True offroad trailer, full size.
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Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
Take a look at JJBigg's teardrop design, it might be interesting to you...
I just read all 24 pages of that thread. It is a nice product but I would love something like that which can be made just a bit bigger so that it can also be used for utility duty as well. The size overall is nice but a bit bigger with maybe dual axles and or larger spaces on the front and or rear would be perfect.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
So you want the living space of a standard travel trailer but made sturdy enough to handle offroad duties?
The "utility" part is probably out the window, but otherwise the above requirements are kind of non-existent in the North American market unfortunately. The closest thing I've found is the Escape company in BC:
http://escapetrailer.com/
So far everything I've read about them says they are built much sturdier than any other TT on the market, and they will also do some custom work - ie. get them a bit more ground clearance to help offroad.
There's a member on the board here that has one and has been pretty happy with it.
The "utility" part is probably out the window, but otherwise the above requirements are kind of non-existent in the North American market unfortunately. The closest thing I've found is the Escape company in BC:
http://escapetrailer.com/
So far everything I've read about them says they are built much sturdier than any other TT on the market, and they will also do some custom work - ie. get them a bit more ground clearance to help offroad.
There's a member on the board here that has one and has been pretty happy with it.
I have a concept in my head now that I think may work.
It may require building everything myself but I think it may work for a multi purpose expo trailer.
If I can find or built a camper that I can lift I will build a trailer to suit.
What I would love is just the camper from JJBigg's build a lift and trailer to suit my idea. Something like this on the trailer which will also assist with utility dutys as well.
I think a lift like this could easily lift off the camper and place it back on the trailer when needed. This way I could easily place all my camping gear in the trailer and be ready to go at the drop of a hat. I could also use the trailer in the fall when I need to get 8 cords of wood or pick up an engine to work on or out hunting place the camper pick up game and then take the game home and come back to pick up the camper. I could even do this now on my car hauler but it is a bit too long for off-road duty.
It may require building everything myself but I think it may work for a multi purpose expo trailer.
If I can find or built a camper that I can lift I will build a trailer to suit.
What I would love is just the camper from JJBigg's build a lift and trailer to suit my idea. Something like this on the trailer which will also assist with utility dutys as well.
I think a lift like this could easily lift off the camper and place it back on the trailer when needed. This way I could easily place all my camping gear in the trailer and be ready to go at the drop of a hat. I could also use the trailer in the fall when I need to get 8 cords of wood or pick up an engine to work on or out hunting place the camper pick up game and then take the game home and come back to pick up the camper. I could even do this now on my car hauler but it is a bit too long for off-road duty.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
Ok, I understand what you're after now.
Have you thought about mounting a slide-in truck camper on a lifted trailer?
You could unbolt the trailer and drop the legs down to lift the camper off the trailer and haul whatever you wanted.
It's an idea I've thrown around for a while, the benefit is that you get a truck camper but don't need an actual pickup truck for it. And if you do get a p/u later, you already have the camper for it!
Have you thought about mounting a slide-in truck camper on a lifted trailer?
You could unbolt the trailer and drop the legs down to lift the camper off the trailer and haul whatever you wanted.
It's an idea I've thrown around for a while, the benefit is that you get a truck camper but don't need an actual pickup truck for it. And if you do get a p/u later, you already have the camper for it!
I have thought about the camper route but most campers are much larger than I would like to have. I really like the idea of a teardrop with a kitchen area on the outside. I saw one build on here that used an old S-250 COMMS box mounted on a M101A2 which would be perfect if I could find one. Being in Canada it is more difficult to get US military surplus because of the laws about export.
I think a tent trailer may better suit my needs/wants but I also during searching found another option.
http://www.livinlite.com/VRV-overview.php
I think that a VRV trailer with some of my custom touches would work perfectly for me but I am not sure on the cost.
I know my 3/4 ton cummins will pull just about anything.
I think a tent trailer may better suit my needs/wants but I also during searching found another option.
http://www.livinlite.com/VRV-overview.php
I think that a VRV trailer with some of my custom touches would work perfectly for me but I am not sure on the cost.
I know my 3/4 ton cummins will pull just about anything.
Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
I think that's a good direction to head....some sort of removable "pod" packed and ready to go. Obviuosly there would be some logistics, like unpluggable wiring harness for the electric, and how to treat the on board water hook ups. The benifits of a utility trailer to make dump runs and trips to the store would be invaluable.
How about the crank up legs they use to lift off the truck type campers? Seems they would be easier to find and cheaper than the lift in the picture.
good luck,
Pat
How about the crank up legs they use to lift off the truck type campers? Seems they would be easier to find and cheaper than the lift in the picture.
good luck,
Pat
Building the lift would not be difficult and I may not even require the lift if I was to build a skid on the bottom of the module and put rollers on the end of the trailer. This way I could get away with a small winch to pull the module onto the trailer and when I need to drop it off the trailer I could just anchor it an drive forward, or make the trailer a tilt deck that can slide the module out.
I suck at fiberglass work but I can weld without issues. If I could find the insulated fiberglass panels I would build everything myself. I would like to prevent using wood if possible. I have found a source for plastic plywood which I could use but I would need to find a source for the pop out tent panels.
I suck at fiberglass work but I can weld without issues. If I could find the insulated fiberglass panels I would build everything myself. I would like to prevent using wood if possible. I have found a source for plastic plywood which I could use but I would need to find a source for the pop out tent panels.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
I'm going to keep pushing my "slide-in camper on a trailer" idea... 
There are some small lightweight units out there meant for compact p/u's, you could mount them to a small trailer and be golden.
Also, since you already have a fullsize p/u, why not just get slide-in to drop in the bed and then you can pull a normal trailer with whatever gear or wood etc. that you want?
There are some small lightweight units out there meant for compact p/u's, you could mount them to a small trailer and be golden.
Also, since you already have a fullsize p/u, why not just get slide-in to drop in the bed and then you can pull a normal trailer with whatever gear or wood etc. that you want?
By having a trailer to keep trash in or leave wood in at the end of a long day cutting and splitting is much nicer than driving around for a week before you get a chance to unload it or dump it. Also I have a DCC Canopy on my truck already and loading wood into it limits the amount of wood I can get in a trip. I would like a trailer I can get at least 3 cord in at a time and bring home this way I would only need to make 2-3 trips each year for wood.
My main concern with a camper on a trailer is that the legs would have to extend beyond the side of the trailer to make loading and unloading possible would add a lot of width . Also most campers I have seen or looked at have all had a cab over on them which with a canopy could be a problem when backing or turning sharp.
I am going to have to try and find an S-250 something like this http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/S250camper/default.htm to make it work for me.
My main concern with a camper on a trailer is that the legs would have to extend beyond the side of the trailer to make loading and unloading possible would add a lot of width . Also most campers I have seen or looked at have all had a cab over on them which with a canopy could be a problem when backing or turning sharp.
I am going to have to try and find an S-250 something like this http://www.sanlee.com/jeep/S250camper/default.htm to make it work for me.
Pooch72
Adventurer
Well, I'm hip deep in my own full-size build. check out my signature for the build thread. not anywhere close to done yet, but it's progressing.
Here's a picture of where it "currently" is.
Hannibal USA
Adventurer
We build two size's trailers in the same shape m416 size and a 4' x 6' bottom of the box dimension "Gen2" trailer.
But we can build larger, we charge $150.00 set up fee for changes that deviate from our size then just extra cost of addition material for the build.
www.Sierra4x4Trailers
But we can build larger, we charge $150.00 set up fee for changes that deviate from our size then just extra cost of addition material for the build.
www.Sierra4x4Trailers