R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I've been considering getting a camping trailer for a while now, ever since I got this truck which will allow me to tow something substantial. I've looked at the Adventure Trailer type setups with unfolding tents, but... other than providing a hard floor, and cargo capacity, I don't see how they have much advantage over a regular tent. Also, I'd really like to be able carry a couple of dirt bikes, and everything but the Kimberley Kamper aren't really ammenable to that.
I've looked at the Fleetwood Evoloution type pop-ups, but those can't really be taken off-road due to their size and weight.
And then there's always cost. I don't have that kind of money lying around right now.
A few posts on this forum got me thinking about building a teardrop style off-road trailer. Only, it wouldn't be teardrop shaped, because I don't think that really looks very good behind a modern vehicle. Here's some of the idea I had, and just wanted some input.
- Shape will be very similar to my Discovery 2. Intent would be to have it follow the exact same hole punched in the air as my truck. I figure this should allow for a very generous size, while still allowing low fuel consumption? Net result would be you could almost stand up in the thing, since the Disco is so tall. It might also allow a bunk or two to be mounted crosswise inside the cabin for young'uns.
- The "footprint" would probably be about 5x8. The intent is to use the same wheels and tires as my truck, with the same track width. For obvious reasons. I'd intend to have the wheels tucked into the body with only a small amount of flare sticking out.
- Axle would probably be a 3500lb axle with hub adaptors to get to the LR bolt spacing, unless there's a better way. I'd use 2000lb springs or whatever else would be suitable. I personally like torsion axles, have them on my Seadoo trailer, but I think leaf springs would be more reliable, easy to fix, whatever...
- I think the axle would be 5/8ths or 3/4 of the way back, leaving a 2-3 foot rear overhang. This might result in a bit of a high tongue weight, but I'm trying to reduce rear overhang. I was also thinking of maybe having the rear frame have a kick-up, at least 6", for even better departure angle.
- Intend to mount two rails cross-wise on the tongue which could support a motorcycle. I'm a little concerned about the resultant tongue weight. I also thought I could put one rail in front, and use a plug in rack on a rear mounted reciever for the second. That would balance out the weight better. I already have one of these racks and use it in my reciever on the truck and it works. The other big issue with one, or two bikes on the front tongue, is they are long (and mounted width wise), and could restrict manoeverability via jack-knifing. Though, I'd be unlikely to use the camper off-road, with the bikes at the same time. It would sort of be an either-or affair.
- The space in the body in front of the wheel wells would be used for water tanks. In the rear, storage cubby holes.
- Another crazy idea I haven't seen done before... put a washroom on top of the tongue just ahead of the main cab. The height of the body might be such that one could take a shower standing up, and/or have a chemical toilet in there. I haven't quite sorted it out yet, but having facilities for a shower sure would be nice. At the least, I'd like to find a place for some sort of toilet. This space would extend the overall length of the body to 10', but it would be pinched in at the front to follow the angle of the tongue.
- Alternatively, maybe build a platform on the tongue, and make provision for a fabric "shower curtain" enclosure to be installed. The portable toilet could be sat on the same platform and the curtain used as well.
-For styling, and maybe utility, put a rack on top to match the rack on the truck. I was thinking about putting a kick in the roof as well, but that might be too much effort for styling. However... if the kick was actually facing backwards, it could help with wind drag.
Thoughts?
I've looked at the Fleetwood Evoloution type pop-ups, but those can't really be taken off-road due to their size and weight.
And then there's always cost. I don't have that kind of money lying around right now.
A few posts on this forum got me thinking about building a teardrop style off-road trailer. Only, it wouldn't be teardrop shaped, because I don't think that really looks very good behind a modern vehicle. Here's some of the idea I had, and just wanted some input.
- Shape will be very similar to my Discovery 2. Intent would be to have it follow the exact same hole punched in the air as my truck. I figure this should allow for a very generous size, while still allowing low fuel consumption? Net result would be you could almost stand up in the thing, since the Disco is so tall. It might also allow a bunk or two to be mounted crosswise inside the cabin for young'uns.
- The "footprint" would probably be about 5x8. The intent is to use the same wheels and tires as my truck, with the same track width. For obvious reasons. I'd intend to have the wheels tucked into the body with only a small amount of flare sticking out.
- Axle would probably be a 3500lb axle with hub adaptors to get to the LR bolt spacing, unless there's a better way. I'd use 2000lb springs or whatever else would be suitable. I personally like torsion axles, have them on my Seadoo trailer, but I think leaf springs would be more reliable, easy to fix, whatever...
- I think the axle would be 5/8ths or 3/4 of the way back, leaving a 2-3 foot rear overhang. This might result in a bit of a high tongue weight, but I'm trying to reduce rear overhang. I was also thinking of maybe having the rear frame have a kick-up, at least 6", for even better departure angle.
- Intend to mount two rails cross-wise on the tongue which could support a motorcycle. I'm a little concerned about the resultant tongue weight. I also thought I could put one rail in front, and use a plug in rack on a rear mounted reciever for the second. That would balance out the weight better. I already have one of these racks and use it in my reciever on the truck and it works. The other big issue with one, or two bikes on the front tongue, is they are long (and mounted width wise), and could restrict manoeverability via jack-knifing. Though, I'd be unlikely to use the camper off-road, with the bikes at the same time. It would sort of be an either-or affair.
- The space in the body in front of the wheel wells would be used for water tanks. In the rear, storage cubby holes.
- Another crazy idea I haven't seen done before... put a washroom on top of the tongue just ahead of the main cab. The height of the body might be such that one could take a shower standing up, and/or have a chemical toilet in there. I haven't quite sorted it out yet, but having facilities for a shower sure would be nice. At the least, I'd like to find a place for some sort of toilet. This space would extend the overall length of the body to 10', but it would be pinched in at the front to follow the angle of the tongue.
- Alternatively, maybe build a platform on the tongue, and make provision for a fabric "shower curtain" enclosure to be installed. The portable toilet could be sat on the same platform and the curtain used as well.
-For styling, and maybe utility, put a rack on top to match the rack on the truck. I was thinking about putting a kick in the roof as well, but that might be too much effort for styling. However... if the kick was actually facing backwards, it could help with wind drag.
Thoughts?
