Box Rocket
Well-known member
I don't know if I would call it "simple":sombrero: but its definitely a sweet build.
My Backcountry Camper Trailer Build
- Thread starter R_Lefebvre
- Start date
I don't know if I would call it "simple":sombrero: but its definitely a sweet build.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Wait till you see the kitchen slide. It'll have a compound slide for the stove. :elkgrin:
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Yesterday I welded up a rack for my dirtbike. Works well, but it was a pain getting it up the ramp as the ramp is short and the rack is high. Same problem I have when I use a bike rack on my truck. Anyway, I got it up and only hurt my back a little. 
I'll probably make a longer ramp, and a few other little improvements. Other than that, rock solid mounting. Feels way more secure than my hitch rack. Best part, I don't need to extend the tongue with only 1 bike up front. No jack-knife risk at all, and the tongue weight is fine. Can hardly see the truck sag at all. Should be no problem putting a second bike and rack up front if I extend the tongue. And then option for a 3rd on the back which should balance OK with 2 on the front.
Packed up last night and heading out for a family camping weekend and trail ride on Saturday. Will post pics when I get back. It's SO nice, have all the glamping gear loaded, including all my bike gear, and I have NOTHING in the truck. If I was trying to do this without the trailer, I'd have it loaded to the roof in the truck, and probably even need to use a roof rack. And even better, we'll be pulling into camp after Dark'o'clock, and only take a minute to get the tent up. Maybe even transfer my boy into bed without him waking.
I'll probably make a longer ramp, and a few other little improvements. Other than that, rock solid mounting. Feels way more secure than my hitch rack. Best part, I don't need to extend the tongue with only 1 bike up front. No jack-knife risk at all, and the tongue weight is fine. Can hardly see the truck sag at all. Should be no problem putting a second bike and rack up front if I extend the tongue. And then option for a 3rd on the back which should balance OK with 2 on the front.Packed up last night and heading out for a family camping weekend and trail ride on Saturday. Will post pics when I get back. It's SO nice, have all the glamping gear loaded, including all my bike gear, and I have NOTHING in the truck.
If I was trying to do this without the trailer, I'd have it loaded to the roof in the truck, and probably even need to use a roof rack. And even better, we'll be pulling into camp after Dark'o'clock, and only take a minute to get the tent up. Maybe even transfer my boy into bed without him waking. 
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
Is it done yet? I need some more ideas.
kidishi@gmail.com
Adventurer
Heres my stab at a compound slide...make sure you go as big as you can on the sliders for the compound as you lose strength the further out you go. I have two 40" 500lb full extension sliders that go out like 80" i think...I havent measured or even touched the trailer in a while I use a tripod as a leg at the end of the first slider(under the stove) and it works great. The sliders weigh a lot themselves as well. I think they were like 25lbs a pair?..anyway heres a pic and sorry if its a highjack.
caleb
I use a tripod as a leg at the end of the first slider(under the stove) and it works great. The sliders weigh a lot themselves as well. I think they were like 25lbs a pair?..anyway heres a pic and sorry if its a highjack. caleb
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R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Had a good weekend camping. The bike rack worked well, pretty solid. Just a few minor adjustments to make. My wife really liked the compromise of staying in a nice Provincial Park, I took one day for myself and did a 200km off-road bike ride. She just relaxed in the park with our boy, took a nap, etc. The Maggiolina worked well. I put a 1.5" cheap "memory foam" mattress topper from Walmart, and it was PERFECT. Super comfortable, didn't know I wasn't in my bed at home. My wife is 7.5 months pregnant now, the first night she slept well, pretty comfortable. The second night not so much, but it's pretty common at this stage in pregnancy to have trouble sleeping so I don't think it's the tent. It was pretty cool, about 42° or so. It was still cool in the tent, but the 3 of us were warm in a single queen-size sleeping bag. It makes a HUGE difference to not be on the ground, and have so much foam under you. The electric lights were really nice for setting up camp in the dark.
The insulated sink worked really well. My wife really noticed the difference. We half-filled it with fairly hot water, and 30 minutes later, it was still quite warm. A full hour after it was filled it was still luke warm. That was around 50° air temp at that point.
Actually, the second extension will probably be 90° out from the first. Not sure how it will work out, but we'll give it a shot. I'm still not sure this is what I'm doing but... just having trouble getting the large stove and large cooler/freezer to fit on one 48" slide.
Basically, my stove is 16" deep, and 21" wide. My Xtreme cooler is 29" long, and eventually I'd like to get a large freezer/fridge and it's about the same lenght. Mounting both of them width-wise on a 48" slide doesn't work. 50". So I need the stove mounted the other way. 16+29 is 45". But I don't want it to face out, so that you have to walk to the end of the slide to be able to use it. I wanted it to face IN to the trailer. Then use another slide so that it slides sideways, and now I have a U-shaped cooking area.
I'm just having trouble fitting everything in, because the stove has an oven so it's about 20" tall
The insulated sink worked really well. My wife really noticed the difference. We half-filled it with fairly hot water, and 30 minutes later, it was still quite warm. A full hour after it was filled it was still luke warm. That was around 50° air temp at that point.
Actually, the second extension will probably be 90° out from the first. Not sure how it will work out, but we'll give it a shot. I'm still not sure this is what I'm doing but... just having trouble getting the large stove and large cooler/freezer to fit on one 48" slide.
Basically, my stove is 16" deep, and 21" wide. My Xtreme cooler is 29" long, and eventually I'd like to get a large freezer/fridge and it's about the same lenght. Mounting both of them width-wise on a 48" slide doesn't work. 50". So I need the stove mounted the other way. 16+29 is 45". But I don't want it to face out, so that you have to walk to the end of the slide to be able to use it. I wanted it to face IN to the trailer. Then use another slide so that it slides sideways, and now I have a U-shaped cooking area.
I'm just having trouble fitting everything in, because the stove has an oven so it's about 20" tall
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Oh yeah, except, coming back, we're on two lane highways and I'm doing the speed limit. Some cars building up behind but they pass occaisionally. Not a huge deal, not like I had a mile of cars behind me or something. At one point this older black Cadillac STS passes me, and then another car. Short time later, they're stopped on the side of the road, and the driver of the other car is talking to the driver of the Caddy, almost standing out in the road. Weird, and dumb but... whatever. Pass by, no big deal. Short time later, they both come up behind me again, the Caddy pulls out to pass. Except there's a full size pickup coming, REALLY close. I didn't really know what to do. I assumed he'd see the truck coming and hit the brakes, so I didn't want to do the same and make it harder. I didn't want to go onto the soft-ish shoulder and possibly lose control.
I really just assumed he'd hit the brakes and pull behind me again. But, he just continued on, and I don't think he was on full throttle either. The pickup went fully on the shoulder, the Caddy drove between us.
At that point I thought maybe he was mad at me or something, and prepared to get cut off. But the guy just gingerly went back into the lane. Like nothing happened. Like he didn't SEE the oncoming truck, which is impossible.
Then the second car passed me, again I prepared to get cut off or something, but nothing. They both just continued on only a few MPH faster than me.
Weird.
I really just assumed he'd hit the brakes and pull behind me again. But, he just continued on, and I don't think he was on full throttle either. The pickup went fully on the shoulder, the Caddy drove between us.
At that point I thought maybe he was mad at me or something, and prepared to get cut off. But the guy just gingerly went back into the lane. Like nothing happened. Like he didn't SEE the oncoming truck, which is impossible.
Then the second car passed me, again I prepared to get cut off or something, but nothing. They both just continued on only a few MPH faster than me.
Weird.
Funrover
Expedition Leader
Yikes! It's funny when you pull a trailer everyone wants to get by... Even if they go slower they want to be in front.
James86004
Expedition Leader
Rob, I have had the exact same thing happen to me. It is scary and bizzare. I just assumed there was going to be a crash and hit the brakes to at least get as much space as possible between us. Fortunately, the guy come the other way was able to find enough room on the shoulder.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Not too much to report on lately. I've taken a bit of a break on it. I'm kind of glad the season is over because I found out stressing over the thing was causing me a few minor health issues. Funny... when I was working in the auto industry I was under way more stress. I'd have thought 1 or two orders of magnitude more stress. But, for some reason this really got to me.
Anyway, we're doing a bit of "nesting" as we approach the due date for our second child, but maybe start work back up in November.
Anyway, we're doing a bit of "nesting" as we approach the due date for our second child, but maybe start work back up in November.
Titanpat57
Expedition Leader
As I read your post Rob I had to laugh...sitting here in the basement working on the new build on Sketchup...looking at the "old" build out the window...and really thinking after reading about your stress, exactly why in the hell am I doing this...lolol?
Brute for punishment I guess..
I'm glad your getting a chance to step back and reflect...certainly hope Mom and baby are doing fine
Good luck, Pat
Brute for punishment I guess..
I'm glad your getting a chance to step back and reflect...certainly hope Mom and baby are doing fine
Good luck, Pat