.
Following the testing of our Trekmaster custom support trailer in Alaska and the Yukon, we returned with some new insight into what we were going to be up against in Siberia. We still needed to carry about 100 gallons of fuel, four propane tanks, five tires, and a huge supply of food, parts and emergency equipment, but we saw that it would be better to have everything enclosed. We observed that even with the sophisticated Trekmaster Uni-Trek All Terrain Coupler, which rotated 360° and incorporated a 3" damper shock, for quick hookup and strength, a pintle hook type hitch had advantages. By then we had also determined that the only possible time to drive across Siberia was winter, and the extreme cold we would encounter demanded some portable source of 110-volt power. Stranded in a blizzard at -100°F, we had to have a way to keep the engine alive. On a reconnaissance trip to Siberia in 1995, it was obvious that there were no outside electrical plugs in any homes.

To keep with one fuel, we researched generators and found the Coleman Powermate 5000-watt diesel generator had the power needed to run the engine, oil pan, battery, cab and camper heaters. Cold-weather starting was a problem. The Acme engine was custom built for us with a remote glow-plug installed in the intake manifold and an electric starter. A dedicated Optima 800 cold cranking amp starting battery is charged by the truck's alternator, and powers both the generator starter and the 12-volt Fill-Rite fuel pump. We also incorporated a Racor Thermoline in-line diesel fuel heater and an auxiliary fuel pump. A 12-volt Back-Seat Heater could be turned on to pre-warm the air in the insulated generator compartment.

Using a duel tank system, we could pre-filter all diesel from the rear reserve tank in the trailer, through the Cim-Tek Hydrosorb fuel filter system into the

front tank, which was dedicated to the generator. (The dual tank system with an 800 Series Fill-Rite Meter allowed us to keep accurate track of how much fuel we had in each tank. Like all diesel engines, the Acme required a return line to the tank.

Great efforts were made to quiet the one-cylinder air-cooled engine down using exhaust flex tubing, a Nelson 24-inch muffler, Dynamic Control's Dynamat Thermo/Acoustic Hoodliner, Dynamat Super noise damping material, and wrapping the DME flex tube with Thermo Tec's exhaust insulating wrap, all with limited success.

The dedicated fuel compartment held the Fill-Rite and Cim-Tek Hydrosorb systems, two locking fill tubes, and still ample room for extra oil, filters and other supplies.

The separate rear compartment of the trailer held five BFGoodrich tires, four propane tanks, several 10-quart containers of oil, ATF, gear lube and antifreeze, a Pull-Pal, an extra Hi-Lift jack with a hitch adapter, and numerous other supplies. This left the huge front compartment open for clothes, food, photography, medical and other emergency equipment.

When you consider our initial requirements and the complexity of this one-of-a-kind expedition support trailer, it is quite remarkable how well it preformed. Its primary failure was a poorly designed suspension. Shocks should have been added, and much heavier springs were needed. Spring shackles were weak as well. A second annoying problem stemmed from the fuel tanks being low and flat. Even after installing a Transfer Flow vent system, they had a nasty tendency of burping air and diesel if they were overfilled. Extreme cold weather took its toll on the main compartment lift springs and the latch mechanism which held the generator compartment door open. Nevertheless, even with these problems which we could manage on the road, this trailer is a work of engineering, and it did survive a trip completely around the world, over some of the most treacherous terrain imaginable, often grossly overloaded.

In its present condition, it needs work to perform at its best. All new springs were installed on our return by National Spring, but the shackles still need replacing, and shocks could be easily added. The inertia brake took a beating in Siberia, and probably needs rebuilding. Of course, rocks and gravel took their toll on the front, despite a layer of 3M Protective Film. Bearings should be checked, and brake pads could be inspected at the same time. Regardless, just as it sits, with its new spring packs installed, it could be towed around the World again tomorrow.

TRAILER INCLUDES:

• HEAVY-DUTY INERTIA BRAKES WITH EMERGENCY PIN

• SEALED GROTE STOP/TURN LIGHTS

• HEAVY-DUTY 7-WIRE TRAILER PLUG

• HEAVY DUTY SAFETY CHAINS

• FIVE BFGOODRICH MUD-TERRAIN TIRES (TIRES ONLY)

• FOUR HORIZONTAL PROPANE TANKS

• 95 GALLON DUEL FUEL TANK SYSTEM WITH FILL-RITE 12-VOLT TRANSFER PUMP AND CIM-TEK HYDROSORB FUEL FILTER

• TWO LARGE WEATHERPROOF LOCKING STORAGE COMPARTMENTS WITH FULL WEATHER-PROOF LOCKING LID

• FOLD-DOWN TAIL GATE HOLDS AUXILIARY HI-LIFT JACK

• FULL TRIK-TRAK ADJUSTABLE TIE-DOWN SYSTEM

• CUSTOM SPRING PACKS BY NATIONAL SPRING

• HEAVY-DUTY TONGUE JACK WITH LARGE DUEL WHEEL FLOTATION SYSTEM

• BFGOODRICH MUD-TERRAIN TIRES ON ALCOA HOT FORGED ALUMINUM WHEELS

• McGARD LOCKING LUG NUTS

• PLASTICOLOR MUD GUARDS

• HEAVY-DUTY TIE-DOWNS FOR SHIPPING OR WINCHING

• PPG EMERON TWO-TONE EPOXY PAINT TO MATCH THE TURTLE III AND TURTLE IV

• COLEMAN POWERMATE 5000 WATT DIESEL GENERATOR WITH INSULATED & HEATED COMPARTMENT, FUEL PRE-HEATER, GLOW-PLUG SYSTEM, ELECTRIC STARTER, DEDICATED OPTIMA BATTERY, EXTERNAL 24" MUFFLER AND VARIOUS SPARE PARTS. (THE ACME DIESEL ENGINE WAS RECONDITIONED BY THE FACTORY IN ITALY FOLLOWING OUR TRANS-SIBERIAN TREK.)

• CUSTOM BUSHWACKER IMPACT RESISTANT FENDER FLARES

• EASILY MODIFIED TO CARRY EXTRA WATER, DIVING COMPRESSOR, WELDER AND OTHER LARGE ITEMS.

A trailer of this uniqueness and complexity is difficult to put a price on. I know Tim Hoofer wouldn't build another one for less than $10,000, and that doesn't include tires, wheels, fuel system, generator, wiring, or paint. It has great potential for an extended camping trailer or a race pit-stop trailer. In addition to its 95-gallon fuel tanks, there is plenty of room for diving tanks, a welder, a compressor for diving tanks, or a couple hundred gallons of fresh water. The rear storage section where tires and LP tanks fit could easily be modified for other equipment, and the full Trik Trak adjustable cargo tie down system on the lids of the both compartments also has many uses.

It is a rather specialized piece of equipment, and its value comes from the use it will receive. With a replacement cost of about $18,000, it feels like we'd be giving it away for less than $7,000, a price that includes the new springs and new BFGoodrich tires.

ORIGINAL COST TO DESIGN AND BUILD THIS CUSTOM TRAILER IS ESTIMATED AT $15,000.

SALE PRICE

$7,000.00

RACE / EXPEDITION / CAMPING SUPPORT TRAILER BY TREKMASTER
SOLD

At one time, Trekmaster was the most reputable name in all-terrain trailers. When the company was sold to a larger firm building special units for the military, the Trekmaster name disappeared. In the months prior to their sale, The Turtle Expedition spent several days at their Bakersfield, CA facilities designing a custom support trailer for our Trans-Siberian Expedition. It had to carry 100 gallons of fuel, four propane tanks, five tires, and the huge supply of food, parts and emergency equipment we might require crossing Russia. By design, it also had to use the same wheels and tires as The Turtle III and The Turtle IV. It needed to be able to negotiate extremely rough roads and be reasonable to back up. For a hitch, we used Trekmaster's Uni-Trek All Terrain Coupler which rotates 360° and incorporates a 3" damper shock. Extra heavy-duty spring packs were later added at National Spring.

Testing of the Trekmaster in Alaska and the Yukon proved it to be road worthy, however, for security reasons, we decided to put all tires and LP tanks inside locking compartments. For the extreme cold we expected in Siberia, we also decided to carry a 5000-watt diesel generator to power engine, oil pan, battery, cab and camper 110-volt heaters. While the Trekmaster could have been modified, at that time, we were still planning on bringing The Turtle III as a film crew vehicle, and the Trekmaster was ideal for that purpose. An all new support trailer for The Turtle IV was designed by us and built by Hoofer's Welding in Sacramento. In the end, The Turtle III did not go to Russia, so its support trailer was not needed.

In its present condition, it has great potential for an extended camping trailer or a race pit-stop trailer. In addition to its 100-gallon fuel tank, there is plenty of room for a small generator, diving tanks, a welder, a compressor for diving tanks, or a couple hundred gallons of fresh water. The front storage section where tires and LP tanks fit could easily be modified for other equipment, and the full Trik Trak adjustable cargo tie down system on the lid of the main compartment also has many uses.

Since this custom support trailer was never used in Russia, the Fill-Rite electric fuel pump and Cim-Tek Hydrosorb fuel filter system were not installed. The new owners will need to take care of this if they wish. The Knaack 100-gallon fuel tank comes with a Knaack Manufacturing Co. hand pump.

TRAILER INCLUDES:

• ELECTRIC BRAKES WITH EMERGENCY PIN

• SEALED BACK-UP AND STOP/TURN LIGHTS

• SEALED WIRING SYSTEM

• AUXILIARY BATTERY TRAY FOR BRAKES WITH OPTIMA RED TOP BATTERY

• LOCKING TONGUE STORAGE COMPARTMENT COVERED WITH 3M SAFETY-STEP