I know im not the most avid poster on this forum, but its awesome to go on and research about the ranger.

Well, I am thinking about starting my own project and i am open to any amount of criticism. I know i will get a lot because of the nature of this idea is a little redneck, but the end results will be worth it!

So here goes. My idea is to take a 16-18 foot tandem axle trailer (preferably 16 foot, but its whatever i can get cheaper) and make it into a Hot Tub Trailer. It will be designed so that the hot tub sits at the rear of the trailer but also so that some of the weight is on at least one of the axles so it is not to heavy in the rear. (Rule of thumb is to load your trailer heavier on the front i believe) Then butted up against the hot tub will be 2 benches on either side to hot 2 people per bench. They will be facing each other and there will be a little walkway in-between the benches and a step to get into the tub. Then there will be a walk way to get on or off the trailer on both sides. Finally the front of the trailer (Where it hitches to my truck) will be a grill in the center and then on both sides of the grill will be counter-tops to make burgers and such with cabinets underneath.

In addition to the benches, the seats will be able to lift up to reveal a cooler on the one side and a series of car batteries on the other (To power the hot tub and the radio). Also I am hoping to install a marine stereo and speakers into the trailer under one of the cabinets on one of the sides of the grill.
To recharge the batteries (Or if I decide to not even put the batteries in there) there will be an option to run a 30 amp rated extension cord to my apartment building.

Here is are a few drawing of it:







This is a contributor to my idea that i found searching google for this sort of thing:



This is also another contributor and i want to do something similar to my finish of the trailer as this. (THis is also where i got the grill idea)




I am working on designing this in AutoCAD 2005 and also Photoshoping my idea. Ill post more pictures as soon as I can.

You may be asking what is the point of this, and I have a very legitimate answer and other reasons. This idea is something I always wanted to do to the bed of a truck, but then a trailer works so much better. I am a college student and the College I go to is Olivet Nazarene University (Summer home of the Chicago Bears). I live here during the summer as well. Home is only 45 minutes away. Anyway, we are required to live in University owned apartments until we are a 5th year senior, until we are 23 years of age, or if we are married. Its stupid I know. But we are not allowed to bring a hot tub into the university owned housing. I like hot tubs and the girls that it brings so I figured the next best thing was to make this on a trailer and park it outside. It also be sweet to go tailgating with.

I would not pull this with water in it. It would be parked and then filled with water and chemicals added. (My truck cant handle towing that much weight)

If your wondering about it costing a ton, the most expensive thing is the trailer. If you know or have a 16 foot trailer tandem axle flat bed trailer you are willing to part with, let me know. I can get hot tubs for free if not really cheap off of Craig’s list. I also have a buddy who works for Pools.com and he can get me a huge discount on chemicals and he is working on talking to his boss to possible supply me with a tub and any addition parts that I may need if I get a tub off of craig’slist.

So if you want, tell me what you think and if you can help in any way. Like I said, I will post additional pics ASAP. I’ll be working more on them as you read this.
Thanks ! and criticism is welcome! If there is anything I need to consider that I have not yet, let me know.

 

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car batteries will die in like 10 min trying to heat a hot tub.
make sure the axles are under the tub or as soon as you unhook it from the truck the toung of the trailer will flip up and spill the water.
you know it takes hours, if not a full day to heat a tub from hose water to the low hundreds F that hot tubs normally are so emptying this then filling it and heating it when you get to a party or something probably wont work very well.
maybe use propane to heat instead of batteries when not near a power source.
I think most hot tubs are set up to heat off 220 so if you have a 220 outlet on the outside of your apartments then just use that to heat

 

k, the car batteries are out then

 

Uh.........Cool Idea? You're automatically invited to all my parties when this is done......but seriously, I'm not 100% on this.

 

lol, well im pretty sure that this will happen. Im working on finding a trailer. If u have any leads, let me know.

Im contemplating making my own... but for the price of getting all the parts it may be cheaper just to find a used one

 

I believe that we do have a 220 v outlet. I know for a fact we have 30 amp plug ins.

There will also be fold down/slide down feet on all 4 corners so that it will not tip especially when water is in it.

 

how are you going to fill it up with water (or are you going to travel with water in it all the time).. also after one tail gate it would be filled with sand (or is that only here in vegas...) if i were you i would get a trailer with a roof on it and make a party trailer... or seriously all i want at a tailgate party is beer, football, a small bbq grill and the girls that that brings.

 

Um, probably fill it up with water everytime... I think this would be sweet outside the race track or demo-derby, goes with the redneck theme, lol, Actually i like demo derbies. I live in suburbia, but i swear im part redneck sometimes.
Na, sand wouldnt get in, not in the chicago area. if it did... well, the filter should clean it out.

I thought about renting this out to, but there is a HUGE liability in that someone could drown in the tub and then my butt is on the line.

I still think this is sweet and do-able. Especially in a college environment. I mean how many college kids do you know who would love a hot tub, especially one on wheels that could move.
It probably stay around the Olivet campus.

 

theres no way your 2.3L 5speed can tow a hot tub full of water.

 

I have a 3.0 v6 with an auto trans... where does it say i have a 2.3l? or 5 speed?

Also, i would probably tow it empty anyway.

 

I would say use a small, quiet generator hidden somewhere on the rig. No plug in needed.

Otherwise, sounds awesome. All the girls at UNLV tailgates would be there in a flash, much like when we had the KY slip n slide...

But Vegas dust killed any sort of idea like that for here. I say do it!

 

how so, one of my buddies had an 84 rampage, and we threw a tarp in the back, and made a redneck swimming pool

 

yeaaaa i saw that done with an F350 Dually and it was saggin.

 

what can i say about me, and my friends, we are a classy bunch

 

put your mind to it. accomplish anything!

 

i don't know if it's because my redneck side got a stiffie, or this is an awesome idea in my ever important quest for *****....... but i like it. it'll be super difficult, but that's half the fun.

 

Heck ya! It will be a challange, but im up for one!

 

The Students and Engineers club at USF tows a trailer behind their bus when they aren't carrying their race cars that has a built in cabana and hot tub. There is a hot tub worth of water stored in the bus (old flat front school bus) and they have generators in the bus as well to run the pumps. I think the heat might be from propane. Either way, you are not along in wanting to bring the hot tub to the party.

 

I would have to agree a portable generator would be your best bet. Maybe try to rig up a solar powered one?
Craigslist Free section every now and then I see a hot tub in there. It would be easier for you since your closer to the city.

Also, I would say ditch the tap idea. Add two built in Ice-Box's with drain plugs (similar found on the hull of boats). Or a mini-fridge.

Eco-Friendly hot tub trailer

 

You need to at least center the hot tub over the axles.The way you show it now there will be too little weight on the tongue of the trailer.This will cause it to sway while going down the road.
You're looking at what ,200 gallons of water or there abouts.8 pounds to the gallon.You want the weight distributed evenly on the axles.Behind the center of the axles all that weight will start to lift the rear of the truck.

 

ok, so basically if i am going to put the hot tub in the back of the trailer, i need to have my trailer look like this but with the hot tub at the back:




Thanks by the way to everyone for the comments! Its appreciated

 

That would probably work best.
The trailer carries the weight more evenly.Just remember the tongue has to have weight on it for the trailer to track properly , right around a couple hundred pounds.

 

how are you going to get around the heating time every time you fill it up? or are you just going to set up at every tailgater/party 24 hours in advance?
i suggest heating with propane over gas, way more efficient. you could use propane for the fridges also, then the battery idea would have no problem running lights and stereo.

 

Propane for the fridges? How does that work?

But yes i see the logic and you are right on it taking forever to heat up. I should just have a tank in the back of my truck with enough water in it to fill the tub up and have a heater to keep the water warm... but ya, a lot of work for the heating aspect of it.

I think i may be converting to propane then and batteries for the stereo and lights.