Allright, I guess I'll start this.
My inspiration here is certainly the turtleback trailer. Great design, overpriced for my needs (and my fabrication abilities)
I'm starting with a Military M716 generator trailer - pintle hitch, towing with my 5th gen Toyota 4runner Trail. (maybe my wifes GX470 some time...)
Trailer is on 8bolt wheels with E rated 285/75r16s (my 4runner is on 285/75r17s)
LED lights, 7 pin harness and a tool/battery box is installed.
The trailer as I bought it. I've pulled hte aluminum risers off - there was a cracked weld and they aren't useful for my build.
I'm going to call this a semi-budget build. I'm not afraid to buy parts, I tend to keep the budget via the DIY bit.
Next bit:
I have an ARB Simpson tent that was rammed into a garage that I picked up for cheap on CL last year.
I ordered parts to fix it up this week.
The only remaining issue is some damage to the ABS/Foam base where the mounting bolts pulled out. If I fail at repairs, I'll buy a new base for $360 or so.
Today I visited the steel shop and made some plans. After visiting I made a spreadsheet for the cuts I need. I'm going to head down there again before the weekend and grab steel with my truck.
I also ordered a Dometic CFX95DZW. It'll get a dedicated slide in the camper and may get transferred to my 4runner for grocery getting (We live in the mountains, big stores are an hour away in most cases)
doing research, I've found a nice folding faucet and I'm thinking of using a normal stainless sink from HD rather than a camper sink.
For water, I'm looking at around 40 gallons of water, I want extra for moronic camp fires. I almost always find them and fires are a huge risk where I live.
Current design in my head is as follows:
I'll be a bit organic on the details - I've found that I often have better ideas by letting the develop during builds.
So yeah, I'm stoked, the trailer tows great, I pulled the tent out of storage and I earned like 4x amex points on my fridge/freezer order.
My current goal is to get a box built, start fleshing out compartments and have a usable trailer for hunting season this year.
At a minimum, that's going to be the box, rtt mounts, fridge slide and a battery or two.
My inspiration here is certainly the turtleback trailer. Great design, overpriced for my needs (and my fabrication abilities)
I'm starting with a Military M716 generator trailer - pintle hitch, towing with my 5th gen Toyota 4runner Trail. (maybe my wifes GX470 some time...)
Trailer is on 8bolt wheels with E rated 285/75r16s (my 4runner is on 285/75r17s)
LED lights, 7 pin harness and a tool/battery box is installed.
The trailer as I bought it. I've pulled hte aluminum risers off - there was a cracked weld and they aren't useful for my build.
I'm going to call this a semi-budget build. I'm not afraid to buy parts, I tend to keep the budget via the DIY bit.
Next bit:
I have an ARB Simpson tent that was rammed into a garage that I picked up for cheap on CL last year.
I ordered parts to fix it up this week.
- New Ladder (it was gone)
- Mounting hardware (includes ladder hinge bits)
- Waterproof Cover (also gone)
- Hinges (bent)
The only remaining issue is some damage to the ABS/Foam base where the mounting bolts pulled out. If I fail at repairs, I'll buy a new base for $360 or so.
Today I visited the steel shop and made some plans. After visiting I made a spreadsheet for the cuts I need. I'm going to head down there again before the weekend and grab steel with my truck.
I also ordered a Dometic CFX95DZW. It'll get a dedicated slide in the camper and may get transferred to my 4runner for grocery getting (We live in the mountains, big stores are an hour away in most cases)
doing research, I've found a nice folding faucet and I'm thinking of using a normal stainless sink from HD rather than a camper sink.
For water, I'm looking at around 40 gallons of water, I want extra for moronic camp fires. I almost always find them and fires are a huge risk where I live.
Current design in my head is as follows:
- Build a 72longx48widex42tall box
- ARB RTT mounted on top of the box
- Build a sub box for the water reservoir and insulate it
- Add a on demand water heater for dishes/heading the water res - I camp later in the year and want to keep that water from freezing during hunting season.
- Shelf for my big cooler (in the vain hope that I actually get an elk/deer at some point.
- Slide out shelf for the big Dometic fridge/freezer
- 2x AGM batteries
- Solar panel to maintain the batts when the trailer is parked/sunny camping (I have a spare controller from my RV(that I don't use for long distance trips)
- Fold out Kitchen counter/sink
- 12v water res heater for use with shore power/towing on cooooold days.
- Shore power controller
- Maybe a heater of some sort to warm the RTT - I've seen some good ideas
- Rhinorack 270 awning, add walls at some point
- leveling jacks on all corners (that can be driven with a cordless drill/ratchet)
- Extra receiver hitch points
- Spare tire carrier
- Fold down stainless table - the steel shop has lots of stainless
I'll be a bit organic on the details - I've found that I often have better ideas by letting the develop during builds.
So yeah, I'm stoked, the trailer tows great, I pulled the tent out of storage and I earned like 4x amex points on my fridge/freezer order.
My current goal is to get a box built, start fleshing out compartments and have a usable trailer for hunting season this year.
At a minimum, that's going to be the box, rtt mounts, fridge slide and a battery or two.
