1974 Appleby, Luxe-O-Expo Trailer.

[Pyro4God]

Last year I decided that having my tent strapped to my vehicle was too restrictive . Whenever I felt like going to get something or traveling down a trail I have to pick up base camp in order to do so . So I purchased a Toyota truck bed trailer to put the wildernest onto. But, while cruising through craigslist ads, I ran across a clever little pop up tent trailer. When I saw it I knew that it was time to ditch the wildernest all together and start from scratch. The plan is to ditch the original frame and set the trailer on top of the Toyota frame. The idea is to keep the Toyota rear axle underneath the trailer for spare parts in case of an emergency, and to keep the tires and rims the same for interchangeable spares on both the trailer and the tow vehicle (my 85'4runner.) My intent is to make the outside as rugged and utilitarian as possible while making the inside posh and comfortable. Here are a couple of pics of the Appleby in it's original state.

 

[harv3589]

Very cool! That will make an awesome build!

 

[Mark Harley]

Very cool! Looking forward to your build.

 

[PhulesAU]

Wish I could run across a deal like that..... Another upside will be shade for the pups.

 

[DanCooper]

This looks to be very interesting. The convex shaped sides may present some challenges, and I look forward to your solutions for fenders. Pretty exciting project!

 

[kwill]

How about some pictures of the inside of that cool trailer?

 

[Semi-Hex]

I had to look up your tent you're installing and this is going to be a very nice trailer.

 

[Pyro4God]

Got it started.

Okay, so I won't bore you with all the details, needless to say I removed the old frame, which just consisted of a couple of bolts and cutting some supports for the door. Than all I did was remove the old bed from the truck bed trailer frame and welded up some new support brackets and bolted the Appleby to the trailer using the original body mount bracket points. Then chopped off the old hitch and replaced it with a lock and roll hitch. After a little paint and some rewiring this is what I've come up with so far. Here's the part where this build can actually be a little bit fun and interesting for anyone reading it , I would like you guys to give me some ideas about what you would like to see in or on this trailer, whether it be a kitchen, leather seats, spare fuel tank, generator, ac, etc. . . .
BTW, that's my brother in-law doing the welding.

 

[Semi-Hex]

Is that a jockey wheel in pic #2, if so what brand? And how much room are you going to have inside once your tent is in there? Where does the lid go? Looks like a great surface for a solar panel or three.

 

[Pyro4God]

The inside is 4' × 6' & 18" tall. The tent and poles take up a lot of room, but not as much as the matresses. My solution for that is to cover the matresses with covers made of sunbrella fabric and put them on top of the lid under a canvas tarp I'm having sewn together by a friend. The poles and tent canvas are either going to be put into a drawer I'll build underneath or in a compartment I'll build inside. What looks like a lid is one of two platforms that support the matresses.

 

[Pyro4God]

Wow.I thought by now I'd have all kinds of crazy ideas, everything from satellite dishes to a toaster coffee maker hot plate combo. Maybe people aren't on this site as often as I think. I'm going to get started on the sketches, ideas, and get something put together this weekend. I'll see if there are any contributions by than. Thanks in advance for any ideas no matter how bizarre or small.

 

[Clawhammer]

Interesting idea. I've seen one of these turned into a RRT (well, more like a bed top tent) and thought that was a good way to go. I know I would miss the ability to haul gear in the bed.

Are you going to build fender wells or anything? Some clever storage options could be worked out in front of or behind the tires.

 

[Pyro4God]

Yeah, definitely throwing on some fenders. The body is made out of aluminum and rocks will the punch of all kinds of holes in it over time. As long as I have to put fenders on it on I might as well add some mini running boards that I can either mount something onto like jerry cans or whatever or add storage boxes . Always looking to find somewhere stash miscellaneous junk. Also need somewhere for the poles and canvas other than the inside.

 

[Semi-Hex]

We camp with our pop up trailer all the time and the things we spend the most time at camp are the kitchen area. We have evolved and redesigned it four or five times so, we can be efficient and tidy at the same time. I don't like refers so, I have a nice Canyon Cooler to use to prep the food, the cooking area with piped in propane and a clean up area with a spray water system It works for us really well.

 

[LuckyDan]

I'd go with the storage boxes idea to both port and starboard forward of the tires. Something along the lines of what you see on flatbed trucks. Maybe rear of the tires too. I'm sure somewhere is a portable espresso maker just waiting to fill a side box the size those would be. I'd also look at heat for the tent like the big model, (2800?) Propex heater with the propane and battery mounted to the tongue. Maybe the Propex too. From the photo looks like room for a cooler rack up front. I'd figure out some lights for the inside. I realize the thing is basically a box tent but a couple LED's along each side at the top of the box or a couple LED rope lights will make the inside more comfortable. For the top you have I think a solar panel on leg mounts and a plug in cord you can set on the ground and chase the sun as it moves across the horizon would work.

Cool trailer and thanks for the opportunity to comment.