Little Guy Modification

[Hilldweller]

Full glamping mode

ARS 10x10 shelter held 4" snow

Ammo boxes make good food storage containers

Rally mode

 

[grogie]

New Little Guy owner here - with some pics attached. It is a 6X10 RoughRider/SilverShadown hybrid. I liked the interior (birch) look of the SilverShadow but wanted the capability of the RoughRider. Have had it out a few times but at the shop now getting an ARB awning on the factory installed roof rack, getting the matching Toyota wheels powder coated to match the truck and a couple of odds and ends. Although I have not it on any extreme trails - she has been on some dirt roads....I really love this little trailer and have several more trips planned this year and planning next year already!!!! The pic attached does not show the Toyota wheels/tires but since then they were installed and work well - the fenders are being redone since there is a negative offset with the Toyota tires -- it was important to me to match the tires/wheels to the tow vehicle. As can be seen - the trailer is color matched to the truch - pretty beefy skidplate - overall - I am glad I went this route!!

Really nice setup, plus being color matched and wheels and tires too. Looks like you'll have a lot of fun with it. Nice!

 

[NetDep]

Thanks grogle -- checked on it at the shop today -- waiting on fenders (slight offset after the Toyota wheels/tires) but the awning looks GREAT!!!

Hilldweller -- Those are some great pics and can't wait to get some of mine posted. Sadly - this weekend did not work out since the fenders needed some more work and she is indoors over the weekend!! When you say "they" moved the license plate - who do you mean? I wish I had a "they" to do some things - things they did not have to be doing for the first time since finding folks to do custom work is a bit of a pain sometimes!! Great looking setup and thanks for the hints/tips!! I do see what you mean about the tail lights and can see where there would be issues - mine are quite different and think they will work out nicely. The license plate? Really do wish that was fixed!!

 

[Hilldweller]

"They" = Scott @ Little Guy.

Some of the build wasn't done right (or well) and after using it for a few months they picked it up and brought it back to the factory. The license plate relocation was done at that time, new landing gear, batteries moved, new jockey wheel, new charger, heavy duty bolts to secure the doors, new fenders, cages on the lights, disappeared the sink and tank. I had to remount the awning; they buggered that pretty well --- so they gave me new roofrack brackets too.

 

[NetDep]

Bill -

Thanks for the info!! Suspected they might have been done at the factory -- well -- might have to check with my dealer to see if they can do it local...the license plate, I suspect, will give me problems!! A lot of the stuff has been incorporated since but the mods you made are very nice!! Attaching a couple I tood at the shop the other day -- she will be out this week and I will get back on the trail ASAP!!!! Since I had them build the ability to use the same wheels/tires as my tow vehicle the fenders that came with were wrong - so I got some steel ones built and will be attached (think they look good) and went with an ARB awning -- glad I did just can't wait to use it!!!

 

[skersfan]

Man those fenders look awfully close. Are they lined on the inside against the trailer outer wall. Picking up a rock can destroy the inner fender area. May have plenty of room, but the pictures make it look very close.

 

[NetDep]

Man those fenders look awfully close. Are they lined on the inside against the trailer outer wall. Picking up a rock can destroy the inner fender area. May have plenty of room, but the pictures make it look very close.

NO!! Sorry -- did not explain -- the pic shows them resting on the tire - they are not attached - they are for purposes of illustration....they will sit nicely when attached.They will actually be up along the "caulk" line that can kind of be seen in the pic. Thanks for checking and alterting me to a situation you thought was dangerous!! Always good to have more eyes -- this forum really is the best!!

 

[Hilldweller]

I got tired of the RV light in the galley shining in my eyes and put in a couple of very-low-amp LED strips.
Two whites with one red for ambient, one single red for nightlight, and a spotlight of sorts mounted over my stove.

All on:

Just the nightlight:

And me cooking over the weekend:

 

[Septu]

I've been thinking more and more on this over the last few days (as I'm getting ready to sell my house - and thus might have some disposable cash). One can find a Little guy for 4-7k. Take that, and either really re-enforce the frame, or just redo the frame and suspension. Then lift it. It wouldn't put up with the abuse my m101 would (or what a dedicated off road trailer would). But it should be able to handle the majority of the mild stuff. All for less than 10-12k, and ideally still be under 1300-1400 lbs empty.

I would have to see one in person, and line up someone to mod it before I'd ever think about committing to something like this. Unfortunately I'm going past their Alberta dealer next week, so I'll likely stop in and take a peak . But the thought of having a 4 wide or the Rascal modded to fit 31-32s is appealing (I love the idea of stealth camping on my long *** road trips). I would prefer the 4 wide over the Rascal as there's a tad more space inside. But damn those Rascals are cheap (one in Texas for $3500). I figure the 4 wide is plenty, and after adding a bunch of weight to make it do what I'd want, it'll be heavy enough. But can't find any used. Lots of 5 wides around though.

And if I'm being honest... I spend 95%+ of my time camping in places that don't require four wheel drive.

 

[NetDep]

The LittleGuy RoughRider is a pretty stout trailer -- see my pics and check out their stats. I would suggest writing to someone at LittleGuy with specific questions -- if you want to see one in person and find yourself in the Seattle area -- drop me a line!! And, I agree, I find 90% of where I go I don't use 4X4 but -- it might need to be!!

 

[Septu]

The LittleGuy RoughRider is a pretty stout trailer -- see my pics and check out their stats. I would suggest writing to someone at LittleGuy with specific questions -- if you want to see one in person and find yourself in the Seattle area -- drop me a line!! And, I agree, I find 90% of where I go I don't use 4X4 but -- it might need to be!!

Crap. If I'd known that I would have looked you up when I was down there this summer. Am off to Calgary/Edmonton next week, and was hoping to swing over to the lower mainland but it won't be happening now.

Yes that 10% you might want to do something tougher... but if you lift it right, it should have the clearance to do anything I'd drag my m101 over. I wouldn't get the RR as I think I want something a tad smaller, and lighter. I also wouldn't be in a hurry to sell the m101 until I get an idea as to how things would go. I think in the short term I'll change the tent to a hard shell one (Autohome, James Baroud, CVT), and give it another summer or so before seriously considering something else. And honestly the tent only bothers me when I'm en route somewhere and would prefer to stealth camp. Otherwise I'm fine with setting it up and taking it down. But when traveling, it would just be nice to not have to do as much setup to be good to go (cook/sleep/leave).

Honestly the only real question/concern I'd have over it would be the long term longevity of dragging it down crappy roads. But if you air the tires down and take it easy it should be okay.

Regardless of what I do, I do have concerns over weight. My 101 weighs roughly 1300 loaded. Not a big deal, but I have some wicked mountain passes to travel on when leaving the Yukon and I don't think I'd want to be much heavier than what I am now. More so if I was on the trail.

 

[Hilldweller]

They can do a Rough Rider on a 4-wide.

And yeah; air it down for rough roads. Torsion = bounce otherwise.

 

[SameGuy]

Finally....

So during the summer I finally bit the bullet and found a little guy camper. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind but the price was right and my better half fell in love with it when we went to check it out. We wound up getting this 2006 6 wide sport in Minnesota for $5300. I really wasn't looking for the Sport model and didn't really think we needed a 6 wide model but you have to start somewhere right? We kept asking ourselves on the ride home what we would do with all that space on the front. Needless to say it didn't take long to figure that out. We spent about 25 nights in it since June and have really enjoyed it. I haven't done much to it other than install a Propex Heater which has been a big hit on cold Mountain nights.

 

[rlynch356]

Cool - i keep looking at these (there is a dealer local to me) .. couple of questions before i call LG..
Roof Bars - do you know how much load they will support? I.e. if i wanted to mount an RTT to the them and an awning, could i? (were a family of 4, i'd put the kids upstairs).

Water storage - under the frame, Possible? - i was thinking i would just have a Tap external to the trailer on the drivers side that i would use to supply cold water then run it into an externally mounted heater (Ala Moby1) if i need hot water for a shower otherwise i would leave it off. I was thinking it best to order the galley without a sink. I'd rather have the storage space and as little plumbing as possible.

LG fits in my price range and realistic use case (dirt roads & fields, cave diving basecamp, some off trail camping at uwharrie)

 

[Hilldweller]

Cool - i keep looking at these (there is a dealer local to me) .. couple of questions before i call LG..
Roof Bars - do you know how much load they will support? I.e. if i wanted to mount an RTT to the them and an awning, could i? (were a family of 4, i'd put the kids upstairs).

Water storage - under the frame, Possible? - i was thinking i would just have a Tap external to the trailer on the drivers side that i would use to supply cold water then run it into an externally mounted heater (Ala Moby1) if i need hot water for a shower otherwise i would leave it off. I was thinking it best to order the galley without a sink. I'd rather have the storage space and as little plumbing as possible.

LG fits in my price range and realistic use case (dirt roads & fields, cave diving basecamp, some off trail camping at uwharrie)

I think the roof rack is rated for 300 pounds; not sure if that's in motion or parked though.

Hook up with Rory (NC Island Runner) and look at his. You can crawl underneath and get a feel for what will fit.