Starting Planning a New Build

[b63215b]

Hello everyone,

It has been two years since I have been on with my last build time for a new build again. I have searched the forum for a expedition trailer that you can stand in and I have not found any, can anyone point me in a direction to one or some of those. My wife and I currently have a Trillium 1300 which we love but just is not holding up to the test of the kind of backwoods camping we do. Every trip we are fixing stuff that breaks from the demands of the backwoods. But we have grown accustomed to being able to stand up and have that freedom. Plus we camp with out dogs so a teardrop (which I like style-wise) would be to small with two dogs.

In a perfect world we would have a 4x4 van with a pop top, but the perfect world has a larger budget than I.

Musts:

-Cooking outside
-queen size bed inside
-mini sink inside to clean up at night
-store all clothes inside
-must be able to stand up (with or without a pop top)

Questions:

1. Does anyone know of a build that would meet these specs, and off road trailer with the ability to stand up in with either a pop top or just a straight stand up height?
2. Does anyone have any suggestions on the material for the skin, frp, baltic birch, aluminum?
3. What material does everyone use for pop top camper style material?
4. IN the grand scheme of the debate does anyone have pros and cons with making a 1x1 steel frame versus wood frame? (I am a better welder that woodworker)

Thanks for any help just in the preliminary stages here. Thanks for any help.

 

[kzam]

I'm curious why outfitting a van with a pop-top roof wouldn't still be an option compared to the cost of building an entire trailer. A basic 4-wheel drive conversion doesn't have to be expensive if you are willing to find and swap a front axle off a wrecked truck.

Even without 4-wheel drive, a used work van with good tires is still plenty capable on a lot of forest roads.

 

[b63215b]

I'm curious why outfitting a van with a pop-top roof wouldn't still be an option compared to the cost of building an entire trailer. A basic 4-wheel drive conversion doesn't have to be expensive if you are willing to find and swap a front axle off a wrecked truck.

Even without 4-wheel drive, a used work van with good tires is still plenty capable on a lot of forest roads.

Good point, did you have a locking diff in the rear or a winch for close calls? I live in Michigan and we camp in places with tons of sand so I always worry that 4x4 is necessary. Any suggestions or places to point me for diy pop top vans. I have seen the kits but I like the challenge of creating my own. Thanks for your comments and thoughts.

Josh