Tacoma4life
New member
Greetings, I'm a member over at TTORA and was recommended to this forum by TEJASYOTA. I wasn't even aware of Expedition Portal, but after looking around l just had to join. Sweet forum!
So here is my camper restoration/build. I'm aware it's really to big too be an expedition trailer, but my goal was a trailer that could be pulled down a mild trail, had a few nice amenities (like a stove, water tank, sink, and refrigerator), and of course could accommodate my family of four (wife and kids aged 3 and 1).
So here is what I started with, a 1977 Starcraft Venture I purchased for $450.
I basically took it down to it's bare floor and walls and rebuilt it up from there.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/peter0022
/Camper%20restoration/Camperrestoration043.jpg
The roof and one wall had some rot I was unaware of when I purchased it, so I went through and replaced anything that needed it. No more rot...
And here is how it came out-
I put a 5200lb 4 inch drop axle under it flipped upside down which makes it a 4 inch lift. Sure a 5200 lb axle is overkill on a 1445lb camper, but I don't want to worry about bending a spindle, and I like the idea of bigger bearings and just all around more beef.
Before any serious adventures I plan to reinforce the spring hangers. I contemplated a LockNRoll hitch, but like I said it's really to big to take down anything serious, so I probably don't need it.
I plan to build a rear bumper with a lockable storage box. For the spare I have a factory mount to put it under the rear (Toyota factory winch type lift). I also need to fab some folding steps as the bottom of the frame sits at 24 inches.
Other than that we are very happy with it so far. We took it out on it's maiden voyage on labor day weekend, it did great, and of course the kids love it. I will update this original thread as progress continues. Thanks for looking.
So here is my camper restoration/build. I'm aware it's really to big too be an expedition trailer, but my goal was a trailer that could be pulled down a mild trail, had a few nice amenities (like a stove, water tank, sink, and refrigerator), and of course could accommodate my family of four (wife and kids aged 3 and 1).
So here is what I started with, a 1977 Starcraft Venture I purchased for $450.
I basically took it down to it's bare floor and walls and rebuilt it up from there.
http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd181/peter0022
/Camper%20restoration/Camperrestoration043.jpg
The roof and one wall had some rot I was unaware of when I purchased it, so I went through and replaced anything that needed it. No more rot...
And here is how it came out-
I put a 5200lb 4 inch drop axle under it flipped upside down which makes it a 4 inch lift. Sure a 5200 lb axle is overkill on a 1445lb camper, but I don't want to worry about bending a spindle, and I like the idea of bigger bearings and just all around more beef.
Before any serious adventures I plan to reinforce the spring hangers. I contemplated a LockNRoll hitch, but like I said it's really to big to take down anything serious, so I probably don't need it.
I plan to build a rear bumper with a lockable storage box. For the spare I have a factory mount to put it under the rear (Toyota factory winch type lift). I also need to fab some folding steps as the bottom of the frame sits at 24 inches.
Other than that we are very happy with it so far. We took it out on it's maiden voyage on labor day weekend, it did great, and of course the kids love it. I will update this original thread as progress continues. Thanks for looking.
